LSI – Latent Semantic Indexing vs. SEO Optimization Techniques

Discover “LSI” an alternative way to rank higher in the search engines

LSI – Latent Semantic Indexing, uses alternative techniques to rank higher in the search engines by using related words, instead of the typical keyword density methods used by standard SEO optimization.

Most often, latent semantic indexing is referred to as (LSI).

It is different in comparison to the usual SEO techniques that are used in search engine optimization. The biggest difference is by the manner of how related words are used compared to keywords.

Search Engine Optimization – SEO Copywriting:

The typical tradition of search engine optimization and SEO marketing has been done by using keyword percentages/keyword density. Furthermore, this process usually starts with using keyword tools, such as Wordtracker. As a rule, keyword tools are used to find a relevant keyword phrases that are related to the blog post or page content.

The keywords are used to get a specific percentage that is calculated by the total amount of words used in the blog post or page. Furthermore, the keywords and phrases are used in your title, description, keyword meta tags and placed in your paragraphs.

These are your traditional SEO techniques that are used by SEO optimizers to get higher search engine rankings for their web site and web pages. However, there is a small movement by which LSI techniques are being used instead of the traditional SEO methods.

Latent Semantic Indexing – LSI Copywriting:

Latent semantic indexing breaks away from the SEO tradition of prominently emphasizing your primary and secondary keywords too much! Furthermore, your primary and secondary keywords are mentioned a few times throughout the article or page. However, there is no attempt to strive for any keyword percentage/density. The goal is focused on LSI techniques that rely on words from the web that are related to the topic.

If we write an article about SEO, the standard SEO optimization method is to have a keyword density of 2% to 3% for your keyword terms. The keyword terms could consist of the following, “SEO optimization, SEO techniques and optimization techniques”.

With LSI – latent semantic indexing, the word “SEO” may be used a few times and then the following words, search engine optimization, SEO optimization, SEO optimizing would also be used to achieve a well balanced mixture of related words.

Since there is no keyword density to be formulated, the keywords are placed strategically throughout the article or page. Furthermore, we are looking for a broad range of related words that pertain to the content subject to achieve better rankings in the search engines.

Mixing up your anchor text links:

Google, applies latent semantic indexing technology when looking at anchor text links. If you have heavily optimized words for a few particular phrases and don’t balance other similar related words, your site may not rank that well. Many of my anchor text links are set on the phrase of “SEO Optimization”. However, I use other combination for my anchor text so that the links appear more natural than over manipulated.

Common methods used to find your “LSI” related words:

In order to find related words, you are going to have to use search engines to search for related words that are being listed under your topic. You can also use Wordtracker and Adwords keyword tool for more popular words that are related to your page content.

Search engines and the evaluation of your content:

More and more search engines are now adding LSI into their algorithms. This is because that it helps the search engines to more accurately evaluate your page content. Furthermore, sites that are optimized for keywords and now tending to rank lower in the search engines. It appears that the search engines, now are considering these pages to be over-optimized, and too keyword driven.