How many keywords should you have in a blog post
For a blog post, you should focus on one primary keyword and 2-4 secondary keywords.
This combination provides a good balance between clarity for search engines and depth of content for readers.[1][2]
Primary Keyword
Your primary keyword (also called focus keyword) is the main search term you want your blog post to rank for. You should use it:[3]
- In your title
- In the first 100 words of the content
- In subheadings
- About 1-2 times per 500 words in the body text
- In the meta description
Secondary Keywords
Secondary keywords are related terms that support your main topic. They are usually more specific and less competitive than your primary keyword.
Include 2-4 of these throughout your content by placing them in:[3]
- H2 and H3 subheadings
- At least once in the body text
- Internal link anchor text
Keyword Frequency Guidelines
Rather than counting exact keywords, focus on keyword density. The recommended range is 0.5% to 2% of your total word count, which equals roughly one keyword every 100-150 words.
This means if you write a 2,000-word post, you should use your primary keyword about 10-20 times total across all keywords combined.[4][5][6]
Most Important Rule
Write for your readers first, not search engines. Keywords should always sound natural and never force awkward phrasing.
Poor keyword placement damages readability and can turn readers away.
Search engines now prioritize content quality and user satisfaction over keyword frequency.[7][5]
The exact number of keywords matters less than making sure they fit naturally within your content while addressing what your readers are searchingng for.