Keyword in Home Page Title OR Create New Page for that keyword

[iCyborg]

My Home Page Title is already way too long with 4 keywords and one of the keyword is at #26 in Google for it. Now I am wondering, should I try to press to make it to front page for that keyword or should build a new page /keyword1 with title as Keyword1 ?

I am just trying to understand the difference in strength of keyword having on front page title and front page body VS, Keyword having its own page, in the title and body of that page.

I am just looking for answers from SEO point of view, which will be better for me to make that keyword make it rank on front page ?

Thanks

[caveman]

You are probably not getting any responses because so many variables are at play. It depends on what other terms you are hoping the homepage will rank for, the inbound links to the homepage, the inbound links that will accrue to /keyword1 short and long term, site and link stucture to the homepage and /keyword1, etc.

As a very general rule, if keyword1 is very similar to what the homepage is already targeting I'd try to rank the homepage. If keyword1 is arguably different enough from what's happening on the homepage, I'd probably use a subpage.

It's a cliché but often the best way to make the call is to think about how your users would react. If they would see the subpage as redundant, and you think you are creating it mainly for SEO reasons, then that is probably a bad call. The engines, rightly so, try very hard to construct their assessment mechanisms to mirror what users might think/do (though that also is a gross generalization).

[iCyborg]

Thanks caveman for replying, if I remember correctly you too had replied first to my first ever question on WebmasterWorld :) I will try to do split testing to see what works. The problem with testing and SEO is that it takes way too long to come up with any conclusion and than you are not even sure if its right :(

[edited by: caveman at 7:15 pm (utc) on Oct. 16, 2008]

[caveman]

Perhaps you are able to look at your site or others' sites, and investigate parallel situations? That should get you close enough to what you need to know. I wouldn't waste time and effort on split testing this. And again, think of how the users will react. If the subpage is useful, and you see similar examples on other sites, go for it. If not, perhaps just use the homepage?

(Usually, if you can really justify the need for a dedicated subpage, it's worth the effort. But don't do it purely for SEO reasons.)

[YellowSEO]

I would do keyword1 as 3 sub pages and link from homepage

as far as title goes just do these searches

allintitle:keyword1
intitle:keyword1

if keyword is anywhere in top 50 I would not bother changing it
because you will see it go right up the ranks as keyword1 anchors move up

Most like making better content keyword density with keyword1 and similar or related keyword2, keyword3 and so on will help more...