What is keyword density?
SEO Definition and Examples
Keyword density is the percentage of target keywords out of a page's total words. Too low = weak optimization; too high = penalized keyword stuffing.
Full Definition: What is keyword density
Keyword density = (number of keyword occurrences / total words on the page) × 100. Example: 1,000 words, keyword appears 10 times = 1% density. Ideal density: 1-2% for the main keyword. The 90s were obsessed with keyword density; today Google is smarter. Keyword stuffing (3-5%+) = penalty. But 0% (keyword absent) = wrong, you will not rank. Google prefers natural content with the keyword placed organically: in the title (title tag), H1, the first 100 words, and once every 100 words in the body.
Why Does Keyword Density Matter for SEO?
Keyword density too low = Google does not understand the topic. Too high = penalty. For you: a natural 1-2% with the keyword organically integrated ranks better than forced repetition.
Source: Moz — Keyword DensityFrequently Asked Questions about Keyword Density
Related Terms
On-Page SEO
BeginnerOn-page SEO covers all the optimizations made directly on your site's pages — titles, headings, content, meta descriptions and URL structure.
Keyword Research
BeginnerKeyword research is identifying the words and phrases your target audience searches for on Google, so you can create content that answers those searches.
Readability
BeginnerReadability is how easily readers understand the text. Well-structured content with short paragraphs, lists and headings ranks better and attracts traffic.
LSI Keywords (Latent Semantic Indexing)
IntermediateLSI keywords are synonyms and related words to the target keyword. Google uses them to understand context and determine whether a page is truly about the topic.
Put Keyword Density into practice
Explore how to apply this concept to your industry and city.
