Keyword Help

[craig34]

Though I've had great results in the past, I am working to improve the keywords on my site in an attempt to focus on certain phrases that I feel will provide me with the best, most focused, traffic that is most likely to lead to a conversion.

That said, I'm running into some gray areas that I was hoping I might get some input on.

For one category on my site, I've found lots of variations on similar keywords, all ranking as good phrases. For instance, in my order of importance, here is a list:

1. gas tank
2. fuel tank
3. gas tank repair
4. fuel tank repair
5. truck fuel tank
6. car gas tank
7. car fuel tank
8. auto gas tank
9. auto fuel tank
10. replacement gas tank
11. replacement fuel tank

I could go on, but hopefully you get the point. Do I need to use these entire phrases as keywords, or would it be alright to use just the words. For instance, which of the two meta keyword lists below would be best to use:

keywords = "gas tank, fuel tank, repair, truck, car, auto, replacement"OR
keywords = "gas tank, fuel tank, gas tank repair, fuel tank repair, truck fuel tank, car gas tank, car fuel tank, auto gas tank, auto fuel tank, replacement gas tank, replacement fuel tank"

I guess that basis of all of this is that I'm wondering if I will still show up well for a search for "replacement gas tank" if I use the first option.

[dilligaf]

Craig, I always use the full term in meta keywords seperated by a comma with no space. Ex: gas tank,fuel tank,gas tank repair,fuel tank repair,truck fuel tank With the most important first.

I'm sure you're aware that meta keywords are for yahoo as Google doesn't read them. I use the comma no space from an old Inktomi optimization tut and I've never heard otherewise.

[craig34]

Well, I'm looking even beyond the keywords tag I guess. For the descriptions and text on each of our main category pages, we're using this keyword list as a guide of sorts. In terms of that, is it not enough to simply use the words "car" and "truck", without following them with "fuel tank" and "gas tank"?

For instance if I could choose between the following two text blurbs:

We offer both car gas tank and truck gas tank products at the best pricing around. A replacement gas tank or replacement fuel tank from our company comes with a limited life-time warranty.
OR
We offer both car and truck gas tank products at the best pricing around. A replacement gas or fuel tank from our company comes with a limited life-time warranty.

The same keywords are used in both, however the second example doesn't make use of the exact phrases and is shorter as a result. Will that still show up for a keyword search for "replacement fuel tank"?