Keyword density

Keyword density is the proportion of a keyword in the entire text. It can signal relevance, but it quickly becomes keyword stuffing. Today, semantically appropriate, user-oriented content is more important than fixed percentage values.

The keyword density (also known as search word density) is part of the ranking algorithm that search engines use to evaluate websites for the results lists. It describes the ratio of a particular search term to the rest of the words within a document or a website. Search engines like Google openly state that the frequency of a keyword is crucial for the ranking of a website, but they do not reveal at which percentage the optimal keyword density lies. However, studies suggest that a keyword density of about 3 to 5 percent aligns with the algorithm of the search engines.

Calculation of keyword density

The calculation is quite simple, as it represents the simple ratio of the number of a search term to the total word count of a document. The resulting percentage is referred to as keyword density. If a search term appears 10 times in a 300-word text, the content has a keyword density of 3.3%.

The narrow line between optimal keyword density and spam

Search terms form the backbone of every good website, as they outline a specific focus topic for which internet users place their search queries. Their frequency within a website or document is meant to suggest their value to search engines. However, it is difficult to determine where the optimal keyword density ends and spam begins. This has the following background: On one hand, search engines do not disclose the exact value of the ideal keyword density for their search algorithm. On the other hand, keyword density is just one ranking factor among several hundred. Therefore, it should always be considered in the context of all ranking factors.

Semantic connections are crucial.

Regardless of the percentage at which spam - so-called keyword stuffing - begins, where certain search terms are compiled in a text without added value, search engines like Google increasingly emphasize the semantics and topic relevance of content. Thus, not only the mention of keywords matters, but also the incorporation of related search terms, synonyms, and thematically appropriate technical terms. Since search engines like Google operate with the principle of delivering the best results for internet users, they aim to enhance the added value of websites through semantics, so that the reader actually finds important information related to their search query.