Keyword Density Analysis

[eCommando]

I've been checking different sites for keyword density analysis and they are all giving different results.

Anybody know what is the best keyword density strategy for Google and Yahoo and where the balance between the 2 is?

[Jay]

After putting several sites up and analizing a lot of the top ranking ones from my area of interest, i try to keep density over 14% and it seems to work. I'm working to check whether a page with shorter index text gives better results, without falling into insufficient body text off course.

If you have some tip on whether a short text high on quality content is more efficient than long unimportant texts which are already hard to keep with the keyword density minimun it could help me a lot.

Thanx

[dilligaf]

Jay, welcome to the forums. eCommando, good question.

I've always been advised 3-10% but seem to see a little higher getting better results with similar off page stuff. I'll have a closer look but there are a number of variables to consider if you want to focus on just KW density we'd have to factor out the others.

It'd be a good answer to have. Seems as when I move up in Google I move down in Yahoo. Also, Yahoo counts links, how do they factor in?

[SEO_AM]

I have seen good results with keyword density anywhere between 2% and 12%. This tells me that kw density is not as critical as one might think. The one thing I have noticed is that any keyword must be repeated 3+ times dependent upon the amount of content on the page.

[Jay]

Hey guys!
Now that I read your opinions, another question popped into my mind, could Google change their ranking standards depending on the area that the page wants to focus?
What I mean, most of the times that I check my competitors pages they have a small body text, but with as much as 17-18% of KW weight, but being true, in other areas, the first pages have a much lower KW density.
Thanks for the welcome, and as always will be, advice is greatly appreciated

[dilligaf]

[QUOTE=Jay]Hey guys!
Now that I read your opinions, another question popped into my mind, could Google change their ranking standards depending on the area that the page wants to focus?[/QUOTE]
I'm a pretty firm believer in that Google can do almost anything (and quickly) that it wants to. We're led to believe that certain areas (top, bottom) and elements (link text, H1-3's, Page title) already carry more weight.
[QUOTE=Jay]they have a small body text, but with as much as 17-18% of KW weight, but being true, in other areas, the first pages have a much lower KW density.[/QUOTE]

I'm not sure I get this. You're seeing good results with 17-18% KW density?

[I, Brian]

The trouble with attempting a keyword analysis via Google results, is that there is no way of being able to factor inbound links using generic anchor text used across low PR pages. These are actually part of the stable of commercial SEO, and can be very hard to track down. But without factoring these into consideration, such analyses will always be deeply flawed. For example, do a search for "cheap viagra" and then tell me those top sites ranked top merely over a few tens of PR4+ pages. I've seen some of their low PR links and these number in the high thousands. A keyword-only analysis of these sites would therefore be irrelevant.

[seo guy]

http://www.delphi.com/ what is their density for the word "forums"
Now go to google and type in "forums" and look for www.delphi.com ;-)

[eCommando]

For some reason, I am noticing that when I take out keywords (Density around 9%) from my page, my ranking goes up higher for that keyword. When I put it back in (Density around 12%), the ranking goes down like 1 or 2 rankings. Not sure what I should do?

I am tempted to take out those keywords from the page to test & see if it would go higher. I did the same for another set of keywords, took it out from the page completely and I am currently ranked #1 for it.


What do you think?

[Jay]

Hey guys!
I still can't get it, for pages about certain topics, keyword density seems to be better in the lower numbers, but for other topics, it seems to be the higher the better, that's got me kinda confused??
I'm still wandering whether the topic you want to aim at affects how much keyword density you can have...???
If any of you can gimme a hand with that I'll be very thankful.

[seo guy]

The point here Jay is that keyword density should be "appropriate" as in dont write your site based on density. I will tell you when I write a websites content I NEVER look at density. I look at my elements like my title, my first paragraph and then I write or spinkle the kw and its pieces throughout the copy in such a way that it does not compromise the page. I really dont care if its 5% or 50% as long as Im satisfied that I have mentioned my phrase, or its elements on page somewhere I can move on to my link pop which is much more important

[seo guy]

Hey Brian who was it that wrote SEOBitch?

Anyways a very great comment was made about "SEO Copywriting" on there. It said something like why try to copywrite your site to #1, you will just hold yourself hostage because if you do ever get a #1 ranking you will be so scared to lose it you cant even change your page, heh.

My page density changes every day without me touching it because everytime a new thread is created in the forum it publishes the top 5 or so on my site.

I have been #1 for SEO Company (My main phrase) for like 5 months straight and I have changed my site, redesigned, changed again and none of it mattered.

[SEO_AM]

No reason for confusion. Re-read my post and I, Brian's post above.

There is no way to accurately estimate, predict or know what kw density will do for any given site or page. Only guidelines work. Normally a relatively low kw density is desirous... unless you need a high kw density. Confusing huh? :rolleyes: