Business

3 Tips to Fix Keyword Cannibalization from Real Guest Blogging

Published

5 years ago

July 23, 2020

Have you ever seen two or more of your web pages ranking for the same keyword? At first, this might seem like a good thing. After all, the more pages showing up on the first page, the more traffic you get, right? As any wise webmaster would tell you, however, this problem could be costing you potential customers and sales.

Real Guest Blogging specializes in content marketing, and one of the most common problems they encounter with their clients is keyword cannibalization. This happens when you target the same keyword across two or more pages on your website. Without an efficient content strategy in place, it proves challenging to prevent keyword cannibalization, particularly if you have a huge site with hundreds or even thousands of indexed pages.

It’s worth noting; however, that keyword cannibalization isn’t always a bad thing. But if you know that fixing the problem can improve your conversion rate and profit margins, then you should equip yourself with the right knowledge to stop your posts from cannibalizing each other once and for all.

1) Identify what pages are affected

Your first step is to identify what pages of your website are affected by keyword cannibalization. The easiest way to do this is to head over to Google and use the search query: “domain + keyword.” For instance, typing “bestwidgets.com + red widgets” will return a list of all indexed pages on your blog that contain this particular keyword or similar variations.

You need to sift through this list and identify what keywords these pages are ranking for. From there, it’s all a matter of finding out whether one or more pages rank for the same keyword.

2) De-optimize

When you see a page cannibalizing another, and you’re sure that your site will be better off without its ranking for the same keyword, then it’s time to start de-optimizing. The easiest thing to do is to remove the keyword in question from the page you want to withdraw from the search results pages. But this usually doesn’t cut it. In most cases, you have to look at the internal links pointing to that page and de-optimize the anchor texts as well.

To take things up a notch, you may want to use a backlink checker to see the external inbound links of the page. This entails reaching out to the webmasters of the sites that link to your page, and you can’t expect them to reply all the time. But it’s worth trying if you want the best shot at de-optimizing the page.

3) Merge similar content

Merging is the best route to take when two or more pages have very similar topics. Usually, you can combine these pages into a brand new page, allowing you to create a more comprehensive post that could have a higher ranking potential. Just remember to use a 301 redirect from the old pages to the new URL. Doing so will preserve “link juice,” giving the new page a better chance of ranking for your target keyword quickly.

4) Delete the page

Of course, you also have the option of merely deleting the pages that cannibalize others. Many webmasters might find this a bit extreme, and it can be not easy to delete a page knowing that you put in the time and effort to create it. But if you know that it hurts the chances of ranking another page, then it’s best to delete it. This applies in particular to pages that get little traffic and have no backlinks.

In Summary

Keyword cannibalization can be a severe problem for any website, yet it’s easy to forget about it as you focus on creating content and optimizing other website elements. Real Guest Blogging recommends preventing the issue before it even arises. Determine whether any of your existing pages already rank for the target keyword you have in mind. This helps you figure out whether it’s worth creating content from scratch or you’re better off updating an old post.

Business

Scaling Strategies for Bootstrapped Founders: Why Smart Startup Entrepreneurs are Ditching Traditional Agencies for Leaner Growth Machines

Published

3 days ago

September 4, 2025

Matthew Wiles

Today’s startups need to scale at top speed. Conventional methods for achieving business growth and revenue early are under fire. That’s why more and more savvy founders are abandoning the traditional marketing agency business model. They realize that the rules of the game have changed.

Leading this shift is Pablo Gerboles Parrilla, founder of Pabs Marketing. He’s a techpreneur and CEO whose unique perspective marries technological insight and marketing expertise.

For today’s founders, Gerboles believes the message is clear: cash flow and profitability don’t depend on VC funding. It’s time to ditch old-school agencies and turn to leaner, more flexible growth machines.

The age of scaling a bootstrapped startup: Why founders choose to scale without external funding or venture capital

“Startups are nothing like the established corporations traditional agencies are built to serve,” Gerboles says. “They need to be nimble and conserve their resources. The last things they need are bloated services with hidden fees and lengthy contracts. They need results, and they needed them yesterday.”

Traditional agencies position themselves as one-stop shops for marketing and growth, offering extensive teams and shiny presentations, but their campaigns come with a hefty price tag. Those structures work well for Fortune 500 companies needing big-budget omnichannel campaigns. For startups? They often translate to high retainers and little flexibility.

“If you’re a startup founder, wasting time and resources on presentations that don’t lead to actionable growth isn’t an option,” Gerboles explains. “You have to be data-driven and relentless in finding what works. Traditional agencies are just too slow and cumbersome to deliver.”

Successful bootstrapping can lead to sustainable growth: Lean growth machines for lean operations

Gerboles spent the last six years helping founders to scale their businesses quickly and sustainably. His background in technology and marketing enables these founders to break free from outdated agency models in favor of smarter alternatives. He combines lean growth machines built on systems and sophisticated AI-powered tools with the power of micro-agencies and niche contractors.

“Agility is everything,” Gerboles shares. “The best founders today aren’t looking for creativity for its own sake. They want to see scalable solutions.”

The foundation of Gerboles’s philosophy lies in automating human-driven processes through software. Whether automating lead generation and funnel tracking, optimizing campaigns for performance with AI, or streamlining day-to-day operational tasks, smart automation reduces costs and enables companies to scale faster.

Take marketing strategy, for example. Instead of handing over control to a traditional large-scale agency, modern founders can engage niche micro-agencies with expertise in specific domains like paid media, SEO, or influencer campaigns. These smaller, hyper-focused teams are far more nimble, deliver measurable ROI, and cost a fraction of the price.

“When you combine these micro-agencies with contractors and automation, you’ve bypassed a lot of unnecessary overhead,” Gerboles explains.

The importance of accountability, transparency, and results in scaling strategies for bootstrapped founders

For Gerboles, one major shortfall of traditional agencies is the lack of true accountability. “You don’t want vague creative promises or KPIs that could mean anything,” he says. “You want sharp goals and clear deliverables. Most of all, you want systems that let you track performance in real time. Nothing builds trust and drives results faster than data-driven accountability.”

The shift away from agencies is primarily driven by concerns over transparency and reliability. By leveraging smaller, specialized teams or AI-powered tools, startups can maintain a tighter grasp on their marketing and growth. When they find what works, they can iterate quickly based on live campaign data.

“Smart founders don’t have time to wait weeks for an update,” Gerboles quips. “When you build lean growth machines, you’re always connected to your performance metrics. You can pivot instantly. This model rewards consistency and strategic risk-taking.”

When Gerboles designs systems for startups, he emphasizes performance certainty. He eliminates guesswork and sticks to systems that work. It’s a philosophy that resonates with modern entrepreneurs who value clarity and efficiency above all else.

Scaling strategies for bootstrapped founders who don’t consider external funding: a blend of technology and micro-agencies

The evolution Gerboles champions is already well underway. The rise of AI, no-code platforms, and automation tools means startups can do more with less — and faster — than ever. Solutions like automated campaign optimization, predictive analytics, and content creation tools enable startups to scale their output without hiring a large team or committing to an agency’s payroll.

Meanwhile, on-demand contractors and micro-agencies provide laser-focused expertise on an as-needed basis. Whether it’s bringing in a TikTok ads expert for a short-term boost, hiring a conversion copywriter for a product launch, or testing AI-powered chatbots for lead management, lean growth machines are redefining the agility game.

“An expert contractor or a micro-agency specializing in your exact need will always be faster and better than the ‘generalist’ vibes you get from old-school agencies,” Gerboles notes. “Specialization and precision are the name of the game now.”

Founders who want to lead in the new era of business are increasingly following the path Pablo Gerboles lays out. They are choosing smarter systems, investing in the right tech stack, prioritizing accountability, and embracing speed at every level.

“Business isn’t a time to play safe,” Pablo says. “It’s about innovation and pushing edges within a clear strategy. Surround yourself with agile partners, hold processes to results, and find the tools that help you stay lean. That’s how you win in today’s game.”

Gerboles is a thoughtful entrepreneur committed to helping business leaders reinvent their approach to growth. From ideation to execution, his advice rings true: leave the bloated bureaucracy of yesterday’s agencies behind and build lean growth machines fueled by agility and results.