Keyword stuffing is the practice of filling a web page with keywords or numbers to manipulate rankings in Google Search results. Google lists it among its spam policies.
What does keyword stuffing look like?
Google’s spam policies give these examples.
- Lists of phone numbers without added value
- Blocks of text listing cities and regions a page tries to rank for
- Repeating words or phrases so often that the text sounds unnatural
Hidden text and links are a separate violation in Google’s spam policies. Google’s guidance on link text also names keyword stuffing in anchor text as a violation of its spam policies.
What are the consequences?
Google says sites that violate its spam policies may rank lower in results or not appear at all. It detects violations with automated systems and, where needed, human review, which can lead to a manual action. The spam policy page does not give a repetition threshold, so no percentage separates normal use from stuffing.
Example
A shop writes on a product page: “Cheap strollers. Buy strollers. Best stroller in test. Order strollers online.” Every sentence repeats the keyword and none gives information. A natural version describes weight, folding mechanism and suitable age.
How can you avoid it?
Write for the reader and use the main keyword where it fits, such as in the title and heading. Reading the text aloud usually reveals repetition.
FAQ
What is keyword stuffing? Overloading a page with keywords or numbers to manipulate rankings.
Is keyword stuffing bad for SEO? Google treats it as spam, and affected pages may rank lower or be removed from results.
Sources
- Spam policies for Google web search – Google Search Centraldevelopers.google.com
- Links crawlable (anchor text) – Google Search Centraldevelopers.google.com
- Keyword stuffing – Search Engine Journal (secondary)searchenginejournal.com
Last updated: