Title: Keyword Stuffing is Spamming
Author: Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)
Published: February 20, 2018

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 [  ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ipstenu/) [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ipstenu/)
10:34 pm _on_ February 20, 2018     
Tags: [guidelines ( 27 )](https://make.wordpress.org/plugins/tag/guidelines/)

# Keyword Stuffing is Spamming

In January 2017 we clarified what was meant by not spamming in the directory.

Since then, the language has been tweaked slightly, but the crux of the matter remains
as follows: [Public facing pages on WordPress.org (readmes) **must not spam**](https://developer.wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-org/detailed-plugin-guidelines/#12-public-facing-pages-on-wordpress-org-readmes-must-not-spam)

To whit:

> Public facing pages, including readmes and translation files, may not be used 
> to spam. Spammy behavior includes (but is not limited to) unnecessary affiliate
> links, tags to competitors plugins, use of over 12 tags total, blackhat SEO, and
> keyword stuffing.

If you have a keyword or phrase repeated over 30 times in your pluginPlugin A plugin
is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress
website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites.
WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly
with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory [https://wordpress.org/plugins/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/)
or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party., you’re _probably_ spamming. There
are exceptions, especially when a term is a common word or you’re listing your shortcodes.
However please be reasonable. If we see you using the same word 50 or more times
in the readme, you’ll likely be receiving a warning.

Please take these warnings seriously. If you get asked to fix one plugin, we expect
you (and ask you) to take care of any plugins we didn’t list as well. Be mature 
humans.

[#guidelines](https://make.wordpress.org/plugins/tag/guidelines/)

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 1. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/1e617206bef965b930d9d23eabfeecf8bc37c6bf500a26cc3ef55ec380131eb2?
    s=32&d=mm&r=g)
 2.  [Archie22is](https://profiles.wordpress.org/archie22is/)  2:53 am _on_ February
    21, 2018
 3. +1
 4. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/85b3ccf3d505b40e64c56ee29c72bfa9f166468c4998288edcb561b53c804c64?
    s=32&d=mm&r=g)
 5.  [Torsten Landsiedel](https://profiles.wordpress.org/zodiac1978/)  7:58 pm _on_
    February 21, 2018
 6. Any news on this idea(s) [@ipstenu](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ipstenu/)?
     
    This would solve the tag “spamming” problem … [https://make.wordpress.org/plugins/2016/02/25/re-thinking-tags-in-the-plugin-directory/](https://make.wordpress.org/plugins/2016/02/25/re-thinking-tags-in-the-plugin-directory/)
    [https://make.wordpress.org/meta/2016/05/20/taxonomies-in-the-plugin-directory/](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/2016/05/20/taxonomies-in-the-plugin-directory/)
 7.  * ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/27180c82524020e7339e2b30818b6d8ab004c54f730f12b1434b1e365be0e175?
       s=32&d=mm&r=g)
     *  [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://profiles.wordpress.org/ipstenu/)  7:59 pm 
       _on_ February 21, 2018
     * TagTag Tag is one of the pre-defined taxonomies in WordPress. Users can add 
       tags to their WordPress posts along with categories. However, while a category
       may cover a broad range of topics, tags are smaller in scope and focused to 
       specific topics. Think of them as keywords used for topics discussed in a particular
       post. Spamming is far less of a problem now that we neutered y’all with how 
       many display.

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