Is effective SEO for google even possible?
- SEO |
Hi guys and gals,
I'm currently doing some keyword research, and I'm finding that when I do standard google searches, it's actually pretty rare that you get any pages in the top 10 containing the exact search term I used in the search box.
For example, if I type in "how much is a dog collar" (without the quotation marks) not a single result on the first page contains the exact phrase "how much is a dog collar" in the URL or page title. There are a number of variations, but none with the exact phrase.
This leads me to ask: why would we do all those hours of keyword research, to finally decide that "how much is a dog collar" is a decent phrase to use (high search, high AW comp, high CPC) and then optimize our page for that specific KW, (ie. put it in the URL, title, alt-tags, etc.) when in the end, it looks like all that effort won't make a difference?! I mean, none of the top 10 pages have it in their URL, title, or anywhere else! And I don't believe that no-one else in the entire world has tried to optimize for that keyword.
It just seems as though google decides what is relevant (presumably using LSI words) and shows you what he thinks! Great from a searchers perspective, as you get relevant results, but not so much for a marketer trying to rank his page!
Am I missing something? How are we supposed to know how to get on to page 1 for that particular keyword? Of course, Gs algorithms are a secret and always will be, but... how?!
Please someone tell me how this works before I pull any more of my hair out!
Thanks in advance,
Mr. Confused.
I'm currently doing some keyword research, and I'm finding that when I do standard google searches, it's actually pretty rare that you get any pages in the top 10 containing the exact search term I used in the search box.
For example, if I type in "how much is a dog collar" (without the quotation marks) not a single result on the first page contains the exact phrase "how much is a dog collar" in the URL or page title. There are a number of variations, but none with the exact phrase.
This leads me to ask: why would we do all those hours of keyword research, to finally decide that "how much is a dog collar" is a decent phrase to use (high search, high AW comp, high CPC) and then optimize our page for that specific KW, (ie. put it in the URL, title, alt-tags, etc.) when in the end, it looks like all that effort won't make a difference?! I mean, none of the top 10 pages have it in their URL, title, or anywhere else! And I don't believe that no-one else in the entire world has tried to optimize for that keyword.
It just seems as though google decides what is relevant (presumably using LSI words) and shows you what he thinks! Great from a searchers perspective, as you get relevant results, but not so much for a marketer trying to rank his page!
Am I missing something? How are we supposed to know how to get on to page 1 for that particular keyword? Of course, Gs algorithms are a secret and always will be, but... how?!
Please someone tell me how this works before I pull any more of my hair out!
Thanks in advance,
Mr. Confused.
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