Using Semantic Language to rank, how much stock do you put into this? (LSI)

[Thos003]

In theory, analyzing the top results for a given phrase and comparing the common words and phrases would indicate what google considers relative language to the query. Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) was and still is a buzz phrase for some SEOs. But how much stock do you give to the idea that if you can determine the common language for top rankers and then duplicate that language and density of common words that your website will then rank for that query you desire?

Has anyone here tested the theory of using semantic language from the results themselves to better rank?

[Thos003]

Thanks for the reply EGOL.

I agree, and I approach my content in a similar fashion to you. Your #2 means you are an "Author" which equates to "Authority".

However, I am still intrigued by the theory of finding common phrases among top rankers for a specific query, and using that in the content creation. There is a logic that says google tells you by the results what they want there.

For the most part, I think most people that push LSI only do so because it sounds kind of fancy.

[EGOL]

how much stock do you give to the idea that if you can determine the common language for top rankers and then duplicate that language and density of common words that your website will then rank for that query you desire?

None.  At least the way that it is worded.

I think that the more effective way to beat your competitors is to do something vastly superior instead of mimicking their methods.

When I write an article I want that article to cover....

1. The very basics of the topic

2. What I believe are the most important aspects of the topic that every person should know

3. A very broad survey of what everybody everywhere  is searching for.

I think that #3 is the most important for ranking (and a superior goal than what than the LSI you described).  To do this you should do keyword research and create content that covers as many of the major queries as possible - preferably as

subtopics

in your content.  That gives you a page that answers what everybody everywhere is asking for.

Creating on-page anchor text for the

subtopics that people can click to go down the page to the desired topic is great for quickly engaging the visitor and powerful on-page optimization that I believe is second only to the value of a title tag.