How To Use LSI Keywords in Your SEO Strategy

Graphics of LSI Keywords

Search engines such as Google use different methods to determine what the topic of a certain page is. Previously, search engine algorithms would crawl a page in search of the keyword mentioned multiple times throughout the content to understand what it’s about. Now, Google uses Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) Keywords alongside it to give context to the page’s topic.

What does that mean for you? If you have a landing page that’s not doing so well despite having optimized metadata and a good number of backlinks & internal links, then this may be why. You may not have enough LSI Keywords to help Google understand more about your page and what its goal is.

Today I’ll be teaching you how to use LSI Keywords for SEO.

What Are Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) Keywords?

Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) Keywords refer to terms related to a certain topic that search engines can connect to one another to better understand a page. These can refer to synonyms or phrases and words that are commonly used when talking about the subject matter. Think of it like the Topic Cluster Model but in one piece of content.

To start utilizing the LSI Keyword strategy, you will first have to find the best ones for you.

How To Find LSI Keywords

Today I’m going to show you three of the best ways to find LSI Keywords. These make use of tools and methods that can be easily accessible to any SEO professional. Let’s begin.

Google’s Recommended Search

You may not know it, but you look at LSI Keywords all the time when you use a search engine. First, take a look at the terms that pop up when you type in your main keyword. These are keywords that people are searching for that could be beneficial for your content.

Check out the example below when I search for the keyword “household pest”.

Google's Recommended Search For LSI Keywords

You can also take a look at the set of related searches at the bottom of the page.

Google Related Searches

Competitive Research

Another way to look for LSI Keywords is through competitive research. Take a look at the top results on the SERPs and observe what your content is missing. Start by searching for your keyword and looking at the bolded words. These signify potentially helpful LSI keywords.

To dig even deeper, look through the top pages to see why these competitors may be ranking better than you. You may be surprised to see that it’s because they’re utilizing LSI.

Google LSI Search Results

SEO Keyword Research Tools

Lastly, I highly recommend using SEO Keyword Research Tools such as SEMRush’s Keyword Magic Tool. These tools often give related keywords that can be used as LSI Keywords. You can even take a look at their volume as well as their keyword difficulty to confirm that they are being searched.

SEMRush Keyword Magic Tool For LSI Keywords

Once you’ve found the LSI Keywords that you want to use, it’s time to apply them to your page.

How To Use LSI Keywords For SEO

To successfully integrate LSI Keywords into your page, you need to place them in the following places:

  • Title Tag
  • Meta Description
  • Headings (H2, H3, etc.)
  • Alt Texts
  • The Content Itself

Take a look at what my team did to boost up the rankings of one of our clients. By using LSI Keywords, we were able to bump them up from the Top 7 to the Top 3 position of the SERPs in less than a week.

How did we do it? By beefing up our content and adding related phrases and terms. Since they offer pest control in the Philippines, we added LSI Keywords such as “pest management services” and “pest infestations”. We also listed down the types of pests they handle and the locations that they cater to.

How To Use LSI Keywords For SEO

Key Takeaway

Now you know what Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) Keywords can do for you. These terms can be used together to give search engines such as Google a deeper understanding of your subject matter.

Optimize your landing pages with the help of recommended search, competitive research, and keyword research tools to find the best LSI keywords for you. Make sure that it perfectly describes the products and services your business provides. I guarantee that you will see an increase in rankings in no time.

Do you have any other strategies that use LSI Keywords? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Sean Si

About Sean

is a Filipino motivational speaker and a Leadership Speaker in the Philippines. He is the head honcho and editor-in-chief of SEO Hacker. He does SEO Services for companies in the Philippines and Abroad. Connect with him at Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out his new project, Aquascape Philippines.