Optimum Keyword density

Keyword density

[curly_clare]

Hi,

Can anyone confirm that the optimum keyword density is 3-10%.

Cheers

[agerhart]

No, noone can....because it varies depending on what keyword you're targeting and how tough the competition is.

Personally, I never pay attention to keyword density....I don't think it plays a role.

[Gus_R]

kw density counts, but I don't know what percentange is the best. I think around 10%

[agerhart]

kw density counts

What evidence do you have of this? I strongly disagree. I haven't measured keyword density, or even thought about it, in a long time, and all of my sites are ranking well.

Most people will say that keyword density counts, but noone has proof. It doesn't matter anymore.

[too much information]

I have proof, My site was #6 in a listing where I had a high keyword density. I decided to target a different set of keywords so I adjusted the density of the page so that the other combination would have a higher density. Result: I'm no longer #6 on that search even though my page still includes the keywords, just at a lower density. Now I'm on page 2 of that search, and unfortunately also on page 2 of the new set of keywords.

Proves it to me.

[agerhart]

No, it doesn't. Did you adjust it to a certain KD percentage? That ranking result could've been acquired a number of ways with keyword placement.

There isn't a set keyword density percentage that works for all keyword markets.

Sorry, that doesn't work for me.

[digitalghost]

I drove a blue car, into a deer. I sold the car and bought a black car. Owned it for two years. Never hit a deer. I bought another blue car and three weeks later I hit a deer. That proves to me that if I have a blue car I'm more likely to hit a deer.

Not.

Isolate all the variables, run some analysis, then come back with "proof". All you proffered up was anecdotal guesswork.

[too much information]

I will agree with you that there is not set % that works for all keywords, but I know that decreasing my density lowered my rank. That's all I'm saying.

[digitalghost]

Really? And if your rank increases next week what will you attribute it to? :)

[agerhart]

I will agree with you that there is not set % that works for all keywords, but I know that decreasing my density lowered my rank

You sure? What if your competition stepped it up? What if you lost some links? What if your competition gained some links? Too many variables....like I said, I want proof.

I have proof that it doesn't matter. You show me proof it does.

[storevalley]

I drove a blue car, into a deer ...

Beautiful post, digitalghost :)

I'm not convinced that you can prove anything as delicate as kw density in the search engine arena. You can carry out an extended study and look at trends, but just as you get some results ... the game changes.

curly_clare ... if you are really that bothered about this, pick out the phrases you are going after & work out the kw densities of the top 20 sites for them. At least you'll be basing this on some kind of research then.

I personally just weave target keywords into the copy I am writing & check that what has been produced sounds relevant and interesting.

Because if it doesn't, that visitor you just worked so hard to get won't be sticking around for too long ...

[dougmcc1]

I came up with a tool that tells me how many keywords to use proportionately with how much text is on the page based on some recommended keyword densities and the equation of a line.

Then I threw the tool into the recycle bin when I decided the best keyword density is using the keyword as many times in the text as I can while making it still sound good to my visitors.

[agerhart]

I decided the best keyword density is using the keyword as many times in the text as I can while making it still sound good to my visitors.

Ding Ding Ding....we have a winner.

[inventio]

It has been suggested that kw density works as a factor relational to other factors. For example if a page has a high number of inbound links and relevant anchor text then a high kw density could damage it's ranking.

Previous thread: [webmasterworld.com...]

[Mascarell]

There's a specific software that makes the followin processes to calculate the percentage of your criteriums...

1.- It searches on the internet for your keyword and gives you the percentage of that keyword in the websites placed at the top of the search, which means that gives you an aproximate percentage for that criterium in those sites.

2.- After this it looks on your page and finds that criterium and calculates the percent in it.

3.- It gives you the percentage of times you should use the criterium or the keyword depending on the criterium search on the internet, and the amount of criteriums used in your objective sites.

If something is not clear,... it is because my english stinks,... I'm so sorry.

But the program have this functionalities and many more that I actualy don't know.

See ya!

[ritualcoffee]

keyword density is a factor. so what if a page has a kd of 10%, it is useless without the word in the right place.

Also *starting rant*
we can't go around making blanket statements like KD doesn't count - it could. especially considering the other world of search: Internal site search. We seem to forget that another world of search exists and it does not have the same rules as the external engines. *end rant*

[ogletree]

Density plays a crucial role... but it's not an exclusive role. For example, there are highly ranked sites out there simply because there's a high density of keywords. But, there are other sites that come up number one only because of backlinks and anchor text. www.BradyWorld.com comes up number 1 for "Brady Bunch", but the term "Brady Bunch" is nowhere on the site. It earns its rankings almost entirely because of anchor text and backlinks. And, "Brady Bunch" is a fairly popular term, I would guess.

In short, while keyword density is crucial, you can't put all your efforts into just keyword density. Likewise, excluding keywords can be deadly when you are pitted against other sites that incorporate keyword density.

Ultimately, a healthy, steady mix of all the variables will work best.

[debbiea]

Again it must be due to the anchor text from link backs.

[edited by: agerhart at 3:05 am (utc) on Oct. 29, 2003]
[edit reason] removed specifics [/edit]

[pmac]

Best not to point to specific search terms or sites. Having said that, it's not a very good example because the phrase does appear on the page. I know what your saying though, to rank for a term in Google, the page could be about dogs but you could get it to rank for cats if the anchor text is right.

On the other hand, I am of the opinion that INK tends to like a higher density.