Search Engine Optimization is an ongoing process. One of the most important parts of a successful SEO campaign is deciding which search phrases to target and how many phrases can realistically receive meaningful attention within the campaign’s budget.
At One Sky Media Webmasters, our entry-level SEO campaign is structured around 10 targeted search phrases at a time.
That doesn’t mean your business only has 10 valuable search phrases. In fact, most businesses have dozens—or even hundreds—of potential searches through which prospective customers could find them.
The 10-phrase structure simply establishes the initial focus and scope of the campaign.
Why Focus on Only 10 Search Phrases?
SEO involves considerably more than putting keywords on a website.
For every phrase we target, we need to evaluate the website’s current ranking, competing websites, existing content, geographic relevance, on-page optimization, links, and other factors that may affect the site’s ability to improve.
By concentrating our entry-level campaign on 10 carefully selected phrases, we’re able to focus the available SEO resources where we believe they can produce the greatest benefit.
Trying to optimize dozens of phrases simultaneously under the same entry-level budget would simply spread those resources too thin.
We would rather actively work on 10 important phrases than claim we’re optimizing 50 or 100 phrases without giving each enough attention.
The First 10 Phrases Are the Starting Point
At the beginning of the campaign, we establish the initial group of 10 search phrases.
Whenever possible, we don’t select these simply because they sound good. We want phrases that reflect searches relevant to the company’s products or services and have a realistic chance of generating valuable website traffic.
We then establish the website’s current rankings for those phrases and monitor their movement as the campaign progresses.
Some phrases may respond relatively quickly. Others can require considerably more time and effort depending upon competition, the website’s history, its existing content, and the strength of competing websites.
That’s why SEO should be viewed as a progressive process rather than a one-time project.
What Happens When a Phrase Reaches Its Goal?
This is where the campaign can begin to expand.
Suppose we start with 10 phrases and, over time, several achieve the ranking goals we’ve established for them.
We don’t necessarily need to continue devoting the same level of resources to those successful phrases forever.
Instead, we can begin introducing additional search phrases into the campaign while continuing to monitor the phrases that have already performed well.
SEO strategy progressing from targeted search phrases to higher rankings and expanded keyword opportunities
For example:
Initial Campaign
10 actively targeted phrases
↓
Several phrases achieve strong rankings
Those successful phrases move primarily into monitoring
↓
New phrases can be introduced
SEO resources can begin focusing on additional opportunities
↓
Previously successful phrases continue to be watched
If an established ranking begins declining, we may need to devote attention to that phrase again.
This lets the campaign grow progressively instead of trying to target everything at once.
Achieving a Ranking Doesn’t Mean We Forget About the Phrase
Search rankings aren’t permanent.
Competitors change their websites. New competitors enter the market. Google changes its search systems. Websites add new content, links, and resources. Search behavior itself can change.
Therefore, when one of our targeted phrases achieves a strong ranking, we continue monitoring it.
The objective is to expand into additional phrases without sacrificing the progress we’ve already made.
If an established phrase begins losing ground, we may need to shift some attention back to it before continuing to expand the campaign.
Think of it as climbing a ladder: we want to reach the next rung without letting go of the one we’ve already secured.
Why Not Add More Phrases Immediately?
We can certainly target more phrases, but it requires additional SEO resources.
Our entry-level campaign is intentionally designed as an affordable starting point for businesses that want professional ongoing SEO without immediately committing to a much larger campaign.
The campaign’s resources are therefore allocated to 10 actively targeted phrases.
A company that wants to aggressively pursue 20, 30, or more phrases simultaneously can expand the scope and budget of its SEO campaign. Otherwise, we believe the better strategy is to concentrate on the initial 10, establish measurable progress, and then progressively expand the campaign as opportunities become available.
SEO Success Builds Over Time
One of the biggest misconceptions about SEO is that you need to target every desirable phrase at once.
It doesn’t.
A well-managed SEO campaign can build upon its successes.
We may begin with 10 phrases, improve several, introduce additional phrases, improve those, and keep expanding the website’s search visibility over time.
The result can be a much larger footprint in Google than the original campaign targeted—but that growth happens progressively and strategically.
Our Goal: Build Rankings Without Losing the Rankings We’ve Earned
Monitoring successful SEO rankings while adding new search phrases to the campaign
Our objective isn’t simply to move a phrase up temporarily.
We want to establish valuable search visibility, protect the progress we’ve made, and continue identifying new opportunities for growth.
That’s why our entry-level SEO campaign concentrates on 10 active search phrases at a time.
Focus on the first 10.
Measure their progress.
Achieve strong rankings.
Protect those rankings.
Then expand into additional opportunities.
That’s how a focused entry-level SEO campaign can grow into broader search visibility for your business over time.
Ready to Improve Your Website’s Search Visibility?
If you’re interested in improving where your website appears in Google, One Sky Media Webmasters can evaluate your website, discuss the products, services, and geographic markets most important to your business, and help identify the search phrases that make the most sense to target first.
The goal isn’t simply to rank for more phrases. It’s to rank for the right phrases—the searches that can put your business in front of prospective customers.
