LSI keywords often pop up in discussions about improving search engine rankings. However, there’s a growing consensus among SEO experts that LSI keywords are no longer the golden ticket they were once thought to be.
In this article, we’ll clarify the confusion around LSI keywords and share insights straight from the source we care about most — Google.
In This Article
What Are LSI Keywords?
LSI keywords, or latent semantic indexing keywords, refer to terms and phrases related to the main keyword or topic of a web page. These keywords are not synonyms in the traditional sense but are conceptually related to the main keyword.
In SEO, we refer to this concept as “semantically related.” These are words that share a similar or connected meaning.
For example, if the main keyword is “digital marketing,” some LSI (or semantic) keywords might include:
- Social media marketing
- Search engine optimization
- Pay-per-click advertising
They’re not about the exact same thing, but they overlap in subject matter and theme.
What Is Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI)?
Latent semantic indexing (LSI) is a technique that analyzes the relationships between words and concepts within a body of text. Unlike traditional keyword matching, which looks for exact matches, LSI goes deeper.
- It examines how words connect within a broader context. For example, if the words “cat,” “feline,” “kitten,” and “claws” frequently appear together, LSI recognizes that these words are semantically related and contribute to the overall theme of “cats.”
- LSI identifies underlying concepts and themes. By analyzing patterns in word usage, it can understand the deeper meaning and context of a piece of text, even if the exact keywords used are different.
Essentially, LSI helps computers understand how words relate to each other and the broader concepts they represent.
This allows for a more nuanced understanding of meaning and improved information retrieval.
Does Google Care About LSI Keywords?
While the concept of LSI has influenced how search engines understand the meaning of content, it’s important to note:
Google does not use LSI keywords in its search algorithm.
Here’s why:
- LSI was developed in the 1980s as a technique for analyzing smaller datasets, not the massive scale of the entire World Wide Web.
- Google’s search algorithm has evolved significantly beyond simple keyword matching. It now uses sophisticated models to understand the nuances of human language, decipher search intent, and provide the most relevant results.
In 2019, John Mueller, a Google Search Advocate, definitively stated, “There’s no such thing as LSI keywords – anyone who’s telling you otherwise is mistaken, sorry.”
This statement underscores the fact that LSI keywords are irrelevant to modern search engine algorithms.
So, no, Google does not care about them.
With that said, related and semantic keywords are still very relevant in 2025. (Although many people still call these “LSI keywords,” which is technically incorrect.)
You should also focus on:
- Topic relevance: How closely does the page’s content align with the user’s search intent?
- User experience: Is the content easy to read, well-structured, and informative? Does it provide a valuable and satisfying user experience?
- E- E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness): Does the content come from a reliable source and demonstrate expertise on the topic?
These factors better represent what Google prioritizes in content than LSI keywords.
How to Find Related Keywords
So, if Google doesn’t directly care about LSI keywords, are they completely useless?
Not at all!
The concept of finding related keywords is still highly valuable for SEO. Here’s how to do it:
First, you’ll need a keyword research tool.
For our tutorial, I’ll be using LowFruits.
LowFruits is the best SEO tool for finding related keywords for your content.
It focuses on long-tail keywords, which are keywords that typically consist of 3 or more words. These keywords have fewer competitors and higher conversion rates, making them extremely valuable for small business owners.
To get started, we’re going to navigate to the KWFinder. You can locate this tool in the left menu.
Then, enter a seed keyword and click Search.
LowFruits will give you two options for viewing your report:
- Access all keyword ideas. This option will give you a list of keywords, and you can pick which ones to analyze in SERPs.
- Access all keyword ideas + analyze all high-intent keywords. This option analyzes all buyer intent keywords automatically. You’ll also get a list of all other keywords, minus the SERP analysis.
For me, I typically pick the second option. It’s faster and analyzes the higher-converting keywords. If you’re low on credits, it’s fine to pick the first option and analyze manually. (LowFruits uses a credit system to fetch keyword data from the SERPs.)
From here, you’re going to get a keyword report that looks like this:
Now, we want to identify our main topics and find related keywords for each one.
We’ll use the Cluster tool for this step.
Click Clusters at the top of the page.
Then, click the Semantic Clustering button. This will give us the semantic keywords we’re looking for.
LowFruits will ask you how many common words to use for keyword grouping. I like putting the setting as low as possible (2) to get the most results.
After a few seconds, you’ll get a refreshed report that shows your semantic keyword clusters.
In our example, we used the seed keyword “los angeles florist” for our keyword search. This query generated the following semantic keywords:
- Los angeles florist district
- Flower delivery la
- How to become a florist in california
As we discussed earlier, these keywords don’t exactly match our initial search, nor do they have an identical search intent.
Instead, they’re related to the main topic of an LA florist and fit naturally within the broader context of the subject.
You can open any of these clusters to identify even more related keywords within each cluster.
Helpful resource: How to Find Related Keywords to Improve Your Content’s Reach
Finally, if you’re a WordPress user, I highly recommend All in One SEO (AIOSEO). This SEO plugin has a new Writing Assistant that connects with your SEOBoost account. It serves related keywords directly in the WordPress editor, making finding semantic keywords a breeze.
How to Use Related Keywords in Content
Now that you have a list of related keywords, how do you use them effectively?
Here are a few tips for weaving them into your content:
- Incorporate them organically. Seamlessly integrate related keywords throughout your content where they make the most sense. They should be a natural fit within the context of the page. You may include your semantic keywords in the introduction, subheadings, image alt text, and throughout the body text.
- Focus on search intent. Choose keywords that reflect a similar user intent. For example, if someone is searching for “how to bake bread,” related keywords might include “easy bread recipes,” “best flour for bread,” and “bread baking tips.”
- Create high-quality content. The most important factor for Google is high-quality, informative, and engaging content. Focus on creating valuable content that satisfies user needs, and the relevant keywords will naturally follow.
Final Thoughts
While the term “LSI keywords” might not be as relevant today as it once was, the underlying principle of understanding and leveraging related keywords remains indispensable for successful SEO.
- Using related keywords can help you provide more comprehensive coverage of a topic. By addressing various aspects of your main topic, you create more in-depth and informative content for your audience.
- Building authority in your niche. Using a broader range of relevant keywords demonstrates a deeper understanding of your subject. This helps establish your website as a credible source of information within your niche.
Ultimately, this approach translates to a rich user experience, which can improve your online visibility and organic traffic.
Further reading:
- How to Do Niche Keyword Research
- Keyword Research Tips for Small Businesses
- Beginner’s Guide to Content Optimizations
- Most Important Google Ranking Factors
