In the quest to master semantic search in content creation, we’ve gathered seven expert tips from industry professionals including SEO heads and CEOs. From creating comprehensive topic-focused content to focusing on long-term, context-rich content, discover how to craft material that excels in both search engine rankings and user satisfaction.
Table of Contents
Create Comprehensive Topic-Focused Content
One effective tip for employing semantic search in content creation is to focus on creating comprehensive, topic-focused content that answers related questions and covers subtopics in depth.
For example, when writing an article about “healthy eating,” don’t just optimize for that keyword. Include related subtopics like “benefits of healthy eating,” “healthy eating tips,” “meal planning for a balanced diet,” and “common healthy eating myths.” This approach helps the content rank well for a variety of related queries and ensures it satisfies user intent by providing thorough, valuable information.
By structuring the content to address various aspects of the main topic, you meet the users’ needs more effectively, leading to higher engagement and better search rankings. This method aligns with semantic search principles, which focus on understanding the context and intent behind user queries.
Slavko Kovacevic, Head of SEO, Health Link SEO
Plan Content for User Engagement
The more useful the content is, the more it satisfies user intent, which means more people will linger longer and scroll through the piece. More time on-site or on a specific piece of content gives Google points. How do you get this Google love? Spend more time planning the content. Do a gap analysis to figure out what’s missing on the client’s site, think through search intent and the motivation of the searcher, expand on a section, or add a new perspective. Do the research that creates useful content.
Jennifer Phillips April, Copywriter and Content Strategist, Write Words Marketing
Explain Legal Terms With Practical Examples
We prioritize understanding what our potential clients need. Semantic search, which looks at the meaning behind search queries, is key. To effectively use it, we make sure to explain legal terms in practical ways that anyone can grasp.
For example, instead of just using legal terminologies, we describe real-life situations. If we’re talking about mesothelioma cases, we explain symptoms, legal options, and recent cases. This not only educates but also shows our expertise. By using practical examples, we help our content connect better with people looking for legal help.
We also consider where clients are in their journey. Some might be starting to research their condition or legal rights, while others are looking for representation. So, we create content that guides them through each step. It’s about providing clear, helpful information that they can act on.
Finally, we keep an eye on how our content performs. We adapt based on what people are searching for and how search engines interpret our content. This means updating older posts, refining our keyword strategy, and staying current with any changes in how search engines understand language. It’s all about making sure our content is not only easy to find but also genuinely useful to anyone looking for legal guidance.
Johnny Cargill, Marketing Director, The Lanier Law Firm
Align Content With User Query Context
One tip that I’ve found particularly effective is to focus on understanding and aligning with the context of the user’s query. This goes beyond just keyword matching. From my own experience, we noticed that by analyzing the search intent behind our target audience’s queries, we could create more relevant and engaging content.
For instance, when we were developing our content strategy for social media scheduling, we didn’t just target keywords like “social media scheduler.” We delved deeper into understanding why users were searching for this term. Were they looking for time-saving tips, or were they interested in learning how to optimize their posting schedules for better engagement? By addressing these specific intents, we created content that not only ranked well but also genuinely satisfied our users’ needs.
Dinesh Agarwal, Founder, CEO, RecurPost
Prioritize Value Over Keyword Density
As someone who’s worked in SEO for over four years, has taken tons of SEO courses, and has worked in an SEO agency, I think word-for-word semantic searches are becoming less and less necessary as SEO becomes smarter.
10 or 15 years ago, Google needed the specific search query put into the keywords, but especially with the newer helpful content updates, using semantic phrases (especially ones that don’t make sense, i.e., “how to walk dog” instead of “how to walk a dog”) can look and feel dated and spammy. We want readers to become customers, subscribers, and/or followers. And they’re not going to do that if they feel like your sole intent is just to get traffic and not to give them value!
So, what do I do for my blog (and what’s helped me rank #1 on multiple blog articles)? I use SEMRush for keyword research, find secondary keywords and related keywords, and do my best to implement the phrases naturally. If they’re not grammatically correct, I’ve been starting to count them anyway, because Google is smart and knows what I mean!
If you’re looking to start a blog, I recommend placing value first. Google wants high-quality websites to show up first, especially since there are so many sites focusing solely on SEO and money and nothing on personalization and value. Continue fostering a culture of satisfying user intent and providing value, and follow SEO guidelines as best you can. Google is smarter than you think and wants to reward those who have a different, unique take on a concept instead of using AI to “beat” the algorithm.
Kira Violet, Singer-Songwriter, Content Creator, Violet Gaze
Build Topic Clusters for Contextual Relevance
To effectively use semantic search in content creation, focus on creating topic clusters related to your main themes instead of just using keywords. This approach helps search engines understand the context and relationships within your content, making it more relevant and accessible to users. This strategy is particularly useful for managers looking to enhance content reach and relevance.
Mohammed Kamal, Business Development Manager, Olavivo
Focus on Long-Term, Context-Rich Content
It might sound pretty basic, but my biggest tip is to take the long-term view when employing semantic search in your content creation strategy—create comprehensive, context-rich content that addresses the user’s intent rather than just targeting specific keywords. This sounds good in practice, and generally is good in practice, as it provides your audience with thorough, well-structured answers, but it is far from easy.
It requires you to know your audience well enough to anticipate exactly what they are looking to figure out so you can use related terms and phrases naturally within the content. This helps search engines understand the context, improving the chances of ranking well and delivering valuable information to users.
Dragos Badea, CEO, Yarooms
