SEO help needed - quick keyword questions :)

[sandrodz]

Ok, I'm working hard on finding right keywords for my website.

I have several concerns.
1) what if I use some of the keywords marginally related to my website?
2) what if some keywords aren't related at all
3) what if I don't use general keywords but rather target specific ones, like instead of putting student community -> student community for undergraduates its a general example but you get the idea.
4) I noticed that some general keywords have less traffic than specific ones, how come? 'student community' has <10 hits
5) What is an optimal number of keywords per page?
6) Should I use different keywords for my Forum / Arcade / university matchmaker ?


that's pretty much it, I guess I'm learning all this stuff, so why invent a bicycle when u can ask some enlightened folks here

[sandrodz]

also is it ethical to steal some of the keywords from competition?

[Jan]

I'm not sure how you can "steal" keywords :) If words are relevant to your site, then they are relevant.

Are the keywords for content or for meta name="keywords"?

[SoftWareRevue]

Yeah. I'd have to agree with Jan on that one. There're only so many keywords you can optimize for per subject matter. You have to choose the ones that fit you. And, of course, they may fit someone else as well.

As for your other questions.

1. What do you mean by "marginally related?" Are you saying you may choose to optimize for key words or phrases that aren't relevant to your content?

2. Ahhh . . . I think that answers the first question. I wouldn't bother.

3. You need to optimize for the phrase that pays. And that would be your second example.

4. Are you talking hits to your site?

5. I take it you're asking, "How many times per page should I mention the key word/phrase?"

6. It depends on what you're striving for. Having a mix can be a good thing. But being tops in one phrase may be better. ;)

[sandrodz]

I'm not sure how you can "steal" keywords :) If words are relevant to your site, then they are relevant.

Are the keywords for content or for meta name="keywords"?

yes, I'm referring to meta name...I know that on the market there is a rumor that google SE doesn't even consider those, but that's not completely true! before messin up with keywords, I had steady stream of users right on the keywords in the meta tag, from google and yahoo... now that I messed it up, and removed those keywords there is no more traffic from google - so I guess they do consider it when showing queries.