Long Tail Keyword Selection For Niche Site?

[bmoney1031]

I'm trying to rank a niche site for a particular three word keyword. Let's use 'online blog learning' as the example. I've created a static homepage that targets 'online blog learning.' I'd now like to create categories that house posts that support this top level page. My questions:

-What keywords should I target as category names and in posts to support my original keyword?
-Should they be a modified version of the original keyword? i.e., "online blog learning resources?"
-Or is okay use a completely different keyword (i.e., 'niche blogs') and just use the original target term ('online blog learning') within my posts (and link back to my homepage)?

I'm really struggling with this one. Especially since my target keyword is longer, but that's probably normal for you all. I'm new to this! Thanks so much!

[yukon]

Don't use 'online blog learning' as the category name, you'll stand a good chance that the category will over power the money page in the SERPs, since every page in the category will be pointing internal links back to the category page (sidebar etc...).

Name the category something simple like 'Education', 'Knowledge', or 'Facts'.

[bmoney1031]

Thanks, Yukon! Makes sense. What about the posts within 'Education,' for example. Is it important what keywords I target there?

[yukon]

Yes, you need to keep all the pages inside the category relevant to the categories title. Anything related to the keyword 'education' should work.

Originally Posted by bmoney1031

Thanks, Yukon! Makes sense. What about the posts within 'Education,' for example. Is it important what keywords I target there?

[bmoney1031]

Thanks so much. Sorry to bombard you with all these basic questions. I can't tell you how helpful it is.

So all posts within the Education category should have a link with anchor text 'education' that links back to the Education category page? I think I'm missing something, since that wouldn't be emphasizing my real target term 'online blog learning,' right?

[bmoney1031]

Thanks, Tessa. I think I get that. I'm just wondering what seed keyword I build the longtail off of. If you read above, I was saying my main target (i.e., seed) keyword is 'online blog learning.' Yukon recommended having more generic categories names like 'Education,' which makes sense. But for the posts that I write that fall within the Education category, should I come up with long tail keywords of 'online blog learning,' like 'online blog learning resources' or long tail keywords of 'education' like 'online education resources?' And in both scenarios, which internal page should that anchor text link back to?

Thanks so much. Don't know what I'm not getting this!

[jackssmit]

Doing keyword research, the first thing you need to consider is your niche website, then find some of your competitors, they use keywords, this will give you ideas, but also for your keywords Website. You can use the long tail keywords, as long as the search engine traffic and visibility. 3-4 is a good keyword phrase

[bmoney1031]

So for example, my target keyword is 'online blog learning.' If I were to write an article within the Education category on my site:

What would be a good example of a keyword I should target for that post? (This is all hypothetical, just looking for example, doesn't need to be good in reality)

Assuming that the target keyword above would also be the anchor text in my post, where would it link to internally? (To my homepage or to the Education category page?)

Thanks for all your guidance!

[wwiii12364]

So for example, my target keyword is 'online blog learning.' If I were to write an article within the Education category on my site:

What would be a good example of a keyword I should target for that post?

The way I found that works for me is using LSI (Latent Semantic Index) keywords. Basically this is an over complicated way of saying "related keywords".

And the easiest way to find them is using googles keyword tool. Go there and search ONLY your main keyword.

Now make sure results are sorted by Relevance. (this is usually the default) You will then have a list of keywords that google feels are most related to your main keyword, ordered from the most relevant to the least relevant.


Hope that helps you

[bmoney1031]

Thanks! What about where that term should link to internally? Should it link back it's Category page or the Homepage?

[wwiii12364]

"I'd now like to create categories that house posts that support this top level page."

Based on this statement I would link to your home page.

[bmoney1031]

Got it.

This is how I have it now, which is a bit different. Sorry if this is confusing.

-Homepage - targets 'primary keyword'
-Category 1 Post 1 - targets 'highly relevant keyword #1,' links to homepage with anchor text as 'primary keyword'
-Category 1 Post 2 - targets 'highly relevant keyword #2,' links to Category Post 1 with anchor text as 'highly relevant keyword #1'
-Category 1 Post 3 - targets 'highly relevant keyword #3,' links to Category Post 1 with anchor text as 'highly relevant keyword #2'
-And so on...

So every post has a different target keyword and another post that links back to it with the same target keyword as the anchor text.

Alternatively, I could just have each page's target keyword also be the link anchor text and link back to the home page. I think you're saying that makes more sense?

[bmoney1031]

Slight, but important correction to my previous post:

-Homepage - targets 'primary keyword'
-Category 1 Post 1 - targets 'highly relevant keyword #1,' links to homepage with anchor text as 'primary keyword'
-Category 1 Post 2 - targets 'highly relevant keyword #2,' links to Category Post 1 with anchor text as 'highly relevant keyword #1'
-Category 1 Post 3 - targets 'highly relevant keyword #3,' links to Category Post 2 with anchor text as 'highly relevant keyword #2'
-And so on...