How many key word/phrases per page do you optimize?

I was just wondering what your strategy is when you're optimizing your pages. Do you choose a key word/phrase and totally "go for it" with that ONE word or phrase or do you pick 3 or 4?

I have just started learning and for now I'm optimizing for one word/phrase on each page. I was wondering if I do it that way should I use that key phrase as my only key word?

I've heard that key words don't hold the importance they once did, but that some of the search engines still do use them.

Any thoughts? *SmiLes* Suzanne

Well depends on the project, some are 1 but most are 2 to 3 and i'm working on one now that is huge and probably has about 200.

Before you go for it, I would test the keywords your deciding on in pay per click. This way you can see what keywords are successful for your site. The 1 word term may get more visitors, but does it convert? The 2-3 word term may convert better, but does it get enough visitors.

If you decide not to do ppc, 1 word terms are much more difficult to optimize for. I would suggest going after the 2-3-4 word terms, especially if your a beginner to this. It all depends on the competitiveness of the phrase, but usually if you start with a longer phrase, you will see results quicker and then you can go after that 1 word term.

Hey vetofunk ... on a quick side note ... love the jewelry! Have my eye on a pendant so help me get these sites moving along. LOL

As for the key words, the first site I've tried any of my new knowledge on is for my niece http://www.san-diego-mortgage-loans.com. I have used everything I know to do to optimize the main page for the key term "san diego mortgage loans" and I have researched other phrases and I have a writer finishing some of the content for my articles. I will optimize each page for the term I've picked.

I was wondering if you pick a word or phrase for each page and then do everything possible to optimize JUST for that word/phrase?

For instance on the site above should I put other similar key word/phrases I've found in the key words and description or should I put all of my efforts into that ONE phrase?

The only other page I've tried any of this on is my http://www.freelancedaily.net. The whole site is being re-designed and is hosted elsewhere until it's done so I was just test on the existing site. I optimized my main page to "freelance writing jobs." Google finally shows the changes as far as title and description, but I am not anywhere to be found in the top 100. I also used to have a PR3 and now it's PR0 (that happened before I messed with it).

I am #19 on Yahoo for the same phrase (was 16 a couple of days ago) I'm #3 on MSN, and #19 on Alta Vista.

I just want to know if I'm doing everything right before I start optimizing every page on my site.

Any thoughts would be very appreciated. *SmiLes* Suzanne

I am thinking that the terms you want to go after are:
San Diego Mortage Loans
San Diego Mortgage
San Diego Loans

Since "San Diego Mortage Loans" is in your URL and is searched an estimated 3,000 times per month, I would start with that. Over time, you will rank well this term as well as variations of the term. Just because you focus on one, doesn't mean you won't rank for others.

For example, I have one site, http://www.ornamentshop.com, which I focused on ranking for "Personalized Christmas Ornaments". I am now in the top 2 in every search engine. Doing this made it so much easier to rank for "Christmas Ornaments", and not even trying, I am number 1 for "ornaments" as well.

In your link work, I would use all of the above as Google likes variations, if you just get links with the text "San Diego Mortage Loans", Google will see that it is artificial.

For content, you can use a nice little tool to see what Google thinks are synonyms of your keywords. Just add a ~ in front of a keyword. This will put any keyword Google thinks are synonyms in bold. Should be a thread I created about this tool.

It will take time for any sites you have to get good positioning. Google will take the longest. I always recommend submitting your site to DMOZ and the Yahoo Directory to help.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
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As far as jewelry, this is for my family's business. Something I did on the side. We also have http://www.TanzaniteJewelryDesigns.com and http://www.Moregems.com (being redesigned with over 1,000 products).