Hi, I'm looking at setting up websites for specific keywords like someone else did, and therefore I went on Google Keyword Tool in order to compare keywords. How competitive can they be in order for me to have any chance to be successful? The other thread also suggested between 1k and 6k global searches in order to find small niches. Is this a good strategy? What are your experiences? I am looking at keywords that are half "full" in competitiveness. Is this too tough or not? Let's say the keyword "chicken soup dog food" had ad possibilities. Would I have a chance at giving it a decent ranking with the competition? According to google it is not that competitive. Thx for your advice!
You should choose keywords that have about 1000 search volume. Those won't be too hard to rank for and there would be high enough number of searches.
As a rule of thumb: Daily searches >1000 Competition < 100.000 For some less hot niches: Daily searches >500 Competition < 50.000
JMO but for a domain I'd aim a bit higher. IF (that's a big if) you reach the first page of Google you can expect a 5% (avg page 1 click thru other than #1). 2,000 exact searches would look like: 2,000 searches = 100 visitors (for page 1 SERP's) 100 visitors = 5% - 10% Adsense clicks, less if you have to a sale. And even less if it's a physical product. If you don't make it to page one forget the search numbers. For inner pages low search numbers might be okay, but for a domain I'd aim a little higher. I'd also use MarketSamurai, TrafficTravis (free version), or Firefox with SEOQuake addon (also free) to analyze the competitions strength, backlinks, keyword in URL, keyword in H1 tags, age, etc. If getting to page one on Google takes to much work I'd look for a different keyword.
Yes, less than 100.000 pages (exact match search, meaning "search term") Sorry for answering that late. I have been off a few days
You've raised some good issues regarding using the Google Keyword Tool. There's a lot of pundits that are just beginning to question the results. Personally, I've never really cared for it. But that's just me. I am not advising you not to use it. I always use Micro Niche Finder for finding highly viable, smaller niches. It has just always worked great for me and takes me places I never think about going until I see the data it returns. As far as numbers, I generally agree that 1k should be a bottom line number. Although I know marketers that thrive in niches that are quite a bit smaller. The max number of exact phrase match searches depends on the niche. I try to keep it below 50k, unless it's a really hot niche with a lot of activity. 100k is stretching it just a bit for me for marketing in niches. You're starting to try to run with the big dogs and the difference in the amount of effort it takes to be competitive is quite a bit.
Hi, the level of competition will depend on your level of backlinking skills. Always make sure you look at "exact" searches and not broad. The top 10 results must have PR4 and below and has no backlinks more than 100 or it depends on your skills in backlinking.