What Is Cannibalization?

Cannibalization happens when two or more pages on the same site compete for the same keyword, splitting ranking signals and confusing search engines about which page to rank.

Example

A site with both “Best CRM Software 2025” and “Top CRM Tools for Small Business” targeting nearly identical keywords may see both pages rank poorly, with search engines unsure which one to prioritize.

Why it matters

Cannibalization dilutes ranking potential across pages that could otherwise combine their strength into one authoritative page. Common fixes include merging the competing pages, differentiating their targeted intent, or using canonical tags to clarify the primary version.