Information on the Internet has certain promotion algorithms. For many novice developers, this raises the question of collecting a semantic core for a site - what is it, and why is this technology used today. Without such functions and systems, even useful information with a high level of uniqueness may end up on the last pages of the search results.
In the early days of the internet, SEO was relatively easy. It was necessary to select a few relevant keywords and insert them. However, advancing on demand has become difficult today. Even when it comes to finding relevant keywords, there's a lot more to consider, including semantic search.
The following is a detailed guide on what semantic search is, how it can benefit your website promotion strategy, and describes the main effective ways to use the collected word core. The information will increase the number of clicks on the pages of your resource. Besides,an answer will be given to the question of how to compose a semantic core, and what is required for this. At the end, you will receive basic tips for promoting and developing your web project.
Semantic SEO
The first question to answer is "What is Semantic SEO". This is a way for Google and other search engines to more accurately determine the purpose of each individual request. Keywords don't always match 100 percent in different situations.
That's because people don't sit around thinking about which keywords best match what they're looking for when they do a search. Instead, they enter a question or key statement that they think will help them find the right resource more accurately. And here it is worth considering how to compose the semantic core of the site. To do this, you need to perform a number of actions. And also know the principle of operation of such a system.
Semantic search allows Google to determine what the promotion is aiming for in order to get more relevant content for its query, even if it doesn't use keywords that exactly match those used in the query.
Request Collection Guide
The technology of searching and selecting the right words is complicated by the subject matter of the content. It is important to determine the exact direction. When answering the question of how to compose the semantic core of the site, you need to take into account several variables. To do this, developers can use specialized software that is available in"Google" and "Yandex".
Here you need to be careful and take into account every phrase. Incorrectly interpreted requests can lead to the fact that clients will receive obviously incorrect information in search results. The main thing is to monitor the relevance and veracity of the content that is used on your site. Answering the question of how to compose the semantic core of the site, the step-by-step instruction will consist of only 5 steps. Each of them will allow you to accurately determine the direction of the subject of data collection.
Step 1: Review your project
How to make the semantic core of the site in the beginning? This question is very interesting. To do this, you need to analyze the resource. This action allows you to fully evaluate the portal and understand what type of requests are needed.
Depending on the direction of the resource, key queries and their topics may change. A useful action here will also be drawing up a portrait of a potential, ideal client or site visitor and what goals he will pursue on your site. Based on this, you can approach the issue of compiling the necessary queries that will help the user in this.
Step 2: Generating Requests
How to create a semantic core for the site in the presence of the received information? This is a question that is considered basic and no less important in the leadership. Based on a previously compiled portrait and analysis of the portal, you can select the required number of queries. All phrases are initially selected individually, depending onfrom the content itself and its direction. To do this, the developer takes the most relevant phrases that, in his opinion, will be best suited for each of the pages. Only after that it will be possible to check and compare them with valid examples from search engines.
Step 3: Get the right words and phrases
Further, in order to answer the question of how to correctly compose the semantic core for the site, you will need to collect on the desired topic. It all depends on the preference of the developer himself. You can use the statistical data present in Yandex and Google, as well as use various software to work with phrases and queries. Many also use requests borrowed from competitive resources.
Step 4: Filtering received information
When considering how to build the semantic core of a site step by step, it is important to note the role of various systems and filters. They allow you to highlight the desired phrases. After collecting a large database of queries, it is necessary to properly distribute it and select the most appropriate data. When generating, there are also often duplicates and empty words that may not be suitable for the specific topic of the resource or article. It will not be superfluous to determine the frequency of each request. The higher it is, the more the particular phrase is used.
Step 5: Grouping data
Besides, when answering the question of how to make a step-by-step semantic core of a site, many experts single out such an action as summing up and dividing the information received.
Promotion is considered the main task of each resource. You can create a long-term plan that allows you to promote a specific article or product for a certain period of time. To do this, group some of the received phrases and words in order to update the content every few months and add the remaining phrases to the desired page of the resource.
Basically, when answering the question of how to compose the semantic core of the site, a step-by-step instruction of 5 actions will be of this kind. Additionally, you can use programs that allow you to evaluate the quality and uniqueness of the text created based on the requests received.
How Semantics Affects SEO
One of the reasons why Google is currently focusing so much on semantic SEO (and will continue to do so in the future) is not only because it allows users to provide search results that are more accurate and relevant due to their ability to determine context and intent, but also because voice search will become more and more popular in the future.
Here it is important to rely on the possible separation and difference from the previously obtained information when forming the text. An example of how to correctly compose the semantic core of the site is quite simple. It is important to rely on possible interpretations of phrases that potential visitors to the resource can use. Google will need to be able to determine what someone is looking for based on the questions they ask through audio queries thatwill be more semantic in nature. For example, if a person wants to know how cold it is in Moscow, he can enter: "Weather in Moscow". However, if you were to perform a request by voice, you would probably say, "Is it raining outside?". Such a phrase does not contain any of the keywords in the typed query. And this can be difficult.
The presented example of how to correctly compose the semantic core of a site based on voice shows that when directly accessed without entering text, the user usually significantly shortens and simplifies phrases. Therefore, it is important to use questions that may even indirectly relate to a given topic.
Google understands that both of these queries are basically the same, which is why semantics is so important. This also means that you must use your keywords in the right way. Not only do you need to find effective and relevant keywords, but you also need to use a few of those keywords in your content to give Google more options to choose from.
How a search engine handles semantics
"Google" and "Yandex" have their own algorithms. They may differ depending on the system. It is important to take this into account when compiling the semantic core of the site. How to compose unique phrases that would be universal for each type of algorithm? The question is interesting. However, the answer is simple.
You might be wondering how Google can identify intent so accurately withsemantic search. This is done using an algorithm called RankBrain. It was first implemented in 2015 and at that time was only used to interpret about 15–20 percent of search queries. It wasn't until two years later that Google launched it as a core part of its core algorithm.
RankBrain can detect search query patterns, determine their context, and set subsequent user behavior. The system re-evaluates search results based on these abilities.
The algorithm raises or lowers sites in the ranking of requests depending on their relevance, which means that optimizing your resource is extremely important for it to take a leading position. But how exactly can you do it? The answer lies in using hidden semantic indexing.
Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI)
There are other technologies that allow you to promote content based on received phrases. They are also used in compiling the semantic core of the site. How to make queries based on LSI technology? The question is no less relevant.
LSI is a system that allows Google to identify other core keywords that you have used to optimize your content so that the system can better understand the main core of the resource. This makes it easier to identify the subject of your content and rank it according to relevant search queries. Essentially, this lets Google figure out how relevant your keywords are for semantic search.
For example, if someonesearches for "new Mac" and you have an article about the most popular "Apple products", Google will look for LSI keywords that are related to this topic to determine if your content matches the data received in the query.
Google knows what LSI keywords to look for, which the top ranked content uses for their search queries. So if the top-ranking sites for a specific query "new Mac" use LSI keywords such as "screen" or "hard drive", then the system will scan your content for IDs to determine a suitable set of top keywords that you used to optimize your resource. All this allows you to promote information in the search.
This means that when you do keyword research for your content, you should also do LSI keyword research to link the content and provide Google with an appropriate set of relevant phrases. One way to determine this information to improve semantic SEO is to use the LSIGraph program.
SEO for an existing website
Experts often use the LSI Graph, a free online tool that will generate competitive alternatives to your existing keywords, helping you easily target them.
To use the tool, simply enter your chosen phrase into the search bar. Then a long list of the most commonly used LSI data for that query will appear,which you can use depending on their relevance and fit with your content.
This tool will help assess the relevance of the information collected on the resource. An example of the semantic core of the site in this case will be the same as in the step-by-step guide described above. The algorithms used in such software are programmed to automatically collect relevant phrases from various resources that have leading positions in search results.
Using Semantic SEO Promotion
While LSI keywords are an incredibly important way to improve the performance of your queries and provide Google with the important data it needs to effectively rank your content for relevant search terms, it's not the only thing you should be doing to collect SEO phrases. Below are a number of strategies to increase the popularity of your site. When creating the semantic core of the site, step-by-step instructions based on the analyzed methods will make it possible to improve the portal and quickly promote it to the leading positions.
Useful information
This is a foundation that should not be neglected. When answering the question of how to assemble a semantic core for a site, do not forget that unique and frequent phrases and queries will not help to retain the target audience of the resource if the information is not useful.
Google's ultimate goal has always been to provide users with high-quality content that matches their search, which means that quality is what you should focus on. Post relevant information andGoogle will reward you.
The following are some tips for creating high-quality content that will rank highly for semantic search:
- Write quality articles. As stated earlier, content matters most, so be sure to post information that is relevant to your brand and your audience. It should be well written, easy to read, and provide some value to the site visitor. Long texts in this case are much better than short ones because they allow you to go into details, thus providing more value. How to make the semantic core of the site in this case? If the resource is positioned not for sales, but as a portal containing useful articles, it is important not to abuse frequency keys and keep all blocks of information connected. All information must be readable and logical for the user.
- Do keyword research. Although Google no longer cares about this data, it is still vital. After all, they help identify your content, so make sure you do your keyword research to find relevant and competitive queries. There are many programs for this. You can use a tool like Keyword Planner which is free from Google. This in turn will make it easier to find the most useful LSI queries.
- Find out what your target audience wants. Try to figure out what exactly your user group is looking for. You can do it,by turning to popular resources like Reddit or Quora to see what they are asking for most often, and then creating content that focuses on answering those questions or providing solutions to their problems. You can also use Google's own auto-suggest feature, its answer boxes, and the related link section located at the bottom of the SERPs.
- Use semantic markup. As you work on your site, you'll want to use HTML markup to enhance the meaning and context of each page in your portal. Make sure you check the heading and paragraph tags, lists and bullets. Based on this, creating the semantic core of the site, the step-by-step guide will be the same as shown above.
- Create a positive user experience. It doesn't matter how carefully you craft your content or optimize it for semantic search, if visitors have a negative experience navigating your site, they'll leave and never come back. Make sure your portal is mobile-optimized, visually pleasing, loads fast, and free from technical glitches that could degrade your experience.
Google Knowledge Graph
The semantic core of the site is not only a way to quickly optimize an article and make it one of the first in search results. There are many other useful features that allow you to not only promote the text, but also make it the main one for orientation.
Knowledge graph often referred to as favoritessnippets or rich responses, provides relevant results for search queries using semantic search information. If you enter the name of a famous person, such as "William Shakespeare", the resource will provide excerpts from popular articles.
Google Knowledge Graph is a graph displayed to the right of the SERP (Search Engine Results Page) with a snippet of information from Wikipedia, as well as several images and related links.
One way to improve your semantic SEO is to increase your chances of showing up in the knowledge graph, giving you instant access to your content. Here are some tips for displaying in the Google Knowledge Graph:
- Describe your company or resource on Wikipedia.
- Make sure you have business pages and content on Google's main social channels like Google+ and YouTube. Don't forget to use LSI keywords for any content you have on these pages (for example, in your YouTube video descriptions or on your website homepage).
- Make sure you have signed up and verified your company website in Google Search Console.
- Apply structured data to your company website in the form of JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Registration for Linked Data). This will help search engines understand your site content.
- Don't forget to include localized markup. You should also test your markup using a structured data testing tool.
You'll also want to make sure your content shows up in Google's answer boxes based on their knowledge graph. Answer forms provide articles to users' questions in the SERPs, so readers don't have to click on a link.
Here, when answering the question of compiling the semantic core of the site - what it is, and how it is applied, it is worth making an addition. If the developer's goal is not to sell goods and services, then the collection and formation of phrases is based on just a few topical user questions on a specific topic. In this case, most often the keys are not geo-referenced and apply to all Russian-speaking users.
Displaying in Google answer boxes will help ensure your site is accessible even if users don't click on the link.
Use the following tips to increase your chances of showing up in Google answer boxes:
- Find out what specific questions members of your target audience are asking and be sure to answer them.
- Create content that focuses on the questions your audience is asking, in turn, not only answering the question, but delving into it.
- When answering questions, provide step-by-step explanations.
- Remember to apply all relevant markup.
Receive social signals and establish external links by promoting content that answers common questions through social media or email marketing. Google uses such actions as the main factor,determining the quality of your content. They can be votes and reviews, comments.
Brand Presence
There are many programs for compiling the semantic core of the site. Search engines offer their own free tools to collect the necessary information. In addition to correctly collected keys, it is worth paying attention to the identification of content or a resource. This will require a unique name.
The greater your brand presence, the more effective your semantic SEO will be, whether it's just ranking higher for specific queries or showing up in Google's knowledge graph.
Some of the important items include the following:
- Device - Google takes into account the type of device a user searches on. If they search on a mobile device, the system will rank mobile content higher.
- Location - Local SEO is important because Google will respond to search queries based on where the user is. If it searches for the weather or nearby restaurants, the system will search for content that uses keywords that indicate they are in the user's area.
- Online history. If a user has visited your site multiple times, then your content is more likely to show up in their queries, if relevant. This is due to the fact that Google takes into account the history of visited pages when creating search results.
After all, once your presence increases, users will search foryour brand. If you are focused on improving your brand, your content should appear at the top of queries.
The following are just some of the actions that can help increase your brand presence and ensure it appears when users search for you:
- Personal branding - put the name and face of your content, whether long articles or social media interactions.
- Influencer Relationships - Find and build relationships with industry influencers to help promote your content and brand.
- Awards - the more awards you get, the more response you will get.
- Write detailed biographies of your company's senior management.
- Social Signals - Connect with your audience on social media and promote your content with social media buttons.
Other ways to build your brand presence include using review articles, SEO press releases, public speaking and even user generated content.
Tips for collecting requests
With the recent launch of the Google Penguin Algorithm Change, which aims to reduce the amount of web spam detected through a number of different methods, including low volume backlinks and keyword stuffing, deploying proper query optimization on your sites will be more than ever important. These tips will allow you to create the desired levels of phrases. Additionally, you can read the book "How to make a semantic core for a site2.0", the author of which is Dmitry Sidash. The specialist shares additional tips on how to start earning on the received requests and phrases posted on his resource.
Tip 1 - Make a list of "level 1" keywords
The first step in building a good list of semantic keywords is to identify a list of closely related phrases that are "Level 1". Essentially, these queries represent variations of your target phrase that don't deviate too far from its original meaning.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to use Google's "Related Searches" feature. To do this, go to the system website, enter the target keyword phrase in the search bar. Then, once the results are displayed, select "Related Searches" on the left sidebar to display a selection of matching phrases.
The benefit of doing your Semantic Keyword Research to generate your "Level 1" phrases in this way is that since Google has listed these phrases as "related", the search engine treats them as generic in terms of semantic indexing. This allows you to quickly promote the created material in the rating. In the book "How to compose the semantic core of the site" the author pays a lot of attention to the formation of the main list of key phrases. Further, on their basis, other information that is also necessary is already allocated and isolated.
Tip 2 - Expand your list to include thematically related "level of2"
Now that you have a master list, it's time to expand your reach even further to collect thematically related queries. These "level 2" keywords will not be specifically synchronized with the target phrase, but they will be tied to its concept.
You can assume, for example, that someone who is looking for reviews on a particular type of ventilation equipment. The user does this because of the need for heating and cooling - whether it's an overly warm workshop or high humidity in the room. By brainstorming reasons why people in this target audience might enter a search keyword in different interpretations, a new list of phrases related to the main one can be compiled.
By including these thematically related keywords in your website content, you can increase the chances that your portal will rank high in the SERPs - not only for targeted queries, but also for indirect ones that will attract new users. This increases the chances that the goal on which the content was created will be achieved. Considering an example of how to compose the semantic core of a site based on the search for specific equipment, it is important to take into account its specifics. In other words, in queries it is important to indicate the useful property of the product itself.
Tip 3 - Generate "level 3" keywords that answer the searcher's questions
Finally, you need to address one more element with semantic keyword research, and these are the questions or issues thatmay occur after users have explored the content based on your previously generated request.
For example, a combination of targeting the semantic keywords "level 1" and "level 2" brought a visitor to your site after searching for the phrase and viewing the resource in the SERP. What information might this user need next?
Any of the following keyword options are potential "level 3" queries that can also be considered in your content to improve both the user experience and your natural visibility on Google and Yandex.
Tip 4 - Submit articles using tips from all levels
By this point in your semantic keyword research, you should have a complete list of potential target phrases covering a range of related topics. The next step is to combine these elements when planning future articles for your site.
With these keywords, you can easily write an article with the right title for the user that covers all aspects necessary for the algorithm to work. This allows you to promote the written material in the search rankings.
Tip 5 - write for people first, then for search engines
The final tip for including semantically related keywords in your website content is quality content. Incorporating elaborate, varied phrases into your web articles should help eliminate stilted, obnoxious content thatoccurs as a result of trying to insert one target keyword into your text a certain number of times.
However, it's still important to focus on using new queries to write content that is as engaging to your readers as it is to search engines. If Google's recent anti-web spam actions are indicative of the company's future intentions to reduce the amount of repetition in texts, it's safe to say that the best long-term strategy is to use semantic keywords to increase the value of your articles.
