Last Updated on March 25, 2026
Is your SEO still keyword-centric? Keywords aren’t just interesting for the words – keywords can be used to structure your website.
SEO isn’t just about keywords anyway – even though everyone still wants to appear when people search for specific terms. That approach is getting outdated though. Since Google introduced BERT in 2019, we’ve moved beyond simple keyword matching in search results. The focus now is all about understanding what users really want.
When someone searches online today, what matters isn’t just that they’re looking up “jogging shoes” – it’s understanding the reason behind their search. Are they ready to buy? Just browsing? Looking for reviews? That’s the real game-changer in how we think about search and content.
Keywords Are No Longer the Point
Keywords haven’t been the centre of search strategy for a while now. They’re still useful – but as signals, not targets.
Both search engines and ad platforms have moved on. They’re no longer matching your exact phrase against a query. They’re reading intent, understanding context, and making judgement calls about meaning. The algorithm has grown up. It’s time our strategies did too.
So what does that look like in practice?
It means thinking in topics, not terms. Instead of asking “what keywords do I need?” ask “what problem am I solving, and am I covering it thoroughly?” It means letting the algorithm explore broader queries rather than forcing it into a rigid keyword box. And it means filtering out irrelevant traffic – because relevance matters more now than reach.
The businesses and content creators winning in search today aren’t the ones who stuffed the right phrase into the right heading. They’re the ones who built meaning into their content – who answered real questions, covered topics deeply, and gave their audience something genuinely useful.
The takeaway is simple: stop chasing keywords. Start building relevance.
That’s what search rewards now. And honestly? It’s also just better marketing.
Related Reading on Keywords
Using Keywords to Build Your Website Structure
Here we use keywords for a pet shop, to build a navigational and internal structure.
Pet Store Menu Structure and Keyword Strategy
Context and Approach
The goal is to create a comprehensive, hierarchical menu structure for a pet store, organized across three levels:
- Top-Level Categories (Primary Keywords)
- Secondary Categories (Secondary Keywords)
- Tertiary Keywords/Tags (Tertiary Keywords)
Top-Level Categories
- Animals
- Food & Nutrition
- Accessories & Equipment
- Care & Health
- Play & Entertainment
- Specialized Areas
Secondary Categories
- Pet Supplies
- Animal Nutrition
- Pet Care
- Animal Health
- Animal Housing
- Pet Transportation
Tertiary Keywords/Examples
Pet Supplies
- Leashes
- Collars
- Bowls
- Scratching posts
- Toys
Animal Nutrition
- Dry food
- Wet food
- Snacks
- Vitamins
- Specialized nutrition
Pet Care
- Brushes
- Shampoos
- Nail clippers
- Dental care
- Coat care
Animal Health
- Parasite control
- First aid kits
- Wound care
- Nutritional supplements
- Calming products
Animal Housing
- Cages
- Aquariums
- Terrariums
- Aviaries
- Dog kennels
Pet Transportation
- Transport boxes
- Car safety
- Carrier bags
- Travel accessories
- Safety harnesses
Wrapping up: Keywords Beyond Simple Matching
SEO is evolving fast. Keywords are no longer just isolated search terms – we can use them strategically for understanding user intent and structuring digital content. Effective keyword usage transcends traditional optimization techniques.
Key Takeaways
- SEO is about comprehension, not just matching
- User intent matters more than exact keyword placement
- Website structure can be intelligently designed using keyword hierarchies
- Modern search algorithms (like BERT) prioritize context and meaning
Practical Implementation
By adopting a multi-level keyword approach:
- Create intuitive website navigation
- Improve user experience
- Align content with genuine search motivations
- Develop more sophisticated content strategies
Future-Oriented Perspective
As search technologies continue advancing, websites must become more:
- Adaptive
- User-centric
- Contextually intelligent
- Semantically structured
Keywords are no longer just about being found – they’re about creating meaningful connections between user needs and digital content. Remember: The goal isn’t to game the system, but to genuinely serve user intentions.