Considering OnPage optimization only: I read that internal link anchor text does not help at all, when internally linking to your Home page. Also, the filename of the home page does not matter. So the Home page has two small disadvantages, compared to other pages. On the other hand, the Home page has more value to google. So, should I make a separate page that will target the main keywords? But then I may cause "Keyword Cannibalization".
Well you heard wrong. Yep, target the toughest keyword on the homepage, because google will consider it the most important page.
Your homepage naturally has the most links pointing to it, unless you have some very strong internal pages. So it is often a good idea to target your main keywords on your homepage because it can be easier to rank well. You also have to consider which page will convert that specific traffic better. Sometimes using an internal page for main keywords has its advantages. It is just sometimes tough for a internal page to compete against the homepage of your competitors.
I agree with Vansterdam, have good anchor keywords on your homepage that link to an internal page that has your keyword as the page name (e.g keyword.html), Your homepage will have the strongest pagerank because of all your backlinks pointing to it, unless you start doing deeplinking, where you point your backlinks to one of our internal pages that has the page name of your keyword i mentioned earlier.
I agree too! Who da heck told you internal link anchor text was bad? yikes! Look at your homepage as a synopsis of what your "overall" subject is...kinda like the information about a book on the back of a book
OK, I found the article: Since I cannot post links, you can google for the following phrase and you will find it: "Testing the Value of Anchor Text Optimized Internal Links" (Posted by randfish on Wed (1/7/09) at 08:42 PM On-Page Issues ) So you are sure this article has it ALL wrong?
No they don't have it wrong. I think your interpretation of their experiment results may be wrong. The internal homepage links may not help much, but your homepage will still almost always be your website's strongest page. Yahoo on the other hand loves good keyword usage in internal links.
well. Internal Link anchor text like CLICK HERE, READ MORE etc surely doesn't help you but if you place your Keywords in it. It sure helps you a lot. The home page got a major advantage that you can link to home page from any internal page. but you may not be able to put your every internal link on your home page