Here is my dilema, I have optimised the site and some various off page optimisation for keyword, however when I search using "keyword" my site is #2 on Googles 1st page, when when I search using just keyword it's #6 (G's 1st apge). Off page optimisation has been articles, blog commenting, forum commenting, Press Releases, contextual links, etc. using variations of the keyword in the anchor text. Any advice appreciated. G
You are definitely on the right track. Just keep up with what you have been doing and your rankings should also go up for the keyword without quotes. When you include the quotes Google is only concerned about that entire phrase being together in your links and onpage. Without the quotes, Google checks the weight of each of those words separately and together as a phrase. I assume your keyword is more than one word long.