Some Keyword research / Link Building questions

[HennryGale]

Hey Guys,

first of all I'd like to thank Ben for setting up this forum. I guess it will soon gather a lot of valuable information, which will help us all.

Well, the thing is I'm from Germany and really new to this. I did set up 4 sites for about 2 months and they aren't making money very well. But I think I have no right to complain because I did a very common mistake, which is surfing to much on different SEO blogs and so on. Well, I think it wasn't that bad, because although I haven't many sites set up, I learned very much about SEO/Internet Marketing, lastly. I also think that I have learned it from the "good guys" as you tend to say means I was reading and learning from the Keyword Academy, Grizz, Ben's Site, Court, Allyn, Liz and some of the other sites which are on this "blog link network".

So I think it's time to start and really work on my sites. But I have some problems and questions which are unsolved. Maybe it is because I do set up German sites and we haven't such a Internet Marketing scene there, like you guys have. But maybe you can help me, anyway.

1. Keyword research:
I think with my first sites I did the mistake that I wanted to much in the beginning. Means I did the Keyword Academy research and set up pages with keywords with a value of 300$+ dollar per month (according to the keyword academy formula). But I did it all according to rule, means SERPs did not show a PR2+ for my keyword and all that stuff.
But now I intend to search keywords which are very easy to dominate. So I think the right way is to have longtail keywords, means 3+ words. (my first few pages do all have 1word keywords) I think it is better, because I can easier dominate the SERPs and I also get more targeted traffic.
But my problem is, how can I find a good longtail keyword? Which are your methods for finding the right (longtail) keyword? Do you use a special software?

2. Link Building:
So this will be more specific to my language: The problem is we don't have such a authority site like Ezine Article / Go Articles. Sure we have a lot of article directories but I think they aren't so good like Ezine&co. Furthermore we don't have Hub Pages/Squidoo. But the biggest problem is we don't have a great Article Submitter like Uniqe Article Wizard. That means I have to submit my artcicles on the directories at most with semi automatic submitter software, which isn't that effective, I think.. We also haven't such a variety of SEO Software..
The main point is, how do you guys build your links?? I submitted my articles to different article directories ( but most of them didn't even get me a accredited backlink - I checked this on http://www.linkvendor.com/ ) and I tried to have some support Blogger Blogs, but I didn't get a accredited backlink from them also.. The only thing that really worked was link exchanges with topic related websites. So maybe you can help me with some ideas to get links without using the english specific things like ezine, squidoo, hubpages and unique article wizard?

I'd really like to start that whole thing, without reading to many blogs and concentrating on the work, but I want to make sure that I do it the right way and of course there is still a huge amount to learn in this Internet Marketing/SEO thing for me, although I think I have a good insight in this, right now..

Thanks a lot for your help and excuse my English ,
Henry

[BenK]

1. In regards to how to find a good keyword, this is really the crux of the whole MMO equation. And it's one that I can't answer for you.

At the end of the day, a lot of it comes down to picking the right niches -- and that depends on understanding the market and what people want and are willing to click/buy to get.

Finding keywords that "work" has a lot to do with experience. You need to try many different types of sites and fail with many sites. With enough sites, you can start to see what makes money and what doen't. There are many niches that look like they will do well on paper, but when you create a sites and get it ranked, you find people don't want to click/ buy products.

My advice is create many different sites in many different keywords and track what does well. With time and trial and error, you can find the right keywords in the right niches that you know will make money.

Automatic softare -- I don't use. there is nothing that can replicate gut instinct here.


2. For your second question, go here
http://www.makemoneyonlinewithseo.co...get-backlinks/

[BenK]

1. In regards to how to find a good keyword, this is really the crux of the whole MMO equation. And it's one that I can't answer for you.

At the end of the day, a lot of it comes down to picking the right niches -- and that depends on understanding the market and what people want and are willing to click/buy to get.

Finding keywords that "work" has a lot to do with experience. You need to try many different types of sites and fail with many sites. With enough sites, you can start to see what makes money and what doen't. There are many niches that look like they will do well on paper, but when you create a sites and get it ranked, you find people don't want to click/ buy products.

My advice is create many different sites in many different keywords and track what does well. With time and trial and error, you can find the right keywords in the right niches that you know will make money.

Automatic softare -- I don't use. there is nothing that can replicate gut instinct here.


2. For your second question, read my how to get backlinks post.

[HennryGale]

after a very long pause, I decided to create some new websites. So I'm going to visit this forum more often.

So I forgot to say thanks for your answers, which I'd like to do now ^^

Thank you

[seomum]

Nice advice Ben