When should I cover 2 keywords with one page and when should I create a separate subpage?

The right decision as to whether two keywords should be treated on one page or whether separate subpages make more sense is essential for the success of your SEO strategy.

Often two search terms look similar, but have different search intentions or appeal to different target groups.

In such cases, keyword cannibalization can occur if both terms compete on the same target page.

But there are simple methods for finding the right solution: A close look at the Google SERPs, the use of a SERP overlap tool and consideration of the top 10 and search intent are crucial.

Here you will learn step by step how to solve the problem and get the maximum performance out of your content.

Different spellings or keyword variants: When a common page is enough

In many cases, keywords that differ only in minor details can easily be covered on a single page. This is especially true for different spellings, synonyms or plural forms.

A typical example would be“SEO consulting” and“consulting for SEO“. There is no difference in search intent or topic here, so with well-structured content you can place both keywords on the same URL.

For this to work, you should incorporate the keywords evenly in the content without repeating them excessively.

It is particularly important to place a clear focus on the main keyword in the headings, meta data and the most important positions on the page.

In this way, you signal to the search engines which is the primary focus keyword, while the variants naturally appear in the body text.

Different subject areas require separate subpages

However, there are cases in which you cannot avoid creating separate subpages. This is the case if the keywords relate to different subject areas or target groups.

A good example is“SEO agency for craftsmen” and“SEO agency for e-commerce“. Although both terms relate to the overarching topic of search engine optimization, they have very different requirements and search results.

If you try to cover both keywords on the same page, there is a risk that the content remains too general and does not fulfill the specific search queries of the users.

This would lead to weaker rankings and possibly even to keyword cannibalization, where both terms fight for the same position in the SERPs.

Another indication that separate subpages are useful is the amount of information you can provide for each term. If there is enough material to create extensive content with added value, you should not hesitate to create a separate landing page.

The SERP Overlap Check: Compare the top 10 results

The SERP Overlap Check is a proven method to determine whether two keywords can be covered on a common web page or whether there is an overlap in the search results.

You analyze the top ten positions in the Google SERPs for both terms and check how many URLs are identical.

This simple tool saves you time and gives you a clear answer as to whether a shared page makes sense. But there are other important factors that you should consider.

The importance of the first 3 search results (top 3)

The top 3 positions in the SERPs are particularly relevant as they attract the majority of traffic.

In your SERP overlap check, you should therefore not only pay attention to the score for the top ten, but also take a closer look at the first 3 positions.

If the first 3 results for both keywords are identical, but the rest of the top ten vary, a common landing page is sufficient in most cases.

The top rankings indicate that the search engines consider the two search terms to be very similar.

A targeted comparison of the contents will help you to make the right decision.

The role of search intent: small differences, big impact

Another important point is the search intent. Even if two keywords are almost identical, small differences in the choice of words can lead to completely different search results.

A typical example:

• “High Protein” provides informative content such as recipes and nutrition tips.
• “High protein bars”, on the other hand, leads to shopping pages with product offers.

It is therefore important that you check the search intent before deciding to combine two keywords. A glance at the browser is often enough to recognize differences in the results.

Practical example: When you need a page or several subpages

Let’s assume you have the keywords“SEO agency Munich” and“SEO consulting Munich“. You can use the SERP overlap tool to check how many of the top ten positions match.

If you find that more than 50% of the URLs are identical and the first 3 places also show the same pages, you can easily cover both keywords on a common page.

However, if there are large differences in the top 10 results or the search intent varies, you should create separate subpages to achieve the best performance.

Tips for optimal page design

If you want to cover both keywords on a common landing page, make sure that the content is clearly structured:

• Use subheadings and internal links to cover both topics.
• Place the focus keyword in the most important positions such as the H1, the meta data and in the introductory text.
• Avoid excessive repetition of keywords to make the content natural.

Conclusion: How to avoid keyword cannibalization and increase your SEO performance

In summary, you can use the SERP overlap check and search intent analysis to quickly determine whether you should treat two keywords on one page or on separate pages.

Use tools like Ahrefs, Semrush or some of the SERP overlap tools (there are many on the web) to compare the URLs of the search results and calculate the SERP overlap score.

If you are unsure or would like to optimize your SEO strategy, get in touch with us!

At TRYSEO, we help you to identify the right keywords and structure your website optimally.

Together we win the battle for the best places in the Google SERPs!