So first of all, what exactly does “LSI” stand for”? Latent Semantic Indexing. Or, in plain english, hidden language within the text. Knowing this, think of LSI Keywords as “indirect” keywords.
LSI Keywords are essentially synonyms for the “direct” keyword that you are trying to rank for. If Word A is used in the same context that Word B is used in, then Word B is the LSI for Word A. Having more of this concept gives Google’s algorithm more likely to rank your content higher. Utilizing LSI properly will help to group content together for their thematic properties. It takes thorough target keyword research to develop both these primary and secondary keywords to boost your google search results.
For example, a term can be both a common noun and a brand. Search engines will use LSI keywords to identify whether it is the noun or the brand. So if you’re trying to market your “rollerblades”, use LSI keywords such as “inline skates” to describe the product in a different way than the trademarked name. This will not only help your page SEO but also simply increase the keywords in your content. Read our blog about SEO strategy to learn more ways to optimize your page.
Now we have the concept of LSI Keywords down. We of all people know how hard it can be to even come up with those primary direct keywords. There are, however, some fairly simplistic ways to come up with LSI keywords.
First, look on thesaurus.com to find some easy synonyms. This is by far the most simplistic option, but having a more well rounded knowledge of your content never hurts.
Next, start to type in your keywords in Google and look at the suggested searches it displays. This will give you context for how others are searching for the same term.
Last, enter in your target keyword search and then look at the related searches at the bottom of the page. Similar to the previous option, this is essentially Google spoon feeding us some LSI keyword options.
Alright, so now we know what LSI keywords are and strategies on how to find them. So what? There are skeptics out there. They often say that there is no evidence that Google uses this style in their algorithms and that it’s old technology. While we’re not suggesting that your content should rely on LSI keywords, we do know that all of us think differently (and that Google is constantly changing its search algorithms). Because we all think differently, we also search terms differently. It is wise to spend most of your time utilizing direct keywords, especially when it comes to more specific content.
While it depends on the piece, spend 5-15% of your time boosting content with LSI keywords. The best way to get your content seen is through optimizing content for organic search visibility. Start with utilizing structured data and clarity when it comes to your pieces. Utilizing LSI keywords will help to have your content read more fluidly instead of having consumers reading the same 5 keywords throughout the piece.
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