Keyword number of competition DOES NOT matter

[Nahar]

Does it really matter how many webpages there are that are optimized for your keyword phrase?

Here is why I don't think it should matter:

If you were to run a marathon and wanted to win, how would you approach the challenge?

(1) "I need to outrun 10,000 people."

(2) "I need to outrun the best runner."

Just think about it - if the best runner crosses the finish line in 2 hours and 4 minutes, you need to get there in less time. WHO CARES HOW MANY PEOPLE GET THERE AFTER YOU?!

So it is with online competition. Whether the number of sites optimized for a particular keyword is 1,000 or 10,000,000 - if you want your webpage to appear on the first page of Google search results - all you have to do is check the strength of the first 10 sites (# of incoming links, PR, etc.) and beat the weakest of the 10.

What do you think? Am I missing something?

[vbmark]

Using your analogy in the 10,000 people race, there is a greater chance that there will be more people who will be more "hard core" than you. You will be racing against a larger number of better fit, more experienced runners.

In a 100 people race, for example, odds are that I am better than a larger number of people.

If you are trying to outrank 10,000,000 sites in the SERPS, chances are it is a popular niche that has attracted more talented competition.

Yes, you just have to be better. I guess another analogy is like being at the top of your class in high school vs college.

[ny_mariposa]

Sounds like a good way to make an overwhelming task feel a little less ...well... overwhelming!

But you can't stop there, because sure enough someone will come along intent on outranking you! Don't let your guard down!

[lstoops]

For SEO purposes, it only matters who is in the top positions and if you can beat them. I do a lot of research for others and I think people like to gage the competition to see what they are up against.

[Joe Fier]

I like the analogy you've given and your tenacity. It's very true what you say, and if you feel that you could be the best, then by all means you should disregard the numbers.

Just as others have said, I like to judge the niche and see how much work would be required to become a leader in the area.

And just as many do, I like to target the smaller niches and work to dominate it. I think that the keyword research really comes in handy while doing this.

[The Expert]

While I do believe that If You Can Beat the Top 10, You Can Beat 'em All, I also believe in what I've coined the "throttle" principle.

When a site is new, the search engines I believe looks to see how fast your site is "Growing". Pretty much this comes down to number of pages and number of inbound backlinks.

You could scope the competition in a more competitive niche, put up as many pages and round up more links than the top 3 guys in a month by paying a team to do it for you but still find yourself on page 5 or 6. In fact, the site might not take a top position for 5 months.

Do the same thing in a less competitive niche and you find your site flying to the top in a matter of weeks...or days.

I call this the "Throttle" principle. It's the idea that if there is a lot more "stuff" out there related to your keyword, and the top 10 guys are pretty solid, you as a new site can hit the promotion hard and consistent and still find yourself on the waiting list for months before the gates open and you are allowed though. Google "throttles" you back for being new because there is plenty of other "stuff" to show that has more age/trust.

Less competitive niches don't have enough "stuff" as it is...so you are not "throttled" back.

[Nahar]

Originally Posted by vbmark

Using your analogy in the 10,000 people race, there is a greater chance that there will be more people who will be more "hard core" than you. You will be racing against a larger number of better fit, more experienced runners.

Good point, but even though the larger number of competition increases the chances of good runners running the race - it doesn't guarantee it. So, instead of worrying about the number of competition - it makes sense to focus on finding out who the fastest runners are.

[Nahar]

Originally Posted by The Expert

While I do believe that If You Can Beat the Top 10, You Can Beat 'em All, I also believe in what I've coined the "throttle" principle.

When a site is new, the search engines I believe looks to see how fast your site is "Growing". Pretty much this comes down to number of pages and number of inbound backlinks.

You could scope the competition in a more competitive niche, put up as many pages and round up more links than the top 3 guys in a month by paying a team to do it for you but still find yourself on page 5 or 6. In fact, the site might not take a top position for 5 months.

Do the same thing in a less competitive niche and you find your site flying to the top in a matter of weeks...or days.

I call this the "Throttle" principle. It's the idea that if there is a lot more "stuff" out there related to your keyword, and the top 10 guys are pretty solid, you as a new site can hit the promotion hard and consistent and still find yourself on the waiting list for months before the gates open and you are allowed though. Google "throttles" you back for being new because there is plenty of other "stuff" to show that has more age/trust.

Less competitive niches don't have enough "stuff" as it is...so you are not "throttled" back.

Great insight. Thanks for sharing!

[Joe118]

Originally Posted by Nahar

Good point, but even though the larger number of competition increases the chances of good runners running the race - it doesn't guarantee it. So, instead of worrying about the number of competition - it makes sense to focus on finding out who the fastest runners are.

If they're not on page #1 that means they're not as strong a competition as the ones on page #1. By displacing someone on page #1 you've automatically made yourself a stronger competitor than anyone that's not on page #1. That's why this point is invalid.

[Tom Brite]

Exactly!

Finnally someone who actually understands basic seo and the most basic mis-interpated concept on checking the competition for any keyphrase.

Plus a great method of communicating this fact to other people too.

Thanks

Tom Brite

[Nahar]

Originally Posted by Joe118

If they're not on page #1 that means they're not as strong a competition as the ones on page #1. By displacing someone on page #1 you've automatically made yourself a stronger competitor than anyone that's not on page #1...

Well said!

[Michael Nguyen]

finally someone knows what they're talking about. I get sick when someone tells another

"go for keywords under 50000 results in quotes"

Some of the warrior members do not help the situation. WF members with eg 4 figure post count, you need to realise that newbies will start to think your info is credible.

Even worse is when micro niche finder, niche profit classroom, bummarketingmethod tell people to do this.

[Joe118]

I should probably do a WSO on how to figure out the real strength of your competition, using only free tools.

Would there be interest in buying such a WSO? At $27 for warriors and $47 for others?

[jakesellers]

I've recently started using MNF to automate the stuff I used to do by hand, and while intitle, inanchor and inurl are only part of the picture, they tend to be close enough to work with. As for newbie advice, there's nothing wrong with giving advice that works most of the time in most cases for most people. Competition for competitive searches creates more losers than winners.

[Joe118]

... as long as it's qualified as such. Most of this advice is presented as the god-given truth from Mount Sinai, handed down by Moses together with the ten commandments

[BigVin]

My answer is "Yes" but it's not firm.

For example I've gotten on the first page of Google for terms with 7 million plus results within hours, but it's not common.

It's pretty easy if there are only a couple hundred search results, but in the mid millions it gets hard.

[Joe118]

Originally Posted by BigVin

My answer is "Yes" but it's not firm.

For example I've gotten on the first page of Google for terms with 7 million plus results within hours, but it's not common.

It's pretty easy if there are only a couple hundred search results, but in the mid millions it gets hard.

It's *possibly* easier (but not assured to be easier) if there are only a couple hundred results. The ten results that show on the first page can have such an incredibly strong position that you cannot unseat them without a major and time consuming concerted effort.

[InternetMarketingIQ]

The misunderstanding is in the numbers themselves. Just because Google spits back XXXX number doesn't mean that is your competition. Just putting a phrase in quotes doesn't make it your competition.

You need to look at the people who are actively and intentionally trying to rank for a phrase with a profit motive in mind.

You use numbers as a means of filtering out the natural occurances. Once you do that you know who the real players are... then you need to figure out how to get ahead of those players.

And it matters a whole lot that you choose keywords that relate to word phrases that people use when they are ready to buy. Empty clicks are empty clicks.