Building a keyword list - My System

[Jon12345]

This is currently what I do:

1. Go to Wordtracker and enter in a couple of keywords. Then expand that list there.

2. Look at my traffic logs (only good if I have a site in the SERPS. Rubbish for PPC). Take all those keywords.

3. Look at Overture. For some reason I seem to prefer that tool to Wordtracker. Am I missing something here?

4. Get rid of duplicates.

That's my current process. Is that good? Poor? Any improvements? What do you do?

Would be nice to have a system that you can always use.

Jon

[gr8keywords]

The main problem with Overture search tool is that it only indicates searches in the Overture partner network. On sites like CNN and 1000's more. If you are targeting that space then use their tool. Their tool will also include searches out of context for "keyword" purposes. What this means is someone may be on a real estate "partner" site and type in 'Denver Colorado real estate'. Yes the word was searched using the Overture network search technology; no it wasn't a search engine search. The search was only really on one site and for their results. It was not an unbiased search engine search statistic. These numbers are tainted in favor of Overture's ad revenue considerations.

Wordtracker will give you purer, search engine only search stats. If you ever compare the two side by side they will always be different. I have spoken with and interviewed each company about this.

What I do is

1. use #*$!(WT) to give me a huge list of search engine stats for lots of keywords. Many you may never have thought of.

2. Next, I only look at how many pages compete for certain keywords.

3. I pick the very most relevant words to my site. Remember keywords help people refine their search and convert to customers when they have reached their goal. Usually, this is a very specific keyword or phrase.

4. I make my list and rate it according to generic, semi-generic and specific keywords. I write the traffic stats by the words. You will notice that the generic words have high count and the specific words have low counts. This makes a funnel shape when placed in order of highest to lowest. Are you seeing it? This is how people search! The trick is being able to get them to do a good portion of that funneling on your site, so they don't look elsewhere for the rest of their funnel.

5. Study those who rank in the top 10 for these words. See how their sites are set up to enable the funneling action and get ideas. Many are national or regional sites using the big words. They are directories, like lendingtree.com etc. They charge you to facilitate the funnel in your direction. Are there mega site that are big players in your keyword grouping? If so figure out how to use that in your favor. If not, learn to create the funneling technique with your site and keywords.

6. Start with the keyword that is most specific and the one most likely to be clicked on that would list you like "Fargo North Dakota Real Estate".

7. Start optimizing and building your traffic here and work your way up the list as you can afford it. Starting in reverse will frustrate you, make you hate the internet, and waste your money.

The point is, start at the bottom of your funnel, work up as you master the techniques of getting that traffic. Starting at the top will make you very hard to find, and your visitors will become frustrated and abandon your site because they can't follow the funnel downward towards what they need. Good Luck

[Jon12345]

Thanks for your detailed reply. What you are saying is you can create a site based on a directory style structure, with multiple layers. Target the low hanging fruit and get low cost keywords there. Then move up until the site is full of content.

Yes?

[gr8keywords]

In a very broad nutshell, Yes. Skill and resource make it practical to start this way.

[devildude8989]

In regards to gr8KWs: The Overture network is huge! I thought it accounts for over 50% of web-searches.

[Vegas21]

I think Google's keyword suggestion tool is worth integrating into your process. I like both Overture and WT as well, but after using both of these, Google's tool often gives me a couple new, helpful variations.

[gr8keywords]

Overture is a huge network, BUT IT IS NOT ALWAYS IN CONTEXT. If you rely on their numbers for some accurate hint of traffic, don't, They lump plurals/singular words together. With many words the plural actually gets many more searches, some don't. Just because they say a word is searched 10k times a months does not mean it is a search engine search. It may be a term searched on a partner's site, while overture technology runs the search it dos not return any results but those contained on the partner's site. This is how they skew the number to justify ad rates.

Everyone can do what they want, all I do is mention what I know.