Keyword Stuffing — How you can avoid it in three simple steps
For many people who are new to SEO, ranking a keyword on Google’s first page can be difficult. You must keep in mind many factors, like keyword density, format, readability, etc. All these factors play an essential role in SEO and how well a keyword ranks against the competitors.
SEO is all about getting your business to the first page against searches. If you are a business owner, your goal would be to rank against those searches with many views. It will increase your brand’s chances of getting more leads. The more customers view your brand on the first page when searching for services, the more sales you will close out of SEO.
However, getting your business on the first page against specific keywords is a challenging task. You must beat the competition that is using similar SEO strategies. Consider that more than around 80% of people never leave the first two Google pages when searching.
And many of them stay on the first page. Because of this competition, getting your brand onto the first page of Google can be quite daunting. Luckily, I have compiled the most useful information on this subject below so you can avoid this problem. Keep reading to find out the specifics.
What is Keyword stuffing?
When conventional techniques do not work, many people look for “shortcuts.” Depending on where you get your SEO information, you may have heard of keyword density. Previously, Google had a system that looked at the number of times a keyword appears on a web page and ranks it accordingly. It is where some people started using Keyword stuffing to rank higher.
Keyword stuffing is when you add a particular keyword as many times as possible to a web page to increase the keyword density. Many brands use it unnaturally, without linking the keyword in a logical sequence with the hope of ranking higher in Google. Some brands use hashtags to add their keywords and make it look more natural.
Why Keyword stuffing does not work
The truth is that keyword stuffing can damage the readability and user experience on your website. You may be on the first page, but there will be no use if you cannot provide value to your customers. Keyword density does matter, but stuffing keywords on a page will only damage your brand’s reputation.
Another reason to avoid keyword stuffing is that it only does not work anymore. Google’s algorithm is always changing to adapt to the market’s challenges, which is why keyword stuffing is no longer valid. The problem is that many people have been using it successfully in the past, which is why this misconception is still popular today.
Nowadays, Google looks at many other factors when ranking a website. It would be best to target more specific keywords, local keywords, and keywords with high search volume. However, a website with better readability, more features for user interaction, and a logical sequence will usually make it to the top. You need to have a more balanced approach and provide value to the customer as well.
Nowadays, Google is penalizing websites that use keyword stuffing. With AI technology advancing every day, it is becoming difficult to rank high with the same old tactics. The only way to make it to Google’s top is to provide real customer value and informative articles.
How to avoid keyword stuffing in three simple steps
While it can be tempting to think that you can rank by stuffing a keyword as many times as possible onto a page, it does not work anymore. So, what can you do?
The good thing about SEO is that the already established guidelines can help you rank higher. By following these guidelines, you will get your business on the first page against targeted keywords.
Here are some of the things you can do instead of keyword stuffing:
Use synonyms
The best hack to avoid keyword repetition is to use synonyms. It is one of the great ways to improve your article readability. It also helps you avoid the temptation to add unnecessary keywords to your text. Having more synonyms can increase an article’s authority, and is one of the SEO best practices.
Write longer articles
The ideal keyword density should be around 1–2%. It means that you should use each keyword a maximum of 2 times in a 100-word article. It is essential to maintain this keyword density. If you want to add more keywords, then you can write longer articles. It will prevent clutter and improve the spread of your keywords.
While shorter articles do have value, search engines prefer longer articles. It is especially true if you have an informative article on your website. While it may take time, you will eventually see the results of the effort you put into crafting the longer pieces.
The best way to determine how long your article should be is to run a google search on your specific keyword. Check the top sites and figure out how long their articles are. I will normally try to write at least that same amount of words in my articles, if not more.
Disclaimer: In all honesty, I say that I do the above, but I find myself just doing my own thing. I tend to write articles without worrying what everyone else is doing. I wouldn’t recommend that for anyone just beginning in SEO!
Use low competition long-tail keywords
Shorter keywords are more comfortable to stuff in a post, so it is better to target long-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords usually consist of several phrases, which have low competition. However, it is much easier to rank for long-tail keywords.
While some people may argue that there is no use of ranking for such keywords because of the low search volume, this is not true. Many long-tail keywords are popular phrases used in simple searches. Using long-tail keywords will help you improve your targeting and get more qualified leads.
Final thoughts on Keyword Stuffing
The critical thing to keep in mind is that your website articles should have a natural flow. With AI technology evolution, Google can detect articles with better readability and rank them higher. If you want to get more website traffic, you should avoid keyword stuffing and focus on your website content’s quality.
The more natural flow you create, the easier it is to rank higher in the search engines. If you have any questions on keyword stuffing, then let me know in the comments below.
