Indexing has been changing as search algorithms have evolved. Presently, if you enter a search query into Google search you see the websites that are displayed are somewhat optimized to an exact word or phrase. As a continual effort to “improve”(?) search Google has employed a form of “latent” semantics into their indexing algorithm - and it’s called LSI.

What is LSI? It’s another form of indexing that supposedly moves Google search closer to “human” search parameters. It will assist in finding websites that are based on the theme of the site instead of whether or not the exact word or phrase is repeated on the page.

Search engines may further adopt Latent Semantic Indexing to prevent a rigid response that values keyword-loading as opposed to assessing meaningful content.

LSI seems to have had some effect. Some websites that had impressive links based on a keyword have seen their pages drop in the rankings. Other pages with more variance in their inbound links have moved up in the ranks.

SEO must respond to LSI with better content and quality inbound links. SEO can no longer depend on keyword density and placement or link-farming.

Content For LSI is better if naturally written and worded. LSI supposedly moves closer to assaying “natural instinct” of the writer of content. Using different tenses, plural and singular forms, as well as synonyms may well be rewarded.

Your link profile should no longer needs thousands of links with the same anchor text. Now you can look for relevant and similar terms and improve your link profile by gaining links using these as your anchor text.

What this offers searchers? LSI offers some advantages over earlier form of indexing. In example, LSI will recognize that the word “pickle” in “dill pickle” is not related to searches for terms like “metallic pickle process” and is instead related to food. LSI will supposedly give more accurate results as well as a broader range of pages on a particular topic.

Google has been pushing many changes in search engine function and latent semantic indexing is one of the latest. Yahoo and MSN may adopt LSI over time. This effects your website’s success in SEO. With natural content including keywords and keyword alternatives, and a link profile that is diversified for a number of related keywords then your rank may begin to improve.

Search for Tomorrow,
Arthur Browning