How to handle plurals in keywords?

[Mars Guitars]

I can never decide whether to optimize for plural or singular keyword terms.

Things like 'guitar accessories' and 'guitar strings' are easy, but if I optimize for 'guitar capos' I lose out on 'guitar capo' etc. Should I use 'Guitar Tuners' or 'Guitar Tuner'? or a mixture of both?

Any tips for singular vs. plural?

(or do I mean singulars vs. plurals? )

 

[smeagain]

Google started it, but now the big 3 all employ some degree of word stemming. This means that they will see the relevence of a word for singles and plurals (as well as other derivatives) but will generally give more prominence for the actual word used within the page.

So the best way to do this (IMO) is to write it so it reads naturally and after it has settled, fill in the gaps.

If you are a bit creative, you can often include both single and plural versions of a word in the same sentence. For example consider the following HTML Title:
Red widgets from the widget specialist

With creative writing, it is possible to achieve good positioning for both single and plural within the same page. You probably get the idea, but try not to overdo it.

 

[Mars Guitars]

Thanks smeagain, some good points. But really my dilemma is in anchor text for links, where I have to make a choice, rather than body text where, as you say, it's often possible to include both.

 

[smeagain]

Well for anchor text can I assume that this is links/navigation within your site ??
If so and you onlu have one link to consider, you would need to talk to yourself. By that I mean say out loud the single and plural options as part of a search phrase and back the one that sounds most natural and rolls off the tongue smoothest.

A choice made like this, is "Probably" going to be the derivative of the word most likely to be contained within your potential visitors search box on Google or wherever.

Once again assuming that we are talking about links and navigation within your site, you can always include a link here and there for the alternative derivative as a link embedded within the flowing and descriptive text. These embeded links would in all probability carry more weight because they are in context rather than just one link in your Navigation Structure.

 

[deal4412]

When you do plurals for keywords I would use the plural version 75% of the time (which will rank you for both the non-plural and plural keyword). The other 25% of the time I would use the non-plural version so that google doesn't think your spamming using the same anchor text over and over again. Make sure to use more than one keyword though.

 

[cooldude007]

You can vary your anchor texts using the plural and singular keywords.

But focus more on plural keywords...