optimal keyword density percentage

sujith.it · #1 (**permalink**) 07-14-2008, 04:20 AM

What is optimal keyword density for SEO purposes? Some say around 1- 7 % generally. What is your experience? I usually target for around 3-4 %.

What is your optimal keyword density percentage?

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lisa · #2 (**permalink**) 07-14-2008, 09:59 AM

Keyword density is pretty much a thing of the past. Years ago SEOers would try to figure out the right percentage and then the engines would change it putting SEOers back to square one. I don't even write for density anymore. I just write for humans keeping my main phrase in mind and go from there.

Bingo · #3 (**permalink**) 07-14-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisa

Keyword density is pretty much a thing of the past.

I agree and getting caught up in keyword density can lower the quality of your work. I've experienced that only too well.

bigtunafan · #4 (**permalink**) 07-14-2008, 11:04 PM

I hope I am keeping along the same subject here, but I have a question about keywords. Hopefully someone will answer this long running confusion I have.

Right now I have submitted an article re-write to a ghost writer. The keyword I have chosen is "short stack poker". Now here is my confusion on the secondary keywords. I have also chosen "holdem short stack strategy" and "short stack".
My ghost writer told me it would be over stuffing. How exactly do I arrive at the secondary keywords to stay within the theme of my article. Let me give you the layout:

Quote:

Keywords: short stack poker, holdem short stack strategy, short stack

Quote:

Theme words: Needed Phrases and Theme words:

3-word phrases: short stack strategy, free online poker, rules and strategy, small pocket pairs

2-word phrases: online poker, poker strategy, no limit, Texas holdem, poker tips, poker rules, cash game, semi-bluff, pocket pairs, stack strategy

Theme words: poker, play, flop, bet, strategy, online, players, tips, pair, bluff, pot,
cards, bluffing, card, tournaments, two, real, rules, cash, money, pot, room

Am I missing the boat? Someone please explain the keyword stuff to me please?

lisa · #5 (**permalink**) 07-14-2008, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtunafan

I hope I am keeping along the same subject here, but I have a question about keywords. Hopefully someone will answer this long running confusion I have.

Right now I have submitted an article re-write to a ghost writer. The keyword I have chosen is "short stack poker". Now here is my confusion on the secondary keywords. I have also chosen "holdem short stack strategy" and "short stack".
My ghost writer told me it would be over stuffing. How exactly do I arrive at the secondary keywords to stay within the theme of my article. Let me give you the layout:

Am I missing the boat? Someone please explain the keyword stuff to me please?

Wow, (head spinning)

I gotta say, I never put that much emphasis into articles I write anymore (in terms of stuffing, secondary keywords, etc). I just aim for one or two keyword phrases and write as if I'm writing for a regular audience.

After I'm done, I may add one or two more mentions of my phrase throughout the entire piece but I don't count phrases or worry much about secondary keywords. And if I do, I may mention that secondary keyword phrase once or twice.

Maybe I'm in the minority here but I just don't get that detailed with SEO tactics other than the basic title, description and keeping a main phrase in mind. I just write as if I'm writing for humans and try to keep my visitor in mind more than SEO, number of mentions.

bigtunafan · #6 (**permalink**) 07-15-2008, 12:22 AM

Thank you for the response as always Lisa. So then when you write an article you USE one keyword. For example if you were to write an article on web development books and you chose the keyword "best web design books". Are you saying you go with that keyword and not worry about trying to be found with another keyword like "top web design books" as well?

Look I'm new to this keyword stuff and I'm thinking I would like to be found for both keywords. Right or wrong?

I don't know what the heck keyword stuffing is. All I want to do is have Google and Yahoo find my pages and hopefully rank where my targeted audience will find my pages.

All I'm asking for is some clarification this stuff because right now my head is spinning too!

lisa · #7 (**permalink**) 07-15-2008, 12:51 AM

Yes, you got it. For the most part I just stick with one keyword. As I'm writing, sometimes I am conscious of adding related phrases throughout the body but that's about it. I usually try to focus on one main keyword phrase and let the chips fall where they may.

Plus if you focus on trying to rank for too many keywords you may dilute your main phrase and end up not ranking for anything.

But I never map out anything detailed such as trying to mention my main keyword 10 times and my secondary keyword 5 times, etc. That's SEO of the past. I just write with one phrase in mind and also make sure I include related phrases when I can but I don't spend time counting or measuring keyword density.

Remember, how your page ranks depends on much more than just what's on that page. Linking to that page from other pages on your site can make a difference (particularly if your site is older and has an established pagerank) If I'm writing a page with a keyword phrase that is fairly competitive, I may link more of my existing pages to this page to show Google that this is an important page.

So for your short stack poker page, look for other pages on your site and link to that page using those keywords (when appropriate). That may help some as well.

My main point here is there aren't nearly as many rules to follow about SEO anymore. The engines are getting smarter and are looking for more off-page criteria than on-page. It's probably been at least 4-5 years since the last time I actually counted keywords or tried to determine the right amount of times to mention a phrase, etc.

Hang in there, your traffic will come. Just keep building.

bigtunafan · #8 (**permalink**) 07-15-2008, 12:16 PM

Lisa as always you are brilliant! However if you just use one KEYWORD what other words do you place in your keywords meta tag? I am just trying to grasp this whole keyword concept.

lisa · #9 (**permalink**) 07-15-2008, 12:29 PM

I usually put that main keyword and maybe one or two other related keywords. The keyword tag is virtually worthless now and the engines don't use it for ranking. However I still add one or two because it may help with contextual programs like AdSense (in terms of describing the page for more relevant ads), etc.

Xoote · #10 (**permalink**) 07-15-2008, 01:46 PM

great thanks for the information

meanne2007 · #11 (**permalink**) 09-01-2008, 09:51 PM

a site that has more than 2% keyword density sees search engine as spamming.

adminranger · #12 (**permalink**) 09-01-2008, 09:58 PM

meanne2007

Where did you get that information? Just wondering.

Belly · #13 (**permalink**) 09-19-2008, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisa

For the most part I just stick with one keyword. As I'm writing, sometimes I am conscious of adding related phrases throughout the body but that's about it.

Most of the people search for 2 keywords. You might make it intuitivly right. But that is hard to explain to someone.

Shaukat · #14 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 11:24 PM

Based on experience, I'd say between 1% and 2%. Even though Keyword density is not that important but you should strategically sprinkle keywords throughout your copy. Avoid keyword stuffing. Optimize your copy for 2-3 keywords instead of concentrating on one main keyword only.

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