What are the best practices for keyword density in your content?

1 Use natural language and synonyms

One of the best practices for keyword density is to use natural language and synonyms in your content, rather than repeating the same exact keyword over and over. This will make your content more readable, engaging, and diverse, as well as avoid keyword stuffing, which is a black-hat technique that can get you penalized by search engines. Synonyms can also help you rank for different variations and long-tail keywords that are related to your main topic. For example, if your main keyword is "dog training", you can also use synonyms like "canine education", "puppy coaching", or "dog behavior".

3 Use headings and subheadings

A third best practice for keyword density is to use headings and subheadings in your content, and include your keywords in them. Headings and subheadings can help you structure and organize your content, as well as make it easier for readers and search engines to scan and understand. Headings and subheadings can also help you emphasize your main points and keywords, and boost your SEO ranking. However, you should not overuse or force your keywords in your headings and subheadings, as this can make your content look unnatural and spammy. Instead, you should use them sparingly and strategically, and match them with your content.

4 Use keyword modifiers and variations

A fourth best practice for keyword density is to use keyword modifiers and variations in your content, especially in your title and meta description. Keyword modifiers are words that add more specificity or context to your keywords, such as adjectives, adverbs, numbers, locations, or dates. For example, if your main keyword is "cake recipe", you can use modifiers like "easy", "chocolate", "2021", or "New York". Keyword variations are words that have a similar meaning or intent to your keywords, but are not synonyms. For example, if your main keyword is "car insurance", you can use variations like "auto insurance", "vehicle insurance", or "car coverage". Keyword modifiers and variations can help you target more long-tail keywords, which are more specific and less competitive, and can attract more qualified and relevant traffic.

6 Use keyword proximity and distance

A sixth and final best practice for keyword density is to use keyword proximity and distance in your content, which means the closeness and separation of your keywords or keyword phrases. Keyword proximity refers to how close your keywords are to each other, and keyword distance refers to how far your keywords are from the beginning or end of your content. Keyword proximity and distance can affect how search engines interpret and rank your content, as well as how readers perceive and remember your content. Generally, you should aim to keep your keywords close to each other, and close to the beginning and end of your content, as this can increase their relevance and impact. However, you should also avoid keyword stuffing, and use variations and synonyms to diversify your content.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?