Keyword density

What is the best keyword density

[CajunMan]

Greetings,

I read that keyword density on a page should be no more than 7% is that correct?

On a related topic does anyone know why Google and a couple of others do not list my back links. They show in Yahoo?

Thanks

CajunMan

[Accelerator]

I'm interested in this topic too. I would say 7% is about right but I have to do more research.

Rgds

accelerator

[larryhatch]

I ran some KW-percentage analyzer on a few pages once.
For the life of me, I can't remember if KW counts were high or low, really beside the point.
I found myself getting this bass-ackwards. The point is to write naturally.

I presume the major engines are constantly trying to improve their machine algorithms.
Part of this must be KW counts (although many other things must factor in.)
This implies that any 'optimal' KW count is a moving target at best!

In the Nevada casino game of Keno (Chinese lottery), there are two strategies:
1) Chase the 'old man' which means to bet on recent numbers.
2) Let the 'old man' chase you, or stay with your favorite numbers.

As SERPs ranking is very NON-random, I recommend strategy #2.
Let G and Y (and sometimes MSN) chase you.

How to do this?

a) Write your own stuff. Don't scrape. Neither 'stuff ' nor scrimp on important words or phrases.
If your writing isn't the greatest, hire somebody.
b) Write as clearly and naturally as possible. KW counts will take care of themselves.
c) As the engines refine their algorithms, and the better they do so,
Their ideal KW percentages will slowly approach yours!

Don't chase the search engines with imaginary KW percentages. Let them find you. -Larry

[Seg1]

You shouldn't think percentage : what if your page is 20 words long and if an other one is 200? You'd better look at the first results to see how many times the KW you're targetting is repeated. Moreover, each query is different : you might take a position on KW "procrastination" by having it 3 times on the web page because it's a rare KW... It won't happen with the KW "computer" for example.

[CajunMan]

Thanks for all your comments.
Here is what I seem to have found so for. I have a site that has a low density 2.5% for the exact search string. The string has 5 words. But really only three thoughts so it isn't as bad as it sounds. One pair has 5% density the other pair has 2.76% and the last word has 1.2%. When you search for all 5 words (2.5% density) as one search string it appears 10th in MSN but is in not in the top 100 for Yahoo or Google. Does anyone know why MSN results are so different?
Someone suggested I let the SE come to me and just write good informative copy. If this is the trend does this mean the focus is moving away from KW density and more to other things like inbound links?
The more I learn the more I realize how little I know.

[ronburk]

If this is the trend does this mean the focus is moving away from KW density and more to other things like inbound links?

Google's goal is to identify pages that have good content that users want. If you think they are smart enough to get better at that goal over time, then a reasonable strategy is to make pages with good content that users want.