What Are LSI Keywords? Stop Chasing Myths and Start Building Semantic SEO Wins

If you’ve been googling what are LSI keywords, you’ve probably felt that tug-of-war between jargon and results. It’s like rummaging through a cluttered loft: boxes labelled “LSI”, “semantic”, “entities” , dust in your throat, cobwebs in your hair , and still no clean answer that helps you rank or convert. You don’t need mystical acronyms. You need clarity and a workflow that turns research into content that lands. Here’s the punchline: LSI keywords, as the internet loves to say, don’t exist in Google’s algorithm. Yet semantic relevance absolutely does, and when you master it, your content stops whispering and starts carrying. We’ll show you how to do that with a practical, data-first approach , the same method we use inside MyMarketr to turn ideas into traffic and leads.

What LSI Really Means (And Why The Term Is Misused)

Let’s set the record straight without the fluff. LSI stands for Latent Semantic Indexing, a document classification technique from the 1980s. It was handy for spotting relationships between words in a fixed corpus. Useful for libraries. Not built for the modern, ever-changing web.

Now for the misfire. When marketers say “LSI keywords,” they usually mean “related terms you should include.” Google has repeatedly indicated it doesn’t use LSI in search. The engine uses far more advanced language understanding and entity recognition to interpret topics, intent, and meaning across queries. So, chasing a mythical list of “LSI keywords” won’t move the needle.

Here’s the part that matters. You don’t need LSI to win. You need semantic relevance: the presence of contextually related terms and entities that clarify what your page covers and who it’s for. That’s what helps algorithms and people alike grasp your topic’s scope and usefulness.

If you want a deeper industry read on the myth itself, this explainer is worth a look: Ahrefs on LSI keywords (and why they’re not real).

• External resource: https://ahrefs.com/blog/lsi-keywords/

Why Semantic Relevance Still Matters

Relevance isn’t a checkbox. It’s a web of meaning. When your article answers the problem from multiple angles , questions, terminology, examples, entities , you signal depth. Google can parse that depth and users can feel it in the first scroll.

Think of a page targeting “SEO Swindon.” A shallow take parrots the phrase ten times. A relevant page naturally brings in terms such as local SEO services, technical audit, content optimisation, Google Business Profile, competitor analysis, and case studies that anchor the claim in reality. Same goes for “Paid Social Media Agency” or “B2C Digital Marketing Agency.” The topic needs the vocabulary of the craft.

This is where MyMarketr’s insight-first workflow shines. You don’t guess which related terms to add. You pull them from:

• The Top Keywords Table, showing impressions, clicks, CTR, and average position for the queries already surfacing your brand.
• The Competitor area, benchmarking rival domains to expose gaps you can fill with new angles and language.
• Themes and subtopics that map the wider conversation: from SEO and content marketing, to CRO, to marketing automation.

You’ll stop stuffing keywords. You’ll start mapping meaning. That shift alone can lift relevance and help capture more queries around the same topic.

How To Find And Use Related Terms

There’s no magic thesaurus. There is a process.

1. Start with your core query and scan the top-ranking pages. Note recurring terminology, headings, entities (brands, tools, places), and question patterns. You’re building a vocabulary of the topic, not a list of synonyms.
2. Use search features as intent detectors. People Also Ask, related searches, and autocomplete reveal adjacent needs. Each one is a potential subheading or paragraph inside your piece.
3. Pull structured insight from your own data. In MyMarketr, check the Top Keywords Table for terms where you appear but underperform on CTR or position. Those exact phrases tend to be missing context in your copy. Add sections that address them directly.
4. Compare against the market. In the Competitor area, look for terms and content formats they own but you’ve ignored. That’s your opportunity to add missing entities and angles.
5. Turn research into output quickly. Choose “My Pillar” if you want to set the topic, or hit “Hit Me With It” to let MyMarketr generate optimised titles, structure, and keyword-aligned content ideas. Keep the bits that fit: prune what doesn’t.

Mine The SERPs And User Intent

You’re not just collecting words: you’re decoding the job to be done. For a query like “conversion rate optimisation,” the SERP might show guides, calculators, case studies, and FAQs. That mix implies readers want practical steps, benchmarks, and proof. Mirror that intent. Create sections for experiments, A/B tooling, common pitfalls, and what a good uplift looks like by segment.

Practical moves:

• Skim featured snippets to see which definitions or lists Google trusts. Cover those angles, then go deeper.
• Expand on People Also Ask questions directly inside your content. Short, clear answers work best.
• Scan related searches at the bottom for overlooked phrasing you should incorporate.

Structure, Placement, And Entities

Scattershot mentions won’t help. Place related terms where they clarify meaning:

• Headings should reflect subtopics users actually search: technical SEO, internal linking, crawling and indexing, content freshness.
• Body copy should demonstrate expertise through entities: tools (Search Console, GA4), frameworks (topic clusters, KPI frameworks), and processes (competitor benchmarking, audience research, integrated channel planning).
• Tables or short lists can tidy dense concepts and improve skim value.

Inside MyMarketr, this becomes systematic. Select a theme (for example, SEO and content marketing) and a subtopic (competitor analysis and benchmarking). MyMarketr then surfaces keyword-aligned content ideas so you can map entities and related terms to sections before you write. If you’re short on time, launch Quick Create to generate optimised titles or even a first draft, then refine with your tone and proof.

If you want an example of structured, search-aligned content planning, see our guide: Complete Guide to Digital Marketing Benchmarking. It’s a practical illustration of turning research into a finished piece that targets multiple related terms in a coherent way.

• Internal resource: https://mymarketr.io/blog/digital-marketing-benchmarking-guide/

Common Pitfalls And How To Measure Impact

Stuffing related words is still stuffing. Readers notice first, rankings follow. Keep the copy conversational, precise, and useful. Avoid bolting on a list of near-duplicates just to tick a box.

Another trap is ignoring the gap between your page’s promise and user intent. If the SERP tilts towards checklists and you deliver an essay, you’ll bleed clicks and dwell time. Match format to intent.

One more: chasing volume at the expense of fit. Your brand might win faster by owning “SEO Swindon” with depth and local proof than by pecking at generic national phrases.

Measure what matters:

• Impressions: Did your topical coverage help you surface for more related queries?
• CTR: Did your title and meta description echo the language real searchers use?
• Average position: Did relevance and internal linking lift your core cluster?
• Engagement: Time on page, scroll depth, and conversions indicate whether you actually answered the brief.

You can track all of this in one place. The Project dashboard in MyMarketr pulls through keyword metrics, while the Activity Feed logs what changed and when. Use the Top Keywords Table to spot terms with high impressions but weak CTR and rewrite titles with clearer intent. Map Articles to My Pages to connect content to URLs, then watch positions stabilise as you add missing entities.

If you’re benchmarking competitors, pay attention to pages where they rank with formats you haven’t tried , comparison grids, FAQs, templates. Create one excellent version for your audience and link it smartly across your cluster.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are LSI keywords, and do they exist in Google search?

LSI keywords refer to terms derived from Latent Semantic Indexing, a 1980s document analysis method. Google has stated it doesn’t use LSI for web search. Instead, focus on semantic relevance: covering related terms, entities, and questions that clarify topic scope and intent for both algorithms and readers.

How do I use semantic relevance instead of chasing LSI keywords?

Start with your core query. Analyse top-ranking pages for recurring terms, entities and headings. Mine People Also Ask, related searches and autocomplete for subtopics. Use first‑party data (e.g., a Top Keywords table) to spot gaps, benchmark competitors, then structure content around themes and missing entities—not synonym lists.

Why does semantic relevance improve rankings and engagement?

Semantic relevance signals depth. When your page naturally includes related terms, entities and user questions, it clarifies meaning and matches intent. For a term like “SEO Swindon,” adding concepts such as Google Business Profile, technical audits and case studies shows expertise, helps capture more related queries and improves CTR and dwell time.

Are LSI keywords the same as semantic SEO?

No. LSI keywords stem from a specific, outdated indexing technique. Semantic SEO is broader: it’s about satisfying search intent with context, entities, and relationships across a topic. You don’t need LSI keywords to succeed; you need content that answers the job to be done with depth and clarity.

What tools can I use to find related terms and entities without LSI keywords?

Use Google features first: People Also Ask, related searches, autocomplete and Search Console query data. Complement with competitive SERP analysis and suites like Ahrefs or Semrush for topical gaps. For entities, consult sources like Wikipedia, Google’s Knowledge Graph and NLP term extractors to inform headings and on-page copy.