How to Write a Searchable Article: The Math

In, "How to Write a Searchable Article: An Exercise", the use of text analyzer and keyword suggestion tools was recommended. The goal of the exercise was to increase relevant keyword phrases in an article to improve search-ability. Once a searchable article is written, just what does that mean?

Google the term "recipe". If your keyword is recipe, you will note that your article is one in 85.6 million. Google the phrase, "pasta recipe". That key phrase is one in 3.3 million. Google the phrase, "easy Italian pasta recipe". That key phrase is one in 1.2 million. Google the phrase, "easy Italian pasta with clam sauce recipe". That key phrase is one of 0.2 million. Finally, Google "Rachel Ray's easy Italian pasta with clam sauce recipe". That phrase is one in 19,000.

Since that final phrase includes elements of the previous search terms plus others, that phrase would result in the search terms pasta, easy, rachel, ray, rachel ray, Italian, calm, sauce, recipe, sauce recipe, calm sauce, Italian pasta, etc. resulting in on the order of a googol searches. Hence, the name Google, a huge number, 1 x10 to the 10^{th squared}, 1 with 100 zeros behind it, more accurately spelled googol.

An article that's search probability is one in a googol, will never be read in my life time (statistically speaking, who knows, buy a googol lottery ticket if you like, somebody's got to win!) An article that is 1/19,000, plus 1/0.2 Meg, plus 1/3.3 Meg, etc. has a better shot at being found. That is the key to search-ability, improving the likelihood of being found on the Internet.

Therefore, key-phraseology, is an important consideration in developing searchable content. The author should allow for the narrowest of search terms and the broadest. The well constructed multiple word key phrase is the key. Keyword density is lost in the googol that is the web, if it is not descriptive.

Nicknames, acronyms, relevant jargon and real alternate spellings are all considerations for inclusion in the article. The article does need to be readable, meaning creativity is required. All of these inclusions enhance search-ability without over-using single keywords.

Over using keyword results in reduced readability and search engine flags. An author should be writing something of worth. It is the author's job to select the most relevant keyword phrases to weave into the work being created. Then the concept envisioned by the author can be conveyed with un-compromised artistry.

The four percent keyword density target mentioned in the referenced exercise, includes the site noise. The search spiders read web-pages, not articles. The article written should blend with the page resulting in a near optimum keyword density. In cases where the article is published on a web-page with large amounts of HTML code, article keyword density can be much higher than the four percent target. Smaller pages with less HTML code should have articles with a lower density. Analyze the page, not the article for better information.

In general, the four percent keyword density with a two to eight percent range, results in good search-ability. The use of relevant key phrases enhance search-ability. Testing the web-page will provide the author with more information relevant to density, than testing the article alone. As search engines move into more advanced algorithms, key-phraseology will increase in importance.