No Comments Written by Anders on August 17, 2008 – 8:16 pm

Search engines use latent semantic indexing to determine a site’s thematic relevance to a particular search query. Latent semantic indexing allows the content writer to establish a site’s relevance through thematically linked terms. You can use latent semantic content to create relevancy while maintaining the organic flow of your content.

For example, if your page is about the Washington Redskins, you can use words like “football” and “Washington, D.C.” in your content to establish relevancy. You can use these connected terms to legitimize your site as relevant without inundating your copy with the keywords “Washington Redskins.”

Latent semantic indexing

Latent semantic indexing allows the search engines to determine a page’s relevance based upon its subject matter, rather than keyword density. Search engines consider a Web site’s overall theme and then rank it based on topical relevance and authority, not on the density of its target keywords. You can construct your sentences and paragraphs using semantically linked words to help make your pages extremely relevant to your particular search terms.

Covering as many thematically linked terms as possible helps establish high relevancy and a natural tone within your content. In the world of organic search, latent semantic content refers to words that are connected thematically to a specific search query.

For example: Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia, and football are all connected to Philadelphia Eagles. If the theme of your Web page is Philadelphia Eagles, the Web site does not need the keyword Philadelphia Eagles repeated numerous times in your content in order to rank for that term. Instead, you can build content around related topics such as Brian Westbrook or football.

These topics are fundamentally linked to Philadelphia Eagles. Latent semantic content is an invaluable tool to use during the construction of your Web site. If a page in your Web site deals with Apple products, your Web site would benefit from covering subjects like Macs, Macintoshes, Steve Jobs, and iPods, terms synonymous with Apple.

There is a Google tool available to assist you in finding terms related to your search. If you perform a synonym search for ~apple on Google, the result pages then show several terms highlighted in bold type. Google considers these terms to be semantically linked to the subject of Apple Computers. Quintura.com is also an excellent source for latent semantic keyword research.

Latent semantic indexing looks at the entire link profile of your Web site

You should always mix up your anchor text when acquiring backlinks. Latent semantic indexing looks at the entire link profile of your Web site. If all your links are either one or two particular keywords or phrases, search engines may see this as unnatural, and your Web site may not rank well.

For example, if your Web site deals with search marketing, but the only anchor text you use in backlinks is “search marketing,” the search engines may detect that and penalize your Web site. This, along with using the same keyword over and over in your content, is often referred to as being over-optimized. Instead, use various terms in the field of search marketing.

Anchor text such as “search-engine marketing” or “Internet marketing” gives a relevant variety to your link portfolio. If a keyword suggestion tool recommends other search terms for search-engine marketing, mix those into your onsite content and link portfolio. Instead of constantly repeating “search-engine marketing,” use keywords such as “SEM,” “Internet marketing,” or “Internet marketing business.” Writing in this way makes the content more readable for the user and helps you stand out as an authority by covering a range of semantically linked topics.