How do I know when I’m using the right number of keywords on a page?

When writing content, you may be wondering what the right number of keywords is for each page. There is no magical number, but having the appropriate keyword density is ideal when optimizing content.

What is Keyword Density?

In short, keyword density is the percentage of instances a keyword or phrase appears on a webpage in comparison with the total number of words. There isn't a specific keyword density that pages need to reach, but a general rule is to include the keyword at least three times on short pages, with keywords in headers and naturally within the content.

Write for Users, Not Google

It's important to always remember that the goal in SEO is to design content for users, not search engines. Any attempt at short cuts or over-optimization can result in Google punishing your website. Make sure to include your target keywords where ideal, such as H1s and H2s, meta data, and images, but take care to make sure your content is readable. The last thing you want to do is write content that people won't read. The less people are engaged with your content, the less success your website will experience. Google rewards websites that attract people and keep them on the page.

Keeping these aspects in mind, you can create content that consistently attracts and engages readers. Keyword density won't be as important to keep in mind in today's SEO as writing and promoting top-quality content. After all, contemporary SEO is only becoming more about quality over quantity.