Like a 16-year-old eyeing a new car, business owners often get caught up trying to rank in one particular search rather than optimizing for a bigger picture strategy. Even as SEO consultants, there are times you just want to dive in and go for the gold of a top-level search.

Getting your website to rank on particular “golden nugget” search term can be a time consuming and daunting process that could very well end up being a waste of time. There are many factors in play when it comes to Google’s search algorithms, which are the mathematical computer processes that actually rank website pages into certain searches. What all webmaster can do to generate better indexing is to provide Google with high-quality content that will help the algorithmic tunes a better sense of the type of searches a given website should be indexed – among other things.

In order to completely avoid going down the wrong path, I’ve compiled some best practices that anyone can use to gain traction on a highly-competitive search query.

1. Firsts thing first, do your SEO Keyword Research:

Before you optimize a single keyword, do your research. Make sure this probably-ideal search term is a sure bet for your website’s SEO strategy. It will require a significant amount of time and resources, therefore, it better be absolutely clear it is worthy of it. Are the majority of users of that particular search going to be ideal clients for your business. If not, then maybe reconsider.

2. Review your existing website to identify your overall keyword saturation.

Use this data in comparison to the search queries you have identified as your target. If your keyword saturation is low in this area, then optimize your content to better reflect this direction.

3. Create New content, such as blog posts and service pages, that contain your identified keyword.

Think about ways to create content that will attract users within this given search and why would they want to click on your website vs. the many other competitors. Create value for your readers by giving then something they want. Make sure to share this new content on social networks to generate backlinks and traffic. Encourage others to share the content.

4. Review the websites already indexed in the search query.

See what type of tactics they are using and how can you incorporate like minded strategy that will compare to theirs. Use this for inspiration, don’t just copy what they are doing.

6. Continue optimizing the rest of your site for other search terms.

The sum is greater than the whole of its parts. Other search terms can drive traffic to your site, which will increate the overall value of your site in the eyes of Google.

It can take lots of time and devotion to conquer a high saturated search term. My last piece of advice is to not give up and stay at it. Getting your website to index into a highly competitive search term will take time. Now, keeping it in that search term is a whole other strategy.