Ownership Status is a categorical label per topical cluster that summarizes whether your site is in good shape, partial shape, or has a problem.
The four states
| Status | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Owned | One URL on your site ranks for ≥50% of the cluster's queries | Keep updating it — it's working |
| Partial | Multiple URLs split the cluster's queries — no single dominant page | Consolidate or pick a winner |
| Cannibal | Multiple URLs competing on the same queries — they're cannibalizing each other | Merge, redirect, or differentiate |
| Gap | No URL ranks meaningfully for the cluster despite search demand | Write a new page — this is where ROI is highest |
Why it matters more than rank position
Google ranks pages, but topical authority lives at the cluster level. A site with owned clusters tends to keep ranking through algorithm changes; one full of partials and cannibals is fragile.
The biggest opportunity is usually gaps — search demand exists, you have credibility in the surrounding topic, but no dedicated page is fighting for it. BCited's Content Brief generator targets these specifically.