Understanding Keyword Mapping and Keyword Cannibalization: A Complete Guide

 

What Is Keyword Mapping?

Keyword mapping is the process of assigning specific keywords to individual pages on your website to improve SEO clarity and ranking. It helps organize content structure, reduce confusion for search engines, and ensure each page has a unique keyword target.

By using keyword mapping:

  • You avoid overlapping content

  • Maintain a clear topic hierarchy

  • Improve crawlability and indexing

  • Boost individual page rankings



How to Do Keyword Mapping

  1. Keyword Research – Identify relevant and high-search-volume keywords.

  2. URL Mapping – Match keywords with existing or planned pages.

  3. Content Assignment – Ensure each page focuses on one primary keyword and supporting secondary keywords.

  4. Avoid Duplication – Prevent two or more pages from targeting the same keyword.

What Is Keyword Cannibalization?

Keyword cannibalization happens when multiple pages on your website target the same keyword, causing them to compete with each other in search results. Instead of improving your rankings, this can hurt your SEO performance.

Examples of Keyword Cannibalization

  • Two blogs both targeting “best dispensary in Baltimore”

  • A product page and a category page using the same primary keyword

  • Blog posts with similar topics and identical keyword focus

How to Fix Keyword Cannibalization

1. Audit Your Website

Use tools like Google Search Console, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to find duplicate keyword rankings.

2. Consolidate or Merge Pages

Combine similar content into one comprehensive page and redirect the old URL.

3. Reoptimize with New Keywords

Reassign keywords using your keyword mapping plan and focus each page on a unique angle.

Final Thoughts

Keyword mapping and avoiding keyword cannibalization are key to building a strong, SEO-friendly site structure. Whether you're creating new pages or fixing old ones, a clear keyword strategy ensures better visibility, higher rankings, and a better user experience.



 


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