Small Niche Keyword Research Modifiers
SEO Question: My site is focused on a small niche and I can't find any related keywords to write content about. How do I optimize my content? What should I do?
Answer: Track what you are ranking for and look for meaningful patterns and descriptive related keywords in that data.
If few people are searching for something, but you are in a growing field, then that might be great market timing which helps makes you a market leader. Make sure you create things like an industry glossary, and actively participate in communities related to your topic so you have top of mind awareness to people in related fields. Research why people are linking at competitors, and what is missing in the marketplace.
If you are already in an established field, then use keyword tools to look for broader keywords or parallel keywords. Observe what descriptive modifiers people are using for higher volume keywords. The odds are pretty good people will use those same type of modifiers when searching for your topic. You can also use this cast a wider net concept by bidding for related broader keywords on AdWords and track the referrals.
Comments
Starting up my own niche blog, or what I have now found to be a niche (I originally thought it was a much more popular topic), all about Computer Virtualization, using software such as parallels to run alternative desktops on top of current software. I have tried google adwords, wikipedia links, trackback posts, and running my own wiki (still only 1 user ME), I have found the best way to attract quality links is to write reviews of other peoples software. Once I write a small little review, with links to their site, people are more then willing to add links back to my blog.
Thanks for the suggestions,
Bradford Knowlton
http://x86Virtualization.com
To expand on something Aaron alluded to: If it is a small, growing niche and you've followed the suggestions here, you might be better served to shift your focus from search marketing towards more direct relationship marketing.
In a new niche it is helpful to get the lay of the land by doing a comprehensive survey of all the online resources to do with your topic, digging down to such things as mundane as individual blog posts and forum threads if necessary. The better your understanding of what resources are already available, the better you'll be able to find areas where you can add significant value to the niche (such as the above industry glossary). Once you've added something of true value, try to find a way to get it in front of others in the niche while the market is still cool and they are likely to give you a link
The more value you can add to the niche now, the better situation your link profile will be in when the search volume begins to take off and more competition ensues.
Typically, I'm my main website is focused on a small niche : contemporary role playing game... in french! I'm very interrested about you glossary idea... Could you please send me more information about that ? Exemples, tools...
Browse around similar blogs and other community sites and see what people are looking for, write content for them in simpler terms. Rest will follow, from my experience.
I would kike to salute you.
aaron u r a genius.
Thanks for every post.
This is a good post Aaron. Thanks for pointing out your keyword tool. I see you have a link to google trends. Google trends can give a good indication of what keywords get the most traffic. This might be a good way to capitalize on the current available traffic. I think this is a really important tool for the one who asked the question.
Since you are in the beginning of a market trend just being on top of the info and networking you will be able to be a leader. Overtime when writing about that "info" people will begin to make you the authoritive website/figure etc. Good luck and thanks for sharing.
Good point - keyword tools are a godsend - not sure how I lived without them.
That's my case Aaron, I have been looking for keywords using different tools, yours has been quite helpful, it gives me the chance to see what other people is saying at many sites about the subject that I'm interested at. I also look at the titles and descriptions other sites are using. Another resource is to check on forums what people are asking for using my main keywords.
LOL, Nico -- not so sure if that kind of off-topic link building is going to work so well for you here....
Have to agree Aron. Look at "seo book". I remember your comparison of how before you coined the phrase there was almost no existing traffic for this niche :-).
Yes the tools are important but mixing them with some simple ontology tools you can find niche amongst a nich.
We tried that with a manufacturing industry client of ours mixed with some offline marketing and have seen steady growth of .edu backlinks to their website from local engineering schools.
Add new comment