Is it better to target one big keyword or a few smaller ones?

[TobinCairn]

I'm picking topics for my site, but main words like "coffee maker" seem impossible to rank for. Do you get better traffic by targeting very specific, smaller questions instead?

 

[Jake]

In most cases, I prefer the second option, several small keywords that relate to each other. First, they are less competitive, so it is easier to get them into the first search results. Second, with proper optimization, these keywords can add up and form a good traffic source. In addition, this helps to develop topical authority so that the site can also rank for larger keywords in the future. Pursuing one big keyword is usually not the best idea, especially if it is highly competitive.