Should I look at Phrase or Exact Match traffic figures?

1. Exact Match Keywords​

• Pros: Exact match keywords give you highly targeted traffic. Visitors searching for these keywords are more likely to convert, as they’re looking for something specific.
• Cons: The search volume for exact match keywords is often lower, which can limit your reach.

• High-intent, niche-specific searches.
• PPC campaigns (if you want to control ad spend and optimize conversions).

2. Phrase Match Keywords​

• Pros: Phrase match keywords allow for variations in searches, meaning you'll capture more traffic. This is useful for getting more impressions while still keeping some level of relevance.
• Cons: Although broader, phrase matches can bring in less targeted traffic, which may reduce conversion rates.

• Generating more traffic with different search term variations.
• Understanding how users search for related terms that are close to your niche.
• Building a long-tail keyword strategy to capture wider search intent.

Best Practice for a New Website​

• Start with phrase match: This will help you capture a broader audience and discover which variations work best for your niche.
• Optimize over time: As you gather data, identify high-converting keywords and shift focus to more exact match terms for better precision and ROI.

Google Pioneer said:

You should consider both. This way, you can attract a wider audience

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Google Leader said:

I can try, but will it be a hassle?

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Websettled said:

Here are some tips that would be helpful for you When doing SEO for a new website, it’s generally better to focus on a balanced strategy that incorporates both phrase matches and exact matches when targeting keyword traffic. Here's how to approach it:

1. Exact Match Keywords​

• Pros: Exact match keywords give you highly targeted traffic. Visitors searching for these keywords are more likely to convert, as they’re looking for something specific.
• Cons: The search volume for exact match keywords is often lower, which can limit your reach.

Use exact match for:

• High-intent, niche-specific searches.
• PPC campaigns (if you want to control ad spend and optimize conversions).

2. Phrase Match Keywords​

• Pros: Phrase match keywords allow for variations in searches, meaning you'll capture more traffic. This is useful for getting more impressions while still keeping some level of relevance.
• Cons: Although broader, phrase matches can bring in less targeted traffic, which may reduce conversion rates.

Use phrase match for:

• Generating more traffic with different search term variations.
• Understanding how users search for related terms that are close to your niche.
• Building a long-tail keyword strategy to capture wider search intent.

Best Practice for a New Website​

For a new website, you should aim for a combination of both strategies:

• Start with phrase match: This will help you capture a broader audience and discover which variations work best for your niche.
• Optimize over time: As you gather data, identify high-converting keywords and shift focus to more exact match terms for better precision and ROI.

Also, focus on LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords and user intent. Search engines are moving towards understanding context and intent, so diversifying your keywords and matching them with the user’s actual needs is key.

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