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How does Yoast SEO premium determine prominent keywords?
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We are perplexed how Yoast determines which keywords to select on the page when ranking the top 5 prominent words in Insights. For example, we have a page where birthday parties is clearly the primary keyword. It is used an an H2, in body copy and tagged on images. Yet it does not show up at all. The term 20 Fiesta game points ranks #1. It is mentioned one time on the page in a bullet within one of 5-6 blocks. 40 Fiesta game points ranks 3rd and same situation. Waterpark ranks 4th and is mentioned twice on the page as a bullet of featured activities. But there ar 4-5 other attractions listed in the bullets higher? We have looked as tutorial videos and no one mentions how Yoast determines prominent keywords. Thanks in advance for steering us in the right direction.
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exactly
it just dossn´t count the words in the page titles and meta descriptions, since they aint rly an part of the content. -
https://yoast.com/yoast-seo-insights/
It picks the prominent keywords based on density, the frequency the words are being used in the content.
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Yoast does analyze every content on youre page to calculate the prominent words. But no it dosn´t count meta descriptions and titles (unless titles is youre headline). Since this content aint rly a part of youre "content".

Hope that was the answer youre looking for
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None of Yoast's prominent words were in Header tags content ( H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6), the title of the page, description or alt images. Only in page content and in all cases as a bullet point. Words that were in tags, titles, alt images and desciption were not included in prominent words. This is what is confusing, but thanks for taking the time to answer in any case.
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Hi There,
Yoast determines the keywords that you are trying to rank by looking at the keyword prominence on the page. By the means of keyword prominence it would look into the following SEO factors:
- Header tags content ( H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6), the title of the page, description, alt images and the main content of the page.
It would try to analyze and assess what you are trying to showcase to the world and to search engines using above factors. If your website doesn't have the right content at right places, it won't show up on the prominent keywords list.
I hope this helps, let me know if you have further queries.
Regards,
Vijay
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