SEO guide
When two of your pages compete for one search, neither wins
Keyword cannibalization is two or more pages on the same site targeting the same search. Google has to pick one, and it often switches between them from week to week, so neither holds a steady position. Links and signals get split between the two pages, and the one that ranks may not be the one you wanted.
Two ways to check
- Before you publish: a list of pages and keywords.Write one line per page, the URL and the keyword it is meant to rank for. The tool compares the keywords after removing filler words, ignoring word order and plurals, so "seo tools" and "best SEO tool" count as the same search.
- After publishing: a Search Console export. Paste a table with a query and a page on every row, with impressions. The tool finds queries where a second page earns a fifth or more of the impressions, which is the sign Google is splitting them.
Getting the Search Console data
The Search Console website exports queries and pages separately, so it cannot give you this table directly. Use the Search Console API, a Looker Studio table with both dimensions, or a Google Sheets connector, and export the result as CSV with the columns Query, Page, Clicks, Impressions and Position.
What to do when you find it
- Merge the two pages into the stronger one and redirect the weaker URL to it. This is right when both answer the same question.
- Differentiate if the pages really serve different needs. Change the weaker page's focus, title and headings so it targets a different search.
- Point internal links for that keyword at the page you want to win, with the keyword as the anchor text.
- Do nothing when one page is an obvious winner and the other is a tiny share. Not every overlap is a problem.
Related tools
To find keywords that are close to ranking, use the Striking Distance Keyword Finder. To set up the redirect for a merged page, see the Redirect Checker.
Frequently asked
Is every overlap a problem?
No. A guide and a product page can both appear for a broad term and serve different intent. The problem is two pages answering the same question.
Does this upload my data?
No. Everything is analysed in your browser.
