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Google has changed over the years into a semantic search engine which tries to determine what people are looking for so it can show them the most relevant results.
With this, keyword stuffing is a thing of the past, and focusing only on high-ranking keywords is not the be-all-and-end-all of SEO. To get a high ranking on search engine results pages, you must understand how to utilize search phrases in the appropriate “semantic” context. This brings us to semantic search, latent semantic indexing keywords (LSI), and their importance to your SEO strategy.
What Is Semantic Search?
Semantic search is how search engines like Google do more than just pull up pages which match the search terms exactly. Google’s semantic search looks at the meaning of a search query (and what it means in the search context) to give relevant high-quality answers.
What role does semantic search play in your SEO strategy?
It’s important to note that semantic search and lexical search are very different. A lexical search was a method used by search engines: to find what they needed, users had to type in exact words spelled correctly. Even when they tried hard, searchers often had to deal with SERPs full of exact matches that gave them irrelevant results. Google’s semantic search fills the gap by figuring out the meaning and intent of a search query so it can return results which aren’t just literal but also make sense in the context of the search.
From an SEO and content strategy point of view, the best way to improve SERP visibility today is to make content which matches what people are looking for. You’re on the right track if you focus on relevance instead of only keyword matches when it comes to SEO.
How Semantic Search Works
Question-wording can vary. Online searchers employ different terms, languages and tones. Sometimes, they can’t formulate their question. Today’s search engines rely on query meaning rather than keywords.
Search engines such as Google adopt a semantic approach and interpret search intent based on several characteristics, such as the following:
- Query substitutions or spelling variations
- User search history
- Real-time context and current events
- User location
Google also listed the primary elements its search engines analyze when delivering results:
- Setting and Context
- Content Quality
- Meaning and Intent
- Web Pages Usability
- Webpage Content Relevance
Google is becoming better at detecting the meaning and semantic relationship of search words with these explanations. Consequently, this means SEO has grown more complicated. Semantic keywords SEO, using semantic keywords, and creating a semantic context in your content may help you advance your SEO strategy.
An Overview of Semantic Keywords SEO
Semantic search is a large issue, and Google’s engine is always changing. Here are some SEO semantic keyword tips to reinforce your web strategy:
Topics Are Gaining Importance Over Keywords
Keywords used frequently are not as important as they used to be. This is why SEO experts and content professionals need to learn how to use long-tail keywords strategically in their writing.
More importantly, they have to put in time and effort to think about what people are looking for, plus add relevant topics that answer these questions to make high-quality content.
Keywords Still Matter
Google is growing better at comprehending the semantic connection inside search queries and their purpose, but it continually learns how to comprehend search intent as well. Consequently, using your preferred main and semantic keywords tool to choose the ideal search phrases influences your SERP success. Similarly, putting your keywords in your title tags, URL, header and body tags, and your metadata will continue to increase your ranks.
Technical SEO Matters as Much as Content
Google isn’t smart enough to know what words mean, so you need to help it understand what your content is about.
In semantic keywords SEO, it’s important to use the right keywords and pay for top-notch content writing services. Your technical SEO efforts are also important. For best results, improve your metadata, make your site mobile-friendly and run crawl error reports.
Build a Solid Semantic Search Strategy With Mediaforce SEO Experts
At Mediaforce, we help companies adapt to Google’s ever-evolving algorithm and enhance their online presence. Our SEO strategists who understand keyword research, technical SEO and local SEO collaborate closely with our content specialists to create unique, high-quality and SEO-friendly material.
Want to use our expert knowledge to improve your SEO strategy? We’d love to help you become successful online. Visit us at Mediaforce online or call us at (613) 729-0500 today.
