You’re here because you’ve probably asked yourself, “Are keywords important for SEO?” Spoiler alert: They totally are. But don’t just throw a bunch of words on a page and call it a day. There’s a little more finesse to it.
How many SEO keywords should you use on a webpage or in a blog post? What’s the sweet spot for keyword density? And let’s not forget the human element—you know, those people reading your content. Yes, readability’s a big deal too.
Ready to make some magic happen with your website content? Let’s explore these aspects and make sure you’re doing the right thing with your content from the SEO perspective.
Contents
Why You Need Keywords
Let’s spend a minute talking about SEO keywords. Keywords aren’t buzzwords; they’re the backbone of SEO on your site. Think of them as the secret sauce that spices up your online presence.
We like to divide keywords into primary and secondary. Primary ones are your main attraction, the headliners. Secondary keywords? They’re the backup singers, enhancing the tune without stealing the spotlight. The blend between the two types of keywords on your pages should be well-thought-out.
What is a Primary Keyword?
It’s the term or phrase that you’re betting on, hoping your site will rank for it in organic search. These keywords usually have high search volumes and can bring in a lot of organic traffic (if your page ranks for it high enough in search results).
What are Secondary Keywords?
These are the related terms that add depth to your content. While they might not be the most popular kids on the SEO block, they’re invaluable for hitting all the nuances of a topic. Synonyms, long-tail variations, subtopics—you name it. Adding these to your subheaders and body text helps search engines like Google get the full picture of what your page is about.
Why Secondary Keywords Matter
Incorporating secondary keywords ensures you’re exploring your topic in full. A study from Ahrefs found that a top page on Google could rank for about 1,000 different keywords, not just the primary one. So adding such keywords into your content is highly recommended.
Your next question may now be: how many SEO keywords per page should you add? Great question, we don’t have an exact answer for your situation, but we can tell that there may be too few or too many. See the sections below to understand why.
The Sweet Spot of Keyword Density
So, you’re mixing up your keyword cocktail and you’re wondering, “What’s the right balance?” By asking this question you are going to the area of keyword density.
Think of keyword density as the ratio of your primary keyword to the rest of the words on your page. You want to target about 1-2% keyword density to hit that SEO sweet spot. Why? Because that’s generally considered good keyword density, and it makes Google and other search engines believe that your content is relevant to the searched keyword.
Keyword Density in Action
Here is an example of how you use your primary keyword in your copy. Let’s say you’re writing a 500-word article about the “video production process.” To achieve a 1-2% keyword density for that specific keyword, you’d aim to include it between 5 and 10 times throughout the article.
Example:
Introduction
Ready to take your brand to the next level? Understanding the video production process is key to creating content that not only wows your audience but also drives engagement.
The Planning Stage
Before you hit ‘record,’ planning is crucial in the video production process. It’s where you map out your goals, target audience, and messaging.
Scripting and Storyboarding
The video production process isn’t all about flashy cameras and editing. It starts with a well-thought-out script and storyboard.
The Actual Shoot
The moment you’ve been waiting for in your production process—the shoot! This is where your planning and scripting come to life.
Post-Production
The video production process doesn’t end when you stop recording. Post-production is where you edit, add effects, and finish your masterpiece.
Conclusion
Mastering the video production process is more important than ever for effective storytelling and brand building.
In this example, the keyword “video production process” is used 7 times. By keeping the count at 7 and getting to 500 words, you will reach the ideal keyword density for this keyword of 1-2%.
Finding the Right Keywords
You are probably ready to get started with keywords. Give us a couple of minutes more to explain how to get the right keywords. We recommend having a variety: primary keyword, and its synonyms, as well as a good range of secondary keywords.
Add synonyms and related keywords in the mix. There are plenty of tools out there—like Google’s Keyword Planner or even the good old Thesaurus—to help you diversify. Find synonyms that resonate with your audience, but remember to keep the essence of your message intact.
And let’s not forget balancing primary and secondary keywords. Here are a couple of examples of how we’d approach the selection of our keywords.
- Example 1: Primary keyword “wedding video service”
Start by brainstorming what you think people would search for: “best wedding video service,” “affordable wedding videographers,” maybe even “wedding video service near me.”
Use Google’s Keyword Planner (or a paid SEO tool). Plug in your initial keyword and see what else pops up. Maybe you’ll discover phrases like “wedding cinematography” or “wedding video packages.”
Don’t forget to find synonyms too. For “wedding video service,” synonyms could include “wedding film service,” “wedding videography,” or “nuptial video solutions.”
In the end, your primary keyword might be “wedding video service,” but use these secondary keywords “wedding cinematography” or “affordable wedding videography” to make your piece deep and comprehensive enough.
- Example 2: Primary keyword “video production process”
In our second example, let’s use the same keyword “video production service”. This is just to improve that same 500-word article we used above.
You could start with Google Keyword Planner again (also check these other free keyword tools). Plug in your primary keyword, and you’ll get a list of related terms. In our case, “video production workflow,” “video production stages,” or “video production steps” could be good synonyms or closely related terms.
Searcher’s intent is another thing to consider. If someone is looking up “video production process,” they might also be interested in “best video editing software,” “how to storyboard a video,” or “pre-production checklist.” These make great secondary keywords because they provide value around the main topic.
Don’t overlook the simplest method—Google itself. A quick search of “video production process” can offer gold mines like the “People also ask” section and the related searches at the bottom of the page. You might find gems like “video production timeline” or “cost of video production” as more secondary keywords to add to your article.
Crafting Content that Resonates
Now that you have a set of primary and secondary keywords, it’s time to create great content. You probably remember reading articles stuffed with keywords. Such content is difficult to read. So your content should be all about readability. [Here is a readability checker if you need a quick tool to check in that.]
Believe it or not, SEO isn’t just about pleasing the algorithm gods. You create content for humans on the other end of that screen. So make it worth their while. Craft sentences that flow, use language that’s easy to digest, and break up those text walls with some simple headers and bullet points.
Now what’s the deal with primary and secondary keywords? The trick is to weave your primary and secondary keywords into the content naturally. Don’t force it. If you’re offering genuine value and insight, the keywords will fit in well.
See what we did there? A little dash of SEO, a whole lot of readability, and a ton of value. Now that’s content that you want to read and see what follows next.
Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness
Imagine you’re at a party. The person you’d listen to is the one who knows their stuff, right? Same goes for content. That’s called E-A-T in the SEO world.
Expertise: Know your topic inside and out. Show you’ve done your homework. It’s not just about sounding smart; it’s about being a reliable source of information.
Authority: Show you’re a leader in your field. Maybe you’ve got some awards or certifications, or perhaps other reputable sites are linking to your content. These are your creds to show off.
Trustworthiness: People need to know they can count on your info. Make sure your site looks professional, cites reliable sources, and has secure protocols in place (think HTTPS).
So yes, win both your readers’ and search engines’ heart by using E-A-T in every piece of content you create.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Let’s do a reality check now. Keyword stuffing is one of the biggest pitfalls in the SEO game. This age-old mistake of cramming your content so full of keywords that it reads like a random word generator is still a thing on a lot of websites.
Why should you avoid keyword stuffing? First off, it’s an instant turn-off for your readers. They’re here for valuable, engaging content, not a repetitive string of buzzwords. Second, search engines are smarter than you think. They can spot keyword stuffing fast and could even penalize your site for it.
Let’s repeat it again: it’s not just about getting people to your page; it’s about keeping them there. Offer value, be relatable, and yes, use those keywords wisely, not wildly.
Example of Keyword Stuffing
Here is a quick example of where “video creator” is stuffed in the copy.
“Our video creator tool is the best video creator for anyone looking to become a video creator. With our video creator, you’ll find that being a video creator has never been easier. Choose our video creator for all your video creator needs.”
The term “video creator” is so overused that it makes the content unreadable and repetitive. It’s an obvious example of keyword stuffing. This paragraph will be an immediate putoff for the reader. Search engines will feel the same and redflag it as “keyword stuffing”.
Conclusion
This has been a pretty interesting journey so far, hasn’t it? From pondering questions like “are keywords important for SEO” to diving deep into best practices, you’re now armed with actionable insights.
The big takeaway is not to throw in keywords randomly into your blog posts or new pages. Craft content that sings: balance primary and secondary keywords, hit that 1-2% keyword density sweet spot, and above all, focus on readability.
If everything above still sounds Greek to you, don’t sweat it. We, at Yak Media, a boutique SEO consultancy, are here to guide you through the labyrinth of SEO efforts, including crafting killer content that hits all the right notes with your readers.
What’s next? Take these tips, go forth, and conquer the SEO world. We can always help and accelerate your pace. Reach out today and make your content shine!