Articles on: Reports

Keyword Cannibalization Report - What is it, and why is it useful?

This guide will explain the Keyword Cannibalization Report in SEOTesting.



What is the Keyword Cannibalization Report?



The Keyword Cannibalization Report in SEOTesting highlights the keywords for which multiple URLs on your site rank.

Keyword Cannibalization Report details

For each query, the report shows how many pages are competing for the same keyword, along with key metrics like:
Query impressions: How often users see the keyword.
Query clicks: The number of clicks that keyword receives.
Click-through rate: The percentage of impressions that convert to clicks.
Average query position: Where your site ranks in search results for that query.

The report lets you quickly see which pages might be causing cannibalization and how this impacts your search results performance.

You can click on any query within the report to see which URLs rank for that query and search performance metrics for each URL.

See which URLs rank for a query

Why is this report useful for SEOs?



Keyword cannibalization can limit your SEO potential by spreading your ranking power across multiple URLs. This report is helpful because it allows you to:
Identify content overlap: Listing all competing URLs for a keyword can help you spot where your content might be diluting its effectiveness.
Target better opportunities: It shows which URLs have the most clicks, impressions, or a higher average position, so you can focus on consolidating or improving the content on these pages.
Boost rankings: Resolving keyword cannibalization issues can help you improve your site’s overall ranking for specific keywords, leading to more targeted traffic and better visibility.

How to find the Keyword Cannibalization Report



To find the Keyword Cannibalization Report within your SEOTesting account, start on your dashboard and click on the “Reports” link on the left sidebar of your screen.



Once you are on your reports screen, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and you will see the “Keyword Cannibalization” link under the “Keyword Cannibalization” section.



Click on this link, and you will be taken to a new screen to see your past reports (if any have been generated) and your option to create a new report.



After clicking the “Request Report” button, a new screen will appear where you can configure your report. Here, you can select whether you want to ignore URLs containing sitelinks, exclude your website’s branded keywords, and exclude URLs with UTM parameters.



You can also choose whether to set a threshold value within your report. You can set the percentage of clicks or impressions highlighted as potential cannibalization. For example, if you set your threshold at 10%, any URL getting more than 10% of the total clicks is highlighted as a potential cannibalization issue.



Finally, once you have set your configurations, click on the “Request Report” button. SEOTesting will generate the report in the background, and you will receive an email when it is ready to view.



Frequently Asked Questions



How can I resolve keyword cannibalization?



Consider merging pages, updating internal linking strategies, or using canonical tags to indicate to search engines which page should be prioritized for a keyword. Consolidating similar content can also make a significant impact.

What kind of keywords does the report cover?



The report includes broad and long-tail keywords, providing a comprehensive overview of cannibalization issues across your site.

How often should I check for keyword cannibalization issues?



It’s a good rule of thumb to check this report regularly. We suggest checking the Keyword Cannibalization Report at least once per quarter, preferably once per month. This way, you can stop cannibalization issues before they arise. Waiting until cannibalization has happened will require more time and probably more money to fix it.

Updated on: 21/10/2024

Was this article helpful?

Share your feedback

Cancel

Thank you!