Over recent weeks, some website designers and SEO experts having been noticing some major changes in the way that Google rates the importance of any particular page, many attribute this to Google’s possible introduction of algorithms closely related to the rules that govern ‘Latent Semantic Indexing’.
What exactly is Latent Semantic Indexing?
We are all used to creating web-based content based on a particular set of keywords or phrases in order to help search engines rank our content as high as possible for that exact phrase. This is still very much the case and i’m sure will always be a major factor in any SEO strategy however, Latent Semantic Indexing adds a new element to the way in which Google determines the importance of the content of any particular page or pages related to that content. Instead of analysing the importance of individual words and phrases on a page, it now seems that Google will take into account the whole page and look for other keywords relating to the key phrases in order to determine if other documents also contain some of the related words. Those documents with many of these words in common will be judged as being semantically closely related, and those with few commonly shared keywords will be judged to be semantically less similar.
So, as a brief, simple example of Latent Semantic Indexing, lets suggest a single key phrase: COLOUR PRINTER
common related phrases to this phrase could be: COLOUR PRINTING, COLOUR PRINTERS, COLOUR PRINT and then perhaps to a lesser extent: LASER PRINTER, INKJET PRINTER, PRINT SPEED, PRINT RESOLUTION etc
So how will change my search engine listings?
Broadly speaking, ‘Latent Semantic Indexing’ should not have an overbearing effect on any webpage already containing good quality, unique content. If your content has been created with the intention of overly repeating a particular key phrase in order to try and force your content into Google’s search results Latent Semantic Indexing may have the affect of reducing the value of pages which only match the specific term and do not back it up with related keywords. Some sites therefore may be penalised for being too heavily focussed on a particular keyword or phrase.
The introduction of Latent Semantic Indexing should not be a cause for concern for most websites, Google will always reward sites that have good, rich, well-written content and as time goes by and Google continues to expand its understanding and introduces even more complex scenarios into its algorithms, the importance of producing naturally written content will only increase, and those who do so properly will continue to be rewarded with good search engine listings.
Please use the comments section below to let me know your thoughts on Latent Semantic Indexing.
