Split queries
Site: https://www.hearthbook.example. Search Console, 2026-07-01 to 2026-09-30. Rules: share = page impressions / total query impressions (summed from the rows); a query is split when 2 or more pages each have at least 20%. Minimum query impressions: 200 (every query here qualifies).
| Query | Total impressions | Page (rows) | Share | Clicks | Avg pos | Split |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sourdough starter | 18,000 + 15,000 = 33,000 | /sourdough-starter-guide (Q1) | 54.5% | 900 | 4.1 | yes |
| /how-to-make-sourdough-starter (Q2) | 45.5% | 700 | 5.6 | |||
| sourdough starter recipe | 6,000 + 5,000 = 11,000 | /how-to-make-sourdough-starter (Q3) | 54.5% | 400 | 3.2 | yes |
| /sourdough-starter-guide (Q4) | 45.5% | 300 | 4.8 | |||
| banana bread | 30,000 + 9,000 = 39,000 | /banana-bread (Q7) | 76.9% | 2,000 | 1.8 | yes |
| /healthy-banana-bread (Q8) | 23.1% | 500 | 6.0 | |||
| sourdough discard recipes | 14,000 + 1,500 = 15,500 | /sourdough-discard-recipes (Q5) | 90.3% | 1,200 | 2.0 | no, the second page has 9.7% |
| /sourdough-starter-guide (Q6) | 9.7% | 40 | 11.3 | |||
| sourdough bread recipe | 9,000 | /sourdough-bread (Q9) | 100% | 800 | 3.5 | no, only one page |
Split queries: 3, counted from the table.
Page pairs
| Pair | Pages | Split queries | Purpose lines (quoted) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | /sourdough-starter-guide and /how-to-make-sourdough-starter | sourdough starter; sourdough starter recipe | "how to make and maintain a sourdough starter (2021 post)" and "how to make a sourdough starter in 7 days (2024 post)" | Same intent (making a starter): real cannibalization |
| B | /banana-bread and /healthy-banana-bread | banana bread | "classic banana bread recipe" and "lower sugar banana bread with oat flour" | Different intents (classic vs lower sugar with oat flour): leave alone |
Actions
Pair A: Merge. - Keeper by clicks across the pair's split queries (Q1 to Q4): /sourdough-starter-guide 900 + 300 = 1,200; /how-to-make-sourdough-starter 700 + 400 = 1,100. Keep https://www.hearthbook.example/sourdough-starter-guide. - Move the 7 day method from the 2024 post into the guide, so the kept page covers both making and maintaining a starter. Then 301 https://www.hearthbook.example/how-to-make-sourdough-starter to the guide. - Why merge rather than canonical: both pages answer "how to make a sourdough starter", and nothing in your input says both must stay live. Canonical is for near duplicates that have to stay. - Don't use noindex or robots.txt to pick between them. Google's canonical guidance advises against both for this. - The 2024 post is newer and ranks better for "sourdough starter recipe" (3.2 vs 4.8). If you prefer it as the keeper, the click totals are close (1,200 vs 1,100), so it's your call; see Needs your decision.
The aim is one clear page for this intent. It doesn't promise a ranking change.
Leave alone
- Pair B, /banana-bread and /healthy-banana-bread: they share the words "banana bread" but serve different intents, per the purpose lines above. The healthy page holds 23.1% of "banana bread" impressions at position 6.0, which is normal overlap.
- /sourdough-starter-guide on "sourdough discard recipes" (Q6, 9.7% share): below the 20% line, not split.
Action counts
Counted from the pair table: Merge 1 (A), Canonical 0, Differentiate 0, Leave alone 1 (B). Total 2 pairs.
Method notes
- Shares and click totals come from your Search Console rows, summed by script. One date range throughout.
- The verdicts rest on your purpose lines, not on shared words.
Needs your decision
- Approve merging pair A, and choose the keeper (guide by clicks, or the 2024 post).
- Approve the 301 before anyone adds it.