What is recommended keyword density?

[loginname]

hey

I've just calculate the keyword density of my niche site (index file) to have a keyword density of 9.5%

In wikipedia I read that 1 - 3% is recommended, any higher and the site can get penalties.

On another site (forgot url), I read that keyword density should be around 5 - 20%

Not sure what's right, maybe there are different ways of calculating keyword density that makes the numbers so differet

 

[toxtom]

I have it 2-2.5% on all of my sites.

Of course 20% is too much and even 9.5 is too much cos that means every 10th word in the article just repeats- Sign for google as keywordstuffing!

 

[Given]

I personally keep it at 5% tops and never had any problems so far.

 

[loginname]

I'm having a look at the keyword density on my niche site now, it sounds a bit too much I admit that. Niche site isn't ready yet, thanks I've blocked it from search engines until I get things sorted out

 

[xgnux]

forget keyword density. Its not importan anymore.

 

[loginname]

forget keyword density. Its not importan anymore.

How you know that? Are you working at google?

 

[Class]

72.35%

But nah.

If I actually attempt to optimize an article or a page I will have an h1 tag with keyword, the keyword 1ce or 2ce in the copy in bold and italics with the title tags optimized as well. The rest is spend on building backlinks.

 

[xgnux]

How you know that? Are you working at google?

No but i have made many ranking websites. Its just not an important ranking factor.

good title Tag is most important on page factor.

Then h1 h2

then article should have the word in it at least 1 time

thats it.

 

[shadowfax]

9.5 is way too high.. Try to keep it between 2-3%

 

[loginname]

I calculate keyword density this way:

((Number of words in keyword phrase * Number of times keyword phrase is used) / Word cout on the page) * 100

Is that how you calculate it also?

 

[shadowfax]

There are several desktop and online tools available that allow you to calculate keyword density. Use them to get the correct keyword density of your article...

 

[crack_dhat]

there are some words that are disregarded when calculating for the KW density. You can try this to calculate for the KWD

http://www.live-keyword-analysis.com/

 

[gorang]

I wouldn't recommend looking at percentages.

What you need to do is effectively target a keyword and make it obvious to the search engines.

As a rule of thumb i place the keyword in the title tag, h1 tag, once in the beginning paragraph in bold and once in the last paragraph italic.

You may not know this, but sematic phrases are also very important, if not more important. If you have created a good niche site your articles should naturally flow with plenty of semantic phrases. Semantic phrases are very important to Google.

 

[sebamann1]

You may not know this, but sematic phrases are also very important, if not more important. If you have created a good niche site your articles should naturally flow with plenty of semantic phrases. Semantic phrases are very important to Google.

I second that. People gravely underestimate the importance of good semantic phrases

 

[MetalMan390]

what is a "semantic phrase"?

 

[ToyRobot]

Use google analytics to make sure your main keywords are ranked in the top 5 for your site.

 

[squelsh]

keyword density is no longer a ranking factor. seriously.

An interesting debate on the end of copywriting - http://www.scienceforseo.com/guest-posts/seo-copywriting-is-dead-here’s-proof/

 

[kalatopi]

I third, fourth, whatever -- do not try to write to meet some percentage. Keyword density is not important anymore. Prove it to yourself by measuring it for the top 10 results and you will find all kinds of percentages and not necessarily in order of ranking.

Overoptimising using repetitive language will work against you.

 

[seosutra]

I was told by an expert ( real expert ) -- to keep it anywhere between 4 to 7 percent

 

[squelsh]

I was told by an expert ( real expert ) -- to keep it anywhere between 4 to 7 percent

Then he's not an expert. He might have been two years ago, but Google has moved on. If I was to pick a percent I would say, yeah its between 1 and 3 but I wouldnt bother.