Thread: Another disappointment with keyword research

So I run a site Free Mario Games at FreeMarioGames.net and have it optimized for 'free mario games'. I had it up to position #3 for a few days for the term, and got around 25 searches from Google each of those days.

I've shifted focus from that term now and have dropped back a few positions.

25 a day

Google reports:
[free mario games]1 - 3


33,100 60,500
and seobook reports 1294 searches a day for the term.

It's rather apparent to me now that even using multiple tools can let you down in a big way.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this matter?

It's rather disappointing with the time and money spent on optimizing the site, and makes me question working towards the term "mario games"

What values does Google Webmaster Tools show for that site and that keyword for Impressions and Clickthroughs?

Your site looks good. Nice job.

If the domain has not been penalized, you should not have to do very much optimization for that phrase. Most exact match domains (.com, .net or .org) start out in a top 10 position. "free Mario games" should be a freebie. I see the site in position #9 for that search phrase.

It looks like the search volume is there. I'm a bit surprised that you did not get more traffic when you were in the #3 position.

There are two things that you could do to boost the position.

1) Change the HTML tile tag to read "Free Mario Games". Using the domain name in the title tag is useless.

2) Get more links pointed to the site from to the site from other gaming sites with "Free Mario Games" in the link text.

You might want to try to optimize the site for additional search phrases, such as "free online games". It looks like that could drive some traffic.

Unfortunately, keyword research is not an exact science.

Do some of those numbers include all the long tail searches that include within them "free mario games"?

Here is what I see, depending on how they are counting, that could be included in the larger search totals you are seeing. These are all pulled from google suggest.

Code:

free mario games online
free mario games for kids
free-mario-games.com
free mario games to play
free mario games online without downloading
free mario games download
free mario games to play online
free mario games for ipod touch
free mario games for mac
free mario games for girls
free mario games online for kids
free mario games online for free
freemariogameonline.com
free mario games online kids
free mario games online for mac
free mario games online now
play free mario games online
all free mario games online
where to play free mario games online
free mario games and sonic games
free mario games arcade
free mario games bros
free mario games boys
www play free mario games com
free mario games download for pc
free mario games download for mac
free mario games download for mobile
free mario games download for psp
free mario games downloading

free mario games for kids online
free mario games for psp
free mario games for the computer
free mario games for pc
free mario games for cell phones
free mario games for iphone
free mario games ipod touch
free mario games info
free mario games kids
free mario games kart
play free mario games line
free mario games mac
free mario games no download
free mario games net
free mario games net play now
play free mario games now
free mario games on the computer
free mario games only
free mario games on the internet
free mario games on ipod touch
free mario games play online
free mario games pc
free mario games play now
download free mario games pc
free mario games racing
free mario games sonic games
free mario games to download
free mario games to play now
free mario games that you dont have to download
free mario games to play on the computer
free mario games toolbar
free mario games to play on the internet
free mario games without downloading
free mario games wii
play free mario games without downloading
play free mario games for kids
free mario games downloads
free mario games download full version
free mario games to play online now
download free mario games for ipod touch
free mario games for macs
free mario games online
free mario games online flash
free mario games online games
free mario games online mac
free mario games online no download
play free mario games online now
free mario games online play
free mario games online to play

Ya, this is a pretty competitive market I'm in and I've done some SEO work.

The FreeMarioGames.net is in the title in an effort to reinforce the use of .net after the domain to the users that see the site. To try and keep them at the .net instead of wandering off to the .org or a similar site.

And Will, that is very interesting..

Impressions: 18,100 Clickthrough: 590

Maybe I just really need to push for the #1 or #2 spot.

There's also a good chance that my methods of checking the position, while it showed #3, was showing #9 or so for the rest of the world.

I currently use a glype proxy with cookies and everything turned off.

Wow that clickthrough rate is frickin awesome.

That must be new - haven't seen that yet.

Originally Posted by nux

Impressions: 18,100 Clickthrough: 590

Aha! I think this is telling us something. What, I'm not sure.

Originally Posted by nux

Maybe I just really need to push for the #1 or #2 spot.

Maybe a more enticing title and description?

Originally Posted by nux

There's also a good chance that my methods of checking the position, while it showed #3, was showing #9 or so for the rest of the world.

Ah yes... I see you as #9 here.

I'm back up to #3 now - I think my drop down to #9 was just a temporary fluctuation.

Any suggestions on meta description?

I changed it a bit. Currently it's:
"Want to play free mario games right now? We have mario games, kids games, racing games and tons more! You gotta check it out."

Any suggestions?

Thanks

I still see you at #8 for "free mario games".

In the description I might use marketing words like "best" and "new".

Any suggestions?

Change the HTML title tag to read "Free Mario Games". Using the domain name in the title tag is useless.

In the description I might use marketing words like "best" and "new".

-

How about something like:

<title>Play the best New Free Mario Games - Kids Mario Games Online</title>

Code:

<meta name="Description" content="Play the best new free mario games online for kids at free mario games.net" />
<meta name="Keywords" content="best free mario games online, racing games, kids games, play online flash games." />

Code:

<div id="logo"><h1><a href="/" title="Play the best Free Mario Games">
<img src="theimagewashere.jpg" alt="Play the best Free Mario Games">
 Play the best Free Mario Games</a></h1>
 </div>

Pull the h1 text off screen in your css file:

Code:

#logo h1 {
text-indent:-9999px;
}

<h2>The best Free Mario Games being played online now</h2>

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