Keyword stuffing

Filling a page with keywords or numbers to try to manipulate Google's rankings, often in unnatural lists or repeated phrases. It breaks Google's spam policies.

Google defines keyword stuffing as “the practice of filling a web page with keywords or numbers in an attempt to manipulate rankings in Google Search results”, and lists it among its spam policies. It says the keywords often appear “in a list or group, unnaturally, or out of context” (Google Search Central).

Google’s examples

• lists of phone numbers without substantial added value;
• blocks of text that list the cities and regions a page is trying to rank for;
• repeating the same words or phrases so often that it sounds unnatural.

If you serve customers in several towns, check your pages for blocks of town names.

Related terms

• Anchor text
• Link spam

Tools for it

• Content and AI writing

Sources

• https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials/spam-policies (Oct 8, 2026)

Updated Oct 8, 2026.