Anchor text cannibalization

I've noticed multiple times that using exact keyword match anchors may cause Google ranking the page with the exact keyword match anchor for that keyword and that leads to cannibalization. Has anyone else seen that?

Also, if both pages have similar content (like Seiko watches and Seiko watches for men) using a partial keyword match anchor can do the same (like using the keyword "models for men" linking to the page with Seiko watches for men on the Seiko watch page can lead to cannibalziation). From what I've seen.

Keyword cannibalization occurs when multiple pages on a site compete for the same keyword, confusing search engines and diluting ranking potential. Internal links with exact or partial match anchors can add to this problem. So, to avoid the issue here are my solutions and strategies:

1. Using generic anchor text: Replace exact or partial match anchors with more generic text. For example, use "View our men's collection" instead of "Seiko watches for men" to avoid reinforcing similar keywords.
2. Optimizing for unique Keywords: Ensure each page targets unique keywords. The main page might focus on broader terms like "Seiko watches," while specific pages target long-tail keywords such as "Seiko watches for men."
3. Establishing page level hierarchy: Organize content into a hierarchy. Use internal linking to guide users and search engines, linking from broader pages to specific ones and vice versa to reinforce structure.
4. The URL structure: Use a hierarchical URL structure like /seiko-watches/men to signal subcategories, helping search engines understand page relationships.
5. Create Unique Content: Develop unique content for each page. The main page could cover general information, while specific pages focus on niche topics, reducing competition.
6. Monitoring your keyword rankings: Track which pages rank for specific keywords. Adjust internal links and content focus if necessary to guide search engine rankings correctly.
7. Avoid over-optimization: Avoid using exact match anchors that might cause over-optimization. Instead, focus on natural, user-friendly linking.
8. Consider merging similar pages: If pages are too similar, merging them into one stronger page might prevent cannibalization, depending on the site's structure and user intent.

By strategically using anchor text, organizing content, and monitoring keyword performance, you can reduce keyword cannibalization and guide/bluff search engines to rank the most relevant pages.

I don't think this is true! It could be, but I'm not 100% sure that this is a thing (I've never heard of it)....

Most likely, it's the fact that you have 2 pages with similar content that target keywords with similar intent that's causing the issue, although I can see why you believe it's the anchors that's causing the cannibalization (it confuse me too, so I imagine the stupid googlebot is even more confused )

Personally (but without knowing your site's structure and whatnot), I would only keep 1 page (you can 301-redirect the other one to it) called Seiko watches, and put all of the content on this page and let people sort and filter the watches by various filters (price, men / women, etc) within this same page instead of having a separate one for "Seiko watches for men"

One thing is for sure, anchors/links could influence, boost, or decrease (when wrongly used) your rankings on specific keywords,
So, that could be true, if you have 2 pages 'watches' and 'watches for men',
And get/build links with partial anchors containing 'men', 'for men', etc... pointing to the 'watches' pages could cause cannibalization,

Don't remove or disavow the links, change the anchors if you can do so (do it slowly, keep it natural),
Or/and build more links with more proper anchors to dilute the impact of the existing ones

Sounds like a classic case of over-optimization, dilute those anchors with some natural phrasing

It doesn't appear to be over-optimization since it doesn't target the exact keyword. If you are still having the issue, please try to consolidate the content by merging similar pages into one strong page with the most relevant information.

Rardak said:

noticed multiple times that using exact keyword match anchors may cause Google ranking the page with the exact keyword match anchor for that keyword and that leads to cannibalization

Click to expand...

What you are saying is not coming through clearly. Are you saying that if you link to page A with anchor text X. A page B that has similar title to anchor text X will rank?

I have two pages about Casio watches. One page about /Casio watches in general and this brand models for women and men/. The other page is about /the latest models of Casio watches for women/. When I used the anchor text "the latest models for women" on /the Casio watches page/, it started ranking for the keyword "the latest models of Casio watches for women", cannibalizing the page about /the latest models of Casio watches for women/.

Now, when I fixed that (I changed the anchor on /the page about Casio watches/ to "hottest watches") and reindexed the pages, everything seems to be going back to "normal".

The same happend to my two pages about Guess watches (the same topics like for Casio).

It two pages differ topically in one word only (in this case the word "latest"), placing that one word on the linking page (not only in anchor text (sic!) may cause Google ranking that page for the whole keyword you target on the page you linked to (in this case, the keyword "the latest models of Casio watches for women) and that "makes you a cannibal".