12 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
12 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Do you guys really believe in keyword research?

by asiancasanova
10 replies
  • SEO
    • |
I look at a lot of successful websites such as Smart Passive Income blog and Steve Pavlina and they all started without any keyword research. In fact, they started in extremely competitive niches (personal development and passive income), yet they managed to have great success.

Is keyword research overrated? I feel like chasing keywords is similar to the pigs who get slaughtered in chasing "that special stock."

In the IM field the basic plan is to:
1) Find a niche via keyword research
2) Create a website/content/articles/product
3) Seo/Backlinking
4) Rinse and repeat

But I see over and over, that the one's who are really making the money didn't even intend to do all that and it was only AFTER the fact.

For instance, Pat over at the smart passive income blog, told me that his first high earning website was by mistake. He was studying for the LEED (an architect exam) and made a blog to track his progress. Coincidentally a lot of people were trying to study for the LEED and he had a fairly large following without knowing it. After the fact, he put in place, monitization methods to make money off of it.

Is "going with your passion" the real answer? Pick what you know and love?

Or I could be wrong... I'm a newbie afterall, just trying to get clarity =\

For instance, I created a blog about dating advice, since I personally have a lot of experience and knowledge to share. I enjoy the topic itself as well. But yet.... I had pathetic traffic, maybe 5 views a day. I did no keyword research when making it. It's been up for about 4 months....

And when I posted it up for feedback on this forum, everyone said they loved it... yet it sucks compared to other guys who are making money right now with their websites.

My subscriber list isn't growing and my traffic is puny. I'm trying to figure out if I should ditch it and find a new niche view keyword research or "stay the course."
#guys #keyword #research
  • Profile picture of the author WebPen
    I think it depends on the business model that you're building.

    If you're building a blog or authority site, where people will go to their browser and type in your website, then keyword research isn't as important (I don't think).

    In that case, you're getting a lot of repeat traffic and word-of-mouth kind of traffic, right?

    Maybe you'll even buy a solo ad from an ezine in the same niche.

    But if you're building a niche site, review site, etc. where SEO is your biggest traffic source- then KW research is HUGE

    If you're promoting Clickbank's The Diet Solution, which do you think would convert better?

    -People searching Google for "Diet Solution Review", or
    -People searching Google for "lose weight no diet"

    Even if you get a ton more visitors with the second choice, you very well may end up with less sales because the traffic isn't as targetted.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4434101].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author nthmarketing
    I say it depends on how much work you want to put into it. If your wanting an easier market to penetrate than Keyword Research is essential to know whether it is or not. However if you want to just make something your familiar with and love then it is possible to push through and get rankings although the time it will take to get ranked high enough to generate revenue could be years instead of weeks or months.

    However, even if your just going into an area that you want to be in then keyword analysis to a point is still very important so you know what is driving traffic to you, so you might be able to pick up low hanging fruit, so you can see what is converting.

    I was going to say you could just drive traffic with PPC but again a proper PPC campaign needs to be done with a keyword analysis as well otherwise your going to be wasting a ton of money. So, I think the short answer is YES keyword analysis is way important and the more you understand the analysis the better it's going to be for both your traffic and your wallet.

    There may be some people making money without doing extensive keyword analysis but if they are then their even missing out on more money if the do it. I say the vast majority of successful IM people out there have a great understanding and use keyword analysis all the time.

    Aloha,
    Fred
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4434109].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author DebbieD
      Originally Posted by nthmarketing View Post

      I say it depends on how much work you want to put into it. If your wanting an easier market to penetrate than Keyword Research is essential to know whether it is or not. However if you want to just make something your familiar with and love then it is possible to push through and get rankings although the time it will take to get ranked high enough to generate revenue could be years instead of weeks or months.

      However, even if your just going into an area that you want to be in then keyword analysis to a point is still very important so you know what is driving traffic to you, so you might be able to pick up low hanging fruit, so you can see what is converting.

      I was going to say you could just drive traffic with PPC but again a proper PPC campaign needs to be done with a keyword analysis as well otherwise your going to be wasting a ton of money. So, I think the short answer is YES keyword analysis is way important and the more you understand the analysis the better it's going to be for both your traffic and your wallet.

      There may be some people making money without doing extensive keyword analysis but if they are then their even missing out on more money if the do it. I say the vast majority of successful IM people out there have a great understanding and use keyword analysis all the time.

      Aloha,
      Fred
      Agree. You mentioned two blogs who had success without doing keyword research. There are thousands (perhaps millions) more who didn't.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4434158].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MateHegedus
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4434188].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author asiancasanova
      So you guys really believe in keyword research.

      What program or method do you find the most effective?

      My experience has been with market samurai, but it is very slow and maybe gives stoo much information? Or should I stick with it?
      Signature
      $1k a day?
      Click here
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4435371].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Billy Rey
    Keyword research is vital for me eve for local searches

    You can at least have an idea of who you are up against and if you are actually going to bring in any money at all.....aside from having a direction for your efforts.

    samurai works fine. It has been for me for the past 3 years
    Signature

    ✔✔✔Leapfroggr Digital Marketing+SEO Services✔✔✔
    [/CENTER]

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4437468].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author punam12
    Keywaord research is very much vital. And helps to rank a specific keyword very quickly.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4437514].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kkchoon
    Originally Posted by asiancasanova View Post

    Or I could be wrong... I'm a newbie afterall, just trying to get clarity =

    For instance, I created a blog about dating advice, since I personally have a lot of experience and knowledge to share. I enjoy the topic itself as well. But yet.... I had pathetic traffic, maybe 5 views a day. I did no keyword research when making it. It's been up for about 4 months....

    And when I posted it up for feedback on this forum, everyone said they loved it... yet it sucks compared to other guys who are making money right now with their websites.

    My subscriber list isn't growing and my traffic is puny. I'm trying to figure out if I should ditch it and find a new niche view keyword research or "stay the course."
    I know what you mean and how you feel about this, I have tried both ways - creating a content rich blog and promote it with pure white hat method that disregarding any kind of market / keyword research, and the end result is similar - no traffic, no lead and no sales...

    Keyword research has 2 parts - Learn about the market and know your traffic source.

    Without these 2 important elements, you won't see traffic and conversion, and the online success formula = traffic + conversion !

    When you are doing keyword research, you actually building up your knowledge about the market, and at the same time you'll know where the traffic is coming from, and you want to target the right traffic...

    Here's how I increase my web traffic with keyword research: How To Build / Increase Web Traffic Part 1 - Long Tail Keyword Strategy

    and here's how I cherry pick my keywords:

    Keyword Research - The Key To Online Success: Massive Targeted Traffic, Leads an

    Feel free to contact me if you would like to know more about keyword research, and Jack Duncan's A4 Keyword Research System is one of the best: A4 Keyword Research System Course Download...
    Signature

    Powerful Indexer That Makes Your Backlinks Count ==> Nuclear Link Indexer

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4437693].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author StoneWilson
    I'm running several micro-niche site, so I literally live on keyword research. Those blogs you mentioned there, either build really early or in a specific area, and the most important thing is, they share something rare and valuable. Due to the high competition, dating niche is harder than others to build fame or getting success, but if you can find something special and unique, you might change the situation.
    Signature
    Looking for godaddy renewal coupon? Check GodaddyRenewal.com!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4437803].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jordanberg2311
    one word
    YeS
    Signature
    PM Me For Your PPC AdWords Help
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4437821].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Rough Outline
    Personally, keyword research is crucial, get it wrong and you end up with a site getting no traffic. Get it right and you can easily get a lot of traffic with a small amount of SEO.

    Keyword research isn't just about finding easy keywords to rank for, it's also about analysing the commerciality of a niche, finding out which keywords are going to make you money and which ones will be a waste of your time.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4437831].message }}

Trending Topics