What about “LSI keywords”?
In SEO, “LSI keywords” is a popular name for related words and synonyms added to a page. The idea that Google uses LSI to rank pages is a myth: Google has said it doesn’t, and the method doesn’t scale to a web of billions of pages.
The advice behind it is still sensible. Search engines use far more advanced language models to understand topics, so a page that naturally covers related terms, subtopics and questions shows that it deals with the subject properly.
What to do instead
- Look at the pages that rank for your keyword and note the subtopics they cover.
- Check “People also ask”, related searches and Google’s autocomplete for questions to answer.
- Write naturally for the reader, using the words they would use.
Related terms in practice: an example
A page about “electric bikes” that mentions only “electric bikes” thirty times covers the topic thinly. A page written by someone who knows bikes will naturally cover battery range, motor types, weight, charging time, legal speed limits, price ranges and maintenance. Nobody needs a list of “LSI keywords” to do that: knowing the subject produces the words, and the page serves the reader.
How to cover a topic fully, without LSI tools
- Search your keyword and read the top results. Note the subtopics they all cover.
- Check the “People also ask” questions and related searches.
- Ask customers and your sales team what they want to know.
- Write a section for each real question, in your own words.
- Add what the top pages lack: experience, data, photos or a clearer explanation.
LSI mistakes
- Paying for “LSI keyword” lists and inserting them in the text.
- Stuffing synonyms into every paragraph.
- Believing a tool’s “LSI score” predicts rankings.
LSI FAQs
Does Google use LSI?
No. Google has said so. It uses far more advanced language systems. See Google Hummingbird and keyword density.
Are related keywords useful at all?
Yes, as a check that the page covers the topic. See long-tail keywords and SEO clusters.