Traditionallly, it was thought that to promote a website online, you needed to build a semantic core showing user queries on a topic, and write an article answering them. But now things have changed, and if you check search engine results, you'll often find sites at the top that don't include phrases from the semantic core at all.
So why make a semantic core for a site if search engines follow different rules?

Back in the day, when dinosaurs roamed the internet and Google was but a wee lad, the semantic core was king. You'd build a list of keywords and phrases that your users were searching for, weave 'em into your content, and voila! You'd climb the search engine rankings like a squirrel up a tree. It was simple, it was effective, and it made sense - if you wanted to find information on, say, "how to bake a cake," you'd type that into Google, and the search engine would serve you up a cake-baking feast.

But then, something strange happened. Google got smarter. It started learning to understand context, intent, and all those fancy-schmancy natural language processing things. It stopped just looking for exact matches and started understanding what users really meant when they typed in their queries. And that, my friend, is where things started to change.

Nowadays, you'll often find that the top-ranking sites don't necessarily have the exact phrases from the semantic core plastered all over them. Instead, they're providing valuable, relevant content that matches the intent behind those queries. Google's algorithms have evolved to understand that users don't always ask for what they want in the most obvious way. Sometimes, they ask for one thing, but they really mean another. And that, my friend, is where the semantic core starts to look a little different.

But here's the thing - just because Google's gotten smarter, it doesn't mean the semantic core is obsolete. No, sirree. It's still a crucial part of your SEO strategy, but it's evolved too. Here's why:

Understanding your audience: Building a semantic core forces you to put yourself in your users' shoes. You've got to think about what they're searching for, how they're searching for it, and why they're searching for it. This helps you create content that truly resonates with your audience.

Keyword research: Even if you're not stuffing your content with exact match keywords anymore, keyword research is still vital. It helps you understand the language your audience uses, the questions they ask, and the topics they're interested in. And that, my friend, is gold dust when it comes to creating content that ranks.

Content planning: Having a solid semantic core makes it a whole lot easier to plan your content. You can map out your blog posts, articles, and pages based on the topics and questions your users are searching for. It takes the guesswork out of content creation and helps you stay focused on what's important.

Tracking trends: The semantic core also helps you keep an eye on trends. You can see which topics are gaining traction, which queries are on the rise, and which questions your audience is asking more frequently. This helps you stay ahead of the curve and create content that's timely and relevant.

So, you see, the semantic core isn't just about stuffing your content with keywords anymore. It's about understanding your audience, creating valuable content that matches their intent, and staying ahead of the curve. It's about playing the long game, not just trying to game the system.

Now, I know what you're thinking - "But what about all those sites that rank without any obvious semantic core?" Well, sure, there are always exceptions to the rule. But remember, those sites are often the exceptions because they've got something else going for them - maybe it's fantastic user experience, maybe it's a ton of high-quality backlinks, maybe it's a brand that's so strong, it can ranking with just its name. But for the rest of us mere mortals, a solid semantic core is still a crucial part of the SEO puzzle.

So, don't go throwing out your semantic core just yet. Embrace the evolution, use it to your advantage, and keep on creating content that truly connects with your users. And who knows? Maybe one day, you'll be the one ranking without an obvious semantic core. But until then, keep on plugging away, and remember - the internet's a big place, and there's always room for more valuable content.

Sure, the workflow has shifted a bit, but gathering semantics is crucial, 'cause without it, you're lost:

You won't know which pages to design (clustering reveals this).
Figuring out the site's architecture becomes a challenge.
It's unclear which keywords to target for each page. Planning step-by-step is impossible.
You can't predict how much traffic the site might attract.
Tracking search rankings is off the table. If traffic dips, you won't know why or what pages are affected.
Overall, semantics are essential for any web project to succeed. Without them, you're basically flying blind.

It's clear that semantics ain't just about keywords anymore. We dive into query patterns to grasp:

what a visitor might be looking for;
explore search trends and demands;
determine the right type of pages for each group;
which search elements should appear on a page.

Without gathering, clustering, and analyzing keywords, crafting a well-defined site structure is impossible. This includes sections and individual docs. Even single pages need a solid structure now, unlike a few years back. And don't forget, direct keyword matches still matter, especially for Google.