How Many Keywords Should I Use for SEO? (Updated for 2025)
You should use keywords at least a few times per page on your website, but there are nuances to this. In this article, I’ll discuss how many keywords to use for SEO and where to use them, so you can show up on Google for terms your target audience is searching for.
Almost 70% of searches start with a search engine. People search for a term, and Google shows information to answer their query. Using SEO keywords appropriately is how your website lands on the SERPs (search engine results pages) so you can reach more people.
SEO Keywords: A Quick Introduction
SEO keywords are specific phrases that people search Google and other search engines for. When you use popular or high-traffic keywords in your content, you show Google to take those users to your website.
Appropriate keyword usage lets you:
Rank on Google
Reach your target audience
Boost organic traffic to your website
Increase conversions
Most important SEO rule: focus on your audience
How Many Keywords Should I Use For SEO?
For SEO, you should usually use one primary keyword per page. You can also include a few supporting keywords to increase your chances of ranking.
That said, it can be difficult to use just one specific keyword for main pages (e.g., home, about, etc.). Therefore, it’s okay to sprinkle several keywords related to your offers and your audience’s goals or problems. However, a blog article should target one keyword phrase, and every article should focus on different keywords, which is how you can rank on Google for different search terms and reach a wider audience.
Using different keyword variations
While most pages on your website will target one primary keyword, you can also use different variations of that phrase. For example, if you’re writing a blog post with “best places to travel” as your primary keyword, you can include similar terms like “budget-friendly travel” or “best travel destinations on a budget.” This allows you to potentially rank for other keywords with a similar search intent.
If you use Keysearch (my all-time favorite keyword research tool!), you get access to thousands of keyword options. You can also use the Content Assistant feature for recommendations on secondary keywords.
Tip: Keysearch is an affordable, user-friendly tool I always recommend to any website newbie or pro. Use code KSDISC for 20% off!
Keysearch’s Content Assistant feature
How to Use SEO Keywords
Although keywords are essential for website SEO, don’t keyword stuff. Use them naturally throughout your content while focusing on meeting user intent.
Include your primary keyword in your:
Meta title
Meta description
Headers (some of them)
Alt text for images (some of them)
Introduction paragraph
Closing
You can also include it naturally in the core of your content.
Keyword Density
You should usually use your primary keyword at least a few times on that page. For a 1,000-word blog article, I usually use my keyword phrase 5-10 times, and that seems to be ideal.
Some keyword phrases are difficult to naturally include in your content, so you’ll likely use those less. That said, you need to use your primary keyword at least once on the page, ideally more.
Keyword density includes using it in your title, content, image alt texts, meta title, etc.
For help deciding how many times to use your primary keyword, you can Google the keyword phrase you’re targeting. Then, click on the first few ranking pages for the keyword. Use the search function (Command + F for Apple) to see how often the keyword was used. This gives a good idea of what Google wants to see for your keyword density.
How Many Keywords Should I Use for SEO? Other FAQs
To help you get a better grasp of SEO keywords, I’ll answer a few common questions.
What are the best keyword research tools?
I find Keysearch and Semrush to be the best keyword research tools because they’re user-friendly and share helpful keyword and SEO information.
Keysearch is my go-to keyword research and SEO tool, and I use it almost daily. It has many helpful features, including secondary keyword suggestions, suggested word count, and questions to answer in your content – all helping you create content that ranks on Google. If you decide to try Keysearch out, use code KDISC for 20% off.
Semrush is another popular keyword research tool. Its free version, Keyword Magic Tool, is good for beginners. While the paid version is a bit pricy, it does offer more keywords and in-depth information, similar to Keysearch.
Keysearch: for finding and using SEO keywords
Is too many keywords bad for SEO?
If you use your primary keyword so many times your content feels strange to read, it can be bad for SEO. Your content should read well and include your keyword phrase naturally.
There’s no limit to how many keyword variations and secondary terms you should use as long as they fit naturally into your content.
Overall, your website can incorporate endless keywords – as long as they make sense for your offers and target audience, fit well into your content, and offer a good user experience for your website visitors.
What are the 4 types of keywords?
The most common keywords are commercial, transactional, informational, and navigational. The following types of keywords are used for specific goals when someone searches the internet.
Commercial: to learn about a specific brand or products
Transactional: to buy something specific
Informational: to find information on a topic
Navigational: to go to a specific website
When choosing your SEO keywords, understanding what type it is can help you create the right kind of content to meet user intent. When you know how you meet user intent, you can share information your audience is looking for, which can help build trust and encourage sales.
Keyword types (commercial, transactional, informational, & navigational) depend on the user’s intent
What are the benefits of using keywords?
Using SEO keywords helps you rank on Google, reach your ideal clients or customers, and get the right people on your website.
When you use keywords that align with your brand, you tell Google who to show your content to. Attracting a targeted audience lets you reach people who are more likely to stay on your website and buy from you.
For example, my target market is people who want to improve their website SEO. Using relevant keywords lets me attract people interested in my offers, which is how I grow my audience and get clients.
Should I always target a specific keyword?
You should usually target a specific keyword for SEO, but there are exceptions. For example, it might not make sense to target one specific phrase on your homepage. Instead, you can incorporate various keywords as you see fit.
And while most blog articles should target a specific keyword so that your target audience can find the content, you might write some articles for creativity, thought leadership, or to announce a special offer or update. In this case, it’s not as easy to rank on Google, so you’ll want to share this content with your audience on other platforms, like Pinterest, social media. or your email list.
How Many Keywords Should I Use for SEO? Final Thoughts
I hope you found this article helpful and better understand how many keywords to use for SEO.
Most pages on your website should target one primary keyword and incorporate it at least a few times. You can also include supporting keywords naturally, as you see best fit.
Pairing SEO-friendly keywords with high-quality, helpful content is one of the best ways to rank on Google, reach more people, and grow your audience. If you need support with your website or have questions, explore my offers or contact me.
