Keyword Optimization help needed...

[krx]

I’m beginning to keyword optimize my parked domains using Google’s external keyword tool. Haven’t done this before so I’m hoping for a little feedback...

Seems to me the 3 relevant columns of info are:

Estimated Avg. CPC
Advertiser Competition
Approx Avg Search Volume

But which is more important? Say you plug in your domain name – in this case, let’s look at my domain BasicCooking.net. I’ve set the tool to show synonyms and related keywords.

I don’t get much under related keywords. Pretty much just a few options. Here’s the top three (the Advertiser Competition bar doesn’t copy so I’ve given the % of the bar filled):

basic cooking
$1.15 cpc
4,400 search
AdComp: 70%

cooking basics
$0.88
2,900
AdComp: 60%

basic cooking classes
$4.57
590
AdComp 0%

But underneath, under “Additional keywords to consider”, I get a lot of options.

If I sort by relevance (which I'm guessing is a good idea), I get the following top choices:

cooking
$1.64
6,120,000
AdComp: 100%

cooking recipes
$0.71
201,000
AdComp: 100%

cooking recipe
$0.71
74,000
AdComp: 100%

cooking school
$4.81
110,000
AdComp: 100%

easy cooking
$0.81
22,200
AdComp: 90%

One thing I’m trying to figure out is how do you prioritize the search volme vs. CPC vs. AdComp? For example, is “cooking school” better than “cooking” because it gets $4.81 cpc – or is “cooking” better because it gets about 60 times the search volume?

What other factors should I consider beside these?

I read the sticky thread on keyword optimization but don't believe it answered these questions.

 

[krx]

Still trying to get an answer to this question... What info do you use to optimize your keywords? Is CPC more important than search volume and ad competion?

 

[henniemeijer]

I posted a similar question here
http://www.namepros.com/domain-name-discussion/524456-adwords-keyword-tool-as-type-indicator.html
maybe this gives you an idea what some people think.

 

[Corey]

umm others will correct me if I'm wrong

generally for parked pages key word optimization occurs at your parking company.

Cheers
Corey

 

[krx]

umm others will correct me if I'm wrong

generally for parked pages key word optimization occurs at your parking company.

Cheers
Corey

I don't know of any parking company that does it all for you. I wish they did cause I'd like nothing better than to just change the NS and be done with it, knowing my domains were being optimally optimized.

Some, like Fabulous, have an auto-optimization option. But it doesn't set keywords for you - which is obviously critical for optimization. It also has a "related keywords" option which you can and should use. In addition, you need to check the category and subcategory to which your domains have been assigned. The auto-opt'r doesn't always get it right. And you can play around with the different monetization programs (premium, roar, dark blue) as I am currently doing.

In the end, the sad truth is, it probably won't make much difference, with parking revs what they are today.

I posted a similar question here
http://www.namepros.com/domain-name-discussion/524456-adwords-keyword-tool-as-type-indicator.html
maybe this gives you an idea what some people think.

Thanks Hennie. As they say, "great minds think alike"

I like your idea of using all 3 (exact search, CPC, and Ad comp) in a formula to arrive at a single numerical value. It makes sense to me that the 3 values are relative to each other and that a really high search volume compensates somewhat for a lower Ad Comp percentage or PPC (and vice versa). I wonder what others think...

 

[Corey]

you could always develop your domain names and have total control.

Cheers
Corey