That question sounds so basic—yet I lost good money getting it wrong. If you’ve ever wondered the same, you’re not alone. Here’s what actually worked for me (and a few epic fails that almost killed my rankings).

1. What Are Keywords & Why Do They Matter?

When I started out, my “strategy” was simple: the more keywords, the better. Oops. Reality check—if you want to rank, you’ve got to be smart about SEO keyword selection and focus on what matters.

• Main keyword: The anchor your whole post revolves around. For this piece, my focus is squarely on “how many keywords should you use for SEO?”
• Secondary keywords: The satellites—variations, SEO keyword density, related topics, and questions support your main theme naturally. Mixing in SEO tips and trending keyword ideas helps you show up for more searches (without sounding spammy).
• Keyword topic cluster: Think of it as a bundle—related keywords all circling your main idea. That way, you cover different user intents and ramp up your content’s authority.

Miss your main keyword, and it’s like shooting in the dark. But nail your target phrases, and suddenly your rankings (and leads) shoot up.

2. How many keywords should you use for SEO? (Spoiler: Less is More)

I used to cram 5–7 main keywords into every post. Guess what? Didn’t rank, sometimes dropped. After breaking stuff, fixing stuff, and stalking top competitors, I figured out:

• 1 main keyword/page keeps Google happy.
• Add 1–3 relevant secondary keywords for depth, don’t stuff.
• Most important: don’t keyword stuff. Google crushes you for it.

Here’s how I approached this EXACT article you’re reading:

• Main keyword: I locked in on one focus—“how many keywords should you use for SEO?” That’s the thread running through everything here.
• Secondary keywords: I sprinkled just 2–3 supporting keywords, like “SEO keyword density,” “SEO keyword tips,” and “choose keywords for SEO.” They fit naturally into sections where those angles made sense—no cramming, just adding depth.
• What I didn’t do: I resisted the urge to stuff every possible variation. In the past, packing in “best keyword number,” “SEO keyword count 2025,” and a dozen other phrases in every paragraph just made everything a mess. Trust me, Google does NOT like this—you end up sounding robotic, and your rankings suffer.

Real outcome:
By focusing on a single clear main keyword and a few closely related secondaries, this post is more helpful, honest, and (crossing fingers!) has a better shot at ranking well—without any stuffing.

So, take it from someone who screwed this up for years:
One main keyword per page + a couple of natural secondaries = your best bet.

The proof? You’re reading this now… and that wouldn’t have happened if I’d gone back to my old keyword-hoarding ways.

When it comes to expanding your coverage for different search intents, I seriously recommend digging deep into what LSI keywords are, and how to find and use them properly right here.

3. Keyword Density: “Magic Numbers” That Aren’t So Magic

You’re asking: “But how often should I use my keywords?”

• Sweet spot: 0.5%–2%, max 3%.
• Example: With 1,000 words, use your main keyword about 5–10 times.
• No fixed rule—adapt by content length, type, and natural language.

I once crossed 5% density. Article got messy, readers bounced, traffic plummeted. Lesson learned—“natural” always wins.

4. Smart Keyword Placement (and Where I Messed Up)

Where keywords show up makes a difference:

• Title (best at the start)
• Meta description
• Headings (especially H1 and H2)
• Opening paragraph, then sprinkled throughout, and a nudge at the end
• Alt text on images—often forgotten, always worth it

But forced placements? Feels robotic, tanks the flow, and ruins trust.

5. Content Length: Tailor Your Keyword Game

Don’t “one-size-fits-all” this:

• Short post (≈500 words): Target 5–7 keywords (main + support).
• Long post (2,000–3,000 words): Can go up to 15–30 related keywords—as long as it’s natural.

Confession: I tried stuffing 50 keywords in a 3,000 word article. Held at page 2 forever. Scaling back to 15–30—suddenly, top 5. Big “a-ha” moment.

6. My Favorite Tools to Check the Numbers

• Surfer SEO, Yoast SEO, Rank Math—paste your draft, get instant keyword feedback.
• Peeking at competitors: Use Surfer or Ahrefs to check how often top pages use each keyword.
• Don’t just measure rankings—watch your organic visits, conversions, CTR, bounce rate.

By the way, if you’re running a small business or just starting out and still wondering which SEO tool is actually worth your time and money, I broke down my real picks and experiences in this post: Best SEO Tools for Small Businesses

7. Hard Truths & Honest Advice

• Do NOT stuff keywords (the penalty is real—I’ve been there).
• Focus on search intent: What does your reader REALLY want? Not what a random keyword tool says.
• Refresh that keyword list often—what worked last month may flop next month.

8. Mistakes You (and I) Have Probably Made

• Thinking more keywords means better ranking.
• Targeting the wrong search intent (e.g., optimizing “wedding shop” for “wedding dress ideas”).
• Skipping long-tail keywords—they’re gold!
• Guessing, never tracking, never updating as trends and search volume shift.

My Takeaway: Don’t Do SEO Just to Tick a Box!

After years at this, my mantra: Stick to one topic, one main keyword, a few real secondaries. Write for your reader, not the algorithm.

Stop stuffing, start helping. Nail the search intent, and Google rewards you.

Still not sure how to map out your keywords? Audit an old post in Surfer or Yoast. Little tweaks in density and placement sometimes make all the difference.

Stay flexible. Stay human. Mess up? No big deal—sometimes, the smallest change brings the biggest lift.

You’ve got this!

Jaden Le

Jaden is an SEO Specialist at Golden Owl Digital. He helps brands rank higher with technical SEO and content that resonates