Should You Stop Optimizing for Certain Keywords?

Jun 19, 2008 - 10:16 am 3 — by

A Cre8asite Forums member contends that optimizing for certain keywords isn't desirable any longer. The reason given is that people aren't ever searching for those keywords (even though it looks like a logical search term). He adds that there's no consistency in users' search patterns. The behavior differs from one searcher to another, which is entirely understandable.

If I had 'optimised' the page for MY keywords I may have lost all those visitors and THEIR keywords.

But another forum members suggests that you start optimizing based on the search phrases people use; you might even get better traffic. You need to think of what people are searching for and lengthen your articles so that you capture that desired traffic.

So should you not optimize for the original keyword list? You might want to still consider users who search for "the head and the long tail," as Ammon Johns puts it.

There's really good information here, so have a read at the forum discussion at Cre8asite forums

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Google Search Volatility

More Details

Search Video Recaps

 
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Google Search Engine Optimization

Google Warns Tools On User-Generated Spam Guidance & More

Oct 26, 2026 - 3:15 pm
Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: October 26, 2026

Oct 26, 2026 - 10:00 am
Google

Over 80% Of Google Searches Have AI Overviews & Growing

Oct 26, 2026 - 7:51 am
Google Ads

Google Ads AI-Generated Review Summaries Help Doc

Oct 26, 2026 - 7:41 am
ChatGPT Ads

ChatGPT Ads With Learn More Arrow Link; Some Served Through Amazon DSP

Oct 26, 2026 - 7:31 am
Google

Google Discover Tests Disabling Clicks In Sources Section

Oct 26, 2026 - 7:21 am
Previous Story: Google Shows The Gay Pride Flag in Search Results