Themes and Keyword Selection

Are there two sides to themes?

[franklin dematto]

I seem to see two sides to themes.

The way they seem to generally be presented here, themes are about subdividing and grouping properly. But from the research paper on themes (I think done by Google), themes seem to be about associating keywords with other keywords that generally appear with them. In other words, if the searched for keyword was "network", a sight which also had the words "administrator" and "server" would fare better than what that didn't it, since these words generally appear in conjuction with the word "network".

(I don't remember where that paper is, but I found it here. It was quite interesting.)

My questions are:
Is this correct?
How does this second element relate to the first?

...and, most importantly:
How does this affect keyword selection?

Let me elaborate:
Without themes, I would simply optimize for the keywords that have the highest volume of desired searches and the lowest competition. But I think that this would indicate to optimize for other words that generally appear in conjuction with them, even if these words don't seem to be used very often as search words. Is this correct? And could someone offer some guidlines on selecting these words?

I have some more questions, but I think it would be best to get the basics clarified first.

PS If anyone remembers where that paper is, please post the url again.

[fathom]

Theming and sub-themes (or about subdividing and grouping properly) and keywording are really the same thing. For every sub-theme you are adding to the value of the theme and by targeting specific pages to keyword assignments in a group your links (anchor text) is adding weight to the group). The more grouping means the greater authority you are on sub-topics, hence the authority on the overall topic

Theming Discussion [webmasterworld.com].

[franklin dematto]

For every sub-theme you are adding to the value of the theme and by targeting specific pages to keyword assignments in a group your links (anchor text) is adding weight to the group)

Please explain this sentence :)

[fathom]

Make your own Widgets

Plastic Widgets

Metal Widgets

Woody Widgets

Types of Widgets

Antique Widgets

History of Widgets

Widgets

Widgets of Color

Black & White Widgets

Multi Color Widgets

Widgets of a different Color

Trouble Shooting Widgets

Manufacturing Widgets

Fix Your Own Widgets

Each new theme supports those themes directly adjacent to them (links, anchor text, attributes) as well as the content topics. All new themes increases the potential of the primary theme (home page) Widgets (or its value) to perform on the highly competitive keyword "widgets".

Presumably the other themes (sub-themes) are keyword phrases with slightly less competition.

[chiyo]

a picture says a thousand words! thanks fathom. that sums it up nicely

[AkanDian rain]

That paper sounds very interesting. If you find it, please let me know. I understand the perspective of it being proper categorizing... but if Google says related subjects is the way to go... then that changes things.

[franklin dematto]

Fathom, thanks for the info.

Just to get things crystal clear:
I should include those other themes even though a) My customers won't search for them AND b) They don't exactly target what I sell, but are just related.

Is this correct?

If so, could you give some advice as to which related themes to target? Anything that would normally be on pages in a similar category as mine?

[Slade]

Note: The paper being referred to is, I believe, quite old.
I thought I read it was done way back when google was still a university research project.

Edit:
[webmasterworld.com...]

The paper is discussed briefly here.

[fathom]

bear in mind my choice of themes is somewhat, not really related -- much of this would be based on primary keywords that your markets use and what you have to offer, arranging these in pages so keywords targeted get support from the pages around them.

Widgets aren't really my field of expertise -- so you'll need to discuss with Brett --- He is the authority on the widget subject.

Or so I've been told.

To get great ideas for theming hierarchy use Dmoz.org. Start at were you are listed moving up in topical categories, identify their (DMOZ)linkage to other categories which may offer some fresh ideas as to keyword potentials.