Keyword stuffing is a method used by website developers and designers to overload keywords on a webpage to make the search engines index the page in any relevant online search. As the search engines scan web pages for words which are entered by the user, the frequency of a keyword in the content enhances content relevance. It also makes the search engine assign relevance to the page in the search results. However, this is only one way for search engines to determine applicability.
Often, the search engines penalize a website if keyword stuffing is discovered as the practice is seen as bad netiquette. A few search engines even ban the offending websites from their search results.
Threats of Over-Optimization and Keyword Stuffing
Keyword stuffing is considered a black hat technique. It works or does not work at times. There are a few short term effects though, but not at all helpful in the long run. Google penalizes your website if you stuff keywords. Your page can be demoted from the rankings, or even scrapped altogether. Those who practice over optimization are all set to lose the game than those who make great content and a great website. They are trying to make Google smarter and relevance better.
The search engine is also trying to find out the people who are abusing keywords with too many of them on a page or are exchanging a lot of links or are transcending the limits of what is normally expected. A lot of people in Google are now working on this. Keyword stuffing in Google is a dangerous game and it is best to realize the consequences sooner than having your website penalized. Google does not encourage black hat SEO tactics such as these because they challenge search engine algorithm instead of offering a unique user experience.
Responsible Keyword Optimization and Keyword Stuffing
It is important to distinguish between keyword stuffing and general keyword usage. It is also important to use keyword in your content; so don’t allow Google to scare you away with talk of keyword stuffing. After all, you can always practice responsible keyword insertion. Like so many other things out there, you need to use the keywords in moderation. Here are a few other things which greatly depend on moderation:
- Cookie Dough: A little is like a constant interruption, and too much of it makes you sick.
- Sunshine: Yes, we need Vitamin D, but too much? Yes, it can cause 3rd degree burns!
You need to focus less on the bots and more on the people. You know the people who will actually look into your website. This is the reason why you need to create content that is rich in information and uses keywords in an appropriate and reasonable manner.
How to be Safe
- Maintain a keyword density of 2.5%
- Use long tail keyword variations to inspire your content
- Implementing synonyms helps in relevance
Instead of stuffing keywords, you can use the above tips to make your content more informative and relevant.
We have seen many clients tell us why can't they simply list their keywords in their meta tags? The answer to that is pretty much straight forward, this tactic is as long gone as any other olden SEO tactic. The value offered by them is the reason why Google changed its stance on this. It will only encourage a click through that's it but will not add any value whatsoever to the SEO process. Stuffing your meta tags with keywords will only chase your audience away.
Now having the exact match keyword into the Meta title is still a good idea, so if you are able to do it then surely go ahead with it. However that's not what we are talking about today incase you're confused? What we are saying is people to have a thought process when writing a title and not just copy paste keywords into it as that's what is Bad SEO practice and likely resulting in a penalization too.
Now what is an alternative that you can follow or implement? think of a variation of the keyword phrase so that it encourages click through and social activity too. Your main focus should be on getting the attention of the audience and make sure they click on your title. Another thing is that, don't over stress into getting the exact phrase into the meta title, simple adjust the words around whenever needed and don't be scared to play around with the order of the words.
Now try searching for something on Google, you will notice in the results that the exact match title don't show up as much as they used to do so? Yes? Instead you will notice the keywords are scattered throughout the title and the body of the result. All in all, Google and other search engines are getting cleverer in understanding the actual meaning of your query so your approach and strategy should reflect this change too.