The SEO rules are always changing. The same techniques that got you on the first page of the Google search results back in 2007 may not yield the same results in 2010. The search engines look at many elements of a blog when indexing your site pages and assigning a position in the search results; but the search engine algorithms pretty much remain a mystery.
Which brings me back to pinning down SEO techniques that work. You know from yesterday’s post that choosing targeted keywords, especially long tail phrases, can optimize your blog for better ranking. The question is does it matter how many time the phrase appears in your content.
Does Keyword density matter?
In SEO the number of times a keyword/keyword phrase appears in content is known as the keyword density. A couple of years ago SEO experts swore packing your content to a certain keyword density would get you noticed online.
There was a lot of awkwardly written, overstuffed keyword articles floating around, but because the algorithms seemed to love content stuffed to a 15 percent keyword density, producing quality content became less important to some bloggers.
Eventually, the algorithms caught on to keyword stuffed content and began penalizing it as keyword spamming. Since Google no longer recognizes content containing an excessive number of repeated keywords, does keyword density even matter anymore?
Those mysterious algorithms
Well, yes and no. Since including targeted keywords in your blog posts can affect your blog’s search engine ranking, you’ll need to include the phrase enough times for the algorithms to recognize the phrase.
Aim for a density of 1 to 3 percent.
That means that a 300 word article at 2 percent density will include a long tail phrase six times. That’s more than enough to appeal to the search engines and deliver quality, natural flowing content your readers will enjoy reading.
Keyword placement can make a difference
Focus less on density and more on where you place your keyword phrases in your posts.
Here is where your keywords should appear for maximum impact:
- Title
- First sentence
- One subheading
- Last sentence
You don’t have to follow this guideline to the letter, but including your keyword in the title of your post and sprinkling the phrases throughout will produce results over time. Keep in mind that providing your readers with well-written, useful content is much more important than keyword density.
My first concern has always been bringing useful content to my readers. I also do try to implement SEO techniques however I did not put a lot of thought into the placement but now I will thanks to your suggestions.
Sounds like you're already doing well, Chrissy. Making sure your content is truly useful is the most important thing in my opinion. Everything else falls after that in priority.
I had read previously that it was important to put your keywords in the title and the first sentence, but I think the subtitle and last sentence are worth trying out. It's so important for bloggers (and article writers) to remember that they're writing to real live people first and foremost, and not to Google. Thanks for the tips!
I totally agree, Stephanie. If you're content is not interesting or engaging to your readers, what's the point? Ideally you want to find a balance that's pleasing to your readers and the search engines. Everything should flow naturally.