Can you use multiple keywords for on page for ranking?
-
I understand using a keyword (or phrase) and correctly building that into the site structure (URL, Title Tag, body, etc).
So, this question is going to be elementary, but I am starting to question myself as I write content. I have a client, for example, that has a new site and a page for Chocolate cakes. Now the other pages they built out are for Cheesecakes, Cupcakes, etc. So we optimized the Chocolate cakes page with our keyword throughout (Getting an A+ on page content grade). But now they are asking me why they can't be found for chocolate eclairs, chocolate fudge cake, devils chocolate cake, double chocolate cake, etc.
My first quick answer is that they should build more pages. But am I doing this wrong?
-
One of the ways that we have created new pages is by building a landing page system, where we did have separate pages that targeted each of the groups of consumers that we wanted to use. We created these pages at domains that were not on our main website, allowing us to target our home web page to all of those consumers and draw users in by targeting them specifically with the landing page.
If you would like to hear more about our system check out the blog post we wrote about it at https://www.jtechcommunications.com/blog/blog-detail-11
-
Thanks for the shout out Dana! I do think that WB Friday can help. I'd also suggest checking out http://moz.com/blog/mapping-keywords-to-content-for-maximum-impact-whiteboard-friday - a Whiteboard Friday from 2011 that provides more detail on precisely the multiple keywords on a single page question.
In general, Courtney, you're absolutely right. If the intent of the searchers who query those keywords are unique (e.g. chocolate cakes vs. chocolate eclairs - two very different pastries!), then you want to have different pages built to target each of those terms. It's only when the keywords AND the searcher intent directly overlap (e.g. chocolate cake and chocolate-flavored cake) that you'd go with a single term/phrase.
BTW - as you're optimizing, the on-page tool can be helpful, but there's a lot of human-factors that software can't check for, too, so applying http://moz.com/blog/visual-guide-to-keyword-targeting-onpage-optimization may be helpful.
Best of luck!
-
If they want to be found for "chocolate fudge cake" and "chocolate eclairs" then their work needs to begin with a dedicated page for each of those topics. Those dedicated pages will need to be very high quality compared to what is already out there and that just the start of what is needed.
These are moderately difficult queries.
If you go to the SERPs for "chocolate fudge cake" you will see some formidable competition - FoodNetwork, Nigella, About,com, Food.com, Epicurious and lots of other important domains are there already and some of them have been there for ten years or more. New content on these subjects is being added to other websites every month so ranking in these SERPs will be challenging and elusive.
To rank quickly, you need great content on an strong and established domain. If you have a new site, a weak site, a tiny site, or a just a "not very well known site", then ranking for these queries is going to take time and a lot of work spent promoting the site and its content. That means publishing content that is immediately impressive to the visitor, linkworthy and highly sharable. Then it will need to be promoted to get it noticed by people who will share it, like it, link to it.
An unestablished site in these SERPs could spend a year or two or more of weekly publishing and promoting just to begin getting traction in these SERPs - because there are so many well established sites and a large number more that are hoping to "make it".
-
Your question really has perfect timing. Rand's most recent White Board Friday video/blog post addresses this topic specifically and shows you how to go through the process of creating Topics pages that rank for a set of keywords, rather than just one keyword or keyword phrase in particular.
Building SEO-Focused Pages to Serve Topics & People Rather than Keywords & Rankings
Here's the link: http://moz.com/blog/topics-people-over-keywords-rankings-whiteboard-friday
Hope that helps! I could have paraphrased the whole thing, but you're better off learning straight from the master!
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Repeat keywords on the pages/titles
I know it is important to avoid duplicate titles and title tags, but I wanted to verify. Lets say you are a collection agency, would it be smart as a strategy to do domain.com/collectionagency/Dallas_ collection_agency and have that same key word structure for many states so many pages?
On-Page Optimization | | SeobyKP0 -
Do i optimise only the page that i want to rank or do i have to optimise my entire website.
I'm looking at 2 keywords and i have optimized my main page towards it. My website consist of other pages like, "About Us, Contact Us, Testimonials". My SEO title and Meta Description for these pages are just the basic. Q: My question is, do i have to optimize the pages that i do not want to rank? Is there any way to utilise these pages to help my main page to rank?(besides using them for internal links)
On-Page Optimization | | kevinbp0 -
Losing Page Rank
Hello Moz I launched a re-design of our site over the summer and we jumped in organic search for some keywords. Recently one of our landing pages is being hammered by Google last we we lost one position this week we lost 5 positions. Although, when I check the on-page grade Moz gives it an A is there a check sheet anyone has that I could go through to see if I have any common problems. Ryan
On-Page Optimization | | ryanparrish0 -
How to rank well on 2 keywords - 2 separate pages or 1 combined page
Hi, I have a website about allergy. We ar developing new content, and through keyword research I have discovered that "dog allergy" and "cat allergy" are both very common searches. However, the cause, and symtoms are very alike for these 2 types of allergy so it would make sense to combine the two allergies on one page. So my question is: What do I choose to increase my chances to ranke the best I can for both "cat allergy", and "dog allergy"? Should I develop 2 separate pages for cat & dog allergy or should I do a combined page? (We would of course review the texts so no duplicate content/text would be used if we chose to have 2 pages) I would be so greatful for your advice!! Kind regards, Jeanette
On-Page Optimization | | Mylan-GDM0 -
Using Robots Meta Tag on Review Form Pages
I have gone over this so many times and I just can't seem to get it straight and hope someone can help me out with a couple of questions: Right now, on my dynamically created pages created by filters (located on the category pages) I am using rel""canonical" to point them to their respective category page. Should I also use the robots meta tag as well? Similarly, each product I have on my site has a review form on it and thus is getting indexed by Google. I have placed the same canonical tag on them as well pointing them to the page with the review form on it. In the past I used robots.txt to block google from the review pages but this didn't really do much. Should I be using the robots meta tag on these pages as well? If I used the robots meta tag should I noindex,nofollow? Thanks in advance, Jake
On-Page Optimization | | jake3720 -
Can't see why been marked 'Avoid Keyword Stuffing'
Hi SEOmoz! I'm a newbie, first post, here goes... Working my way through On-Page Report Cards. Noticed this page http://www.vintageheirloom.com/vintage-chanel/vintage-chanel-bags flagged with 'Avoid Keyword Stuffing in Document'. Keyword is 'Vintage Chanel bags' and there is just one instance of it on this particular category page?? Any ideas? Any general pointers for me on www.vintageheirloom.com would also be much appreciated. Thanks SEOmozzers...
On-Page Optimization | | well-its-1-louder0 -
Best way to do a 301 redirect when the incorrect page has rank and FB likes
Due to a site structural problem with our CMS we have alot of duplicate content pages (1 page, with multiple urls). We are in the process of setting up 301 redirects to correct the problem. Meanwhile; one of the pages with the "incorrect" URL happens to be the page google favors and also has about 100 FB "likes". The question is: Are we better off keeping the "incorrect" URL for that particular page and redirect the other url to it? Both have a page rank of 3. Thanks
On-Page Optimization | | foodsleuth0 -
I am optimizing my webpages according to suggestions from the On Page Report Card. Should I have more than one keyword for a page?
I am optimizing my webpages according to suggestions from the On Page Report Card. Should I have more than one keyword for a page or should I make separate pages for each keyword even when they are similar? Will Google penalize me for making similar pages? Imagine selling, bargain milk chocolate peanut clusters. Keywords examples could be: Bargain chocolate Bargain milk chocolate Bargain milk chocolate peanut clusters Bargain chocolate peanut clusters Chocolate peanut cluster bargains Milk chocolate peanut cluster bargains Etc. Will one page called http://mycompany/bargainmilkchocolatepeanutclusters.com be OK or should I have one called http://mycompany/bargainmilkchocolate.com and one called http://mycompany/bargainmilkchocolatepeanutclusters.com and one called http://mycompany/chocolatepeanutclusterbargains.com , etc.? Thanks for your advice.
On-Page Optimization | | KSHAYY0