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    Keyword Conundrum...

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    • CsmBill
      CsmBill last edited by

      I have 3 keywords that I am targeting. Assume for the time being that they are all equally competitive. Includes local exact match monthly searches:

      Managed IT Services - 3600

      IT Managed Services - 720

      Managed IT Support - 170

      They are all exactly synonymous, not to mention other keywords such as IT Managed Support, Managed IT Service, IT Managed Service, Managed IT Service Provider, etc..  My current strategy is to target the top 3 all on one page. The problem then is the title tag:

      Managed IT Services | IT Managed Services | Managed IT Support

      Pretty spammy. I could build pages for all 3, but how would I incorporate them into the website since they are all synonyms.

      Can I get some recommendations on how to handle this? What would you use for a title tag? How would handle separate pages with synonymous content?

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • CsmBill
        CsmBill last edited by

        Thanks to all. Built one page for all, and we are on the first page for all - and then some. We also got some lesser variations ranked as well. Spot on advice.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • NakulGoyal
          NakulGoyal last edited by

          I totally agree with the suggestions from Marissa and Tim. You obviously understood the problem and were concerned, therefore you posted the question.

          Definitely only build 1 page for these 3 keywords. I love Tim's title suggestion.

          Managed IT Services and Support | Company Name or

          Managed IT Services and Support by Company Name

          You are good to go.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • RepLoc_Tim
            RepLoc_Tim last edited by

            Definitely stay away from listing all 3 across there like that.  Based on the search numbers you have provided, and assuming that they are equally competitive as you have stated, here is a suggested title:

            Managed IT Services and Support | Company Name

            You could replace the pipe '|' with 'by' if you wanted to make it flow better in the visitor's mind.

            This focuses on your most searched term for this page (since they are equally competitive, go after the volume).  You will not be neglecting the other 2 by doing this, as the search engines are smart enough to understand the association as long as you have good copy on the page.  We have lots of pages that rank #1 without the keyword in the Title tag.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • UnderRugSwept
              UnderRugSwept last edited by

              "My current strategy is to target the top 3 all on one page."
              Definitely have one page for all those keywords. "Managed IT Services" and "IT Managed Services" are the same thing. Even "Managed IT Support" could be considered the same thing. Google's algorithm is smart enough to decipher synonyms.
              Resource: http://helpmyseo.com/seo-tips/296-language-synonyms-and-the-google-algorithm-and-how-it-affects-your-seo.html

              "The problem then is the title tag: Managed IT Services | IT Managed Services | Managed IT Support"
              Definitely do NOT do this. Google will see it as keyword spam/stuffing and it will hurt you, not help you. I'd recommend making the title tag "Your Company Name | One of those keyword phrases" (assuming your company name doesn't already have those phrases in the name)
              Resource: http://www.pagetraffic.com/guide/keyword-repetition.php

              "I could build pages for all 3, but how would I incorporate them into the website since they are all synonyms. . . How would handle separate pages with synonymous content?"
              The way to handle pages with to avoid them like the plague.
              Resource: http://a-moz.groupbuyseo.org/blog/duplicate-content-in-a-post-panda-world

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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