Google SEO - What Are YOUR Top 5 Keyword 'Tests'?

[Steven Fullman]

Hi all,

Hypothetically ;-)

When you're researching keywords to rank in Google, what queries do you run?

e.g...

1) exact match, "dog training"
2) (all)intitle
3) (all)inurl

..etc...

...and what other tests might you run?

I realise this is a vague question, but I have my reasons!



Cheers,
Steve

[Steven Fullman]

Originally Posted by Daniel Wilson

I run my Traffic Travis top 10 competition analysis.

If I just need a quick checkup I use SEO for firefox plugin and check yahoo backlinks and PR for starters + title keywords.

Good answer! Cheers Daniel

Question though: why do folks still buy SEO tools if TT/FF does it all for free?

And second...

What results from TT/FF do you pay most attention to?

Cheers,
Steve

[noble]

I know this may seem unorthidox but I don't really use any tools for KW research

I have a sort of backwards approach I pick my monetization first; be it an affiliate product, CPA offer or even a high paying AdSense keyword. From there I think of things one may search for when interested in the 'money action' for my chosen monetization avenue and SEO the page for that. The only real research I'll do at this point is to look at the competition so I know which KW to use for my main page (the bulk of my link building leading here) and which other KWs will be alright for sub pages (usually the longer tail KWs that take much less link building).

[Joe J]

Originally Posted by noble

I know this may seem unorthidox but I don't really use any tools for KW research

I have a sort of backwards approach I pick my monetization first; be it an affiliate product, CPA offer or even a high paying AdSense keyword. From there I think of things one may search for when interested in the 'money action' for my chosen monetization avenue and SEO the page for that. The only real research I'll do at this point is to look at the competition so I know which KW to use for my main page (the bulk of my link building leading here) and which other KWs will be alright for sub pages (usually the longer tail KWs that take much less link building).

This sounds like an interesting appoach.

Can you explain how do you know who your competition would be if you don't yet know what your keywords are yet?

I hope I'm not missing something obvious in your reply.

Thanks,

Joe

[oscarmike]

Im currently using Market Samurai in my keyword research.



I havent tried trafic travis but just learning now that its free, ima check i out too.

[swords]

Originally Posted by Steven Fullman

Good answer! Cheers Daniel

Question though: why do folks still buy SEO tools if TT/FF does it all for free?

And second...

What results from TT/FF do you pay most attention to?

Cheers,
Steve

When I do a quick search with FF, I look at PR, domain backlinks, and page backlinks. These are just preliminary checks, further analysis that would aide in a research tool (which is what I'm assuming you're making :P) would be to check for web2.0's on the top 10. I don't care how many backlinks an EzineArticle has to it, I know I can outrank it with an EMD .com domain.

[yukon]

Something you guys might want to keep in mind when researching why the #1 competition page is ranking is, internal links that could possibly be contributing to that #1 SERP rank.

I always check the #1 page already ranking in the SERPs with a intitle:"keyword" site:domain.com search to see how serious the competition is about the keyword.

Most folks only look at the external backlinks pointing at the ranked page, that's all good, but what are you overlooking when site-X is ranking page-X with 50 internal pages with external backlinks & passing off authority to the ranked page?

Just keep in mind to check out everything that supports that already ranked page, no matter If it's internal or external links.

[StoneWilson]

Wow, you guys really did a lot of work on keyword research. What I usually do is much simple (maybe that's one of the reason i made less money? ):
1. Use Google Adwords Keyword Tool and Traffic Travis find several proper keywords;
2. Check those keywords on Google and see how many pages indexed buy Google, how many websites target on that keyword (mainpage number) and websites' PR on first page.
3. Check those website's on first page, find top 10 same keywords they targeted.
4. Consider all stuff above, and find 3 to 4 keywords.