MeditationMan - 1:37 pm on Oct 2, 2002 (gmt 0)

I checked up on the sites that are above mine for my single keyword, and yet have comparable or fewer links (the others, including the top two, have double the links my own site has, and so I didn't see much point in doing that comparison).

The numbers of links to each site have not changed dramatically. My site (#13) has increased the number of links since last month by 38, while the rest have declined or are unchanged.

The figures in the table are: position, keyword density, # links, and change in SERP since last index, respectively.

#3 14.13% 442 0
#4 17.65% 252 +7
#6 26.45% 316 +3
#7 12.58% 242 +3
#8 9.38% 764 -4
#9 8.84% 558 -1
#10 9.00% 206 -4
#11 36.36% 234 +1
#12 14.29% 414 ?
#13 18.24% 560 -6

The biggest change was site #4, which went up seven places. It has approx the same density as my own site, and less than half the links. My own site has far more content.

#6 and #11 have very high densities, and yet have gone up.

But the three sites with densities of below 10% have gone down.

Frankly, I'm puzzled. I don't see any great case for arguing that keyword density is behind the drop my own site took, although you could argue that a keyword density of less than 10% is harmful.

The only complicating factor I can think of is that just before the reindexing I decided to remove the sitemap we used to have. I thought it was a bit spammy. When I saw the drop I immediately put it back in!