How Many Keywords Is Enough?
Many search engine optimization experts talk about something called keyword density. Supposedly, if you put just enough keywords into your content it’s like swallowing a magic pill. Instant rankings. The only thing is, it doesn’t work that way.
Because the search engines have so many different factors for ranking websites for certain keywords, it is difficult to predict just which factor will be the favored one on any given day. It is much better to put your keywords into the right places and not worry about the right amounts. When it comes right down to it anyway, you can have too much and you can have too little. Why spend all your time guessing which is which?
I’m here to say that you can have just the right amount of keyword density and not get ranked for you important keywords. That’s because factors like domain age, inbound link relevance, domain keyword optimization, and h tags on someone else’s web page can trump your keyword density.
Webmasters should spend more time learning the ins and outs of optimization and quit guessing density patterns. That’s the old way of doing things and keyword density hasn’t mattered for about five years. The smarter and more sophisticated the search engines become in their approach to ranking information, the less keyword density matters. Natural language optimization has almost killed the keyword density discussion anyway. Another couple of years and there won’t even be a slight chance of resurrection. Let keyword density take care of itself.
18 Responses to “How Many Keywords Is Enough?”
SEO Journal is Written by
Brick Marketing Founder,
Nick Stamoulis:
Nick Stamoulis - SEO Bio.
Tel. - 877-295-0620
nick@brickmarketing.com
Connect with Nick Stamoulis
Brick Marketing - SEO Company
Hey Nick,
I enjoyed your article which is very precise, accurate & informative same time. It’s like hitting Bull’s Eye.
There has been always debate on Keyword Density within content which I too feel is waste of time. It’s better to look on other On-page & Off-page SEO strategies and more important to look on making your website Search Engine friendly.
@Afzal Khan – Thanks for reading and your comment…its good to hear other SEO folks share the same view on this topic!
Thanks for the post and for useful information on use of keyword and keyword density while doing on page of a particular site.
Ha!
I couldnt agree more.
We keep advising noobs to yes do niche and keyword research but not to obsses with the keywords density or stuff the whole page with the “things”.
natural on topic content does target the keywords you want and many more related ones you didnt know you’d get traffic for. Monitoring which keywords bring you traffic then lets you know which content topic you should may be target some more since you seem to already rank for it.
This kind of SEO is long term and does serve you well in the long run as it tends to stand the test of time and your site gets more and more authority with time.
Thanks for pointing this out to us once again
Susan
@Susan – Thanks for the comment…very good point monitoring and reporting is essential!
I don’t get what it is you SEO people do, then. If you aren’t tweaking the content, or adding pages of content to the site based around keywords, then what the heck are you doing every month for the money we pay?
@Pete – Thanks for reading…not sure what type of “SEO People” you are referring to, but most reputable “SEO People” perform the following ongoing tasks (after the on site optimization is completed): Monthly Visitor/Conversion Reporting and ongoing search engine link building aka “trust factor” building to help but a brand and business for a client…hope this answers your question.
Building links for the purpose of gaining page rank (and writing content that is geared toward search engines) is against the Google Guidelines. It could only be a matter of time until Google’s algorithms get smarter and destroy the results from any SEO firm efforts.
@Jason – I agree with you 100%! It is VERY important to follow Google’s webmaster guidelines and best practices and not build links for page rank but build your brand and relevant links to build your business. In the process an element of trust will be accomplished…
For those of you who do know where to find Google’s webmaster guidelines, here it is:
http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35769
Also, here is Google’s very helpful best practice guide:
http://www.google.com/webmasters/docs/search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf
Now to your point any white hat SEO firm that follows these guidelines WILL be in very good shape long term.
@Nick Stamoulis – “after the on site optimization is completed”
What “on site optimization”? If writing content that is geared toward search engines is “against the rules” what else does “optimizing” a site mean?
@Pete – Content of a website should be written always for visitors, never for only the search engines. The goal on of site optimization is to target highly relevant keyword phrases naturally into existing content on a page that is user focused. If the keywords selected and targeted are natural the user experience remain should remain intact…
Thanks so much for all of your questions!
Pete, he didn’t say writing content toward the search engines is ‘against the rules’. He said it’s ineffective.
SEOs do a number of things for their clients including optimizing meta tags, photo and video optimization, code clean up, off site link building, on site link management, directory and website submissions, and even web design and development.
Content development is about more than just making sure you have enough keywords on the page. It’s about making sure your website appeals to the right audience and closing sales. Ranking well requires a holistic approach to search engine marketing where you consider a number of factors and not just one. If you focus on the number of keywords on each page you are going to lose because your competition is looking at everything else.
@Allen Taylor – Thanks for the comment…excellent points especially about competition looking at all other factors…thanks again
You guys are talking out of both sides of your mouth. Of course, nobody should create web pages stuffed with keywords. And “keyword density” always sounds like one of those things that SEOs say to confused a customer.
Here’s where you are confusing, Nick. You write:
1. “It is much better to put your keywords into the right places and not worry about the right amounts.”
Sounds like according to you there is a “right” place to put keywords. If we aren’t supposed to write for the search engines, what “right” place are you talking about?
2. “Webmasters should spend more time learning the ins and outs of optimization and quit guessing density patterns.”
What “ins and outs”? Aren’t we supposed to be concerned with our site visitors and not do anything related to search engines?
Bottom line…are you for or against writing content for search engines?
Jason then writes:
“writing content that is geared toward search engines) is against the Google Guidelines.”
What does this sentence mean? How does Google know if anyone is writing content geared toward search engines? Again, I am not suggesting that anyone create endless pages of mindless drivel stuffed with keywords. BUT…if a web site owner would like to rank for a particular keyword, among many other things that keyword HAS to have page content built around it…no?
Just like to say I enjoyed reading the discussion
Anil
Thanks Nick!!!
@Pete – At this point, I think you are confusing yourself. The bottom line is that content should be written for visitors not search engines. If you need some additional help regarding the “ins and outs” of on site optimization I highly recommend you read Google’s webmaster guidelines.
Also Google has a great SEO starter guide at the following link:
http://www.google.com/webmasters/docs/search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf
Hi there,
I’m still somewhat new to SEO, and I’m confused what you mean by Natural Language Optimization. Is that just saying that the higher quality of content is more important than the keywords? Can you explain that for me. THANK YOU!
Curt Bizelli
@C Biz – Quality content is very important, including the keyword phrases that are naturally incorporated into them…hope this helps!