How Many Keywords Should You Use?

How many keywords is too many?! Find out how many keywords you should have on your website, webpages and blog articles

How many keywords should you use for great SEO?

One of the most common questions in SEO is: “How many keywords should I use per page?” The answer isn’t about cramming as many as possible into your content, no, those days are over! Instead, keyword usage is all about strategy, relevance, and most of all balance. It's crucial to choose just one primary keyword to keep your focus clear on a single idea. Overusing primary keywords, or keywords in general, can confuse your content and hurt your rankings, but a thoughtful approach can significantly boost your visibility on search engines.
​
This guide breaks down what you need to know about keyword usage, keyword density, and how to optimise your content the right way to boost search engine optimisation.

​Understanding SEO Keywords

What Are SEO Keywords?
SEO keywords are the words or phrases that people type into Google when looking for information, products, or services. They act as the bridge between what people are searching for and the content you create. Choosing the right keywords ensures your content pops up in search results when users are hunting for something specific. Effectively identifying and using primary keywords in your content is crucial for boosting SEO. 
​
There are two main types of keywords used in SEO strategies. The primary keyword is the central focus of your content — the main topic you want to rank for. Secondary keywords support the primary keyword by adding depth and addressing related topics that users might also be searching for. Incorporating relevant keywords within your content helps cover the topic in great details and attract targeted traffic to your website, ultimately leading to increased visibility and potential customer engagement.

Why Are Keywords Important for SEO?
​Relevant keywords are the backbone of any successful SEO strategy. They help Google understand your website's content, which aids in ranking your pages for relevant searches. Well-researched and carefully placed keywords improve your website’s visibility, bringing in more organic traffic and attracting the right audience.

​When your webpage aligns with the keywords your audience is searching for, you’re more likely to show up in search results. This not only drives traffic but also ensures your website is reaching people interested in your product, service, or information. Effective keyword usage is crucial for improving visibility on search engine results pages (SERPS)

​Keyword Research and Strategy

How to Conduct Keyword Research
Effective keyword research begins with using user-friendly and valuable keyword research tools like Semrush (expensive) Keysearch (cheap) or Google Keyword Planner (free) Using a keyword research tool is crucial to effectively identify and select SEO keywords, they make things so much easier.

These tools help you identify keywords that have a good balance between search volume and competition. Ideally, you want keywords that enough people are searching for but aren’t overly competitive for the strength of your own website.

It’s important to think beyond just high-volume keywords. Incorporating long-tail keywords — longer, more specific phrases — can help you target niche audiences and capture more qualified traffic. These are often less competitive and better aligned with user intent, making them super valuable additions to your page.

​Creating a Keyword Strategy for High Search Volume
When creating your content strategy, aim to include a mix of primary and secondary keywords. While there’s no one-size-fits-all rule, many SEO experts recommend targeting at least three to five keywords per page. Depending on the topic and depth of your content, you might naturally use more.

However, as with most areas of SEO, keyword selection should focus on quality over quantity. It’s more effective to use a few highly relevant and well-researched keywords than to overload your content with too many loosely related terms. Your ultimate goal should be to optimise for keywords that align with user intent and deliver value.

​Keyword Density and Stuffing

What is Keyword Density?
This refers to how often your target keyword appears in your content relative to the total word count. So if your asking "how many keywords should i use for SEO?" The ideal density hovers around 0.5%. That means you should aim to use your primary keyword once or twice for every 500 to 1,000 words of content at most.

While it’s helpful to be mindful of keyword density, obsessing over it can backfire. The best approach is to write naturally and incorporate your primary keyword and semantic SEO keywords in a way that flows well. You should also use variations and related terms to strengthen your content without making it repetitive.

What is Keyword Stuffing and Why Is It Bad?
​Keyword stuffing is the practice of forcing a keyword into your content too many times in an attempt to manipulate search rankings. This keyword stuff can negatively impact your website SEO, creating a poor reading experience and potentially resulting in penalties from Google, keyword stuffing used to shoot websites to the top of search results but its just not the way to write content anymore!
​
Instead of overloading your content with keywords, focus on creating informative, valuable content that naturally incorporates your target terms. A balanced approach signals to Google that your content is relevant and high quality, which ultimately benefits your rankings....avoid keyword stuffing!

​Optimising Content for Keywords

How to Use Primary and Secondary Keywords Effectively
For the best results, use your seed keyword, also called a 'primary keyword' in key areas like the page title, meta title and description, and H1/H2headings. These are strong signals to Google about your content’s main topic. Understanding search intent is crucial as it helps align your content with the perfect user needs, enhancing the likelihood of satisfying informational queries and improving rankings. Your secondary keywords should be woven naturally into the body of the content, helping you cover related ideas and capture additional search queries, Google likes in depth content.

Contextual relevance is far more important than keyword count. Avoid forcing keywords where they don’t belong. Instead, focus on addressing user questions and providing comprehensive information around your topic, Google is getting super smart and can understand content even without keywords but you should still use them to guide it!
​
Benefits of Using Fewer SEO Keywords for Better Semantic Richness
Interestingly, using fewer keywords can actually improve your SEO optimised content’s performance. Focusing on one to three core keywords allows you to create more targeted, cohesive content. This makes it easier to optimise and track performance.

writing with fewer specific keywords encourages semantic richness, incorporating a range of related terms and phrases that naturally support your main topic. Search engines reward this kind of semantic content because it demonstrates depth, relevance, and a better understanding of what users want.

​How Many Keywords Should You Use Per Page?

I would say around 7 keyword would be perfect....... i'm joking of course! Deciding how many keywords to use per page depends on many factors, it comes down to finding the right balance for your webpage. SEO keywords are essential for generating website traffic on Google and other search engines. A good rule of thumb is to focus on one primary keyword for the main topic of the page and support it with five to nine secondary keywords that cover related subtopics or variations. You can use tools like Surfer SEO to help boost relevance and semantic keywords.

​Can You Rank Without Targeting Specific Keywords?

Yes, you can definitely rank without focusing on specific keywords if you concentrate on crafting high-quality, valuable content that meets your audience's needs. However, it may be tricky, by using targeted keywords you will accelerate the process and boost your chances of ranking for the terms your audience is searching for.

Today’s search engines are smarter and prioritise content that genuinely delivers value. If your content effectively answers user questions and provides helpful information, it can perform well, even if it’s not strictly optimised around a single keyword.

​Common SEO Keyword Mistakes

A common mistake with keywords is trying to target too many keywords at once. Overloading your content with keywords, especially unrelated keywords, can make it feel awkward and may lead to penalties from search engines for keywords stuffing. We used the word 'keywords' wayyyyy to many times there as an example of what not to do.

This not only affects your rankings but also provides a poor experience for your readers. The key is to keep a balanced approach. Focus on the quality of your content rather than the quantity of target words, and always write with your audience in mind.

​SEO Keyword Best Practices

Typically, you should aim to target a specific word or key phrase, particularly when crafting blog articles or product pages. However, there are exceptions. For example, your homepage might have multiple purposes and audiences, making it challenging to optimise for just one keyword, its still advisable to try though!

​Another good practice is optimising your images by including keywords in the alt tags. This not only assists visually impaired users but also helps search engines understand what the image and your page is about. Tools like RankMath can simplify this process without overstuffing.

​Conclusion: How Many Keywords Should You Use Per Page for SEO?

There’s no strict rule on the number of keywords you should use per page, but starting with one primary keyword and five to nine secondary keywords is a solid strategy. Use variations naturally, weave keywords into your headings, meta descriptions, and image alt tags, and always prioritise the quality of your content over the sheer number of keywords.
​
Remember, the goal isn’t just to please an algorithm but to create content that truly benefits your audience. Regularly check your performance in Google Search Console and adjust your keyword strategy as needed. SEO is all about balance — focusing on what your readers need while helping search engines understand your content.