Keyword Density Analyzer

Free AEO tool by Vida Together

Analyze your content's keyword density to optimize for AI engines. Identify keyword stuffing, check n-gram distribution, and get actionable recommendations for natural keyword usage that AI systems prefer.

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Understanding Keyword Density for AI Engine Optimization

Keyword density measures how frequently a specific word or phrase appears in your content relative to the total word count. It is calculated as: (number of times keyword appears / total words) x 100. For example, if a 500-word article mentions "AEO" 10 times, the keyword density for "AEO" would be 2%.

Why Keyword Density Matters for AEO

Traditional SEO keyword density targets (often 2-5%) were designed for search engine ranking algorithms. AI Engine Optimization requires a different approach. AI systems like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Google SGE read and comprehend content semantically -- they understand meaning, context, and topical relationships. Rather than counting exact keyword matches, AI engines evaluate whether content naturally and thoroughly covers a topic.

The Shift from Density to Relevance

In the age of AI search, keyword density analysis has evolved from a targeting tool to a diagnostic tool. Instead of trying to hit specific density numbers, use keyword density analysis to identify potential problems: over-stuffed terms that signal manipulation, under-represented topics that should be covered more thoroughly, and unnatural repetition patterns that hurt readability.

N-gram Analysis Explained

This tool analyzes three types of keyword patterns: unigrams (single words), bigrams (2-word phrases), and trigrams (3-word phrases). Multi-word phrase analysis is crucial because AI engines understand concepts, not just individual words. A page about "machine learning algorithms" should naturally contain that 3-word phrase -- but repeating it excessively signals manipulation rather than expertise.

Stop Words and Filtering

This analyzer automatically filters out common stop words (the, is, a, an, of, in, etc.) from single-word analysis because they appear frequently in all English text and provide no insight into your content's topical focus. For bigrams and trigrams, phrases where every word is a stop word are excluded, but phrases containing a mix of stop words and content words are retained because they often represent meaningful phrases.

Ideal Density Ranges

0.5% - 2.0%: Healthy range for primary keywords. Natural and effective.

2.0% - 3.0%: Acceptable but approaching the upper limit. Review for naturalness.

Above 3.0%: Potential keyword stuffing. AI engines may deprioritize this content.

Keyword Density Best Practices for AEO

How to use keyword density analysis to improve your AI Engine Optimization.

Aim for 1-2% density on primary keywords

For your main target keyword, a density between 1-2% feels natural and signals topical relevance without triggering over-optimization penalties. AI engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity analyze keyword usage patterns to determine if content is genuinely helpful or artificially manipulated.

Use semantic variations and synonyms

AI engines understand that 'machine learning,' 'ML,' and 'artificial intelligence algorithms' are related concepts. Instead of repeating the exact same phrase, use natural variations throughout your content. This demonstrates topical expertise and reads more naturally.

Focus on topical depth over keyword repetition

AI engines reward content that covers a topic comprehensively. Writing about related subtopics, providing examples, and answering follow-up questions naturally incorporates relevant keywords without forced repetition.

Avoid keyword stuffing at all costs

Any keyword appearing above 3% density is a red flag. AI engines can detect keyword stuffing patterns and may deprioritize overly optimized content. If a keyword feels forced or unnatural when you read the content aloud, it probably is.

Structure content with keyword-rich headings

Use H2 and H3 headings that naturally incorporate your target keywords. AI engines weight heading text more heavily than body text for understanding page topics. Question-format headings that match user queries are especially effective for AEO.

Place keywords strategically

While overall density matters, keyword placement also affects AI extraction. Include your primary keyword in the first paragraph, in at least one heading, and in your concluding paragraph. AI engines often prioritize the opening and closing sections when extracting answers.

Monitor n-gram patterns, not just single words

Analyzing 2-word and 3-word phrases reveals patterns that single-word analysis misses. If a 2-word phrase appears at unusually high density, AI engines may interpret this as targeted manipulation even if individual words are within normal ranges.

Write for humans first, optimize for AI second

The best AEO strategy is to write genuinely helpful content that naturally uses relevant terminology. AI engines are increasingly sophisticated at detecting content quality. Natural, expert-level writing with appropriate keyword usage will outperform artificially optimized content every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is keyword density?

Keyword density is the percentage of times a keyword or phrase appears in your content compared to the total word count. It is calculated by dividing the number of keyword occurrences by the total words, then multiplying by 100. For example, a keyword used 5 times in a 500-word article has a 1% density.

What is the ideal keyword density for AEO?

For AI Engine Optimization, aim for 1-2% density on your primary keyword and under 1% for secondary keywords. Unlike traditional SEO, AEO prioritizes natural language and topical comprehensiveness over hitting specific density targets. AI engines understand context and synonyms, so forcing high density can actually hurt your visibility.

How does keyword density differ for AI search vs. traditional SEO?

Traditional SEO sometimes rewarded higher keyword density (2-5%) to signal relevance to ranking algorithms. AI engines are fundamentally different -- they comprehend meaning rather than counting keyword matches. For AEO, keyword density analysis is a diagnostic tool to catch over-optimization, not a targeting metric to maximize.

What is keyword stuffing and why should I avoid it?

Keyword stuffing is the practice of unnaturally repeating keywords to manipulate search rankings. When keyword density exceeds 3% for any term, it is a warning sign. AI engines can detect keyword stuffing and may deprioritize content that appears manipulated. It also degrades user experience and readability.

Why does this tool analyze 2-word and 3-word phrases?

Multi-word phrase analysis (n-gram analysis) reveals patterns that single-word analysis misses. AI engines understand concepts as phrases, not just individual words. Analyzing bigrams (2-word) and trigrams (3-word) helps you see how your key concepts and phrases are distributed throughout your content.

What are stop words and why are they filtered?

Stop words are common words like 'the,' 'is,' 'a,' 'and,' 'of' that appear frequently in all English text. They are filtered from single-word analysis because they do not provide insight into your content's topical focus. For multi-word phrases, only phrases composed entirely of stop words are excluded.

How is the overall score calculated?

The score (0-100) evaluates your content's keyword distribution health. It considers: keyword stuffing warnings (any term over 3% density), vocabulary diversity (ratio of unique words to total words), distribution balance of top keywords, presence of multi-word phrases, and content length. Higher scores indicate more natural, well-distributed keyword usage.

How can I reduce keyword density without losing topical relevance?

Use synonyms and semantic variations, expand your content with related subtopics and examples, rephrase sentences to use different word order, add context through explanations and case studies, and use pronouns appropriately to reference previously mentioned concepts.

All analysis runs locally in your browser. No data is sent to any server.

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