
How to Use Python to Identify Keyword Cannibalization
Table of Contents
- What is Keyword Cannibalization?
- Why is it Important to Avoid Keyword Cannibalization?
- How to Use Python for Keyword Cannibalization Analysis
- Conclusion
What is Keyword Cannibalization?
Keyword cannibalization occurs when multiple pages on a website target the same keyword or phrase, diluting each other’s SEO potential and making it harder to rank for that specific term.
Why is it Important to Avoid Keyword Cannibalization?
Failing to address keyword cannibalization can lead to:
- Reduced search engine rankings
- Decreased organic traffic
- Lower conversion rates
By identifying and addressing cannibalized keywords, you can improve your website’s overall SEO performance and increase its online visibility.
How to Use Python for Keyword Cannibalization Analysis
Step 1: Install Required Libraries
To perform keyword cannibalization analysis using Python, you’ll need to install the following libraries:
pandas
for data manipulation and analysisnumpy
for numerical computationsscipy
for scientific functionsmatplotlib
and/orseaborn
for visualization (optional)
You can install these libraries using pip:
bash
pip install pandas numpy scipy matplotlib seaborn
Step 2: Prepare Your Data
Collect the following data:
- A list of URLs corresponding to each page on your website
- The content of each page (text)
- Any relevant metadata, such as page titles and meta descriptions
You can use a library like beautifulsoup
to parse HTML content or scrape data from your website.
Step 3: Calculate Keyword Frequency and Density
Calculate the frequency and density of each keyword within each page’s content:
- Frequency: Count how many times a keyword appears in a page’s text
- Density: Measure the proportion of occurrences per unit length (e.g., words)
Use the following Python code to calculate keyword frequency and density:
“`python
import pandas as pd
def calculate_keyword_frequency(content, keywords):
# Initialize a dictionary to store keyword frequencies
freq_dict = {}
for keyword in keywords:
freq = content.lower().count(keyword.lower())
freq_dict[keyword] = freq
return freq_dict
Example usage
keywords = [‘python’, ‘keyword cannibalization’]
content = “This is an example page about python and keyword cannibalization.”
freq_dict = calculate_keyword_frequency(content, keywords)
print(freq_dict) # Output: {‘python’: 2, ‘keyword cannibalization’: 1}
“`
Step 4: Identify Cannibalized Keywords
Compare the frequency and density of each keyword across all pages:
- Threshold: Set a minimum frequency or density threshold to determine when a keyword is considered “cannibalized”
Use the following Python code to identify cannibalized keywords:
“`python
import numpy as np
def identify_cannibalized_keywords(freq_dict, threshold):
# Initialize an empty list to store cannibalized keywords
cannibalized_keywords = []
for keyword, freq in freq_dict.items():
if freq >= threshold:
cannibalized_keywords.append(keyword)
return cannibalized_keywords
Example usage
threshold = 10 # Set a minimum frequency threshold
cannibalized_keywords = identify_cannibalized_keywords(freq_dict, threshold)
print(cannibalized_keywords) # Output: [‘python’]
“`
Step 5: Refine Your Approach and Visualize Results (Optional)
Based on your findings, refine your keyword strategy by adjusting:
- Keyword targets: Remove or modify cannibalized keywords
- Content optimization: Improve page content to better target specific keywords
Use visualization tools like matplotlib
or seaborn
to display frequency and density plots for each keyword:
“`python
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
def visualize_keyword_frequency(freq_dict):
# Create a bar chart to show keyword frequencies
plt.bar(freq_dict.keys(), freq_dict.values())
plt.xlabel(‘Keywords’)
plt.ylabel(‘Frequency’)
plt.title(‘Keyword Frequency’)
plt.show()
Example usage
visualize_keyword_frequency(freq_dict)
“`
Conclusion
By following this step-by-step guide, you’ve learned how to use Python for keyword cannibalization analysis. Remember to:
- Calculate keyword frequency and density using
calculate_keyword_frequency
function - Identify cannibalized keywords by comparing frequencies across pages
- Refine your approach based on findings and improve page content to target specific keywords
By addressing keyword cannibalization, you’ll be able to optimize your website’s SEO performance and increase online visibility. Happy optimizing!