How many keyword phrases to start?

[Comenius]

Curious what people think about how many keyword phrases you should target with a new website.

I have a few phrases in mind, but I'm not sure if I should spread them out (in signatures, directories, link requests), or just go full bore and only use a single keyword phrase for a while.

If the answer changes over time, when do you start adding additional phrases that you are targeting?

Appreciate opinions and advice!

[Ian C]

I don't claim to have real insight into the best approach, but I can share what I tend to do...

Each page generally targets 1-2 primary keywords/phrases and a handful of secondaray phrases.

My personal approach is to go after the easiest ones first and then build on that going after progressively more difficult phrases - nothing succeeds[or attracts links] like success...

Best wishes...

Ian C

[peter_d]

how many keyword phrases you should target with a new website.

You want to cast as wide a net as you can.

Decide on a theme, and write up as many pages as you can on that theme. Each page should contain a keyword term relating to that theme, and semantic variations thereof.

The goal is to generate on-topic relevant traffic, rather than ranking just for one of two golden terms - like the difference between fishing with a line and fishing with a net. The net is less focused and specific than a line, but catches more fish.

I have a few phrases in mind, but I'm not sure if I should spread them out (in signatures, directories, link requests), or just go full bore and only use a single keyword phrase for a while.

I'd avoid using the exact same phrase, as Google are trying to defeat Google bombs, which can have the side effect of taking out same-keyword SEO links.

Use semantic variations of your chosen term/s.

If the answer changes over time, when do you start adding additional phrases that you are targeting?

Try the Logfile Feedback Method. It doesn't get talked about much, but it works extremely well.

[seomania]

I'll start with single keyword for single page. That keyword also would have minimum hits say- 60 per month. Then I'll optimize that page for next keyword with 100 per month. Like this I will optimize my pages.

[sheena]

You need to target at least 1-3 keywords for single pages. We add phrases when the keywords or phrases is not ranked in the serch engines. Keyword or keyword phrases is used in signatures, directories, link request as to rank and position in the search engine

Originally Posted by Comenius

Curious what people think about how many keyword phrases you should target with a new website.

I have a few phrases in mind, but I'm not sure if I should spread them out (in signatures, directories, link requests), or just go full bore and only use a single keyword phrase for a while.

If the answer changes over time, when do you start adding additional phrases that you are targeting?

Appreciate opinions and advice!

[Janna122003]

You can target 5 minor and 5 major keywords in each page.

[SeLFiE_12]

I'll go for atleast 3 keyword phrases which already got the best of keywords i want to target...

[Mark07]

You can try between 3-5 keyword phrases initially and later on you can decide how to increase it accordingly.

[Rankenstein]

Originally Posted by Ian C

Each page generally targets 1-2 primary keywords/phrases and a handful of secondaray phrases.

I'd go along with that.

[tresmom]

Originally Posted by Ian C

I don't claim to have real insight into the best approach, but I can share what I tend to do...

Each page generally targets 1-2 primary keywords/phrases and a handful of secondaray phrases.

My personal approach is to go after the easiest ones first and then build on that going after progressively more difficult phrases - nothing succeeds[or attracts links] like success...

Best wishes...

Ian C

I agree with one or two. I have never had much success going for more than that myself.

[peter_d]

Is there any testable proof that one, two, three or four keyword terms per page is optimal ?

A page should be able to show up for multiple terms. Dozens of terms. If a page does not, then it is missing a lot of opportunity. Remember, *most* searches are unique.

Check out the Long Tail as to the reason why this theory is sound.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Tail

There is more traffic in the tail than in the head. i.e. if you collectively target the lesser known phrases, you'll end up with more traffic than the guy who only targets the top phrases.

[Rankenstein]

Originally Posted by peter_d

Is there any testable proof that one, two, three or four keyword terms per page is optimal ?

A page should be able to show up for multiple terms. Dozens of terms. If a page does not, then it is missing a lot of opportunity. Remember, *most* searches are unique.

Check out the Long Tail as to the reason why this theory is sound.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Tail

There is more traffic in the tail than in the head. i.e. if you collectively target the lesser known phrases, you'll end up with more traffic than the guy who only targets the top phrases.

I'd agree about the dozens of terms thing if you are talking about a sitemap. I've certainly made sitemaps that ranks top 5 (and plenty of #1s) for dozens of phrases on Google UK. But then I find the average normal page can't sustain that many keywords without looking 'clunky', whereas a sitemap by definition is a master list of every page in your site: if you make each link roughly match the title of the page it links to, and add a line of expansive text above or below each link, well....there's your dozens of phrases right there. Sitemaps rock, SEO-wise.

Regarding the long tail thing, that's true - but it's the homepage and main category pages that should be hitting the big keywords like 'Acme Widgets', individual pages further in should be targetting 'Fluorescent Acme Widgets in Timbuktu' etc.

That's my 2 cents, maybe someone else has a different method to achieve the same thing?

[harsha22]

I take one keyword phrase as primay keyword for the page & around 5 seconday keywords.