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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossarySEO & ContentKeyword Cannibalization

SEO & Content

Keyword Cannibalization

When several pages on one site target the same query and compete, weakening each page's ability to rank.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Keyword cannibalization occurs when several pages on one site target the same query and compete, weakening each page's ability to rank. Search engines may alternate between the pages or rank none of them well. Common fixes include merging overlapping content, redirecting weaker pages, adjusting targeting and clarifying the preferred page with internal links.