How Ahrefs did it without creating fresh blog posts to boost organic traffic by 51%

Here’s a sneaky hack to boost your organic traffic that’s both simple and game-changing! 🕵️‍♂️

If your killer blog posts aren’t getting the traffic they deserve, chances are you’re making a classic mistake that’s holding you back. But don’t worry—you’re not alone. The team at Ahrefs discovered this issue and fixed it, resulting in an impressive 51% increase in organic traffic. 🚀

The Problem: Keyword Cannibalization

So, what’s the deal? The culprit is keyword cannibalization—having multiple pages on your site competing for the same keyword. 🤦‍♀️

Here’s why it’s a big deal:

• When you have multiple pages targeting the same keyword, you confuse search engines.
• Instead of one strong page, your traffic gets split across several weaker pages.
• As a result, none of your pages rank as high as they could.

Ahrefs’ Fix: The Mega-Guide Strategy

Ahrefs had three separate blog posts targeting the keyword “anchor text”—each from a slightly different angle. Instead of letting them fight for attention, here’s what they did:

1. Merged the Content: They took the best information from all three posts and combined it into a comprehensive, all-in-one mega-guide.
2. 301-Redirected Old URLs: They redirected the URLs of the original posts to the new, consolidated article.
3. Updated Internal Links: Anywhere the old posts were linked internally, they updated those links to point to the new guide.

The Result? A 51% increase in organic traffic for that topic. 📈

Why This Works:

1. Stronger Content: A single, detailed piece of content is more likely to rank higher because it’s seen as authoritative and comprehensive by search engines.
2. Clear Signals for SEO: Consolidating pages eliminates confusion for search engines, making it crystal clear which page should rank for a specific keyword.
3. Better User Experience: Instead of scattering your insights across multiple posts, you’re offering readers everything they need in one convenient place.

The Takeaway: Merge, Don’t Compete

If your site has multiple pages targeting the same keyword, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. Take a step back, analyze your content, and identify areas where keyword cannibalization might be happening.

Here’s how you can fix it:

• Audit Your Content: Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Search Console to identify overlapping keywords.
• Combine & Refine: Merge similar posts into one high-quality, detailed guide.
• Redirect the Old: Use 301 redirects to point traffic from the old pages to your new, consolidated content.
• Update Internal Links: Make sure any links to the old content now point to the new page.

The Bottom Line:

Fixing keyword cannibalization is one of the fastest and most effective ways to boost your organic traffic. By merging competing pages into a single, powerful resource, you’ll send a clear signal to search engines, improve rankings, and deliver better value to your readers.

So, take a cue from Ahrefs: Merge your content and watch your traffic soar. 😎

Source: Ahrefs