Content (and content optimization) is king, they say. And, if that’s true, then keyword research is queen. After all, what’s the point of writing great content if no one ever sees it?
We know all about SEO keywords, but stuffing your content full of keywords is no longer going to cut it because Google has gotten smarter. A lot smarter.
Now, Google is all about context. And that’s where LSI keywords come in. In this article, DLinkers delves into what LSI keywords are, if they actually help with SEO, and how you can find them.
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LSI stands for latent semantic indexing. In a nutshell, LSI keywords are related terms that help search engines better understand the content on a page. For example, let’s say you’re writing an article about grilling steaks.
An LSI keyword might be “barbecue,” “bbq sauce,” “grill masters,” or “beef.” In terms of SEO, LSI keywords are a valuable way to help Google (and other search engines) better understand your content.
Don’t confuse LSI keywords with synonyms, however. While synonyms are words with the same meaning, LSI keywords are related terms.
To better understand this concept, let’s look at an example. Let’s say you’re writing a blog post about cars. A synonym for “car” would be “automobile.”
An LSI keyword, on the other hand, would be “driving,” “brakes,” “auto insurance,” or “vehicle.” See the difference?
Synonyms are words with the same meaning, while LSI keywords are related terms.
There is a semi-heated debate among SEO experts about whether or not LSI keywords help with SEO. While there is no concrete evidence that using LSI keywords will directly result in traffic, like Google Ads for one, there is evidence that they do help Google better understand your content.
And when Google better understands your content, it’s more likely to rank you higher. The reason for this is simple: if Google can’t understand what your page is about, it’s not going to rank you as highly as a page that it does understand.
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Google’s Hummingbird algorithm update was all about understanding the user’s intent. In other words, it was designed to better match a searcher with the content they’re looking for.
And one of the ways Google does this is by looking for related terms and LSI keywords. Google looks at the overall context of a page to try and understand what it’s about.
For example, if you were to search for “pizza,” Google would not only look for the word “pizza,” but also related terms like “cheese,” “pepperoni,” “dough,” and “Italian.”
By understanding the searcher’s intent and what they’re really looking for, Google can deliver more relevant results.
And that’s why LSI keywords are important: not because they directly improve your ranking, but because they indirectly help Google better understand the gist of your content so that it can be properly indexed and ranked.
Read More: How To Choose the Right Keywords for SEO and Content Beyond Keywords: What is Semantic SEO?
The easiest way to find LSI keywords is to simply use Google. When you search, scroll down to the bottom of the page and take a look at the “Searches related to” section.
These are all LSI keywords that Google has identified as being related to your original keyword.
You can also use Google’s autocomplete feature to find LSI keywords. Simply start typing in a keyword related to your topic, and Google will autocomplete the search for you.
LSIGraph is a free tool that allows you to input a seed keyword and then generate a list of related LSI keywords.
To use the tool, simply go to LSIGraph.com and enter your seed keyword. Once you hit “Generate Related LSI Keywords,” you’ll be given a list of related terms that you can use as LSI keywords.
Of course, you’ll want to use LSIGraph in combination with other keyword research tools (like Google Keyword Planner) to make sure that the keywords you’re targeting are being searched for.
Ubersuggest is a free keyword research tool that can be used to find LSI keywords. You can use it by going to Ubersuggest.io and entering your seed keyword.
Once you hit “Suggest,” you’ll be given a list of related keywords that you can use as LSI keywords.
As with LSIGraph, however, you’ll want to use Ubersuggest in combination with other keyword research tools.
4. Use Google Keyword Planner
If you’re not familiar with Google Keyword Planner, it’s a free keyword research tool that allows you to see how many people are searching for a particular keyword.
You can use it to find LSI keywords by going to Google Keyword Planner and entering your seed keyword.
Once you hit “Get ideas,” you’ll be given a list of related keywords that you can use as LSI keywords.
If you want to get an idea of what LSI keywords are being targeted by your competitors, simply take a look at their pages and see what words are bolded. Chances are, those are the LSI keywords they’re targeting.
Search Google for your seed keyword and then take a look at the pages that come up. Then, simply look at the bolded words on their snippets.
You can also use a tool like Ahrefs to see what keywords your competitors are targeting. Simply enter your competitor’s URL into Ahrefs and then go to the “Organic Keywords” report.
From there, you’ll be able to see what keywords they’re targeting, both LSI and otherwise.
Read More: How to Rank Your Blog Content on Google’s Featured Snippets
See that “People Also Ask” section on Google? Yeah, that can help find LSI keywords.
Simply enter your seed keyword into Google and then scroll down to the “People Also Ask” section. There, you’ll be given a list of related questions that you can use as LSI keywords.
The questions that appear in the “People Also Ask” section are typically LSI keywords that are being searched for by a lot of people.
And that’s a good thing. After all, you want to target keywords that are being searched for frequently.
Once you have a list of LSI keywords, it’s time to put them to use. There are a few different ways you can do this:
Remember, the goal is to use LSI keywords throughout your content in a way that feels natural. Don’t force them in just for the sake of it.
Instead, focus on writing high-quality content that includes LSI keywords naturally. If you do that, you’ll be in good shape.
Read More: How to Create Long Form Content and Reap the Advantages
Q: What are LSI keywords?
A: LSI keywords are terms closely related to your seed keyword. You can use them throughout your content to help Google understand what your page is about and to improve your chances of ranking for your target keyword.
Q: What’s the difference between LSI keywords and synonyms?
A: LSI keywords are closely related to your seed keyword, while synonyms are words with the same meaning as your seed keyword.
Q: How many LSI keywords should I use?
A: There’s no hard and fast rule, but a good general guideline is to use 1-2 LSI keywords per 100 words of content. This will help Google understand what your page is about without making your content seem like keyword stuffing.
LSI keywords are terms closely related to your seed keyword. You can use them throughout your content to help Google understand what your page is about and to improve your chances of ranking for your target keyword.
LSI keywords are closely related to your seed keyword, while synonyms are words with the same meaning as your seed keyword.
There’s no hard and fast rule, but a good general guideline is to use 1-2 LSI keywords per 100 words of content. This will help Google understand what your page is about without making your content seem like keyword stuffing.
The SEO landscape is constantly changing, and what worked yesterday might not work today. Don’t just rely on the same old techniques that everyone else is using.
Instead, stay up-to-date on the latest trends and changes. LSI keywords are a perfect example of this.
They’re a relatively new concept, but they’re quickly gaining popularity. And for good reason – they work; even if not for Google, then for your readers.
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