If you have ever thought of being famous or increasing your reach on the internet, you must have come across the term keyword density. It is a go-to metric or a numerical value for many that is used to enhance the content’s performance on search engines.
However, SEO does not stand still, and with constant algorithm updates and ever-evolving practices, one question that arises in the back of our minds is, whether keyword density still matters or is it actually relevant for SEO success?
We will take off the curtain from this mystery in this blog. We will learn how it has changed over time and how it fits in with today’s SEO strategies.
If you are working for SEO in any company, this blog will help you gain advanced SEO techniques that stay relevant with time. It will be clear if SEO is a lost case or a secret weapon in your arsenal.
What is Keyword Density?
To start with the basics keyword density is a measure of how often a keyword or a phrase appears in your content compared to the total word count. Usually, it is expressed as a percentage.
The vision behind tracking the keyword density is simple. It is done to ensure that a keyword is present enough times to be recognized by search engines as a central theme of content.
However, this does not mean that you stuff loads of keywords in your content just to make it rank. As the Chinese yin and yang symbol, balance is the key to search engine optimization.
Let’s Understand the Difference Between Keyword Density & Keyword Stuffing
A lot of people think that keyword stuffing and keyword density are the same thing. In the earlier days, keyword stuffing used to be a very common but bad online marketing tactic.
But it was back in the days when digital marketing was not even a term. With time, search engines like Google have significantly advanced their evaluation process. The algorithm can now assess the context and relevance of the keywords within your content rather than just tallying up keywords.
If it finds stuffed keywords the chances of your content to rank gets very low. Even for the readers, your content will sound unnatural, and any sober mind would understand that you have stuffed the keywords unnecessarily.
Excessive stuffed keywords can harm your SEO efforts which might trigger penalties under Google's webmaster guidelines.
When we talk about keyword density, it is not necessarily the same. Contrary to some beliefs, it is not a magic formula for successfully ranking your content on Google. It refers to the balanced use of keywords in a blog so that it looks and feels natural.
However, when asked if keyword density is a ranking factor, Google’s Jhon Mueller gave a clear and simple, No.
So, what does this mean for your content and how does it impact your social media marketing? It is all about balance and the natural integration of keywords. The vision should be to weave the keywords in your content in such a way that they enhance the message, not hijack it.
Your content must be informative, engaging, and reader-friendly with keywords that naturally complement the narrative. This approach is not just about satisfying search engines but about providing real value to the readers.
You can say that it is kind of a hallmark of quality assurance of content in the digital realm.
How to Check Keyword Density?
Keyword density isn’t a ranking factor, but it still plays an important role in crafting a balanced piece of content. It serves as a guideline which ensures that your keywords are adequately represented without overdoing it.
Let's learn how one can check the keyword density of their content.
Use a Keyword Density Checker
There are several tools available for analyzing and calculating your content’s keyword strategy. These tools also give additional insights, like keyword distribution and prominence.
Manual Calculation
To understand the keyword density, you can calculate it manually too. Just divide the number of times the keyword appears, with the total word count and multiply it by 100. This is the percentage value of your keywords in the total content.
Contextual Analysis
Beyond numbers, look at the context and ensure that your keywords fit naturally. Are they adding value to your content or is it just there for the sake of SEO? Relevance and readability are a crucial part of well-written content.
While writing for SEO, creating valuable and relevant content that naturally blends with the context is very important.
Is Keyword Density Important Today?
In the Early days of SEO, Keyword density was the secret to getting into a club of top search rankings. But with time search engines have evolved and they’ve become more sophisticated.
But the question still is, do keywords still matter?
Yes, it does but today they are more focused on user intent, content quality, and overall relevance.
However, keyword isn’t the star player anymore.
Let's understand why.
Context Matters Most
Search engines use advanced algorithms to better understand the context and relevance of content. They look for the bigger picture and not just the keywords.
Quality over Quantity
Good content is all about delivering value to the user. Quality content that is relevant and provides useful information ranks higher than content that’s merely stuffed with keywords.
Good User Experience
Search engines prioritize content that offers a great user experience. It includes readability, structure, and relevance of the content.
Do not Over-Optimize
If you focus too much on keyword density, it may lead you to over-optimization of the content. It will make your content look unnatural which might trigger search engine penalties.
While keywords are still a prominent part of your content, their density is not something you should obsess over. Now it is more about how well your content resonates with and serves the needs of your audience.
Strategic Keyword Placement
Keywords are like signposts, which guide both users as well as search engines through your content. Placing the right keyword at the right spot is what makes your content good according to the algorithm.
There are certain spots where you can place the keywords for maximum impact like:
Title Tag
This is the most prominent estate for your target keyword. The title tag is what users and search engines see first so make sure it clearly indicates what your content is about.
Placing a relevant keyword near the beginning is a good practice that will signal the content’s topic immediately
URL or Slug
Your URL should be clear, concise, and should target your keyword. It helps the readers to understand what they can expect from the content. It also provides a context to search engines.
Remember to keep it readable and avoid excessive filler words.
Headings
Using your keywords in headings like H1, H2, and H3 helps to structure your content logically. This makes it easier for users as well as search engines to follow the flow of your content.
However, always keep in mind to use relevant keywords in the heading that feels natural and relevant.
Meta Description
Although it does not impact the rankings directly, a keyword in the meta description can tempt users to click through from the search results. It gives readers a quick perspective of what your content offers.
Body
The keywords must appear naturally throughout the content, especially within the first 100 to 150 words. This shows users they’re in the right place for the information they need.
Choose the Best Digital Marketing Team
Search engine optimization is crucial for any organization in the modern world, but not everyone has a proficient hand in the field. In such cases, it is very convenient to hire or partner with a digital marketing company that has a good hold of this subject.
Unify Wizards is one such organization that has helped various brands create a digital presence while creating an impact in their niche. We have a team of experts who are proficient with all the digital marketing elements.
We keep track of all the latest trends in the digital space and create relevant content for your business niche. Our specialization in digital marketing makes us the best digital marketing agency in UK.