Keyword density refers to the percentage of times a target keyword or phrase appears within a piece of content relative to the total word count. It is a metric used in search engine optimization (SEO) to evaluate the relevance and optimization of a webpage for specific keywords.
While keyword density was once considered an important ranking factor by search engines, it has since become less influential due to changes in search engine algorithms and a greater emphasis on natural language and user experience. Moreover, excessive keyword density can be perceived as spammy or manipulative and may result in penalties from search engines.
Optimizing keyword density involves striking a balance between incorporating target keywords into content to improve relevance and avoiding keyword stuffing, which can negatively impact user experience and result in penalties from search engines. Ideally, keywords should be used naturally and contextually within the content, ensuring that they provide value to users and enhance the overall readability and flow of the text.
Moreover, focusing on semantic variations and related keywords can help improve the relevance and optimization of content without resorting to keyword stuffing. By optimizing keyword density effectively, businesses can improve the visibility and ranking of their webpages in search engine results while maintaining a positive user experience.
Also see: ERP (Search Engine Results Page), Backlinks, Anchor text, Meta tags, Title tags, Meta descriptions, Keywords, Long-tail keywords, Keyword stuffing, Link building, Internal linking, External linking, Domain authority, Page authority, Paid search