Semantic SEO: what is it and what is it for?
Have you heard of semantic SEO ? If you work in the world of search engine optimization and improving the ranking of pages and websites, you have certainly heard of this world.
A world that often remains obscure if some points are not clarified . First of all, the very concept of semantics, or the meaning of words, objects, forms. In short, of communication.
Semantics is that area of linguistics that studies the meanings of terms crystallized in certain cultures. Let's try to apply all this to search engines where every day our potential customers write words to search for something: now the concept of semantic SEO begins to take shape. But also substance. So, do we want to delve deeper into the topic with clear words?
Table of Contents
What is Semantic SEO, a definition
Hummingbird algorithm, what changes?
How to optimize for semantic SEO?
Keyword Research
Structured Data Definition
Content Creation
Some examples to understand semantic SEO
The True Meaning of Semantic SEO
What is Semantic SEO, a definition
With this term – often known as semantic SEO – we mean the work of creating content based on search intent and not on the single keyword. The evolution of this concept goes hand in hand with that of search engines: in the past, Google was tied to the use of keywords in the text .
Today, the process that leads to positioning on Google allows us to Oman Phone Numbers
go beyond the form to look at the substance, the ability of the content – not just the text – to satisfy the search intent .
Learn more: How Google Search Works
Hummingbird algorithm, what changes?
When talking about semantic SEO and Google, we must necessarily mention the Hummingbird algorithm update , a decisive step that allowed the search engine to change its tune.
Hummingbird's 2013 presentation with Matt Cutts.
In fact, those who have been working in the web marketing sector for a few years remember how the texts of websites and blogs were: a constant pursuit of the famous keyword density . That is, the quantity of keywords within the text. The assumption: the more times it is cited, the greater the positioning opportunity.
Clearly the quality of the text was terrible. With semantic search, and with the 2013 Hummingbird update, Google has massively revolutionized the world of SEO copywriting by trying to give value not to texts that focus on a keyword but on a search intent. That is, on what people really want when they type (or dictate) certain words.
How to optimize for semantic SEO?
First of all, we need to understand what this path means. We have given the definition, but what changes for those who deal with on-page SEO optimization ? First of all, we need to abandon the schematism that ties us to the single keyword and to the mental cages of various plugins like Yoast .
Of course, having a plugin on your website will not hurt your path to semantic SEO. But observing the decontextualized rules that push you to have all the green lights will.
So, the first point to respect is to no longer think in terms of single keyword correspondence but to embrace an overall vision of the text. Then, there are some steps to apply semantics to SEO that allow us to improve the creative process of content.
Keyword Research
The first step to work around semantic SEO: adapt the keyword research work to this concept. So, you don't pursue a keyword and create a resource dedicated only to that combination. Instead, you study a topic and identify what is the most convenient search intent.
of the public more and more.