Best way to test various keyword phrases for possible targetting?

carlos123 · 12-31-2010, 11:41 AM

I would like to test various keyword phrases to see how highly they get in Google ranking compared to other keyword phrases I want to test.

So I am not looking to see how high they can get compared to other sites. Only against other of my own sites I may quickly build around other keyword phrases.

So for example if one of my test "sites" makes it to position 100 and another ends up way down at position 300 I will focus on creating a real site around the first site.

That way I don't have to throw any money down the drain for registering duds as has happened to me before.

I would focus on those keyword phrases that get higher up in Google than others and build regular sites around these.

So what is the best way to build pseudo sites to test keyword phrases?

Here are the options:

- subdomain off my regular computer consulting business site (which would have nothing to do with the subdomain topics I might want to test). For example...this-is-my-keyword.somebusiness.com
- wordpress blogs set up at wordpress.org. Keyword rich up front as in this-is-my-keyword.wordpress.org
- a free site built on some of the free web site places.
- Google's blogger platform.

Which of the above do you all recommend and why?

I am leaning toward a subdomain off my business site as I will have complete control over meta tags and otherwise for better initial SEO positioning.

I suppose I could try a limited Adwords campaign for each phrase I might want to test but...well...that takes time and money and right now I have no money to spare as I need to get another computer (this one is on it's last leg).

The other problem I can see is that once I decide on a few keyword phrases to target and take these temporary locations down, Google will still have them indexed such that the temporary stuff might compete for a while with the new sites I build.

Thoughts on any of the above anyone?

Thanks.

Carlos

Dominique Couffignal · 12-31-2010, 11:52 AM

Hi Carlos,

I would say go with WordPress AND use the Google Wonder Wheel.
Put the main keyword in, then use the other keywords on the wheel either as LSI keywords on the same copy, and/or create 5 or 6 different posts on your WordPress for each "wonder wheel keyword".

Why WordPress?
Because you are in control and Blogger can't just decide to close your blog on a whip.
I used to like Blogger a lot, until I did learn that one guy had built thousands of posts on his blogger blog (a money site) only to find out that one day Blogger closed it down. That's harsh. Again, with WordPress you are in control.

Plus: Google likes WordPress, and since you can add a plug in called "all-in-one-seo" that will help with your rankings as well.

Why using the Google Wonder Wheel for your keywords?
Because since those keywords are the ones that Google deem important (enought to be related to the main keyword anyway) using those keywords either as LSI keywords on the same copy or set up one post by keyword, could help your rankings too.

I mean, since you're going to test your keywords, you might as well put all chances on your side.

Hope that helped!

carlos123 · 12-31-2010, 12:49 PM

Thanks for your excellent input Dominique. Hadn't thought about using the wonder wheel. Good tip. A poor man's kind of LSI. I like that.

I assume you meant WordPress as in a stand-alone WordPress install on a hosted domain since WordPress.org doesn't offer a whole lot more control than blogger does. Control as in control over what you do on your site.

For every blogger horror story there is probably a wordpress.org horror story too with respect to canceling blogs so neither is probably better than the other in that respect I think.

Re...Google loves Wordpress...I appreciate the input on that but I don't know if you know this but that's a common...well...myth.

Google doesn't love Wordpress anymore than it loves any other blogging platform or CMS. What Google loves is what google loves. Great content, excellent and descriptive headings, proper meta tags, etc. All of which I can create on my own. It's really not that difficult to do your own SEO if you know something about it.

All Google ever sees is HTML and CSS. It could care less if it is spit out by WordPress or by hand, by Drupal, Joomla or anybody else.

WordPress doesn't mind the myth being perpetrated far and wide of course

.

For people that don't know how to do their own SEO, WordPress might be easier and better in that they wouldn't know what to do otherwise but that's not the case with me.

Anyway...thanks for the input again Dominique. Appreciate it.

Carlos

12-31-2010, 11:41 AM	#1
carlos123 Advanced Grasshopper War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: At the Library :) Posts: 825 Thanks: 30 Thanked 54 Times in 41 Posts	Best way to test various keyword phrases for possible targetting? I would like to test various keyword phrases to see how highly they get in Google ranking compared to other keyword phrases I want to test. So I am not looking to see how high they can get compared to other sites. Only against other of my own sites I may quickly build around other keyword phrases. So for example if one of my test "sites" makes it to position 100 and another ends up way down at position 300 I will focus on creating a real site around the first site. That way I don't have to throw any money down the drain for registering duds as has happened to me before. I would focus on those keyword phrases that get higher up in Google than others and build regular sites around these. So what is the best way to build pseudo sites to test keyword phrases? Here are the options: - subdomain off my regular computer consulting business site (which would have nothing to do with the subdomain topics I might want to test). For example...this-is-my-keyword.somebusiness.com - wordpress blogs set up at wordpress.org. Keyword rich up front as in this-is-my-keyword.wordpress.org - a free site built on some of the free web site places. - Google's blogger platform. Which of the above do you all recommend and why? I am leaning toward a subdomain off my business site as I will have complete control over meta tags and otherwise for better initial SEO positioning. I suppose I could try a limited Adwords campaign for each phrase I might want to test but...well...that takes time and money and right now I have no money to spare as I need to get another computer (this one is on it's last leg). The other problem I can see is that once I decide on a few keyword phrases to target and take these temporary locations down, Google will still have them indexed such that the temporary stuff might compete for a while with the new sites I build. Thoughts on any of the above anyone? Thanks. Carlos

12-31-2010, 11:52 AM	#2
Dominique Couffignal HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London, U.K Posts: 217 Thanks: 70 Thanked 59 Times in 38 Posts Social Networking	Re: Best way to test various keyword phrases for possible targetting? Hi Carlos, I would say go with WordPress AND use the Google Wonder Wheel. Put the main keyword in, then use the other keywords on the wheel either as LSI keywords on the same copy, and/or create 5 or 6 different posts on your WordPress for each "wonder wheel keyword". Why WordPress? Because you are in control and Blogger can't just decide to close your blog on a whip. I used to like Blogger a lot, until I did learn that one guy had built thousands of posts on his blogger blog (a money site) only to find out that one day Blogger closed it down. That's harsh. Again, with WordPress you are in control. Plus: Google likes WordPress, and since you can add a plug in called "all-in-one-seo" that will help with your rankings as well. Why using the Google Wonder Wheel for your keywords? Because since those keywords are the ones that Google deem important (enought to be related to the main keyword anyway) using those keywords either as LSI keywords on the same copy or set up one post by keyword, could help your rankings too. I mean, since you're going to test your keywords, you might as well put all chances on your side. Hope that helped!
	"Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It's quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure." Thomas J. Watson WSO - Ken Strong Benefit

12-31-2010, 12:49 PM	#3
carlos123 Advanced Grasshopper War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: At the Library :) Posts: 825 Thanks: 30 Thanked 54 Times in 41 Posts	Re: Best way to test various keyword phrases for possible targetting? Thanks for your excellent input Dominique. Hadn't thought about using the wonder wheel. Good tip. A poor man's kind of LSI. I like that. I assume you meant WordPress as in a stand-alone WordPress install on a hosted domain since WordPress.org doesn't offer a whole lot more control than blogger does. Control as in control over what you do on your site. For every blogger horror story there is probably a wordpress.org horror story too with respect to canceling blogs so neither is probably better than the other in that respect I think. Re...Google loves Wordpress...I appreciate the input on that but I don't know if you know this but that's a common...well...myth. Google doesn't love Wordpress anymore than it loves any other blogging platform or CMS. What Google loves is what google loves. Great content, excellent and descriptive headings, proper meta tags, etc. All of which I can create on my own. It's really not that difficult to do your own SEO if you know something about it. All Google ever sees is HTML and CSS. It could care less if it is spit out by WordPress or by hand, by Drupal, Joomla or anybody else. WordPress doesn't mind the myth being perpetrated far and wide of course . For people that don't know how to do their own SEO, WordPress might be easier and better in that they wouldn't know what to do otherwise but that's not the case with me. Anyway...thanks for the input again Dominique. Appreciate it. Carlos