We continue our identification of the SEO Villains out there with the potential to hurt your website’s ranking if allowed to run rampant across the digital streets of Google. We’ve already sent Thin Content and Cloaking to digital jail. Today, we aim to rein in one of the most bloated and easy to find – Keyword Stuffing. We share how to define it, how it works, and most of all, how to avoid it.
Keyword Stuffing Defined
This is when you cram a plethora of keywords into your content in an attempt to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). Not only does this look spammy to users, but it can also get your website penalized by Google.
When you stuff keywords into your content, you’re essentially repeating the same word or phrase over and over again. This tells Google that your website is not relevant to what users are searching for because you’re trying to game the system by using too many keywords.
How Do You Identify It?
Before the Google algorithm had sophisticated ways of identifying and nullifying keyword stuffing by penalizing perpetrators, you could consider the SEO landscape akin to the Wild West. Keyword stuffing used to be a popular way to game the system and manipulate SERPs.
A few examples include:
- Repeating the same word or phrase over and over again
- Using unrelated keywords in an attempt to manipulate SERPs
- Creating lists of keywords with no real purpose or meaning
- Filling your content with so many keywords that it’s difficult to read
How to Avoid Keyword Stuffing
Google looks at a number of factors when it comes to determining whether your content is stuffed with keywords. These include:
- Length of your content
- Number of times a keyword is used
- Placement of the keywords
- Overall quality of the content
If you stuff too many keywords into your content, it will trigger red flags for Google.
Now that you know what keyword stuffing is and how it can hurt your website, it’s time to learn how to avoid it. You will want to use the following:
- Synonyms and related keywords: This will help you avoid repeating the same word or phrase over and over again
- Keyword research: This will help you find the right keywords to use in your content
- Quality keywords: Google values quality content, so make sure that your content is well-written and informative
Focusing on quality and not quantity when it comes to keywords will help you thank yourself in the long run when you avoid penalization and gain higher rankings.
If you have any questions or need help with your website’s content and SEO optimization, UpLift can help. Let’s have a chat about your content.
