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How Many Keywords Should I Use for SEO?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is about far more than just stuffing a webpage with keywords. One of the most common questions for beginners and seasoned marketers alike is: how many keywords should I use for SEO? Finding the right balance is key to making your content discoverable by search engines while keeping it engaging for readers. This article will walk through the optimal keyword strategy per page, how to select primary and secondary keywords, and the best practices for using them effectively.

How Many Keywords Should I Use for SEO?
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Table of Contents

1. Understanding the Role of a Keyword in SEO

A keyword is a specific word or phrase that encapsulates the essence of your content. It’s what users type into a search engine when they’re looking for something. A well-placed SEO keyword helps search engines understand your content’s topic and match it to the user’s search intent.

Each primary keyword should represent the main idea of a page. For example, if you have a blog post about “vegan protein powders,” that phrase is your main keyword, and you should use it in the title, meta description, URL, and a few key areas of the content.

2. How Many Keywords Should You Use Per Page?

One of the most debated questions in SEO strategies is: how many keywords should you use per page?

The ideal number is 1 to 4 keywords per page, depending on your content length and complexity. These can be broken into:

  • One primary keyword

  • Two to three secondary keywords

This doesn’t mean repeating the primary keyword dozens of times. Instead, focus on incorporating related keywords and LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords that naturally support the primary keyword.

Using many keywords without purpose leads to keyword stuff, which hurts your rankings. Google wants to see relevant, readable content—not robotic repetition.

3. One Primary Keyword is Enough: Why Focus Matters

One primary keyword per page provides focus and clarity, both for the reader and the search engine. Trying to rank a single page for many seo keywords usually results in weaker rankings for all.

Instead, build supporting content around your primary topic. This gives you multiple pages ranking for multiple queries, rather than one diluted page ranking for nothing.

Each landing page or blog post should be optimized around one keyword or one primary keyword, with secondary keywords to cover related subtopics. For instance, if your main keyword is “best hiking backpacks,” your secondary keywords might include “lightweight hiking packs” or “backpacks for long treks.”

4. Keyword Density: How Often to Use Your Keywords

Keyword density refers to how many times your keyword phrase appears in your content, expressed as a percentage of total words. While Google and other search engines don’t rely heavily on exact densities anymore, it’s still useful to maintain a natural ratio.

A good rule of thumb is 0.5% to 1.5% for your primary keyword. That’s about 5–10 times for every 1,000 words.

Use your primary keyword in key locations:

  • Title tag

  • Meta description

  • First 100 words

  • Header tags (like H1 or H2)

  • URL slug

  • Image alt tags (when relevant)

Avoid inserting your keyword too often, especially in unnatural ways. Keyword stuff is penalized and can ruin the user experience.

5. Using Secondary Keywords to Strengthen Relevance

Secondary keywords give depth to your content and help capture additional queries. They support the primary keyword without distracting from it.

For example, if your primary keyword is “digital marketing agency,” you might include secondary keywords like “SEO services,” “PPC campaigns,” or “social media strategy.”

These support the primary keyword by targeting closely related terms that potential readers may also be searching for. Google wants to see semantically rich content that addresses topics from multiple angles.

A well-optimized page should use secondary keywords naturally throughout the body of the text—not forced into every paragraph.

6. Keyword Research Tools: Finding the Right Keywords

Before deciding how many keywords should you use, you need to know which keywords to use. That’s where keyword research tools become essential.

Tools like:

  • Ahrefs

  • SEMrush

  • Ubersuggest

  • Google Keyword Planner

  • AI SEO tools like SurferSEO or Frase

These platforms help you find primary and secondary keywords based on search volume, difficulty, search intent, and competition.

When doing a seo audit, these tools also help identify gaps and opportunities on your site, such as where to add keywords or which keywords to use for better rankings.

7. Best Practices for Using SEO Keywords Per Page

To get the most out of your keyword strategy, consider these SEO best practices:

  • Use one primary keyword per page to maintain focus

  • Sprinkle secondary keywords throughout naturally

  • Avoid keyword stuff

  • Include keywords in meta tags, headings, and image alt text

  • Keep keyword density between 0.5% and 1.5%

  • Use long-tail keywords for niche topics

  • Ensure each page targets a unique topic

Good on-page SEO goes beyond keywords. Technical SEO, site speed, mobile responsiveness, and user experience are also key ranking factors.

8. Why Using Fewer Keywords Can Be More Effective

Using fewer keywords doesn’t mean using less strategy—it means using more precision. A keyword for each page should reflect a unique angle or search intent.

Too many keywords = diluted message. Instead of trying to rank for 4 keywords per page or stuffing multiple keywords unnaturally, focus on one to two core terms and let the rest support your content’s flow.

Google wants to see that your content matches a user’s query with clear, relevant answers. Many keywords should you use? The answer is fewer than you think—but more thoughtfully than ever.

9. Applying This Strategy to Local SEO and AI SEO

For local SEO, keyword selection should reflect geographic intent. Instead of “best dentist,” use “best dentist in Austin, TX.” Geo-targeted tail keywords are essential for visibility in local search results.

With AI SEO, tools now help create optimized content using semantic understanding. These tools suggest keywords throughout your content that align with search engine algorithms and search intent.

Whether you’re optimizing for local seo, ai seo, or global audiences, the principle remains: use the right keywords for the right topic per page.

Conclusion

So, how many keywords should I use for SEO? The ideal number is one primary keyword, supported by two to three secondary keywords per page. Prioritize quality over quantity, and focus on search intent, relevance, and natural keyword use.

Avoid the outdated practice of keyword stuffing. Instead, aim for clear, targeted, well-researched content that addresses your audience’s needs. The best SEO strategy today is about depth, clarity, and alignment with Google’s expectations—not cramming in every possible keyword variation.

Focus each page around a single topic, optimize it with the right keywords, and support it with relevant keywords throughout. Done right, this approach will boost your ranking potential and deliver real value to your readers.

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