Keyword density

What is keyword density?

Keyword density is the percentage of words in a text that make up a specific keyword. You calculate it by dividing the number of times the keyword appears by the total number of words. Google has said there is no ideal percentage.

Why is keyword density important?

• A safety net against overdoing it: an extremely high density points to keyword stuffing.
• Not a goal in itself: no fixed norm exists, so chasing a percentage achieves nothing.
• Readability wins: a text that reads naturally does better with readers and search engines.

Examples of keyword density

• Keyword used 5 times in a 500-word text: a density of 1%
• Unnatural: “plumber Leeds” in every sentence, even where it does not fit
• Natural: the keyword in the title, heading and intro, with synonyms and variations

How do you deal with keyword density?

Write for the reader and use the keyword in logical places such as the title, heading and first paragraph, supported by variations (on-page SEO). Afterwards, only check that it does not sound forced.