Avoid Keyword Stuffing: SEO Best Practices for 2024

Keyword stuffing, a black hat SEO tactic prevalent in the early 2000s, involves overloading content with keywords unnaturally to manipulate search rankings. While effective then due to simpler search algorithms, it's now detrimental. Google's advanced algorithms easily detect this practice, leading to penalties like lower rankings or complete removal from search results. The article details various forms of keyword stuffing, including overt repetition in text, headings, meta descriptions, anchor text, and even hidden keywords via white text on white backgrounds or small font sizes. Beyond algorithmic penalties, keyword stuffing severely harms user experience, leading to high bounce rates, decreased time on page, and ultimately, damaged brand reputation. The article emphasizes the importance of writing for humans, creating valuable, readable content that naturally incorporates keywords. It recommends focusing on key elements like URLs and H1 tags for keyword placement, along with utilizing secondary and semantic keywords to enhance content relevance. The article also advises against using irrelevant or grammatically incorrect keywords and suggests distributing keywords organically throughout the text. Recovering from keyword stuffing penalties involves identifying and rectifying the issue in Google Search Console, rewriting affected content, removing hidden keywords, and submitting a reconsideration request. The overall message promotes creating high-quality, user-focused content as the cornerstone of successful SEO, moving away from outdated manipulative tactics.

(Source: https://backlinko.com/keyword-stuffing)