Is it wise to target different keywords for each page?

[debeenus]

I am running a dating site, I am trying to focus on 5 keywords on the index page. My Search page is one of the 4 other pages on the site.

My question, is it wise to target different keywords on these pages or am I better off focussing on the same 5 keywords as the index page?

Thank you,

[Theo-NL]

I would suggest to limit the number of keywords targeted per page. Having just one (or just a few) keywords per page allows you to target them better on-page, and you'll have more targeted incoming links (both in terms of relevance and anchor text) as well.

Targeting the same keywords on all pages might result in so called keyword canabalization as well. Read more on that subject here: http://www.seomoz.org/blog/how-to-solve-keyword-cannibalization

[makeusawebsite]

5 keywords on 1 page is quite high, and in my opinion will limit your success rate. I would reduce this to a maximum of 2 or 3 phrases per page, and as you identify new keyphrases build new pages on your site.  This way your site will grow organically, and you will start to build the number of keywords in your portfolio.

[Syed1]

It depends on the competition level for those keywords. If its high, you might want to focus on one mother keyword phrases and couple of child keyword phrases. Trying to rank for more than 1 keyword phrase in 1 page in a high competition scene is not something I'd suggest.