Does Google gropup similar phrases together as teh same search phrase ?

[kiswebsltd]

We have recently been doing a bit of Keyword research using Googles Adwords Keyword tool.

This highlighted many variations of a similar search phrase and indicated all had the same number of searches per month.

Sush as;

"web design in glasgow"
"website designers glasgow"
"website designer glasgow"
"glasgow web designers"

If someone searches on Google for "web design in glasgow" will google rank pages optimised for "website designer glasgow" ?

Thank you.

Alan

[AlanBleiweiss]

You're welcome Alan.  Getting past the basics and understanding the nuances can make all the difference over the long term.

[kiswebsltd]

Thank you for your response to this question. For a while now we have been designing and developing website solutions but not really paid much attention to SEO etc. We are now focussing much more on thsi not only from our own point of view but for our clients. During the searching for keyword phrases associated with what we regarded as the main search phrase "web design glasgow" it became apparent that Google was grouping various phrases together for the sake of their statistics. Your suggestion about using PPC with different terms is a good one. As you say this might be the best way to determine which of teh listed (and other) keyword phrases are the best. Thanks again.

[AlanBleiweiss]

Google does group phrases to a certain extent.  The search results are supposed to be based on "show exact match first" then cascade down from there in terms of "closest but not exact" all the way down.

Since that criteria then gets re-sorted based on Google's individual site authority and value criteria, the results can get jumbled.

This is why it's vital to consider the most likely way your unique market thinks about your services and how THEY would be most likely to conduct a search.  Because it's better to go with the variation(s) you think most resemble or match that thinking.

You gave a difficult example when it comes to evaluating that issue, because to me, all but the first one are viable as real world people actually looking to hire web designers.  The 1st one may be good, but seems a bit less likely.  Only real data studied over time can narrow down the best choice in terms of conversion potential.  Yet it's important to consider.

This issue is a great way to use PPC ad testing to see which ads get the most clicks to a landing page - which of those then actually fill out a form, and which of those forms is more than just someone exploring as opposed to ready to purchase?