Keyword competition .. "inverted commas" ??

by condra

Posted: 12 years ago 7 replies

I realize most surfers don't use "inverted commas". However, I'm wondering if people here ever have a look at the competition for their key-phrases within inverted commas, and whether they believe it is an important factor when looking for keywords/phrases.

In other words, do you think Google awards some points for having a phrase in the exact order it is typed, even when inverted commas are not used?

I'll give you an example: (these are not real world figures)

keyword phrase one (without inverted commas)- 200,000 results
"keyword phrase one" - 88 results

keyword phrase two (without inverted commas) - 50,000 results
"keyword phrase two" - 2200 results

and for arguments sake... ALL OTHER THINGS ARE EQUAL

So in the case above, would you be more inclined to target keyword phrase one because the competition is so low when typed within inverted commas, or keyword phrase two, because of the lower competition without inverted commas.

I hope this makes sense.
Thanks for any replies.

#competition #inverted commas #keyword

dv8domainsDotCom 12 years ago

I am never calling them "Quotes" again lol...

The SERP's have changed pretty dramatically... I think in your question, I would target the keyword phrase based NOT on the competition, but on the search volume. (You're looking at the wrong thing sir heh)

Here's the idea... Just because there are 200,000 results.... or 88... or 2200... They are not necessarily your competition for that particular keyword... although the higher volume of the 2200 likely means that more people ARE targeting them, it does take some work to understand what "they" are doing, and how YOU will beat "them"... so, I don't think it's really that cut and dry...

And, unless it was a real winner (some "hidden jewel" that you were lucky enough to find) the fact there are only 88 "inverted comma" phrases means that it might not be worth pursuing... even though there are a low # of competing pages and a higher chance to outrank them... it might not really be worth it.

And, I have honestly never targeted a niche because of competition. I target based on the worth of the keyword(s) itself. I don't fear the competition. The way I look at it... 200,000 sites are not my competition. Only 9 are.
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- condra 12 years ago
  
  Thanks for your reply. I should have pointed out an assumption that both phrases have similar search volume.
  
  I don't think your approach of fearlessness towards the competition is for everyone. Some people are well equipped to generate traffic and climb rankings, but there are still a few who want to take a "sneaky sniper" route.
  
  Oh and, yeah, come to think of it, "quotes" is much easier to type, and understand. Cheers
  
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  Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by condra
  
  I don't think your approach of fearlessness towards the competition is for everyone.
  
  It isn't about "fearlessness". At all!
  
  It's about knowing what's relevant.
  
  Originally Posted by condra
  
  both phrases have similar search volume.
  
  Which one you should choose to compete for depends on your assessment of the SEO quality of the first 5 (or so) sites ranking for the keyword.
  
  Look at it this way: which would you rather compete for, a keyword with 1,000,000 competing sites of which the whole of the front page comprises sites with huge numbers of backlinks which appear to be forum profiles, article directories, spammy blog networks and assorted crap (a small, quality site with some relevant backlinks will easily overtake the whole lot within two weeks), or a keyword with only 10,000 competing sites of which the top half of the front page comprises age-old authority sites with 100 or 200 backlinks apparently from other relevant, high quality, well established sites (these can be terribly difficult to dislodge/overtake)?
  
  You see my point perhaps?
  
  It just isn't about "numbers of competing sites".
  
  However many of them there are, your true competitors are the top 5 (or so) sites listed for the keyword, aren't they?
  
  If you can't get up among those sites, you won't be getting any SEO traffic worth talking about.
  
  So you have only 5 competitors, effectively, regardless of the "number of sites listed".
  
  It makes no difference whether those 5 are followed by 9,995 others or by 9,999,995 others.
  
  SEO is all about relevance and quality. The relevance and quality of your own site and backlinks, and the quality of your 5 (or so) competitors' SEO. Don't imagine that a keyword with 1,000,000 "competitors" is necessarily going to be any harder than one with 10,000 "competitors". Sometimes it isn't. They're not actually competitors at all. Only the top 5 (or so) are.
  
  I see, re-reading dv8domains' post above, that he's referred to it as "9 competitors" and I'm calling it "5 or so competitors", but that doesn't matter - we're both making exactly the same point: the total number of sites listed simply isn't relevant. What matters is the quality of the top few (in this case, their SEO quality, of course). You simply have to assess that, in each case. Don't try to "guess" it just from the total number of sites listed.
  
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JohnDBrewer 12 years ago

Hey Alexa,

How do you determine their backlinks and how they are getting traffic?

John
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- Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago
  
  Hi John, apologies - I've only just seen your post now, after replying to your private message. But have already deleted the "sent copy" (to save space) and can't now paste it in as a post. :rolleyes:
  
  Thanks
  
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- condra 12 years ago
  
  Thanks for the reply Alexa.
  
  Unfortunately, my question still remains:
  What key-phrase from the examples I gave, would be easier to rank for?
  
  I understand that keyword research is much more complex than simply looking at the number of competing pages.
  
  I am currently working on putting together a spreadsheet formula to help me in the process, and I'm putting in as many factors as I can.
  
  If the answer is:
  "the number of sites listed when your key-phrase is in quotes is irrelevant" ..
  ... then so be it. But I don't think that is entirely the case.
  
  Alexa if you revisit this thread, please don't take offense to what I say here. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply, but I am mostly interested in the specific question about phrases in quotes.
  
  Thanks
  
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  Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by condra
  
  Unfortunately, my question still remains:
  What key-phrase from the examples I gave, would be easier to rank for?
  
  Unfortunately, my answer still remains:
  Whichever one has the top 5 listings with the least good SEO quality (because they're the sites you need to beat). But you've given no information about that.
  
  Originally Posted by condra
  
  Alexa if you revisit this thread, please don't take offense to what I say here.
  
  None taken at all. I'm sorry not to be able to add to my original answer. But will be interested to see others' replies.
  
  This thread might interest you (about inverted commas), though: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...-research.html
  
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