What Is Semantic SEO?

Concept map linking Big Ben to Clock, London, Parliament.
Source: robpowellbizblog.com

Semantic SEO refers to the process of building more meaning and relevance into the content you create, with the goal of helping search engines understand the context and relationship between the words on your page.

Rather than focusing solely on including specific keywords, semantic SEO involves optimizing content based on topics and the intent behind user searches.

Key Points

  • Understanding User Intent: It’s about considering what users are really looking for when they type a query into a search engine, and providing content that not only matches the keywords but also answers their questions comprehensively.
  • Relationship Between Words: Semantic SEO pays attention to how words relate to each other, helping search engines grasp the overall subject matter of your content, thus improving its ability to match queries with more accuracy.
  • Content Depth: By covering topics in depth and incorporating a variety of related terms and concepts, your content is more likely to address the full scope of what users might be seeking.

In simple terms, semantic SEO is about making your content smarter and more informative, to better align with what search engines and users are looking for.

It’s not just about the “what” (keywords), but the “”why”” and “”how”” behind a search query.