Similar keywords on multiple pages?
If you follow our advice on site structure, you know to avoid using the same keyword twice. You’re aware that you shouldn’t cannibalize your own chances to rank. Things get a bit more complicated when you’ve got keyphrases that are similar, but not quite the same. How do you avoid keyword cannibalization and use your site structure to your advantage, in those cases?
Tristan sent us a question on the subject. He wondered what to do when he wants to optimize a page for a keyphrase containing a keyword that he already optimized another page for:
“What should I do if my phrases contain keywords I’ve already optimized other pages for? For example [bridal makeup course] and [makeup course]. Both pages have been optimized with ‘makeup course’ in their phrase. Would they conflict with each other? What should I do about this?”
Watch the video or read the transcript for the answer!
Dealing with related head and long tail keyphrases
Well, Tristan, if you do it right, then the ‘bridal makeup course’ page will automatically rank better for [bridal make up course] than the ‘make up course’ page. The problem you have is that you’re afraid that your ‘bridal makeup course’ page will outrank your ‘make up course’ page for the term [makeup course].
If that’s the case you should really make sure that your ‘bridal makeup course’ page links to your ‘makeup course’ page telling people that that’s the more general page about your make up courses. And that the bridal make up course is specific to bridal makeup.
Actually having the two pages might make it easier to rank for the makeup course keyword. In fact, you might get lucky and get two results, where your makeup course page ranks #1 and your bridal makeup course page ranks #2, as an indent for the same keyword. So it doesn’t have to be a problem at all. Good luck!
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great post
Tristan asked my question
thanks
Another scenario can be the creation of 2 search results from your website which might divide the traffic for this keyword and hence might lower your rankings, wouldn’t that be detrimental? your thoughts Joost?
But I liked the idea of optimizing the pages for related keywords.
Great Post, very informative
Short, simple and wonderful answer to many queries. Thanks Tristan.
Well ! Same keywords on multiple pages are not always make us successful may be that helps a lot in finding earlier in google first page.
but it not for a long time because day by day the no. of websites increasing so they may target on same competition stands you in strong competition…
if you plan for different keywords for different page you can be strong and clear to page so that google helps more and support to stand in front page.
Thanks.
Apparently, I haven’t thought the way as Tristan did. I got confused then only when I found exact similar wordings in 2 articles as keyword. After seeing this post now I’m realizing that I could have thought this way. It is logical enough.
Great question. I firmly believe you can rank multiple pages for the same keyword, however, there will always be one that Google favours. If you do your on-page right, and link to the pages well from within your site, you’re onto a winner I think :)