LSI keywords
Definition
LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing[1]) keywords are words and phrases that are related to a primary keyword. They are used to help search engines better understand the context and meaning of a piece of content, and to determine which pages are most relevant to a particular search query.
LSI keywords explained
The idea behind LSI is that the meaning of a word can change depending on the context in which it is used. For example, the word Apple can mean a fruit, a company, or a type of record label, so if you want to optimize your content for the keyword Apple it's important to also include LSI keywords that provide context. For example, fruit, technology, or music will give context to the word Apple and help search engines understand the content better.
LSI keywords are not the same as synonyms, because the keywords are used to make a semantic connection to the main keyword and strengthen the meaning of the content. By including LSI keywords in your content, you can help search engines understand the context and meaning of your content, and improve the chances of your content appearing in search engine results for relevant queries.
Discovering LSI keywords
There are various tools available, such as Google Keyword Planner or SEO PowerSuite’s Rank Tracker, that can help you find LSI keywords related to your main keyword. These tools can generate a list of related keywords and phrases, which can be used to optimize your content and help search engines understand the context of your content.
LSI keywords and SEO
Today, LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) is still considered as an important concept for SEO as it's goal is to provide context and meaning to the primary keyword, so that the content can be more easily indexed and understood by search engines.
While LSI is not a direct ranking factor, it does play a role in the algorithms of search engines, and the use of LSI keywords can help to improve the relevance and quality of a website's content. By using LSI keywords in your content, you can make it more specific, informative and easy for search engines to understand, making it more likely that your content will appear in search engine results for relevant queries.
There are some other benefits of LSI keywords:
Improve the readability of your content
By including LSI keywords, you can make your content more specific and informative, making it more valuable and interesting to readers.
Increase the chances of getting featured snippets
By including LSI keywords, you can make your content more informative and detailed, making it more likely to be featured in the answer box (snippet) of the search results.
Improve the user experience
By including LSI keywords, you can make your content more informative and relevant, which can improve the overall user experience, helping to reduce bounce rates and increase engagement.
Avoid keyword stuffing
by including LSI keywords, you can avoid repeating the same keyword too many times, making the content more natural and avoiding penalties for keyword stuffing.