I messed up...

by 14 replies
16
Hey Guys,

I have watched a few SEO videos regarding keyword research and did some reading (apparently not enough) about the subject here on the forums. Figured I knew enough to get started.

I had two keyword phrases that I researched using the adwords keyword tool and checking Google search results competition with the keyword quoted and using the inurl: / intitle:

So I register a couple domains and for the past weeks have been working on content and SEO and so forth for these two sites.

I thought it was going well as I got to page one with one of the site's main keyword phrases

Now the wow I'm a retard part:

While poking around in the adwords tool and reading more on the subject of keyword research I realize when I "researched" my keywords I was using the Broad search option in the adwords tool. Instead of the [Exact] or "Phrase".

After using these search options I find that my keyword phrases are both under 100 global monthly searches.

So these sites are pretty much garbage yeah? Should probably research the keywords again correctly and chalk it up as a lesson learned?

Turns out my secondary keyword for one of the sites "the name of the blog" is a decent keyword I guess I could focus on that.

I hesitate to share this dumb tale but whatever I'm learning.
#main internet marketing discussion forum #messed
  • We all learn from our mistakes.

    Our efforts, experiences and mistakes are what helps us to improve.

    but dont worry about it too much. At least you had the guts to admit this on a forum.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Wouldn't worry about it too much for a few reasons. The obvious one is that it's a lesson learned and hey, you could have spent months not weeks till you realised your mistake. The other thing is that assuming you still like the niche you're in, you could start building up the site targeting other related, but better keywords.

      Whatever you do though, you want to make sure that the keywords you are targeting are a) not overly competitive (especially since you're still learning) and b) have decent search volumes. If you can't achieve both, just put it down to experience and move on. In deciding which of my sites to spend most of my efforts on, one of the things I learned from successful marketers is to support winners and kill-off loosers, and do it as quickly as possible.

      One other important consideration about which keywords to go after is to make sure the keyword has a good commercial intent or in other words it is a keyword that you can monetise in some way. Basically, not all keywords with good search volumes and little competition are necessarily good and able to be monetised. I know this is a mistake I have made in the past,- choosing an easy to rank for keyword with excellent search volumes only to learn that I can't make any money from it.

      Vlad
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • Move on we are humans and humans make mistakes..
  • There are times when being the only one come up in a search is a good idea. If you have a high paying way to monetize this niche and the traffic is truly hungry for the search term you may still make some money.

    But that is a long shot and may take a long time to produce results. If the niche is strong you can redirect traffic and use sub domains in order to build traffic. Do your research, take a lot more time choosing your domains and then work hard to monetize them.

    David
  • [DELETED]
    • [1] reply
    • Latnem,

      I wouldn't worry about it and at least you have learned this now and you've not carried on, it's something a great many people do wrong and I think the fact you're saying this will help a lot of people new people do it the right way.

      So well done and I wish you good luck.
      • [1] reply
  • I am glad you shared this. I did the exact same thing when I first started. I was elated when I found I had such an awesome keyword only to find my search settings were on broad. I had to chalk it up as a lost and move on. I actually laughed at myself.

    The only time a mistake is truly a mistake is when you fail to learn it's lesson.

    I thank you for having the courage to share this. By telling your tale you have hopefully stopped someone from the same fate. Kudos to you my friend
  • Hey, I make mistakes too. This happens all the time. Learn from it and move on. Be careful the next time you do research. The main thing is DO NOT give up. All the best.
    • [1] reply
    • Hi Latnem,

      First off, the fact that you are posting something that isn't spammy is of huge value to the forum, so don't ever worry about posting stuff where you think you may have failed. If this forum was only about success stories, the ability to learn would be removed.

      With your case, let me use an analogy, if i may, to shed light on the fact that success can only happen as a result of (perceived or otherwise) failure.

      The industrial sector on the planet right now that probably generates more income than any other is the oil business. There's a ratio (and i don't know what it is) of holes drilled to reserves found. We hear stories on The Discovery Channel about a prospecting rig costing $200,000 a day, average time on site 7 days, whilst it drills in a place where a Geologist says there's likely to be oil.

      That Ratio might be 10 to 1. So just using my examples, the oil company is educating itself to the tune of $14 Million before it finds a Gusher. Is the Oil Company a failure????

      Clearly not and neither are you. In almost any walk of life, there's a price to be paid for achieving success and so in order to be successful, you have to taste failure....so that you can learn what it smells like before you taste it.

      Quality education isn't free, the price you pay for it is an investment in your success.

      Work Hard, Generate Luck

      GW
      • [1] reply
  • Nobody is perfect. It is true, while it is also true that we can learn from it to be a better one. Good Luck and God Bless.
  • Banned
    A lot of newbies make that mistake. You learned something from it and like mentioned above, use the blogs to target some better keywords. All is not completely lost.
  • We all make mistakes. The best thing we can do is admit it then move on, let go and accept everything. Wish you all the best!
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    I messed up...

    Hey Guys, I have watched a few SEO videos regarding keyword research and did some reading (apparently not enough) about the subject here on the forums. Figured I knew enough to get started.