How Many Times Should I Repeat A Keyword For SEO? Keyword Density

What is Keyword Density and Why it Matters for SEO in 2023

Keyword density refers to the percentage of times a specific keyword or phrase appears on a web page compared to the total number of words on that page.

Optimizing keyword density is an important on-page SEO tactic that can help improve your rankings and visibility in search results.

But what exactly is good keyword density for SEO in 2023?

And how do you calculate and optimize density properly without overdoing it?

This in-depth guide will cover everything you need to know about keyword density for SEO, from ideal percentages to calculation formulas and optimization best practices.

What is Considered Good Keyword Density for SEO?

Most SEO experts recommend keeping keyword density for primary focus keywords between 1-3% in 2023.

For secondary keywords, ideal density ranges from 0.5-1%.

So for example, if your primary keyword is “content marketing”, on a 1000 word blog post you would aim for 10-20 uses of that phrase.

Your secondary keywords would appear 5-10 times each.

However, the specific percentage will depend on:

• Length of the keyword – Longer phrases like “content marketing strategy” need lower density than short keywords.
• Competition level – More competitive keywords can use density of 1-2%, while less competitive ones can go up to 3-5%.
• Word count – Longer pages over 2000 words can have lower densities than short 500 word articles.

The key is keeping density natural and not forcing keywords. More content does not always equal more uses of a keyword.

As a general rule of thumb, density over 3-5% raises red flags for keyword stuffing.

How to Calculate Keyword Density for SEO

Figuring out your current keyword density is simple:

1. Count the number of times your target phrase appears on the page.
2. Count the total number of words on the page.
3. Divide the keyword count by the total words.
4. Multiply the result by 100 to convert it into a percentage.

For example:

• Page word count: 1000
• Number of times “content marketing” appears: 22
• 22/1000 = 0.022
• 0.022 x 100 = 2.2% density

Shoot for 1-3% for primary keywords, and 0.5-1% for secondary keywords.

Much higher or lower than that could negatively impact SEO.

Dangers of Having Too High Keyword Density

Repeating a keyword too many times looks spammy to search engines.

It can get your page flagged for keyword stuffing, potentially leading to manual or algorithmic penalties.

Google specifically calls out “irrelevant keywords” in their webmaster quality guidelines.

Anything above 3-5% density will throw up red flags.

Symptoms of over-optimization include:

• Visibly awkward repetition of the keyword.
• Disrupts readability and natural word flow.
• Obvious filler words used to inflate word count.
• Keywords are concentrated in specific parts of the content.
• Readers complain the content sounds robotic or spammy.

Maintaining a natural writing style is far more important than chasing high keyword density. Keep it between 1-3% for primary keywords to avoid issues.

Problems With Having Keyword Density That’s Too Low

On the other hand, if your keyword density percentage is less than 0.5-1%, search engines may struggle to associate your page with that term.

Having low density usually isn’t an issue for ultra competitive keywords.

But for mid-to-low competition phrases, bumping up to 1-2% density can improve rankings.

Make sure to sprinkle these keywords naturally throughout headlines, body text, meta descriptions, alt text etc.

Avoid large sections with zero uses of the keyword.

Tips for Optimizing Keyword Density Naturally

Here are some tips for organically optimizing your keyword density for SEO:

• Focus first on creating useful, engaging content for readers – not search engines.
• Use keywords in strategic places like headings, subheadings, meta descriptions, image alt text.
• Repeat the keyword naturally throughout the body content in a way that flows well.
• Vary length and structure of sentences using the keyword to avoid repetitive phrases.
• Use relevant synonyms, related phrases and topic questions to mix things up.
• Compare against competitors’ density for that keyword.
• Use keyword research tools to determine baseline volume and competition.
• Track keyword rankings over time and adjust density higher or lower accordingly.

The key is maintaining readability – don’t sacrifice the user experience just to force in more keywords.

Use density as a guideline, not a hard rule.

FAQ About Keyword Density for SEO

Still have questions about optimizing keyword density?

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

What’s more important – keyword density or good content?

Good content comes first! Writing high quality, useful content should be the priority.

Keyword density is secondary to creating great content.

How is keyword density tracked – can I get penalized?

Google and other engines use semantic search to understand content now.

They likely don’t track strict keyword density. But unnaturally high levels still risk a penalty.

Do keyword density checkers provide accurate data?

Not always. Many density checkers rely on raw word counts.

But synonyms, related phrases, and semantics matter too. Use checkers cautiously.

How often should I check and adjust keyword density?

1-2 times per quarter is enough for most sites. Adjust up or down slowly based on keyword ranking changes.

Don’t obsess and make constant changes.

What’s better – high density at the start or end of a post?

It depends! Starting with the keyword can help initially grab reader attention.

But ending with it reinforces the focus. Include keywords throughout.

Can I ignore keyword density if my content is great?

No – density still provides a SEO boost. But focus on content first, and use density as a secondary optimization.

Prioritize readability and user experience.

Does keyword density matter for Google RankBrain?

Yes, density gives signals to RankBrain, especially combined with semantics and natural language.

But AI is complex, so also focus on great content.

Conclusion

Getting keyword density right is crucial for on-page SEO success.

The ideal density percentage in 2023 is around 1-3% for primary keywords, and 0.5-1% for secondary keywords.

Use the tips in this guide to optimize density in a natural way without over-optimizing.

Remember – creating useful, engaging content for users should be the top priority.

Keyword density is just one supporting optimization factor.

Keep it between recommended levels, but don’t sacrifice readability to force in keywords.

Now you have all the information on properly optimizing density to boost your SEO rankings this year!