Hi, is it common to create a website based on a keyword that gets lots of searches and try and compete for it and become number one or are sites usually created then keywords are targeted after the site creation? I'm asking because I've found a few keywords that have a large amount of traffic but there is no website actually related to the keyword only articles sub related to other sites. Would it be possible for me to topple these with a website fully focuses on this keyword? Will this work? I've only run a few websites before and am not very experienced in SEO. Thanks
it is possible, but not recommended it as you will get penalised by google sooner or later. it's not good that the whole website be created on one keyword, it's not natural and google will see it eventually. you can get insist on that keyword more than on others, but you will have to get links on other keywords
You might want to study up on some keyword research. This is a pretty boss resource ​http://source-wave.com/seo-keyword-research/