How Many Keywords Per Page for SEO?
Keywords are still necessary, but how many keywords per page should you target when it comes to ranking high on Google? As a business owner, content marketer or an SEO novice, knowing the correct keyword strategy can help your pages rank in search engine results and drive the right traffic.
In this article, we will explain the best practices when it comes to how many keywords to use per page, how to optimize them, and what to avoid to stay within the good graces of Google.
What Are SEO Keywords?
SEO keywords are the terms and phrases that individuals type into the search engines such as Google when they are searching information, products, or services.
For example, someone might search for:
- “best running shoes for men”
- “how to fix a leaking faucet”
- “digital marketing services near me”
When the right keywords are used on your page in a natural and user-friendly manner, it has a better chance of ranking in the search results.
The Short Answer: How Many Keywords Per Page?
Ideally target 1-3 main keywords per page, and some related or secondary keywords.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Main keyword: The key phrase you would like the page to be ranked on.
- 2 secondary keywords: Terms that are closely related to the main keyword or variations of it.
- A few LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords: These are naturally related words that would help search engines to learn more about the topic.
In general, you may end up with the target of 3 to 8 relevant keywords on a page, but again, quality should be your priority.
Why Not Target More Keywords?
You might be thinking, “Why stop at three? Wouldn’t more keywords mean more traffic?” That’s a common misconception.
Targeting too many keywords per page can:
- Dilute your content focus
- Confuse search engines about what your page is about
- Create a poor user experience.
Google aims at ranking quality and useful information, not the pages that attempt to exploit the system by keyword stuffing.
Keyword Targeting Strategy: Quality Over Quantity
Now we will take a look at how to select and apply your keywords in a smart way.
Choose One Main Keyword
It is the focal word that you want the page to rank.
It should be:
- Highly relevant to the page’s content
- Searchable (people are actually Googling it)
- Not too competitive (to newer sites, aim at lower competition keywords)
In the case of a page on cheap yoga mats, you could use the main keyphrase of “best budget yoga mats.”
Add 1–2 Supporting Keywords
These are some close variations or synonyms of the key-word. They are useful in extending your reach but not deviating the subject.
Example:
- “cheap yoga mats”
- “affordable yoga mats”
Use LSI and Contextual Keywords
These are naturally occurring phrases related to your topic. They help Google understand the depth of your content.
Example:
- “non-slip yoga mat”
- “eco-friendly yoga mats”
- “yoga mat reviews”
Where to Place Keywords on a Page
It is more important to place keywords strategically than repeat them several times.
Here’s where to include your main and secondary keywords:
| Page Element | Keyword Placement |
| Title Tag | Include the main keyword close to the start |
| Meta Description | Use the main and 1 secondary keyword |
| URL | Use the main keyword if possible |
| Headings (H1, H2) | Include main and related keywords |
| First 100 words | Use your main keyword early on |
| Image Alt Text | Describe images using keywords |
| Throughout Content | Sprinkle keywords naturally and sparingly |
Tip: Don’t force keywords. Write for humans first, then optimize for search engines.
Keyword Density: How Much Is Too Much?
Keyword density is the ratio of the number of times a keyword occurs in your content as a ratio of the total number of words.
General Rule of Thumb:
- Use 1% to 2% keyword density of the main keyword.
- As an example, in a 1000-word blog post, your primary keyword should occur approximately 10-20 times, naturally.
Excessive repetition will lead to Google penalties on keyword stuffing, negatively affecting your positioning as opposed to helping.
Tools to Help You Choose and Manage Keywords
These are some of the free and paid tools that will assist you in finding and managing keywords:
- Google Keyword Planner (Free)
- Ubersuggest (Free & Paid)
- Ahrefs (Paid)
- SEMrush (Paid)
- Surfer SEO (Paid- best to optimize the placement and density of keywords)
- AnswerThePublic (Free & Paid – very useful when it comes to finding questions and long-tail keywords)
These tools provide search volume, keyword difficulty, related terms, and how your competition is doing.
Writing Content Around Keywords
Just inserting keywords isn’t enough. Your content has to be valuable and engaging. Google evaluates content in terms of its usefulness to the user and not necessarily a keyword it contains.
Best Practices:
- Write informative, easy-to-read content
- Break up text with headings, bullet points, and visuals
- Keep your tone conversational and natural
- Answer the searcher’s intent clearly and quickly
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Some of the mistakes that a lot of beginners and even more experienced content creators make are:
Keyword Stuffing
Repeating your keyword unnaturally or too frequently.
Targeting Too Many Keywords
Trying to rank one page with 10 or more keywords.
Ignoring User Intent
Creating copy that does not address what the user is actually looking up.
Using Unrelated Keywords
Use of keywords that are not relevant just because the keyword has high search volume.
Bill Yeager, Co-Owner of High Point SEO & Marketing in CT
