Improving Keyword Density for Ranking Websites

The use of keyword density for ranking websites on search engines for Walnut Creek businesses has changed recently. When search engine optimization was in its infancy, websites were concerned with using keywords to help search engines find them. Some websites were guilty of “stuffing” keywords in hopes of reaching the front page. Changes implemented with the new Google Penguin update has made the use of keyword density suspect and some fear how these changes will affect their websites.

The following are some ways to improve keyword density for ranking websites on search engines with the new Penguin updates in mind:

  • Think about your reader and whether what they read makes sense. Websites are ultimately written for readers, not for search engines. With this in mind, even though keyword density has been important in the past, what is more important now is the readability of a website. If there was a magic formula that guaranteed page ranking based on keyword density, it is no longer in valid, and should no longer be considered as a valid barometer of whether a website will do well on Google or other search engines.
  • Think about relevance rather than keyword density. Along with providing content that makes sense to potential readers, it is also important to provide content that is relevant. The new Google Penguin updates have proven that maintaining content that is relevant to your primary topic is much more important than how many times you use a keyword within an article. As long as the content is relevant the use of keywords will sound normal and not contrived.
  • Think about places it makes sense to use keywords within the content. You still want to use keywords within the headline or title to content. It also still makes sense to include it in any sub headlines you may include. You want the headlines and sub headlines to sound natural, so be careful how you use them here, as well.
  • Think about the specific topic you want to cover. Choose three subtopics which are related to the overall topic. Using online tools such as the Google Keyword Tool will help you find keywords relevant to your primary keyword. Using two or three of the keywords from the list, you can create subtopics around them that can be included in your content.
  • Think about synonyms you can use for your keyword. If you’re not sure of what synonyms search engines would find acceptable, conduct a search on your favorite search engine. Type in your keyword and search. The search engine will provide results which are bolded. These will be acceptable synonyms for your keyword and will help make writing content easier because you won’t have to repeat the same keyword or keyword phrase.

The above are five things to think about when trying to improve your website’s ranking. Ultimately, even though keywords are important from an SEO standpoint, they are not quite as important as they used to be. Focus on your reader and making the content you provide relevant and the number of keywords you use won’t matter. The relevant content will help with Walnut Creek businesses with ranking websites on search engines without sounding forced.