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What is latent semantic indexing?

LSI means that a search engine tries to associate certain terms with concepts when indexing web pages. For example, Paris and Hilton are associated with a woman instead of a city and a hotel, Tiger and Woods are associated with golf.

Google has been using this concept to determine suitable ads for its AdSense service for some time now. It seems that Google is now also using this concept to improve the quality of its search results.

If you search for a keyword on Google and add a tilde ~ before the search term, then you get an idea of what Google thinks about a search term.

For example, if you do a semantic search for phone, Google returns Nokia as the first result. A normal search for phone returns different results. Adding a tilde to the search term seems to instruct Google to do a semantic search.

Why is this important to your SEO activities?

If Google uses this concept in its ranking algorithm (which is very likely) then its advisable that you don't focus on a single keyword, but on a set of related keywords with your search engine optimization activities.

You should optimize some of the pages on your web site for keywords that are synonymous with the keyword you're targeting.

When you exchange links with other web sites, make sure that you vary the link text to your web site so that it contains different variations and synonyms of your keyword.

Where can I find further information about LSI?

If you're interested in the theories behind this concept, the following pages can give you detailed information:

• http://javelina.cet.middlebury.edu/lsa/out/lsa_definition.htm
• http://lsi.research.telcordia.com/
• http://research.microsoft.com/users/marycz/ht98.htm
• http://www.cs.utk.edu/~lsi/papers/index.html

Latent semantic indexing helps search engines to find out what a web page is all about. It basically means to you that you shouldn't focus on a single keyword when optimizing your web pages and when getting links.

The web pages on your web site should be related and focus mainly on a special topic while using different words that describe the topic. Use variations of your keyword and synonyms. That makes it easier for search engines to determine the topic of your site.

Google has updated its index again

"With any change, there are going to be some sites that move into the first search page and some sites that move out. That's the reality of any change in search engine results."

Editor's note: If you want to adjust your web pages for Google's new ranking algorithm, take a look at IBP's Top 10 Optimizer. Its advice is always up-to date because it's based on the analysis of the current top 10 rankings.

Ask Jeeves mulls Firefox-based browser

"Ask Jeeves and the Mozilla Foundation have begun discussions on the twin possibilities of a Firefox-based Jeeves browser and of donating Jeeves' desktop search technology to the open-source group."

Google may host encyclopedia project

"Wikipedia.org could soon be hosted on Google's servers, as the search giant looks for ways of supporting the Wikimedia Foundation."

Search engine newslets

• Yahoo has released a toolbar for the Firefox browser.
• The biggest web design mistakes in 2004.
• Ask Jeeves to launch TV spots.
• Take a look at the latest Yahoo buzz index.

'Google hacking' digs up sensitive material

"Hackers have found a handy tool to take control of bank accounts, tap into corporate computer networks and dig up sensitive government documents. It's called Google."

Bogus hits loom as threat to search-engine ad sales

"It cost Harrison as much as $20 for each click [...] when she realized the people clicking on her ads weren't really interested in her products.

She was being victimized by click fraud, a scam that threatens to squelch the online advertising boom that has been enriching Google Inc., Yahoo! Inc. and their many business partners."

The greatest test of open source: beating Google

"I think a commercial search engine based on Nutch could be a huge deal. [...] The open source software component would give such an operation a scrappy little advantage. If open source can take on a truly great competitor, the operation would have the distinct advantage of better results."

Inspired: A conversation with Reiner Kraft

"You could never say that Reiner Kraft lacks vision or inspiration. This unassuming guy with the soft voice and thick German accent comes up with ideas--and incredibly viable ones--the way Snoop Dog flows lyrics. Reiner's recent brainchild, Y!Q was launched in beta last week."

"Great product and money well spent."

"I purchased IBP last year and did not get to use it much. My business is extremely cyclical and the year was pretty much over.

I finally began using the program this fall and have been impressed by the rapid improvement in my sites visibility. From virtually invisible to rankings on pages 1-3 on a number of my keywords since late November. [...]

Great product and money well spent."
Rob Coxworth, www.webfootleisure.com

"Your products helped us to realize these goals"

"We are becoming the leading engineering training site, visited by 50 to 100 countries daily. [...] Your products helped us to realize these goals, thanks again for great products."
Faisal Ali, www.ensys.net

Another 5 out of 5 rating for our software programs

This time, ARELIS has been awarded '5 globes' by Download-Software-Freeware.com and it has received the EDITOR'S CHOICE adward of the site. You can download a free ARELIS demo version here.

Lower your advertising costs and make more profit

If your AdWords pay per click campaigns don't return a positive return on investment (ROI) or if you're paying too much for your PPC ads, take a look at our new Google AdWords eBook.

Find out how to lower your advertising costs while increasing your profit.

Want to be mentioned in this newsletter?

Just send us some words about your successes with IBP or ARELIS and you might get featured in this newsletter along with your web site address.

This week, we continue our series about new features in the upcoming new IBP version.

Even more features and many improvements for your web site success

The new IBP version will have many more features and it will have many improvements over the current version. No other web site promotion tools offers as many features as the next IBP version.

Every week, we'll reveal another feature of the next IBP version. The new IBP version has not only many new features. We have also improved the existing IBP features so that they work even better. For example, IBP's Top 10 Optimizer will allow you to further specify the reports. You'll be able to specify the sections and the element order in the report and much more.

Of course, the new IBP version will also offer improvements in the Search Engine Submitter, the Ranking Checker and much more.

The next IBP version will be a free update to all current IBP users. It will be released in the first half of 2005. If you buy IBP now, you'll get the new version with many more features for free.

• Do reciprocal links still work?
• How to add thumbshots to your link pages
• Is your web site dependent on Google?
• How to avoid click fraud
• 7 Google interviews
• Which file ending is better for SEO?
• Google Sponsored Links search
• View all past issues...