Avoid Keyword Self-Cannibalization
-
<dl>
<dt>Cannibalizing link</dt>
<dd>Several links...
</dd><dt>Explanation</dt>
<dd>It's a best practice in SEO to target each keyword with a single page on your site (sometimes two if you've already achieved high rankings and are seeking a second, indented listing). To prevent engines from potentially seeing a signal that this page is not the intended ranking target and creating additional competition for your page, we suggest staying away from linking internally to another page with the target keyword(s) as the exact anchor text. Note that using modified versions is sometimes fine (for example, if this page targeted the word 'elephants', using 'baby elephants' in anchor text would be just fine).</dd>
<dt>Recommendation</dt>
<dd>Unless there is intent to rank multiple pages for the target keyword, it may be wise to modify the anchor text of this link so it is not an exact match.</dd>
<dd>How do I fix this?
</dd></dl>
-
I'm wondering if SEOmoz is overreacting to some of my link text, or if I should alter the text?
When you are targeting long tail key phrases, your main phrase is likely to be part of many longtail phrases. In my case the homepage targets 'company formations' and the link that's been flagged in the On-Page Report is "Prices for Irish Limited Company Formation" which isn't that close of a match.
It's a link in my main navigation, so whatever I change it to chances are the wording will be similar to key phrases I am targeting on other pages. Also, making sure the link text makes most sense to users is a priority!
Thanks Martin, your reponses have clarified this a bit.
-
Well, no, because the assumption is that a page won't be linking to itself (except maybe in a navigation system) so your links should be going to other pages anyway.
Just bear in mind that cannibalization doesn't just apply to internal links (though that's how it often happens). You also don't want to be linking to outside resources with your own target keywords.
But yes, it's the anchor text that needs changing.
-
So the links going to another page on my site (Another post in this case), just change the anchor text of 'purple elephant's'? to maybe 'elephants' or 'great elephants' and then when you click the link, it actually then brings you to 'purple elephants'?
Hope this has helped me!
-
How your internal links (links on your website's pages to other pages on your website) are worded makes a difference to how effective the keyword targeting of a page is.
So if I have a page selling 'Purple Elephants' there should not be links to other pages with the text 'purple elephants'. On the flip side, on other pages, links to this product should contain 'purple elephants'.
So you fix it by looking at your page which should focus on purple elephants and finding links to other pages containing this phrase and changing the wording.
Remember what it says above that 'partial matches' may not have such a negative effect so purple ride-on elephants would still probably be okay. What you want to ensure that the links going out from that page are not precisely the keyword you're targeting. (i.e. exact-match).
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Chasing a particular keyword (and failing)
Hello, Its probably the most common and annoying questions, but I'm pulling my hair out a bit (not helped by not really knowing what I'm doing). I'm trying to optimise this http://www.architecturaldecor.co.uk/collections/antique-door-handles collection page for the main keyword 'antique door handles' secondary keyword 'antique door knobs'. Mid February I changed the URL, title and description and it started to move up the rankings, I then tidied up the descriptions, titles, ALT tags for all the products in that collection and it moved up to #13 quite quickly. However over the last 10 days it dropped down page 2 and today it's down to page 3. Whats more frustrating is 90% of those ranked in front of me don't actually sell antique door handles. When I tidied up the products in that collection I was increasing using the term 'antique door handles'. Any suggestions would be really, really welcome, have I overdone 'antique door handles' in the product descriptions. Thanks in advance, Paul.
On-Page Optimization | | archdecor0 -
Dashes "-" in keyword?
Just running over the page/keyword analyzer and Moz picked up the fact that my link and title are not the same as the keyword I am targeting. I am targeting the keyword "Battlefield 4 CD Key" However my title (and therefore link) are Battlefield 4 CD-Key. Note the dash. Does the dashes matter in SEO or should I try to remove them and have continuity through all of the page.
On-Page Optimization | | MrPenguin0 -
Impact of rogue keyword in content
I have a page that is optimised - title, URL, content etc for the chosen keywords. However, within the content are some batches of bullet point text that has repeated text throughout. So for example I have 5 instances of my chosen keyword within the content and 24 instances of the two word text within the bullet points. Does this kind of scenario have any impact on ranking?
On-Page Optimization | | MickEdwards0 -
ALT tagging images with keyword. What is too much?
I was wondering about the best practices of ALT tags in images. Say if you have an eCommerce site and you're on a product page. This product page has 5 images of the same product (different images), should you give every image an Alt tag with the keyword for that page? Or, is that keyword stuffing, and it would actually be best practice be to provide alt tags on just one image?
On-Page Optimization | | John_Francis0 -
Using fathead page keywords for directories and as a red herring to competitors
I'm fairly new to SEO and I have been reading a lot on here and the SEOmoz guides over the last few days, finding it very interesting. I am wondering about page keywords, I read that the engines no longer use them. In this thread they say they still use them because of directories. http://www.seomoz.org/ugc/why-i-still-use-meta-keywords#new-comment So I was wondering, because directories are always smaller scale than search engines would keywords that are normally high competition have more clout in them? If so then using them could be misleading to competition if they think they are the actual keywords? or might this contradict between your actual chosen keywords in the directories backlink anchor text or something?
On-Page Optimization | | Zoolander0 -
To enter keyword meta tags or to not enter keyword meta tags?
I've been doing SEO for awhile, but new to SEOMoz. I'm surprised that SEOMoz does not recommend keyword meta tags. I didn't enter them for the longest time because I know Google doesn't care about them. However, I did read that other search engines DO use them. And therefore that is why you should have them. I teach my customers about SEO, and I know it would be much easier for them not to enter or worry about the keyword meta tags. However, I would love to hear opinions here. And to Bing/Yahoo put any weight into them or is it only really small search engines? Thanks! Hilary
On-Page Optimization | | endlessrange0 -
Suggestions to avoid duplicate content
Hi, we have about 6500 products, almost all with descriptions. SEOMOZ is showing about 2500 of them with duplicate content. The reason for this is that only one or two words are different for each product. For example, we have 500 award certificates. All are the same size and have the same description. But one is swimming, one baseball, one reading, etc, etc. Apparently the 1 word difference is not enough to differentiate. We have the same issue with our trophies - they are identical, except for figures. Does anyone have any good tips on how to change the content to avoid this issue and to avoid making up content for 2500 items? Thanks! Neil trophycentral.com
On-Page Optimization | | trophycentraltrophiesandawards0 -
Exact keyword or partial match?
Hello, SEOmoz What would you chose for your keywords for on page optimization: sterling silver necklaces sterling silver necklaces, silver necklaces I am thinking that choice #1 would full fill it's duty, because all key words are there already, am I right?
On-Page Optimization | | DiamondJewelryEmpire0