How Many SEO Keywords Should I Use in a Page? (Expert’s Opinion)

Should you jam in as many as possible? Or just one? Oftentimes, this keyword talk can feel vague, technical, and, honestly, weirdly gatekept. Let’s clear it up right now.

SEO keywords are simply words or phrases someone types into Google. These keywords are tools that help people find your stuff. It could be a product, some kind of service, or even information. Think about how you found this blog. You were probably researching about adding keywords to your website, right?

Google ranks pages based on how well they match the user’s query. See, search engines can’t “read” pages the way humans do. They rely on keywords to crawl your content. And if you pick too many, you’ll either get ignored by Google or confuse your reader.

So how do you strike the balance? That’s what we’re going to figure out in this step-by-step guide.

What’s the Function of Keywords?

Keywords bring your content to the surface. When your keywords are relevant and well-placed, you have a much better chance of landing on the first page of search results. So, if you fail to optimize keywords, your content might get buried under a mountain of other pages.

Now, when it comes to how many keywords to use, balance is everything. Each page should focus on one main (or primary) keyword. Alongside that, it’s a good idea to add 1 to 3 related (or secondary) keywords. These help cover different angles without making your content feel cluttered.

One of the most common SEO myths is that stuffing your page with keywords will boost your rankings. Hate to break it to you, but that’s not how it works.

Let’s take “Drake’s new album” as an example. The first time you use it, Google might take an interest. But it won’t respond the same way on the second or third time because overuse causes that initial interest to diminish.

This is known as keyword stuffing. It makes your writing feel spammy. So, instead of trying to stuff in every keyword under the sun, focus on the ones that actually fit your content.

Primary Keywords

A primary keyword is the main word or phrase that best represents the core topic of a page. It’s the central theme of your content. A primary keyword is very important because that’s the main search term you want your page to rank for.

It might seem tempting to try to rank for several keywords at once. After all, more keywords mean more chances to rank high, right? Actually, no. If you target multiple main keywords on a single page, you create room for confusion.

When the focus of your content becomes diluted, Google struggles to understand which keyword is the primary topic of the page. Instead of ranking for several keywords, you might end up ranking for none of them. For the best results, focus on one primary keyword per page. This makes sure your content is laser-focused.

Secondary Keywords

Secondary keywords are words or phrases closely related to the main topic. They support the primary keyword by adding extra context and giving search engines a better understanding of what your content covers. These are often related terms, synonyms, or subtopics people might also be searching for. For example, if your page is about “how to start a podcast,” your secondary keywords might be:

• podcast equipment for beginners
• podcast hosting platforms
• tips for new podcasters
• recording a podcast at home

Now, why do secondary keywords matter? First, they give context. When search engines scan your page, they’re looking for the main focus. Adding secondary keywords signals that your page is trying to cover the topic in depth. Second, they open the door to extra rankings. You might not rank #1 for every single keyword, but with secondary ones sprinkled in, you could still land on page one for several related terms.

How many SEO keywords per page should you use?

There’s no magic number when it comes to how many keywords you should use on a page. But thankfully, there is a smart range to aim for. As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to use around one to four SEO keywords per page, all closely related to the same topic. That usually includes one primary keyword and a handful of secondary keywords that support and expand on the main idea.

But just having a few keywords in mind isn’t enough. What really matters is how often you use them. This is where keyword density becomes relevant. It’s the percentage of times a keyword appears in your content compared to the total word count. So, if your primary keyword shows up 10 times in a 1,000-word article, that gives you a 1% keyword density.

Here’s a roughly summed-up version of the recommended number of keywords for different types of content:

To rank on modern search engines, such as Google, your top priority should be to avoid gibberish at all costs. A solid range to aim for is 1–2%, which usually feels natural and doesn’t come off as spammy. That said, even Google encourages you not to overthink it. Matt Cutts once said on Google Search Central:

“I would love it if people could stop obsessing about keyword density. It’s going to vary by area. There’s not a hard and fast rule. And anybody who tells you that there is a hard and fast rule, you might be careful because they might be selling you keyword density software or something along those lines.”

So, yes, keyword usage matters. But don’t get stuck in the numbers. Focus on writing clearly and naturally. If your content actually helps the reader, the SEO will follow.

Where Do I Even Put These Keywords?

Well, at the risk of sounding obvious – throughout the article. Picking your keywords is one thing. But if you don’t know where to put them, you’re in trouble. Google isn’t going to go hunting through your entire page, hoping to find clues.

So don’t go wild trying to drop your keyword into every paragraph. Sprinkle your keywords in the right places. Let’s walk through it.

1. Title Tag

Start with your title tag. This is the clickable headline that shows up in search results.

Look at this blog we wrote. A title like “How to Add Nofollow Links in WordPress Navigation Menus?” gets the message across while slipping the keyword in naturally. No need to get cute or cryptic.

2. Meta Description

This is the little blurb that shows up under your title in the search results. It’s not a ranking factor per se, but it definitely helps your click-through rate. Let your keyword appear naturally here. Something like:

“Want to launch a podcast from scratch? This guide covers gear, hosting platforms, and simple promotion strategies.” It does the job without feeling like a hard sell.

3. URL

Nobody wants to click on a URL that looks like a robot sneezed. Your page URL should be short, readable, and keyword-relevant. Nobody wants to click on a mess like:

yoursite.com/blog/582302/start-here-298/podcast123

Use something clean and simple like:

yoursite.com/start-a-podcast

See how much easier that is to read and remember?

4. H1 (Main Heading)

Use a solid H1 that sets the stage. This is the big title on the actual page, usually the first thing your reader sees. It should include your primary keyword.

Blog layout with only the post title visible

But don’t just shoehorn it in. Instead of vague headlines like “Let’s Talk Nofollow Links,” just say what it is: “How to  Add Nofollow Links in WordPress Navigation Menus.” It’s that easy.

5. Headings (H2, H3)

Break up your content with headings that guide the reader and give search engines extra context. This is a great place to use secondary keywords. For example, one of our blogs targets the keyword “hyphenated domains” on h2 and h3 headings.

6. First Paragraph

Your opening lines set the tone and introduce your topic. It also gives search engines some context. You don’t need to force the keyword; just work it in like you’re having a casual conversation. Scroll to the top of this page for a prime example. *winks*

7. Image Alt Text

Alt-text isn’t only meant for screen readers. It helps search engines understand what’s in the picture. If you’ve got an image of your podcast mic setup, go beyond “mic.jpg” and use something like “USB microphone setup for beginners.” Simple and keyword-smart.

Topic Clusters

Let’s clear something up real quick: one keyword doesn’t mean you’re locked into writing just one article forever. That kind of thinking limits your content.  In reality, most keywords are just the tip of the iceberg. They often branch out into related terms, questions, and subtopics. That’s where topic clusters come in.

Think of a topic cluster like a content ecosystem. You start with a main page that targets a broad keyword. This is the pillar page, which gives us an overview of the topic. Then, you create supporting articles around related keywords or subtopics. Each piece dives deeper into one specific angle and links back to the main pillar.

For example, say your main topic is “What is the Difference Between Dofollow and Nofollow Links?” That’s your pillar page. From there, you can create articles like “How to Change Nofollow to Dofollow in WordPress?” or “Noopener, Noreferrer, Nofollow: Do They Affect SEO & Rankings?” All these pages cover different keywords and search intents but ultimately feed into the same core topic.

When you build a cluster, you’re not just tossing out random posts with similar tags. You’re actually building a structured resource. On top of that, topic clusters help with internal linking. In short, it shows Google that you know what you’re talking about.

How to Pick the Right Keywords?

You don’t need fancy software or a premium subscription to find solid keywords. Start with what you already know. What are you writing about? Think in plain terms. Now, open Google. Begin typing your idea into the search bar and take note of autocomplete suggestions. You’ll often find longer and more specific phrases here.

Then, scan the People Also Ask box in the search results. Those questions are great material for subheadings because they spark your audience’s curiosity. Keep scrolling, and you’ll spot Related Searches at the bottom of the page. These give you even more variations and context to work with.

If you want to go a step further, try Google Trends. It shows how interest in a keyword rises or falls over time. That’s useful if you’re deciding between writing now or shelving the idea for later. If these free methods don’t work out for you, you can always turn to us for comprehensive keyword research.

Final Advice

If there’s one thing to walk away with, it’s this: Google rewards content that helps people. Not content that’s stuffed with keywords just for the sake of it. You could follow every SEO best practice in the book, but if your content doesn’t answer actual concerns, it’s not going to perform well—at least not for long.

So don’t fall into the trap of writing for algorithms. Chase clarity, not clicks. Think about the actual human being typing into the search bar. What are they hoping to find? What do they need to be explained, solved, or simplified? It’s your job to meet them where they’re at.

Always be intentional with keywords. Write like you’re helping a friend figure something out. The clicks, rankings, and traffic will come naturally when your content is genuine.

And if you’re looking to turn that strategy into real results—more visibility, better traffic, smarter content planning—Algomindz is here to help. We don’t just talk SEO; we build it into the core of your growth. Ready to make it happen?