Understanding Keywords

hi everyone...
i need some help. ;-)

i picked up a copy of market samurai a while back and i'm trying to find some keywords. i'm working on creating blogs for several niches. i'm hoping to use a mix of amazon products and adsense to monetize the sites.

i think i have everything pretty much covered...but i'm just really confused on how to analyze data to determine good keywords. i keep hearing that "niche" and "keyword" selection is paramount, so i want to make sure i put a good process in place. (i.e. monthly exact searches > 10,000 and adword competition > 50)

does anyone recommend some quality places to learn good keyword selection?
(...or can anyone offer help themselves?)

eileen

Hello Eileen & Welcome :)

I'll start you off with some keyword research tutorials, and if those raise any questions just let me know!

- Keyword Strategy: It's Not Just Numbers!

- Frustrated With Market Research or Finding Niches?

- Choosing Keywords & Phrases

There are several more great (free) posts/tutorials on this page as well:
Top 10 Keyword Research Tutorials

Like I said, let me know if that raises any questions. The Market Samurai tutorials are great as well! :)

Eileen,
Welcome to the forum!

I learned keyword research from Lynn so I would read all the posts she has above.

As for numbers, I honestly don't even look at them:) I just go with it and use every possible keyword I can. You can use them for categories, titles, pages, article titles, videos and the list goes on.

The way I see it is the big guns are going to go for the big numbers so I'll be happy to get sales and traffic for all the low number phrases, no problem!

thanks lynn!
i totally forgot about the market samurai tutorials!

i went through them today and found them very helpful. i think i might be over complicating things. ;-). the tutorials somewhat affirmed "niche" and "keyword" selection is most important, but i think they said "market" and "niche".

i guess the standard is to keep your niches private...but id love to hear how someone selected a market/niche/keyword.

im thinking about the 'halloween' market. then i guess costumes...maybe 'how to make halloween costumes'. if i run market samurai for keywords....and use their 'golden rules'...i get a bunch of good keywords.

is that pretty much it?!? (...besides the obvious website, content, etc.). lol

love your site! i'm so glad i stumbled across it.

eileen

Quote:

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Originally Posted by erange

i'm working on creating blogs for several niches.

eileen

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Piece of unsolicited advice :-)
And if you're new, I would concentrate on just one niche and one blog first.

Thanks Satu...

I've been around a while 'wanting' to dive in...just haven't. So...i'm still NEW in my book. lol (...I guess I just finally got to that place where I said 'now or never'.)

I think you're right. Honestly, I was (sorta still am - lol) trying to setup a 'process' to create lots of niche websites. I was following some guy for a while that told me he had built about 65 niche websites in about a year...and was building about 10 per month. They were mostly promoting Amazon Affiliate products and he was raking in about $2000/month!

I guess my mind just started spinning and thinking, 'hey, i could do that!!' ;-)

eileen

I agree with Satu! You will get much further with focus on one site/blog. Once you are comfortable making enough $ and have enough time on your hands, you can start more down the road.

I mentioned in your other thread that we should brainstorm ideas. Sound good?

I'm actually shocked he's only earning $2k/month with that many sites. Geez! You could easily earn that with ONE good site, and it would be a lot less work. Especially when there are updates, changes, or heaven forbid... your server gets hacked. *shudder*

Start with one website you're passionate about and ENJOY. :)

It's a bit late to start a seasonal site for Halloween, unless you are working toward Halloween 2013 as your profitable season. I left you some links in the other thread for brainstorming niches/markets - and a link to a niche affiliate blog I started last year with NO research at all. ;-)

thanks lynn...
i'm going to do some research tomorrow and narrow down a field of niches...then select one and just go with it. dive in with an attitude to just learn and grow...

(btw...the guy with the 65 sites did admit that he only focused on 8 sites that were earning any significant money.)

eileen

Hi Eileen - I use M Samurai. Such a great company.
For me, Dr Anthony's video training is THE benchmark of training on the Internet, however if you do get a bit stuck in using MS, then give me a shout and I'll do my best to help out.

Caroline :)

Just checking in Eileen - how did the brainstorming go? :)

Thank you SO much Caroline...
I'm going to take you up on that!! :D
Eileen

Okay...this is the first forum i've ever been in that the admin kept me accountable!! LOL
I LOVE that! ;-)

Lynn...
The brainstorming went very well. Honestly I got a little distracted with 'the challenge' by Ed Dale because someone had recommended reviewing that on another blog. BUT...aside from that I've got lots of ideas. It was a good brain-storming session of likes and interests. Now I just need to pick one - which I'm going to do before I go to bed tonight!! ;-)

Thanks so much...

Eileen

You can talk out your brainstorm here if you would like. Maybe that would help you choose the best one for you since we have all been there done that lol

thanks angie...
after brainstorming, these were the main topics that popped out to me that i enjoy, want to know more about or could easily write about:

organizing my life | kitchen organization | desktop organization
motivational movies | movie quotes
eating at home | easy recipes for the single mom | eating healthy | making food for kids
sketching barns | old barns | history of american barns
using technology to co-parent | co-parenting boys
vacationing with kids | fun family vacations for single parents

Why not mix it up with a fun personal blog? You could talk about organization, technology, co-parenting, vacations, meals, movies & quotes - and other things that interest you in day to day life. There are tons of successful "mom blogs" out there. And while I'm not putting you in that category, it doesn't hurt to remember that the TOP blog on the internet for many years (and an insanely high earner) was Heather Armstrong of Dooce.com (a personal blog).

Basically, make the blog about YOU instead of about a single topic. Throw your personality into it, and people will fall in love with you and will be reading along like a great novel they can't put down. ;-)

Lynn, if you don't mind I'd like to get your thoughts (and anyone else who knows anything about Heather Armstrong's blog).

Why do you think that blog has/had such a huge following? If YOU wanted to create something similar, what components would you include or how would you structure it, etc..

I'm really intrigued by this! Thanks.

It's a model to study. But there are a couple of key factors: first, she started "way back when" before there were many personal blogs at all. And second, she was really "full on" with her topics and content. She ended up losing her job and becoming alienated from her family over it, even - so long time readers have watched all that unfold, including her meeting and marrying and divorcing her husband - having & raising her children, etc.

I've gotta admit...I'm a little stunned right now. I looked up "dooce.com" and I really can't believe that it's a top earning blog. I'm trying hard not to over-anaylize again, because I was going to pick "vacations with kids" and just run with it...but I'm thinking again. lol

I guess I've always looked at 'niches' as something I had to create a website around. (i.e. like what could I sell during Halloween...or what could I sell to people that like golf.) But now I'm thinking...just write about my life...and the 'niches' just fall into place. Make sense?!?

But what incentive is there for people to 'buy'?!? Sure...it may be interesting to read for some people...but I'm not really 'selling' anything?!? ...or I'm a missing a very important point to all of this?!? lol

Eileen

Eileen,
I'm on the other side of the fence when it comes to personal blogs. I think it's better to have a niche blog like your vacation with kids idea. From what I have heard, it's so hard to make a personal/mom blog successful. I'm sure there are tons out there that are having success but I prefer to visit niche blogs myself (foodie, weight loss, travel, etc.).

Vacations with kids sounds like a ton of fun and you could start with your local area attractions and share travel tips, ideas, etc. Plus you have more potential with brands in the future.

Just some of my personal thoughts.

I don't have input on which is better because it's really a personality thing. The blogs that I know are personal are extremely, intimately personal. Like Dooce and Bloggess and Penelope Trunk. They get tons and tons of traffic and monetize that in at least 5 ways that I can see and probably others I can't.

If you have that type of personality it can work for you. If you don't, well you might find more it nerve wracking and quit.

I'd definitely study what they have done, take into account what they are doing now and ask yourself,

Which has more appeal to you? Which will be the most fun for you? Which do you feel you can commit to doing for the next while?

Dooce was anonymous originally, until she got figured out by her boss (and fired) and ultimately outed to her family. Just FYI. I wouldn't use my real name on a personal blog (I have one, and don't). As for how you monetize, you simply include product links when you talking about organizing or vacations or any other topic - link to what you use & recommend. People love getting recommendations from real people!

That said, a specific topic & niche may suit you better. That's totally up to you. With your related interests, I thought a more broad and personal approach might be more fun and exciting for you.

As for why some "mom blogs" and "personal blogs" don't do well, it's because they're not marketing them properly. Most of them stay within the "mommy blogger inner circle" and know very little about targeting and search engine optimization. ;-)

On Dooce, here is the Wiki to give you some brief history:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_Armstrong

I can't remember where I read about her earnings before, but I know that her husband quit his job to manage her advertising - and they are a family of four living VERY well off her blog alone. (I believe she recently divorced or separated, btw). Hers is an exceptional story, of course. But she's proven it can be done. ;-)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lynn Terry

It's a model to study. But there are a couple of key factors: first, she started "way back when" before there were many personal blogs at all. And second, she was really "full on" with her topics and content. She ended up losing her job and becoming alienated from her family over it, even - so long time readers have watched all that unfold, including her meeting and marrying and divorcing her husband - having & raising her children, etc.

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Thanks for the explanation, Lynn. I'm sure the timing of it (being "way back when") had much to do with how it all unfolded. I'm going to do some research on this/her as I love to dissect successful blogs.

Boy, you just never know what you'll find out here on the elite forum! ;)