There’s certainly a lot of talk about keyword density and quality. Webmasters who want their websites and posts to rank high are particularly concerned about this topic as it will determine the success of their endeavors.
If you are running a personal blog for fun or as a hobby, then you can ignore the subject of keyword density altogether. However, if you are an internet marketer, then you should know how important this is as the right keywords and the proper use thereof will help you rank in the search engines.
Keyword Density and Placement
Aside from the percentage of keywords, proper placement is also important. As much as possible, the main keywords should be in the first paragraph; and ideally, in the first sentence too. Some even prefer using their main keywords as the first words in the first sentence, and that is acceptable too.
The important thing to remember is that the article is not merely intended for search engines. People will read the articles and it should cater to their needs first and foremost. In fact, the keywords shouldn’t even be noticeable.
Keyword Stuffing is a No-No
Have you heard the phrase keyword stuffing? This literally means putting in a lot of keywords in an article so that it stands out in the post. When this technique is used, the article will look really weird and awkward. Imagine reading the same word or group of words again and again. It’s not very pleasant. It’s even irritating.
The Importance of Quality
Here’s where quality comes in. If you focus on providing your readers with high-quality articles, then the end results will not look awkward. As a matter of fact, the articles will be engaging and interesting. And that’s what readers want; otherwise, they will just hit the back button or go to another site.
Needless to say, keyword stuffing can also get the post and even the site penalized. Search engines like Google don’t want to be manipulated, and they will put the site in what they call the sandbox.
And when your site is in the sandbox, it will be listed way back so that no one can find it. Surely, you don’t want this to happen to you, right? So never ever try to rank through keyword stuffing.
Balancing Keywords and Quality
Now if you use the proper density in your keywords per post, then this will be very helpful to your site. Search engines and bots actually like keywords as it tells them what the article or site is all about.
With the right on-page optimization, search engines will not be confused at all. And your site will not be penalized.
In the end, the readers will (and should) benefit from the contents of a particular site. They should be able to find what they’re looking for by landing on sites that provide good information. And the magic lies in finding the right balance between keyword density and quality.
