Merging multiple similar pages that target overlapping queries to avoid cannibalization.
Ever feel like you are writing content for a lot of different keywords, but none of them are really helping your website rank? It is a common problem, but I am here to tell you there is a better way. I am going to talk about something called Query Consolidation. I have been in this game for 15 years, and I have learned that this is a major key to getting a lot of traffic from one single piece of content. I am going to explain what is Query Consolidation and give you some simple, actionable tips to make your content work smarter for you. You will walk away knowing how to get more of the right people to your site with less work.
So, what is Query Consolidation? It is the process of combining multiple similar or related keywords into a single, comprehensive piece of content. Instead of creating a separate blog post for “best running shoes,” “top running shoes,” and “great running shoes,” you would create one single article that is a comprehensive guide to all of them. This is a much better strategy because it avoids duplicate content and helps you build a strong, authoritative page that can rank for many different keywords.
Google has gotten a lot smarter over the years. It can now understand that a lot of different keywords have the same user intent. By consolidating your content, you are telling Google that you have one amazing, go-to resource on a topic, rather than a bunch of similar, average pages. This signals to Google that your content is high-quality and worth a high ranking.
How Query Consolidation Impacts Different CMS Platforms
The principles of Query Consolidation apply to every website, no matter the CMS. Your platform is just the tool you use to create the content. I am going to show you how to think about this with some of the most popular platforms. The goal is to make your content comprehensive and easy to find.
WordPress
WordPress is an amazing platform for Query Consolidation because of its powerful blogging features. I recommend you use it to create “pillar content” which is very long and covers a lot of related keywords. For example, a single, comprehensive guide to “gardening for beginners” can rank for a hundred different related keywords, like “how to plant vegetables,” “how to grow tomatoes,” and “best soil for gardening.”
Shopify
For Shopify, you can use Query Consolidation by creating detailed product category pages that target a lot of related keywords. For example, a single category page for “men’s waterproof hiking boots” can rank for searches like “best hiking boots for men” and “waterproof boots for hiking.” You can also use a blog to create buying guides that cover a lot of different product keywords in one place.
Wix
Wix makes it easy to create new pages and blog posts. You can use this to your advantage by creating a single, comprehensive page for a topic. For example, instead of a page for “web design pricing,” you can create a single page called “web design services and pricing.” This helps you target more keywords with one page and keeps your site from having a lot of thin content.
Webflow
Webflow’s design freedom allows you to build a single, beautiful landing page that covers a lot of related topics. You can create a page with different sections for each of your services, and each section can target a different keyword. This helps you have a single, authoritative page that ranks for a lot of different searches, which is great for SEO.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control to build a system that supports Query Consolidation. You can build a template that encourages your content creators to create long-form, comprehensive content. You can also use your system to track a lot of related keywords and make sure they are all being covered by a single, authoritative page.
How Query Consolidation Applies to Different Industries
The concept of Query Consolidation is the same for every business, but the way you apply it changes depending on what you do. It is all about figuring out what your audience wants and giving it to them in a single, comprehensive piece of content. I am going to show you how to do this for a few key sectors.
Ecommerce
In ecommerce, Query Consolidation is all about your product category pages. I recommend you create detailed, long-form category pages that include everything a customer needs to know. For example, a category page for “women’s running shoes” can rank for “best running shoes for women,” “women’s jogging shoes,” and “women’s trainers.”
Local Businesses
For a local business, you can use Query Consolidation by creating a single page that lists all of your services in a specific location. For example, a single page titled “Plumbing Services in Sialkot” can rank for “emergency plumber Sialkot,” “Sialkot drain cleaning,” and “Sialkot water heater repair.” This helps you rank for a lot of local searches with just one page.
SaaS
For a SaaS company, you can use Query Consolidation by creating a single, comprehensive guide that covers a lot of related topics. For example, a single guide titled “Project Management for Small Businesses” can rank for keywords like “how to manage a remote team” and “best project management tool.” This helps you attract a lot of different users with one amazing piece of content.
Blogs
For a blog, Query Consolidation is a perfect strategy. Instead of writing a bunch of short articles, you can write one amazing, long-form article that covers a lot of related keywords. This helps you build a strong, authoritative page that can rank higher and for more keywords than a lot of small, thin articles.
FAQ Section
Is Query Consolidation the same as “keyword stuffing”?
No, not at all. Keyword stuffing is using the same keyword over and over again on a page. Query Consolidation is about using a lot of related, but different, keywords in a natural way in one single, comprehensive piece of content. The goal is to provide a complete answer to a user’s question, not to trick Google.
How can I find out what queries I should consolidate?
You can use a few simple methods. Start by looking at your Google Search Console reports. Look for a lot of similar, low-ranking keywords that are all pointing to the same page. You can then create a new, single page that targets all of them. You can also use a keyword tool to find related keywords that you should cover in one article.
What is “pillar content” and how does it relate to Query Consolidation?
Pillar content is a long, comprehensive piece of content that covers a broad topic. It is the perfect example of Query Consolidation. A pillar page can then link to a lot of smaller, more specific articles that are all related to the same broad topic. This helps you build a strong, authoritative content hub on your website.
Should I delete my old, short articles and combine them into one?
Yes, often this is a great strategy. If you have a lot of short, similar articles that are not ranking well, you can combine them into one single, comprehensive article. This helps you create a high-quality, authoritative page that is much more likely to rank for all of those keywords.
