How Many SEO Keywords Per Page Should You Use? 2025 Guide

If you're looking to optimize your content for search engines, one of the most important questions is: How many SEO keywords should you use per page? In this guide, we'll explore the ideal keyword density and how to strategically place them for maximum SEO impact.

What Are SEO Keywords?

SEO keywords are words or phrases that people use when searching for information, products, or services online. Optimizing your content for these keywords is essential to ensure that your page ranks high in search engine results and attracts organic traffic.

For example, if someone is searching for "best guitar lessons," this phrase would be an SEO keyword. By optimizing your content around such terms, you increase the chances of appearing in search results for that keyword.

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Keywords

When optimizing content, understanding the types of keywords you can use is crucial:

• Primary Keyword: This is the main keyword you want to rank for, representing the core idea of your content. Examples: "digital marketing," "workout tips," "camping essentials."
• Secondary Keywords: These are closely related to the primary keyword and help expand on the content’s theme. They include variations or related concepts. Examples: "online marketing tips," "home workout exercises," "best camping destinations."
• Tertiary (LSI) Keywords: Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) keywords are variations or synonyms of primary and secondary keywords that further enhance content relevance. Examples: "digital advertising," "fitness routines," "outdoor adventures."

How Many SEO Keywords Should You Use Per Page?

As a general rule, using one to four SEO keywords per page is optimal. This includes a primary keyword and a few related secondary or long-tail keywords. For SEO, maintaining a keyword density of 0.5% to 2% is recommended.

Keyword Density: What Is It?

Keyword density refers to how often a keyword appears in your content relative to the total number of words. It is usually calculated as a percentage. For instance, if your content contains 500 words and the keyword appears 5 times, the keyword density is 1%.

For different types of content, the keyword requirements vary:

Content TypeRecommended Number of KeywordsBlog Post1 primary, 2-4 secondaryProduct Page1 primary, 3-5 secondaryHomepage1 primary, 2-3 secondaryCategory Page1 primary, 5-10 secondaryService Page1 primary, 3-5 secondaryFAQ Page1 primary, 5-10 secondary

Why Not Use More Than One Primary Keyword?

While it might seem tempting to include multiple primary keywords, it’s not practical from both an SEO and a user perspective. Focusing on one primary keyword ensures your content remains relevant and cohesive. Using multiple primary keywords can confuse search engines and readers, leading to lower rankings.

How to Find the Right Keywords

To find the best primary and secondary keywords, use keyword research tools. These tools help identify what people are searching for and how competitive those keywords are.

For example, with a tool like Writesonic’s Keyword Researcher, you can find keywords that are highly relevant to your topic and have a high search volume with low competition. This makes it easier to rank higher for those terms.

How to Use SEO Keywords Effectively

Once you have your keywords, it's important to place them strategically:

• Primary Keywords: Place them in the page title, meta description, headings, and throughout the body (2-3 times every 500 words).
• Secondary Keywords: These should be used in subheadings (H2, H3), body text, and internal links.

Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Keyword stuffing, or overusing keywords, can lead to penalties from search engines. Always prioritize natural, contextual placement of keywords.

Final Thoughts: How Many SEO Keywords Per Page?

In summary, the ideal number of SEO keywords per page is one primary keyword and two to four secondary keywords. This ensures your content remains optimized for search engines while still being readable and engaging for your audience.

By carefully researching and placing your keywords, you'll improve your chances of ranking higher in search engine results.

FAQ

Q1: Can I use more than one primary keyword?

• It's best to use only one primary keyword per article. You can use secondary keywords to support related topics.

Q2: How do I research SEO keywords?

• Use keyword research tools like Writesonic’s Keyword Researcher to identify high-volume, low-competition keywords related to your topic.

Q3: What’s the ideal keyword density?

• Aim for a keyword density of 0.5% to 2%. This means using your primary and secondary keywords naturally throughout the content.