What are LSI Keywords?: Meaning, Free Tools, and Examples

Performing search engine optimization (SEO) should not be solely focused on the primary keyword. The related keywords, also known as LSI keywords, play a crucial role in enhancing website visibility on Google search engine results pages (SERP). The inclusion of LSI keywords on each blog post will have a substantially broader chance of getting more viewers who search using other similar terms and boost the website’s ranking. So, what are LSI keywords actually? This article will help you to understand the definition of LSI keywords along with examples of LSI keywords to improve SEO performance. 

What is the actual meaning of LSI keywords? 

The full form of LSI keywords is Latent Semantic Index keyword, or derivative terms from the general keywords. It is basically terms or phrases that are related or still have a connection to the primary keywords. These keywords have a function to help the search engine, particularly Google, comprehend the theme of the article as a whole and consider putting the blog post into a high ranking in the specific category. 

Please note that LSI keywords are different from synonyms, but they are related or supporting keywords. For example, if you are writing an SEO blog with a primary keyword, “construction”, the LSI keywords could be steel, cement, concrete, architecture, safety regulations, cost estimations, and others. 

When we need to understand the LSI keyword, we need to know what LSI actually is. LSI is actually not developed specifically for SEO. The history of LSI actually dates back to the 1980s, far before the invention of the search engine. LSI is actually a mathematical technique to improve document retrieval in the early development of a database. The function of this method is to ensure that the retrieval of information is more accurate. 

How does Google use LSI keywords to analyse the content? 

To answer this question, we need to go back to the post from John Mueller and Gary Illyes in 2019 that Google does not use LSI for identifying the context of a blog post. They probably use a more advanced natural language processing (NLP) machine to analyse search intent and look at the whole page instead of only identifying the keywords mentioned in the content. 

In the early SEO era, Google solely relied on primary keywords on the page to identify the relevant content for the search intent. The content with one keyword density can rank high on the Google SERP. Today, Google has developed a machine to help it find relevant and helpful content that can satisfy users. 

Even though Google has mentioned that they do not use the LSI method to identify the relevant content indexed in its library. Understanding LSI keywords in SEO campaigns is still useful in order to make Google recognize your content and consider it relevant to the specific search intent. 

What are the benefits of using LSI keywords to improve SEO performance? 

Now, we know that the LSI technique is not used directly by Google to help recognize the content theme. However, the implementation of LSI methods is practically helpful for professionals or marketers who are conducting an SEO campaign. Here are the most popular reasons why you need to use LSI keywords on your SEO articles.

1. Support the search engine to comprehend context

Although Google explicitly mentioned that it does not use the LSI method to identify the content theme. The relevant LSI phrases are still useful for supporting the primary phrases to boost the search engine’s comprehension of your content and pages.

2. Help content reach more than one query

LSI keywords are mentioned in several related terms in one article, which means it opens the potential to get ranked on other search keywords rather than solely relying on the primary keywords. For example, if the primary keyword is ‘solar panel,” then the search engine can also include your article relevant to solar modules or solar cells, which have the same meaning.

3. Keyword variations help the content look in-depth 

Using LSI keywords will help the SEO content look more in-depth because it displays the variation of synonyms and related words instead of one keyword. The redundant keyword can potentially get a lower ranking on Google because it looks spammy and unnatural. The combination of various keywords and terminology makes the content look less robotic, and it will boost authoritativeness.

4. Reduce potential keyword stuffing 

As we mentioned earlier, the older SEO assessment relied on keywords. However, this method is obsolete, and the Google algorithm is smarter. This method can be harmful because Google believes the content is practicing keyword stuffing or only repeating the exact same keywords that are not useful for readers.

5. Enhance the potential content to be mentioned on “People Also Ask”

Google has a snippet feature called People Also Ask, a list of commonly asked questions about specific search intent on the SERP. By using the LSI technique, there is potential for your content or related keywords within your content to be mentioned on this feature. 

How to find LSI keywords for free

Now, you know how crucial to include LSI keywords in your SEO article. Therefore, you need to understand the steps to find LSI keywords. In order to find an LSI keyword, it is actually not that complicated, and you do not need to use advanced apps, especially for beginners. Just use the free option first; there are free options you can use below. 

1. Google Autocomplete

The easiest way to define LSI keywords from general terms is by using Google Autocomplete. This is available for free, but you must be aware that Google saves your search history, which can make the recommendations not based on the relevant organic search results. To solve this, you can use an incognito window to ensure that the search autocomplete is organically based on the most searched keywords. 

2. Google Related Search 

Not only Google Autocomplete, but you can also use Google Related Search, which is situated at the bottom of the page. Here, you can find the relevant keywords that are still related and have a role as LSI keywords. 

3. Google Trends

Another tool from Google you can use to find LSI keywords is Google Trends. This tool is basically designed for tracking trending keywords, but it can also be applied to find relevant keywords. Just type the primary keyword and click Explore, and you can find a list of related keywords and related queries. 

4. Answer the Public 

Not only a tool from Google, but you can also use a tool created by Neil Patel, a sibling of Ubersuggest called Answer the Public. This tool is specifically designed as a keyword research tool, and it has better performance in finding relevant keywords or LSI keywords. 

5. Also Asked

Similar to Answer the Public, Also Asked is a full-fledged tool for keyword research. Unlike Google-made tools, Also Asked is actually a paid tool that provides a limited free version. Using this tool is very easy and gives a complete visualization of the main keyword and all of the related or LSI keywords. 

Other types of keywords for SEO

Despite the change in Google’s approach, which does not consider keyword density as a main criterion, keywords are still an important part of SEO. Therefore, you still need a minimum of incorporation keywords in the article. The reason behind it because Google can only recognize the whole content by looking at the keywords. Other than LSI keywords, 

• Seed keywords: Seed keywords are basic phrases, and it is considered one keyword. These keywords are similar to short-tail keywords that are general keywords about some topic. Seed keywords must be understood as a first reference before trying to search the derivative keywords. 

• Primary keywords: These keywords are the common keywords and play a role as a reference for SEO practitioners and content writers. There must be a minimum of 1 to 2% inclusion of keyword density in each article to help Google recognize the content of your article. 

• Secondary keywords: Apart from primary keywords, inclusion of secondary keywords is necessary. These keywords must be included in each SEO article as supported keywords to gain visibility of keywords from other search intents and from different perspectives. 

• Short-tail keywords: These keywords are considered general keywords to determine the search intent. However, they are different from seed keywords, which were only one word, but these keywords include one to three words. Short-tail keywords have a higher volume than medium and long-tail keywords, but they are highly competitive. 

• Medium-tail keywords: This type of keyword is a compilation of short and long-tail keywords. Medium-tail keywords consist of two to three words of language that have an additional adjective. They have a function to find a higher volume with lower competition than short-tail keywords. 

• Long-tail keywords: In contrast to short-tail keywords with one to three words, long-tail keywords include more than three words. These keywords are very useful for targeting the specific search intent to fill the gaps that may have a higher chance to get ranking on specific search intent. 

Conclusion 

LSI may be an outdated technique that is no longer used by Google to understand the content within articles or websites. Nowadays, Google uses advanced NLP methods to get to know the content rather than only using keyword density and determining if the content is relevant to the search intent. Despite these facts, understanding LSI keywords is useful in SEO marketing. Incorporating LSI keywords or relevant keywords in an SEO article will help Google to know the context of the content as a whole, which is claimed to be more accurate than the previous method. Thus, it will improve the chance of your content getting a reward with a higher ranking on Google SERP. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about LSI keywords

1. What is the actual definition and full form of LSI keywords? 

LSI keywords in their full form are latent semantic indexing keywords. This is a keyword derived from the mathematical method used to optimize the relevancy of search intent and retrieve accurate documents. However, LSI keywords are not synonyms, but they are the relevant terms to the primary keywords. 

2. Are there any tools to find LSI keywords for free?

Yes, there are features from Google to search LSI keywords for free, such as Google Autocomplete, Google Related Search, Google Keyword Planner, Google Trends,, and others. Other than Google’s features, you can use the apps that are available for a free plan, like Answer the Public and Also Asked. 

3. Are there full-fledged tools for finding LSI keywords? 

Yes, you can use common paid SEO tools, such as Ahrefs, SEO Surfer, SEMrush, and Ubersuggest. However, some tools are specifically designed to accommodate finding LSI keywords, such as Answer the Public and Also Asked, but these tools are not free and recommend the paid version to get better performance. 

4. What are other keywords that are needed in SEO research? 

All types of keywords are important for SEO, but the keywords that help to conduct research clearly are LSI keywords, seed keywords, primary keywords, and secondary keywords. All of the keywords play a critical role in making a successful SEO campaign

5. Is it still relevant to use LSI keywords in SEO marketing? 

Yes, although LSI keywords are no longer used by Google, using LSI keywords in an SEO article will enhance the visibility of the article to be deemed as relevant. Additionally, it will help the content to be visible for other search intents than the primary keywords.