What is classed as competitive ? how many results to a keyword ?

One of my future keywords returns 1,800,000 on Google, is this competitive?

[diddlydazz]

One of my future keywords returns 1,800,000 on Google, is this competitive?

It is a hobby site so I don't want to be paying for inclusion anywhere :)

the highest ranker has a PR of 6, and the lowest (on the same page) has a PR of 5.

My site currently has a PR of 2 with no DMOZ listing but it has just been listed will this improve page rank ?

how hard would it be using normal techniques i.e. good content, alt tags, getting loads of incoming links to get near the top ? or at least in the top 10 ? or am I dreaming :)

I appreciate any info or comments as always.

Thanks

Dazz

[tedster]

The number of pages returned isn't really what makes the kw competitive.

I'd check the top sites on the Google SERP and see if they look well optimized. Check Overture and see if anyone is paying for the phrase and if so, how much. Check Google for AdWords, etc.

That will give you the lay of the land.

[Brett_Tabke]

Tedsters right on - Overture is the best indication.

The trick is to find those kw's that are valuable and have very few results (easy to optimize your way to the top of those)

(edited by: Brett_Tabke at 7:25 pm (utc) on Jan. 22, 2002)

[diddlydazz]

thanks both,

I will have a look

how do you check the value /bid ?
Dazz

[rcjordan]

>check bid

Go to [overture.com] and search on the term. If there is a bid, it will be noted in the SERP, something like (Cost to advertiser: $0.54)

[diddlydazz]

thanks rc

[Marcia]

>site currently has a PR of 2

dazz, a site with a PR4 can move ahead of those with 5 or 6. PR isn't all of it, it also depends somewhat on the site itself. Check out your internal linking, too. With good internal structure and only 2 or 3 inbound links it's not hard to get to 4, or to a 5 with 8 to 12, if they're quality, relevant links, even without an ODP listing. So it's a lot easier with it.

>returns 1,800,000 on Google
Sometimes those are general, and specifics can do well. I was just asked about a site with "antiques" which has about 3 million and collectibles, not do-able without a re-design because of the site itself, but in a case like that I'd have temporarily bypassed those and gone for less competitive, more specific terms to begin with, like depression glass and individual items like watches, dolls, furniture, jewelry, etc. to target people looking for specifics, which collectors generally do.

Yes, Overture is invaluable. When there's a choice of a few similar terms, checking the number of Overture searches against the number of sites returned at Google, plus looking at the sites in competition, along with the number of LS directory sites at MSN, is a tremendous help in narrowing it down to the best possibilities.

[diddlydazz]

Thanks for the great info marcia.

You have cleared up a few things for me.

:)

Dazz