In the world of freelance, you’ve probably heard the term “keyword stuffing” thrown around a lot. But what does it actually mean?
When writing articles, particularly blog articles, it is important to use certain keywords throughout the text. Linguistically, a group of words that are related to the same thing is called a semantic field. Using lots of words from the same semantic field makes the piece a much better read for the audience, because it makes the article much more relevant. It keeps the article on task and keeps the reader drawn in. In addition, using plenty of keywords is a way of boosting the page’s views and likes: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a skill that many companies search for when looking to hire a freelancer.
However, there is a very fine line that you must be careful to avoid crossing. There is a stark contrast between good SEO writing and keyword stuffing. This would entail using too many relevant keywords and phrases, filling the article with incomprehensible nonsense just to boost the website activity. Of course, doing this makes any article incredibly difficult to read and actually deters readers, thus in the end achieving the complete opposite of what was intended. It may gain more clicks, but it does not create a good piece.
Keyword stuffing is not only detrimental to site reviews, but also to any views at all on your site. Google has rules that prohibit suspicious sites that they regard as spam, and this may include sites with a lot of keyword stuffing. Articles that are crammed with similar words and full to the brim with nonsensical phrases are considered fake, and may be blocked on account of not being a “real” website.
Due to search engine rules, it’s important to avoid keyword stuffing as much as possible. But on the other hand, it is equally as important to slot plenty of keywords into the text in order to boost the numbers a little. When writing on any topic, familiarise yourself with some of the jargon so that you can weave it cleverly into the article, still making a smooth piece that flows easily. This creates an enjoyable piece for the reader as well as using SEO techniques to improve the popularity of the site.
The line between good SEO writing and keyword stuffing is a very fine one, but with practice it is fairly easy to master. It’s as simple as learning the proper techniques for SEO, such as finding the most appropriate and effective keywords using online tools. Being a good writer helps, as you can form a solid and appropriate piece with ease and work keywords into it with fluency.
At the end of your work, always read over your writing to ensure that it makes sense. If possible, take some time out between finishing the piece and doing your proofreading so that you can read over the work with a fresh mind. This way, you will be able to notice any discrepancies and if the article works well.
