How should I use keywords in a sentence?

[Timvroom]

The keywords that I target are phrases that wouldn't ever be used in a sentence... Ex: Stained Concrete Virginia

My question is... Is it better to use the phrase, even though its odd?

Ex: Stained Concrete Virginia is a great product

Or is it better to make it a natural sentence?

Ex: Stained Concrete in Virginia is a great product?

Im trying to find a way to use my keyword phrases at least 4 times in the content of the pages...but it seems difficult if I have to use such an odd phrase.

Thanks!

Tim

[EGOL]

Competition for that phrase is really really low.  If you have any kind of power in your site you should be able to rank for it.  Plus, if you are located in Virginia and your searcher is there too, that will make it even easier to rank for these terms.

So, it's not worth sounding like a hillbilly to every person who visits your site, just to contrive sentences that put these words in the order of a query that might be used once in a blue moon.

[NakulGoyal]

I agree with Bail and Keri. The takeaway is that the phrase is always important but so is surrounding text. Mix and match and do it what makes sense for a user, not for a Search Engine. It will always work out better in the long-run and you won't have to worry about over optimization kind of penalties.

Design your website for the user as well as the Search Engines, not just the Search Engines. Search Engines like what the user's like. As it leads to more users engaging with your content, website, therefore improving your site-score, helping you not only in SEO but PPC if at all you do PPC.

[KeriMorgret]

You can also spread your phrase over two sentences, such as "We service the Shenandoah Valley area in Virginia. Stained Concrete is blah blah blah" and you have "virginia stained concrete" as a phrase.

[BailHotline]

Hi Tim,

great question. The obvious choice here is to use the sentence that makes the most sense which would be "Stained Concrete in Virginia etc.." You should avoid the odd and confusing sentences because it will lead to a bad user experience, resulting in low conversions, regardless of the rank perks you will receive.

Come to think about it, I really don't see too much of a disadvantage on using 'Stained Concrete in Virginia etc.."  because, generally, search engines typically pick out irrelevant keywords like: "the, in, a, of" automatically and only concentrate on keywords it sees relevant.

I know coming up with different word variations can be difficult but try playing with the words that relate to your audience to give you more options (e.g. Stained Concrete for Virgina Homes) of even using your business locations for a more targeted search (e.g. [City name], Va stained concrete).

Hope that helps