If I want to rank well on one keyword would it be better to optimize multiple pages on the website for the keyword or should I only optimize one page for that keyword?

[CustomOnlineMarketing]

If I want to rank well on one keyword would it be better to optimize multiple pages on the website for the keyword or should I only optimize one page for that keyword?

[SanketPatel]

Hi Sara

Now a days google doesn't make any sense if  thousands are links comes from single domain, it might be possible that google consider it as an unnatural links and you are doing over optmization of your keyword. so it is batter to use variant relevant pages of your domain. Target relevant inner pages with keyword variation it is best method  for the keyword optimization.

[EGOL]

I don't fear keyword cannibalization.  I attack it.

If I want to rank for a difficult term - "widgets" for example, I prepare a comprehensive page (a few thousand words and lots of images and data) about that topic.  Then, based upon keyword research of what people are looking for and my own knowledge of what they need to know, I prepare many detailed pages for the really important second and third level keywords.

Each of those topics are explained on the comprehensive page and presented as a subheading but much more detailed information as well as more images, data and graphs are on the second and third level pages.

After this is in place Google should see that my site has everything that anybody anywhere is asking for about widgets and the presentation is rich with data, photos, images and deep content.

So, which do you think will rank higher  --  what I described above or your puny page?

For my labor I will also attract an enormous amount of long tail queries.

==========

If you prepare a few narrowly-focused pages about a topic you can run into cannibalization problems because these pages compete against yourself.  However, if you plan a broad saturation of the topic region you can actually achieve double listings for lots of the secondary and tertiary keywords.

[cprasad]

Yes, 100% agree with Thomas. Then spider will go to sub pages through the main optimized page and will not occur any keyword cannibalization. So after you have done sub pages and linked them to main page, you must check the main page using On Page Optimization tool using your keyword. So, it will show if there any keyword cannibalization.

[Thos003]

One page.

But you could use multiple pages to keep it a consistent theme on the website. If you want to rank for Shoes, then you create one page for shoes. Then create other pages more specific to say running shoes, or dress shoes, but link them back to your shoes page.

In a perfect SEO world...

Shoes.com

sub pages = Running Shoes | Dress Shoes | Snow Shoes

All linking back to the Shoes.com homepage, optimized for Shoes.

[cprasad]

You must optimize only one page. Not multiple pages.

You will have a clear idea about that after you read this great blog post, posted by Rand

How to solve the keyword cannibalization

Regards

Prasad