How to Avoid Keyword Cannibalization: Organic & Paid Search

Keyword cannibalizations represents a common pitfall in PPC advertising, capable of undermining your campaign’s performance and depleting your budget. This issue arises when you target identical or closely related keywords in multiple ad groups or campaigns, pitting them against each other for impressions, clicks, and conversions.

Many marketers involved in SEO or business owners managing their marketing efforts often run concurrent SEO and PPC campaigns. The general guideline is that PPC campaigns are geared towards swift user acquisition, albeit at a higher cost, while SEO is viewed as a long-term strategy.

However, a significant challenge in this setup is the potential for encountering instances of keyword cannibalizations between your SEO and PPC initiatives. In this article, we will delve into the concept of PPC keyword cannibalizations, explore its various forms, and provide insights on how to prevent such conflicts.

What is Keyword Cannibalization in Organic and Paid Search Campaign?

Keyword cannibalizations is a phenomenon in digital marketing where multiple pages or pieces of content on a website target the same or similar keywords. This can occur in both organic and paid search campaigns, and it can have a negative impact on your overall search engine optimization (SEO) and advertising efforts.

Here’s how keyword cannibalizations can happen in both organic and paid search campaigns:

1. Keyword Cannibalizations in Organic Search Campaigns

In organic SEO, keyword cannibalizations can occur when multiple pages on a website are optimized for the same keyword or set of keywords. When Google’s algorithm sees multiple pages competing for the same keyword, it can have trouble determining which page to rank highest. This can lead to a lower ranking for all pages or, in some cases, one page outranking others, which may not be the intended or most relevant page.

For example, if you have a website about fitness and you have two different blog posts optimized for the keyword “best cardio workouts,” Google may not know which one to rank higher. This dilutes the authority of your content and can lead to lower overall search rankings.

2. Keyword Cannibalizations in Paid Search Campaigns

In paid search, keyword cannibalizations can occur when multiple ads within the same account or campaign target the same keywords. This can lead to increased competition and higher costs for those keywords. Additionally, having multiple ads targeting the same keyword can confuse the ad auction process, potentially resulting in lower ad quality scores and higher costs per click (CPC).

For instance, if you run a PPC (Pay-Per-Click) campaign for an online shoe store and have multiple ad groups with ads targeting the keyword “running shoes,” those ads may compete with each other, driving up the CPC and reducing the overall efficiency of your campaign.

Paid Results vs Organic Google Search Results Overlap

Paid results and organic results overlap when both paid search listings (such as Pay-Per-Click or PPC ads) and organic search listings (non-paid, natural search results) appear for the same search query on a search engine results page (SERP).

This overlap can have both advantages and disadvantages, and it’s important for digital marketers to understand how it impacts their search engine marketing efforts. Here’s a closer look at the overlap between paid and organic results:

1. Advantages of Overlap:

• Increased Visibility: When both paid and organic results appear for a particular keyword, your brand or website is more likely to be seen by users. This can be especially beneficial if you have a strong presence in both paid and organic listings, as it reinforces your authority.
• Credibility: Users often perceive brands that appear in both paid and organic listings as more credible and authoritative. This dual presence can boost user trust.
• Multiple Touchpoints: Overlapping listings provide multiple touchpoints with potential customers. Users may interact with your paid ad first and then engage with your organic content later, or vice versa.
• Customization: Paid ads allow you to create custom ad copy, landing pages, and calls to action. By utilizing paid advertising alongside organic listings, you can tailor your messaging to specific goals or promotions.

Also Read: 10 Proven Ways on How to Increase Your Brand Awareness

2. Disadvantages of Overlap:

• Increased Costs: Running paid ads for keywords where you already have strong organic rankings can increase advertising costs without a proportional increase in return on investment (ROI). You may essentially be paying for clicks you could have received organically.
• Click Dilution: Overlapping listings can dilute the click-through rate (CTR) and user engagement for both paid and organic results. Users might click on a paid ad instead of the organic listing, which can impact the effectiveness of your SEO efforts.
• Competition: Overlapping with your own ads in the paid results can create competition with your own organic listings. This may lead to inefficiencies and higher costs per click (CPC) in your paid campaigns.

6 Tips to Avoid Keyword Cannibalizations Between Organic and Paid Search Campaign

Avoiding keyword cannibalizations between organic and paid search campaigns is essential to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of your digital marketing efforts. The following strategies can be employed to mitigate the occurrence of keyword cannibalizations:

1. Keyword Research and Segmentation

• Conduct thorough keyword research to identify high-potential keywords for both organic and paid campaigns.
• Segment keywords into distinct categories based on user intent, competition, and relevance to your goals.

2. Keyword Mapping

• Create a keyword map that clearly designates which keywords are intended for organic SEO and which are designated for paid search.
• Ensure that each keyword group has a specific purpose and aligns with the content or landing page it targets.

3. Negative Keywords (For Paid Search)

• Use negative keywords in your PPC campaigns to prevent your paid ads from showing for specific keywords for which you have strong organic rankings.
• Negative keywords help filter out irrelevant traffic, reducing costs and improving ad relevancy.

4. Match Keywords to Content and Landing Pages

• Ensure that your organic content and landing pages are optimized for specific keywords, providing valuable and relevant information to users.
• Align your ad copy and landing pages in paid search campaigns with the keywords you’re targeting.

Also Read: Wix vs WordPress vs Others CMS: Choosing the Best CMS for You

5. Content Consolidation (For Organic Search)

• If you have multiple pages targeting the same keyword, consider consolidating them into a single, comprehensive, and authoritative page.
• Redirect or merge content where appropriate to strengthen your organic search presence.

6. Coordinate Teams and Efforts

• Foster communication and collaboration between your organic and paid search teams to align strategies and goals.
• Regularly share insights and performance data to make informed decisions.

In summary, the potential for keyword cannibalizations between organic and paid search campaigns can be a common challenge in digital marketing. To overcome this issue, it’s crucial to employ effective strategies, including meticulous keyword research and mapping, the use of negative keywords in paid search, and coordination between your teams.

By implementing these measures, you can ensure that both your organic and paid campaigns work in harmony, optimizing your online visibility while minimizing conflicts and inefficiencies. For businesses seeking expert guidance in managing their digital marketing campaigns, partnering with a reputable digital marketing agency in Singapore can provide invaluable assistance in navigating such challenges effectively.