What is semantic SEO? Before that, you need to know that SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is a strategy you must understand. A content creator or article writer must understand the role of SEO in achieving a top position in SERPs.
One SEO strategy you can implement is semantic search. By implementing it, your website content will be competitive, and Google will continue to give it a good rating. The role of semantic SEO is crucial, but many people don't pay enough attention to it. Therefore, this article will discuss semantic search and how to optimize it.
In the world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), good web page structure is crucial for ensuring optimal rankings in search engines like Google. One way to improve the structure of a page's content is by using semantic tags in HTML. The use of semantic tags not only affects how search engines index a page but also provides significant benefits for the user experience. But what are semantic tags, and how do they impact SEO? Here's an explanation.
What Are Semantic Tags?
Semantic tags are HTML elements that have a clear meaning related to the function or content they contain. Unlike non-semantic tags like <div> or <span>, which are used for layout or styling without providing context, semantic tags inform search engines and human readers about the purpose of the content. In other words, semantic tags not only provide structure but also meaning to elements within a web page.
Some examples of commonly used semantic tags are:
- <header>: Marks the top of the page or a specific section of content.
- <footer>: The bottom of the page, typically containing information such as copyright or contact information.
- <article>: Indicates content that can stand alone, such as an article or blog post.
- <section>: Indicates specific sections within a page that have a specific theme or category.
- <nav>: Used to indicate a navigation menu or main links.
- <aside>: Indicates relevant side information that is not the main part of the page.
- <main>: Indicates the main content of the page, which focuses on the main purpose of the page.
By using semantic tags, web pages become easier to understand for both search engines and users.
Simply, semantic SEO is a search engine's search pattern or method for providing relevant results that are related to previous searches. When you search for information by entering specific keywords into Google, you'll be presented with several information options.
In reality, the results Google displays aren't always the best for your needs. However, this information is what many people are searching for, especially regarding the keywords you entered.
How does semantic SEO work?
As explained previously, semantic SEO works based on previous keyword search results. When you search for information about a general, rather than a specific, topic, you'll get a variety of results.
A simple example: you search for information by entering the word "coffee" into Google. Google will then display various information such as coffee shops, popular coffee types, coffee choices, coffee shops, and so on.
The results Google displays are based on previous searches. Indeed, many internet users search using the keyword "coffee." In other words, what Google displays is normal. However, when you enter the keyword "coffee" and then add a space, you'll receive suggestions for the next word. This is called semantic SEO or semantic search.
Semantic search is an important part of SEO. It can be a source of new ideas. Perhaps if you're confused about which keywords to optimize, you can apply this method. Here, your task is simply to type a keyword into Google Search, then press the space bar once. You'll then receive numerous keyword recommendations, which can be quite interesting.
The results that appear are the keywords most frequently associated with the initial keyword you entered. Despite its important function, many people don't realize it. They usually still search for keywords using existing keyword search tools. However, you can implement an easier method with good results. Moreover, some of these tools require a subscription fee.
The Impact of Semantic Tags on SEO
The use of semantic tags can provide various SEO benefits. They help search engines better understand the content of a page, improve the user experience, and provide a clearer structure. Here are some of the ways semantic tags impact SEO:
1. Makes it Easier for Search Engines to Understand Page Structure
Search engines like Google are becoming increasingly sophisticated in analyzing web pages. By using semantic tags, you provide clear clues about the important parts of a page. For example, the <header> tag tells search engines that the section contains the main headings, while the <article> tag indicates that the content within it is a stand-alone article.
This helps search engines index the content on the page more quickly and accurately, increasing your page's chances of ranking better.
2. Improving Accessibility
The use of semantic tags also plays a role in improving website accessibility. Semantic tags help screen readers navigate pages better. For example, users relying on screen readers can easily identify headers, footers, navigation, and main content thanks to the proper use of semantic tags.
This improved user experience can impact SEO, as search engines like Google prioritize user experience factors. This can contribute to reduced bounce rates and increased user dwell time on a site, both of which are positive indicators for SEO rankings.
3. Reducing Reliance on Non-Semantic Tags
Before semantic tags, web developers often used non-semantic tags like <div> and <span> to structure page layouts. While these tags are still useful for styling purposes, overuse can make a web page feel unstructured and confusing to search engines.
By replacing non-semantic tags with semantic tags, the page structure becomes clearer. Search engines can more easily understand the page content, which in turn helps improve the page's ranking in search results.
4. Improving User Experience (UX)
A clearer and easier-to-navigate page structure also contributes to a better user experience. Using semantic tags helps users more easily find important parts of a page, such as the navigation menu or main content. This is crucial for keeping visitors on the page longer, which is a crucial factor in SEO.
A good user experience, such as longer dwell times and lower bounce rates, can send positive signals to search engines, leading them to rank your page higher.
5. Optimizing for Featured Snippets
Google frequently displays featured snippets in search results, which are snippets of direct answers that appear at the top of search results. Search engines use semantic structure to extract relevant information and display snippets from the most relevant pages.
If your page uses semantic tags correctly, it will be easier for Google to retrieve and display that information in featured snippets, which can increase your page's visibility in search results and drive more clicks.
How to optimize content for semantic search?
Now that you understand the important function of semantic SEO, how do you optimize your content? Here's more information:
1. Create Content Relevant to a Single Topic
The relevance of content to just one keyword or topic is crucial for maximizing semantic search. You need to prepare a content plan that discusses the keywords you want to rank for in detail in the SERP.
Content with a high level of relevance will rank higher in the SERP faster. Furthermore, you can update your content regularly. This way, Google will receive a signal that you are consistently monitoring and following developments in that keyword.
2. Include a Content Outline
A table of contents or outline is also crucial for implementing semantic SEO. Including an outline is actually simple, but content writers often overlook it.
The outline can clearly show the subtopics you're discussing. Furthermore, a table of contents also makes it easier for readers who visit your website and read the content. Content with an outline has a high potential to become a Google featured snippet.
3. Design Content That Answers "People Also Ask" Questions
When you search for a specific keyword, Google will display a "people also ask" column. This column contains various relevant and frequently asked questions related to the keyword.
When creating content, you need to ensure that your content provides solutions to the various questions that arise. This method is effective in increasing the authority and credibility of your content in Google's assessment.
4. Target Multiple Keyword Variations
Google's algorithm is increasingly sophisticated and can now recognize various keyword variations. This means you need to create content that targets multiple keyword variations on the same page.
For example, you enter the keywords "SEO optimization" and "how to optimize SEO 2025." Google will then return similar results for both searches.
5. Use Latent Semantic Indexing
The next, and very important, method is to implement LSI, or latent semantic indexing. LSI is a group of keywords that are relevant to one another. By implementing LSI, you help Google understand the context of your content more deeply.
What are the examples of semantic tags in HTML?
Here is an example of using semantic tags to provide a clear structure to a web page:
<!DOCTYPE html><html lang="id"><head><meta charset="UTF-8"><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"><title>Examples of Using Semantic Tags</title></head><body><header><h1>Welcome to Our Website</h1><nav><ul><li><a href="#home">Home</a></li><li><a href="#about">About Us</a></li><li><a href="#services">Services</a></li><li><a href="#contact">Contact</a></li></ul></nav></header><main><section id="home"><h2>Home</h2><p>Welcome to the main page of our website.</p></section><section id="about"><h2>About Us</h2><p>We are a company engaged in the information technology sector.</p></section><aside><h3>Latest News</h3><p>Our company has just launched a new product!</p></aside></main><footer><p>© 2024 Technology Company. All rights reserved.</p></footer></body></html>
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In the example above, the use of semantic tags such as <header>, <nav>, <main>, <section>, <aside>, and <footer> helps provide a clear structure to the page, making it easier for search engines to index and understand the page's content.
Semantic tags play a crucial role in SEO. By providing a clear structure and proper context for each section of content, semantic tags help search engines index pages more effectively and relevantly. Furthermore, the use of semantic tags improves accessibility, user experience, and the potential for better rankings in search results.
Therefore, ensure you use semantic tags appropriately on every web page you create. In addition to helping with SEO, semantic tags also improve the quality and usability of your site for visitors.
Conclusion
Essentially, semantic SEO is an approach to search engine optimization that focuses on understanding the meaning and context of content. Therefore, strategies such as creating outlines, targeting keyword variations, and using LSI will be very helpful in optimization.
Semantic Search Engine Optimization refers to efforts to optimize websites to better align with users' content understanding or search intent. This means that by understanding the context and meaning behind entered keywords, search engines can provide more relevant results to users.
