How Many SEO Keywords Should I Use For A Successful Page

SEO depends on keywords. Search engines use these keywords to determine the real need behind each query and serve the most relevant sources.

When you start your keyword research for SEO, you may come up with some long lists of single words, word sequences, questions, short phrases, etc.

Can you use them all? Eventually, you could.

In the meantime, you need to identify the most prominent keywords and tackle each one individually to succeed in your SEO ventures.

If you are wondering how many SEO keywords to use for a successful page, read on for some tips and tricks.

Are Keywords Still Important For SEO 2024?

Yes, SEO keywords are still vital for high rankings, but a while back, Google changed the way they treat search queries.

It all started a few years ago when Google removed explicit keyword data from its GA (Google Analytics) platform, raising discussions on whether this signaled the death of keywords in SEO.

But as things show, this isn’t happening any time soon.

In 2024, SEO keywords are still fundamental to attaining top places in relevant searches.

But today, instead of simply matching words from the search bar with words in webpages, Google tries to match user intent and provide high-quality, valuable content that offers quick -yet complete- answers to search queries.

This fairly new concept is now vital in SEO website optimization.

For this reason, SEOs identify three main types of keywords that are best to target on every page and strategically integrate them into the content.

Let’s delve into more details.

What Are Primary Keywords?

A primary keyword is the target keyword. It is the main topic and the focus search term a page is optimized for.

It’s essential for a page to support its primary keyword fully.

This main keyword lets Google know what your topic is all about. And thus, your page can eventually become a quality reference for people looking for information on this particular topic.

The primary keyword typically appears in many viral spots of your page: the page title, H1, URL, meta data, image names, alt tags, etc.

Just like Wikipedia, where every page is exclusively devoted to a single term, any web page that thoroughly targets a single keyword or topic has the potential for high Google rankings.

However, you often encounter words with multiple variations. So, should you make a different page for each of them? The answer is no.

Keyword Variations

People use different words to look for information on a single topic. This is why Google's algorithm is designed to comprehend close variations and misspellings.

For example, if you accidentally search for “where us the best place to dine on a fusrt date,” Google will still give you the answer you are looking for.

What Are Secondary Keywords?

Secondary keywords are words closely related to your primary SEO keyword - or topic.

They act like subtopics that support your main topic. You can optimize your page to target your secondary keywords, but you can also freely add any other subtopics to help the user get a comprehensive view of your subject matter.

Secondary keywords can be synonyms, long tail keywords, LSI terms, and anything in between.

Once you discover what users are looking for related to your target topic, you can then form a solid list of secondary topics to write about. This provides Google with more options, makes SEO-rich texts, and offers your page the chance to rank for a variety of related queries.

For example, when looking for the ideal restaurant for a first date, secondary keywords could be "romantic dinner spots," "cozy dining venues," and "top restaurants for a first date in New York."

What Are Long Tail Keywords?

Long tail keywords are longer forms of the main keyword. They can be phrases, questions, or short combinations of 2-3 words.

In SEO, long tail keywords are used to support and expand on your target keyword. They identify with popular long-form queries related to your focus topic.

Long tail keywords are also helpful for semantic SEO, word disambiguation, and various linguistic purposes. Using quality long tail keywords makes successful SEO-optimized pages.

Here's an example of a long tail keyword related to finding the ideal restaurant for a first date:

"The ideal restaurant for a first date with outdoor seating downtown."

How Many Keywords Can a Page Rank for?

In search results, a single page can rank for hundreds or even thousands of related keywords and queries.

For example, this article can rank for various long tail keywords, like:

“How Many SEO Keywords Should I Use?” but also for “SEO How Many Keywords,” “Is Too Many Keywords Bad for SEO?”, “How Many Keywords In 500 Words?” and many more combinations.

To successfully rank various searches, you must identify and select your keyphrases based on the total volume of topic-related queries and your SEO competitor analysis.

Then, you need to incorporate them into your page naturally, in a way that helps the user and not the search engines.

What Is the Ideal Keyword Density?

Today, keywords help search engines identify the most helpful and quality content for relevant user queries. Keyword density or similar metrics are not so important anymore.

There’s always a fine line.

Google may downrank content with meaningless keyword stuffing. But, when it makes sense to do so, word repetitions are not penalized.

Oftentimes, when you elaborate on a specific subject, you must repeat your primary and secondary keywords again and again.

Take this article for example.

Here, our primary phrase: SEO keywords, appears 11 times in the text, and “keywords” alone 54 times! Still, we wouldn’t be able to elaborate on the topic without repeating these terms.

Sometimes, to avoid keyword stuffing, copywriters use synonyms. Though it’s not always possible.

For instance, if you write about “Dog Training Techniques” in a 2,000-word blog post, you need to repeat the words “dog(s),” “dog-training,” and “dog training technique(s)” a good number of times.

Otherwise, replacing “dog” with synonyms such as “doggie,” “pup,” or “mutt” will make your article look strange - if not silly.

In the examples above, term repetitions are necessary and natural - so these articles wouldn’t normally be downranked due to keyword stuffing.

Today, AI and machine learning help Google understand the nuanced differences between writing for people and writing for bots.

Blog Posts vs. Web Pages: The SEO Differences For Keywords

When writing for blog posts and web pages, you need to consider the subtle SEO differences in keyword use and content style.

Website Pages

• Tend to stay constant
• Acquire links easier (Other websites and guest blogging articles link to a website’s pages for extra traffic and rankings.)
• Rank better for head terms
• People come here to learn more about a company profile and services

Blog Posts

• Get published periodically
• Tend to have fewer links than pages, as they are basically created to support the main pages of a website
• Rank better for longtail keywords
• People read posts to find out more about a specific topic

How Many SEO Keywords Per Page?

According to SEO principles, there should be one primary SEO keyword per page and 2-3 secondary keywords.

Semantic keywords conceptually related to your main topic/keyword are an excellent way to support your SEO strategy and avoid stuffing.

Google not only understands but also encourages content with semantic keyphrases because it adapts to conversational questions.

So, no matter what words they use in a Google search, people can still find valuable content and -eventually- end up on your page.

Incorporating semantic terms that relate to your focused keyword(s) is also a sign of experience and expertise (the EEAT model).

How Many Keywords Per Blog Post?

Each blog post should contain one primary keyword, 2-3 secondary keywords, and plenty of long tail keywords.

Just take care to keep the right balance so you don’t end up with a strange-looking article.

Conducting thorough keyword research will help you discover a wealth of targeted, longtail keywords to include in your copy. Then, you can freely add related phrases from your own experience.

This usually makes a perfect keyword blend.

How To Target Keywords With Blog Posts?

You can effectively integrate your targeted keywords into your blog posts in smart ways that help your SEO and your readers.

Use Question Keywords

For blog posts, questions work wonders.

Headings with questions answer user queries and can make your blog post appear in zero click searches - featured at the top of SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages).

The use of questions is a storing sign for readers to know that your content has the answer to their query or the solution to their problem.

But remember!

People only read as little as 28% of words on an average web page. Question headings help them skim through your text and quickly find what they are looking for.

What Is: The Top SEO Question

The most popular questions in Google start with: “What is..?”

So, to optimize an informational blog post, use H2 headings pairing “What Is” with your primary keyword and, eventually, with a couple of your secondary keywords.

Here, again, you need to use “What Is” with moderation so as not to downgrade the quality of your piece. Aim for a pleasant reading experience - rather than satisfying Google.

An SEO-optimized article should also contain various W&H questions around the target concept that often appear in the People Also Ask section of Google search results.

To sum up, for your posts to rank higher, tailor your writing style and keyword use to popular Google practices.

Use Lists

At the moment, using lists, ideally numbered lists, is a great way to rank in Google’s featured snippets and People Also Ask sections.

Plus, lists allow your readers to quickly get a comprehensive view of a topic.

Blog Posts And SEO Keywords

Blog posts are an excellent way to gradually broadcast your SEO keywords - and thus your expertise - to the world.

Optimized blog posts allow you to rank for a variety of industry-related topics organically at a steady pace. Thus, you can measure results over time and plan your next posts accordingly.

Keep in mind: SEO doesn’t skyrocket your pages overnight. Instead, it aims for solid and lasting results. This is why you must create a strategic SEO roadmap to boost your site rankings successfully.

Should I Use The Same Keywords On Every Page?

No. Every page (or post) needs to be optimized for just one main keyword and a particular set of secondary keywords.

Remember: You need to address a single topic on every page.

If you use the same keywords on different pages, then you will deal with cannibalization issues: your pages will compete with each other in SERPs - reducing your ranking potential.

How to Optimize Content for Keywords

To optimize your content, you need to incorporate your SEO keywords and write in a way that supports the search intent of every page (or post).

Almost all search queries (in fact, 99% of user searches) fall under four search intent categories:

1. Informational: “How do stars twinkle?”, “Ways to make money online,” “Best TV series.”
2. Navigational: “Facebook login”, “Google maps help,” “Labour conference faq.”
3. Commercial: “Restaurants near me,” “Barbie T-shirts,” “Best scuba diving gear.”
4. Transactional: “Rome hotels,” “Buy wholesale coffee online,” “Amazon sales.”

Once you have defined the primary search intent, you can then optimize your page accordingly.

Provided that you are working with web pages and blog articles, you can simply google search your topic and keyword(s) and see what the top-ranking pages are doing.

Do they write a review, a how-to guide, or an opinion-based article?

Do they use images, videos, and infographics to support their text?

How is their title formed? Do they use words like “Most,” “Best,” “Quick And Easy,” “5 Ways To…,” etc.?

Following such SEO best practices, you can create optimized pages and increase your chances for high rankings.

How Atropos Digital Can Help

If you want to elevate your brand and raise your rankings, Atropos Digital can do all the hard job for you.

At Atropos, our premium SEO team works with you side by side to help you stand out in search results for the right keywords and the right audience.

From keyword research to competitor analysis and SEO execution, Atropos Digital offers measurable, lasting results that increase your brand credibility and website conversions.

‍Contact us to find out more.