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KEYWORD DENSITY: Is There Optimal Keyword Density For SEO? by terranet

KEYWORD DENSITY is an integral part of any Search Engine Optimization (SEO) campaign. But what is the keyword density? Is there an ideal keyword density for Search Engine Optimization? How important is the keyword density for SEO? How to use keywords ethically and how to find the golden mean? In this article, Terranet.md provides some keyword density basics and factors to consider.

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 web page/document/article, etc. To calculate the keyword density on the web page/ article/etc, use the following formula:

KD = (Keyword Count*100) / Total Word Count

For example, there is a 500 word article with 10 keyword uses. In this case, keyword density is (10*100)/500 = 2%

Many SEO specialists and SEO Content Writers consider the optimum keyword density to be anywhere between 1% and 3%. Keyword density which is more than 1%-3% could be considered as keyword stuffing or keyword spamming (overuse of keywords) which can get your web page banned from the search results.

There is a lot of advice and debate on keyword density out there, but the fact is that there is NO perfect keyword density percent. And, there is no hard-and-fast rule that can help and dictate 100% effective KD for SEO. Below we describe the very basics of keyword density and point out some ideas to keep in mind in order to find the golden mean.

Keyword Density Tip #1
Keywords should be used repeatedly, yet naturally. Even if your web page or text is keyword rich, you should remember to use the keywords naturally. The tricky thing is that the website content should be optimized for search engines while being also readable, meaningful and beneficial for humans. It’s not so easy, but it’s not impossible either.

Keyword Density Tip #2
Website content should be both search engine friendly and user friendly. When creating search engine optimized (SEO) content, it is important to keep in mind that keyword-stuffed content decreases the website’s (article, source, etc) trust and credibility in the eyes of the website visitors, and… in Google’s eyes, too.

Keyword Density Tip #3
Use keyword density at the start and at the bottom of a web page. Try to use keyword density in the top half of the page, in the first few paragraphs of the published text, and at the bottom of a web page (or, published text, or article). But, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use the keywords throughout the whole page content.

Keyword Density Tip #4
Do not overuse keywords. Do not keyword stuff. Overuse of the keywords is considered as keyword stuffing which can get your web page banned from the search results. Always take a moment to read your text before placing on your website. To test your website’s contents for keyword stuffing, read the content to yourself. If you meet the same word too often and it makes your head spin – then you’ve engaged in keyword stuffing.

Keyword Density Tip #5
Do not target too many (more than five) keywords per page. Although this SEO approach is definitely controversial, our practice shows that targeting one or two or maximum five words per page appears to be more successful in search engine results, then targeting multiple keywords per page.

Creating optimized content is like playing the lottery where you never get a 100% success guarantee. In the SEO lottery, keyword density is just like one of the lottery tickets. Developing meaningful, user friendly and relevant SEO content – which is keyword SMART but not keyword STUFFED – is the key to success in the eyes of both search engines and web users.

Keyword density is definitely one of most effective SEO tactics, but do not go “keyword density crazy”. As long as you use ethical SEO and keyword SMART content – Search Engines will appreciate you for doing the good job!