Writer Beware: Avoid making a big mistake with SEO and keywords. It could get you banned from Google search.
One of the biggest mistakes that internet writers make is to overdo the keyword thing and totally forget that they have to write an interesting article.
So much is said by so many people about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and writers think, ‘Yes, that’s it. I will use lots of keywords, long and short-tailed, and I’ll be certain to get readers.’
First of all, the major search engines do not look kindly on writers who over-stuff their articles with keywords in an attempt to get them noticed. Broadly speaking 4% density is the maximum keyword density to go for unless you want to risk problems. By this, I mean that every 100 words of your article should contain no more than 4 keywords. However, even that is too much if the keywords are artificially stuffed into the article. I certainly would not write at that level; 2% is probably what I do by writing naturally.
If perchance, an over-stuffed article gets noticed on Google, searchers will soon stop reading your articles, or websites and blogs if you simply fish for readers with misleading titles and material that has no content that is not used to hang keywords on. You have to give readers something of value if you want them to come back and read your articles, posts, etc.
Many experts are now suggesting that the use of keywords will no longer be so important in Google ranking in the near future and that well written content will rank higher that ‘gobbledegook’ full of keywords.
Articles should be natural in the way they flow and easy to read. (I don’t mean simple words; I mean clear and unambiguous.) It is generally still a good idea to use keywords in your title but don’t over do it because the same thing applies. The major search engines will spot this and may penalize you.
There are those who think they are too clever to get caught out but Google, Yahoo, etc are huge search engines with all kind of software in place and they have a pretty good idea of what is going on out there. You might slip a crafty one by them but you won’t win in the long term and once a site, or blog is banned you will have lots of trouble getting it reinstated.
The best method of using keywords is to include them in your title and in headings if you are using them and the rest of SEO will happen naturally if you are a good writer, and you write a long enough article. Two hundred words will get you nowhere where search engines are concerned so it is pointless optimizing the article at all, better save time and forget it.
Optimum results, in my experience, are gained by writing articles with at least four hundred words and there are those who will advise six hundred words as in this article. The idea is that this gives the search engine robots lots to pick up on and categorize.
To summarize my own experience as a successful article writer on the internet, I would say that there is lots of long term benefit in sticking to the rules. Make your articles a good length and give the reader something of value and interest. Don’t promise information that you don’t give because readers don’t like being tricked into clicking on your articles and finding that your title doesn’t match up to your article. Build and look after your reputation as a writer. The function of a title is to bring you search engine traffic in the long term, not to trick people into reading it, so make it clear what your article is about.
December 27th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I enjoyed this, as I have no idea about which keywords I should use. I just write. Thanks for pointing out that they are not the end in itself.
December 27th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I ditto Val…This is a good article with important valid points.
Using the same word over and over is not a good idea. Turning out the same article with different keywords will soon put off Google. Writing a series and using keywords is ok, but it has to be interesting to gain the hits.
Interesting and important information.
December 27th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Very helpful information..
December 27th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Tons of great information in your article. I made the keyword mistake early when I started writing on triond and I am still trying to recover some of those articles. I took many of them and reduce them done to three or four keywords and they are doing much better. Plus I am proof reading some of my old articles and making changes as my writing improves.
December 27th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Louie, I am not good at the marketing end of things so have never gotten into keyword research. If I am interested in a topic I research and write, but you certainly have some good points here.
I clicked on a title the other day and found that it was only a lure. I was disappointed and will beware of that author in the future. A title is our prelude & introduces the subject and our aticle needs to expound upon it.This one went down another road…I think we owe our reader’s integrity.
December 27th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Thank you for your advice. You are absolutely right, readers should be treated with respect. It is easy to lose readers but almost impossible to win them back.
December 27th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Very interesting – - I wasn’t aware that using too many keywords could be a problem. I use ones that only reflect my article, however, I’m not sure now if I’m using too many.
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
December 27th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Thank you for this good advise. I will take heed. TU
December 27th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
I learned a lot. Thanks for posting this article.
December 27th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
This is great advice, jan. I didn’t know that search engine didn’t like keyword stuffing. I also didn’t really know what it was until now.
December 27th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Good advice.
Thanks,
Inna
December 27th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Good advice to all those who overdo.
December 27th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
As always you pass on the candle to those who follow. Here is to your success. friend, fan, smile
December 27th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
That’s very informative thanks
December 27th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
great post.. i like it very interesting.. thanks for sharing the info Friend.
December 27th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Right, keyword stuffing leads to spamming. Having a lengthy article broaden the scope and reduce the density of keywords.
December 28th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Very good advise. Thanks for sharing.
December 28th, 2009 at 1:57 am
very important information
December 28th, 2009 at 9:40 am
An amazing article! Great information.
December 29th, 2009 at 12:01 am
This article is gold for online articles writers, like me. Thank you, maam.
December 29th, 2009 at 8:37 am
very good advice. thanks for sharing. i dont pay much attention to key words. i basically write from my heart. i guess thats probably why my articles are not generating as much money as they should. X
January 10th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Good Article, Louie,
Yes, hands down, offering value to readers is what will keep them coming back. Increasingly, people are turning to the Internet as a resource to answer any question. Writers do well to keep that in mind because articles that offer usable information or inspire are the articles that tend to get wider circulation.