One thing you certainly do not want to do when you’re blogging is to compete with your own posts.
That’s keyword cannibalization, and it’s very easy to do, even I realize I have done it sometimes.
What Keyword Cannibalization Actually Means
Keyword cannibalization happens when multiple pages on your site target the same keyword or intent.
Instead of one strong page ranking, Google sees confusion:
“Wait… which of these pages should I show?”
So it splits the signals – dividing clicks, backlinks, and authority between several similar posts.
The result?
Nothing ranks well.
You’ve basically told Google:
“Hey, I have five posts about the same thing – you pick.”
And Google picks none.
This is when some content pruning comes in handy.
Why This Hurts Your Rankings
When Google can’t figure out which page to prioritize, a few bad things will happen:
- Your strongest post gets buried under weaker ones
- Backlinks spread out instead of stacking
- Click-through rates drop because each post ranks inconsistently
- Your internal links get messy
- Your topical authority looks diluted
- Crawl Budget gets wasted when Google has to crawl multiple similar pages
The fix here isn’t writing more content.
It’s just about organizing and refining what you already have.
How to Know If You’re Cannibalizing Keywords
Here’s how to check fast – no $99/month SEO tool required.
Google Search Check
Type into Google:
site:yourdomain.com “your keyword”
If you see multiple posts ranking for the same keyword?
That’s a red flag.
Search Console
Go to Performance > Search Results > Queries.
Click a keyword, then check Pages to see how many URLs are showing up for that same term.
If you see 2, 3, or more URLs?
You’re most likely cannibalizing yourself.
Content Overlap Test
Read your own posts.
If you can’t tell which one is the “main” post for that topic, Google can’t either.
Common Signs You Have a Problem
- Multiple posts with nearly identical titles (“Best SEO Tools 2024,” “Top SEO Tools for Bloggers,” “SEO Software You Need”)
- Several articles answering the same question
- Traffic bouncing between posts but never growing
- One keyword where impressions are high but clicks are weak
- You keep rewriting the same thing from different angles
Sound familiar? That’s keyword cannibalization in action.
How to Fix Keyword Cannibalization
You don’t need a complex audit or expensive software.
Here’s the fast, no-fluff fix.
Step 1 – Identify the Main Page
Find the one post that best represents the topic.
Ask yourself:
- Which one has backlinks?
- Which one performs best in traffic or engagement?
- Which one is most complete or updated?
That’s your primary page – the one you’ll keep and strengthen.
Step 2 – Decide What to Do With the Rest
Each of the other posts needs a new purpose. Choose one of three actions:
Option A: Merge
Combine related posts into a single, stronger page.
Copy the best sections from each post, rewrite for clarity, and redirect the old URLs to the main one.
This gives Google one clear target.
Option B: Reposition
If the post still has value, shift its focus to a related but different keyword or intent.
Example:
- Main post: “How to Start a Blog”
- Repositioned post: “How to Choose a Blog Niche”
Both stay useful – without stepping on each other.
Option C: Delete & Redirect
If it’s weak, outdated, or duplicate?
Cut it.
Redirect to your main page or a closely related one.
Step 3 – Update Internal Links
Once you merge or delete, fix your internal links.
Make sure every post in your niche cluster now points to your main post for that keyword.
Internal linking is how you show Google:
“This is my authoritative page on this topic.”
It’s also how you keep readers moving deeper into your site.
Step 4 – Reindex and Monitor
After updating or merging:
- Request indexing in Search Console
- Monitor keyword performance over the next few weeks
You’ll usually see one post rise as others disappear – that’s what you want.
Don’t panic if rankings shuffle for a bit, as that’s normal.
Bonus: How to Prevent It in the Future
- Keep a keyword map – one target keyword per URL.
- Before writing, Google your topic +
site:yourdomain.comto make sure you don’t already have a post on it. - Organize posts into clear content clusters (one main guide, several supporting posts).
- Audit once every quarter – it only takes an hour.
Clean Sites Win
Keyword cannibalization is one of the sneakiest SEO killers – especially for solo creators with years of content.
It’s not about writing less.
It’s about writing smarter.
Every post should have a clear job:
Rank for one topic. Serve one intent. Point to one cluster.
And Your blog becomes what Google loves most – a site that knows what it’s about.
