You may have heard that there is a formula for the number of times a keyword appears on a page or blog—this is commonly known as keyword density. But is there a keyword density formula?
First of all, what exactly is keyword density? Keyword density is the percentage of times a keyword or key phrase appears on a web page in comparison with the total number of words on the page. If an SEO agency or marketer says they have a percentage formula, be cautious. In my experience there is no ideal keyword percentage.
One common mistake SEO marketers do is mentioning the keyword or phrase as many times as possible on the page. This is known as keyword stuffing. Avoid this practice at all cost.
The old SEO practice was Content is King. Today, FRESH content is KING.
Avoid Keyword Stuffing
Here’s a MYTH: If we use a keyword many times, we will rank higher in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Page). This can actually lead to Google labeling your site as keyword spamming which could lead to an over optimization penalty. Google Matt Cutts explains in this video.
Should I pay attention to my keyword density? So are keywords still important? Yes, keywords are still important, but when writing keep the end user in mind. Write easy to read articles that flow naturally. Google suggests writing natural articles and placing the keyword or phrase where it makes sense. Try long-tail keywords. Another best practice is using synonyms in your content.
The old SEO practice was Content is King. Today, FRESH content is KING.
Google’s John Mueller said on Twitter that even if you make a mistake and do keyword stuffing or some other spammy mistake on your site, it is still possible for the site to rank in Google because of the positive things the site is doing.
So in conclusion, avoid keyword stuffing. If this is your current SEO strategy, it’s time to stop. Search engines are not easily fooled in 2017. Remember, keep your audience in mind and write natural easy to read articles. Not only will this enhance user experience, but it may also help increase the time the user spends on your site.
