Google Keyword Tool - Choosing keywords.

[Jcraig83]

What are some general guidelines you guys follow when researching keywords?

For example, let's say I am researching "buy purple widgets," what would be some indicators these could be a potentially good keywords? (IE Global Competition, Global/Local Monthly Searches, Local Search Trends etc.)

 

[Compound]

For SEO, your ideal situation is a mix of high volume and low competition.

Volume can be global or local, depending on your audience. You can also choose broad vs. phrase vs. exact. Depends on what your trying to target. My experience is that phrase is best.

Competition - different schools of thought on this. I like allintitle.

For PPC, look at avg. CPCs. Volume is relevant. Competition less so.

"Good" keywords are ones that end up converting for you. They may not meet the metrics above, but if they convert, then they're good.

Also, do search of WF on this. There have definitely been some other threads w/good info about this stuff.

 

[papajohn56]

If it's for SEO, some basic ways to check competition:

Google search: allinurl: "keyword"
and
allintitle: "keyword"

If both are less than 10,000 you have a keyword with fairly low competition. If this also has over 10,000 exact match searches per month in the KW tool, you hit a good one generally. Of course take into account the estimated amount you could make, the niche itself (is it high cost products with low sales volume?), etc

 

[this_guy]

Relatively higher CPC can also be indication of a good keyword that you may want to target for SEO, if competition is relatively low.

In addition to what papajohn mentioned above, play with the inanchor: operator as well.