How Many Keywords Should I Use for SEO? (A 2026 Guide)
Keywords are what people search for and what help your website show up on Google and AI search. But how many keywords should I use for SEO? You should use one primary keyword at least a few times per page, plus a few secondary keywords.
Almost 70% of searches start with a search engine. People search for a phrase, and Google shows information to answer their query. Using SEO keywords appropriately is how your website lands on the SERPs (search engine results pages) so you can reach more people.
Let’s explore how many keywords to use for SEO and where to use them, so you can show up on Google and AI for more leads and sales.
SEO Keywords: A Quick Introduction
SEO keywords are specific phrases that people search for on Google, other search engines, and now AI tools like Claude and Perplexity. When you strategically use relevant keywords in your content, you help both traditional search engines and AI language models pull from and show your content to users seeking information.
Traditional search engines like Google use keywords to match queries with relevant pages and determine rankings. AI tools work differently — they read your content to understand what you're talking about, then use that information to answer people's questions and link back to your site. This means your content needs to cover topics clearly and thoroughly — not just stuff keywords in randomly.
Appropriate keyword usage lets you:
Rank on Google and other search engines – Keywords remain essential for search engine algorithms
Get cited by AI tools – Clear, well-structured content with relevant terminology helps LLMs understand and reference your content
Reach your target audience – Whether they're using Google or asking ChatGPT, users find solutions through the same core queries
Boost organic traffic – From both search engines and AI-driven platforms that link to sources
Increase conversions – Quality traffic from users who found exactly what they needed
How Many Keywords Should I Use For SEO?
The short answer: Blog posts should target one primary keyword, plus up to five related keywords. Main pages like your homepage can include multiple related keywords.
For blog articles, choose one main keyword that represents what the article is about. Then, naturally include related keywords, which are supporting phrases or variations of your main keyword.
For example, your primary keyword might be "how to train a puppy," and supporting keywords can be "puppy training tips," "house training puppies," and "basic puppy commands." This strategy helps you rank for your main topic while capturing related searches and different ways people phrase the same query.
Main website pages, like your homepage or services page, are broader and can target multiple related keywords. For example, your homepage might include "digital marketing agency," "SEO services," and "content marketing" because you offer all these services — that's perfectly fine.
How to Find the Right Keywords
You can't just guess which keywords to use — you need data to know what people are actually searching for, how competitive those terms are, and whether you have a chance of ranking. Keyword research tools show you search volume, difficulty scores, and related terms you might not have thought of, taking the guesswork out of your SEO strategy.
KeySearch, which is my go-to keyword research tool, gives you access to thousands of keyword options. The Content Assistant feature also gives you recommendations on both supporting keywords and variations to include. I find KeySearch to be the most affordable and user-friendly SEO tool, which is why I recommend it to any website newbie or pro.
Want to learn more about how KeySearch works? Check out my full KeySearch review.
Keysearch’s Content Assistant feature
How to Use SEO Keywords
Keywords are essential for website SEO, but stuffing them unnaturally into your content can hurt your rankings. Instead, use keywords naturally while focusing on answering your reader's questions and providing genuinely helpful information. Both Google and AI tools prioritize content that serves users, not content that just repeats keywords.
Where to include your primary keyword:
Meta title
Meta description
Headers (H2s and H3s where it makes sense)
Alt text for images (when relevant to the image)
Throughout the main content where it flows naturally
Conclusion
How often should you use your primary keyword?
There's no magic number, but for a 1,000-word blog post, using your primary keyword 5-10 times usually works well. This includes using it in your title, headers, body content, image alt text, and meta description.
Some keyword phrases are awkward to repeat naturally — that's okay. Prioritize readability over hitting a specific count. At minimum, use your primary keyword at least 2-3 times on the page in key places (title, intro, one header, and conclusion).
How to find the right keyword density:
The best way to determine ideal keyword usage is to check what's already ranking:
Google your target keyword
Open the top 3-5 results
Use the search function (Command + F on Mac, Control + F on Windows) to count how many times they use the keyword
Aim for a similar frequency
This shows you what Google considers appropriate for your specific keyword. Some topics naturally require more keyword mentions, while others work better with fewer.
How Many Keywords Should I Use for SEO? Other FAQs
To help you get a better grasp of SEO keywords, I’ll answer a few common questions.
What are the best keyword research tools?
I find Keysearch and Semrush to be the best keyword research tools because they’re user-friendly and share helpful keyword and SEO information.
KeySearch is my go-to keyword research and SEO tool, and I use it almost daily. It has many helpful features, including secondary keyword suggestions, suggested word count, and questions to answer in your content — all helping you create content that ranks on Google.
Semrush is another popular keyword research tool. Its free version, Keyword Magic Tool, is good for beginners. While the paid version is a bit pricy, it does offer more keywords and in-depth information, similar to KeySearch.
Keysearch: for finding and using SEO keywords
Is too many keywords bad for SEO?
Yes, overusing your primary keyword can hurt your SEO. Your content shouldn’t be repetitive or awkward to read simply to include keywords. Google and AI tools can tell when content is written for algorithms instead of people, and they'll rank you lower for it.
Your primary keyword should appear naturally throughout your content. Supporting keywords and variations have no strict rules— use as many as fit naturally and make sense for your topic.
Your website can target unlimited keywords across different pages, as long as each piece of content focuses on one main topic, serves your audience's needs, and reads naturally. Quality always beats keyword quantity.
What are the 4 types of keywords?
The four main keyword types are informational, commercial, transactional, and navigational. Each represents a different stage of the customer journey:
Informational: Searching for information ("how to train a puppy")
Commercial: Researching products or brands ("best puppy training courses")
Transactional: Ready to buy ("buy puppy training course online")
Navigational: Looking for a specific website ("Cesar Millan website")
Understanding keyword intent helps you create the right content. If someone searches "best running shoes" (commercial), they want comparisons and reviews, not a checkout page. Match your content to the intent, and you'll rank better while actually helping your audience.
When you meet user intent, people stay on your page longer, trust your brand more, and are more likely to buy from you when they’re ready.
Keyword types (commercial, transactional, informational, & navigational) depend on the user’s intent
What are the benefits of using keywords?
Using SEO keywords helps you rank on Google and AI search tools, attract your ideal audience, and drive qualified traffic to your website.
When you use keywords that align with your business, you're telling search engines and AI tools exactly who should see your content. This targeted approach means you reach people who actually need what you offer — and who are more likely to read your content, trust your expertise, and eventually buy from you.
For example, my target audience is people who want to improve their website SEO. By using relevant keywords like "do people still read blogs" or "how to find long-tail keywords," I attract readers interested in my services. That's how I grow my audience and get clients.
Should I always target a specific keyword?
Usually, yes — but there are exceptions.
When to skip targeting a keyword:
Homepage and main pages: These naturally cover multiple topics and don't need one specific keyword
Announcements or updates: Posts about sales, events, or company news
Thought-leadership pieces: Opinion articles or creative content where you're building authority, not ranking
For these exceptions, you'll need to promote content through other channels like email, social media, or Pinterest since they won't rank as easily in search.
How Many Keywords Should I Use for SEO? Final Thoughts
Keywords help search engines and AI tools understand your content and connect it with the right audience. When you use them strategically by including them naturally throughout helpful, comprehensive content, you'll rank better, reach more people, and turn visitors into customers.
Need help with your SEO strategy? Explore my offers or contact me — I'd love to help you grow your organic traffic.
