Article 62

Why search engines may match your article to different queries than you expected.

Information Center article

Why do some of my best articles not rank for the terms I had in mind

Part of the On Web Marketing™ Information Center.

Explains how intent and wording shape which queries an article actually earns.

You may write an article with a certain keyword in mind, then find that search engines show it for different queries or do not use it for the phrase you expected. This is normal. Search engines match pages to queries based on many signals, not only the phrase in the title.

Intent often matters more than exact phrases

  • Two different phrases can represent the same underlying question.
  • Search engines map content to that question, not only to a string of words.
  • Your article may be a better fit for related questions than for the one you picked.

Search Console can show you which queries your article actually earns.

Adjust titles and structure to align with reality

  • Look at the top queries a page receives and see what they have in common.
  • Update the title and headings to reflect the strongest theme.
  • Consider writing a new Information Center article for the original idea if needed.

Instead of fighting what is already working, let actual search behavior guide how you label and expand your content over time.

Turn Information Center ideas into leads

If this article sparked ideas for your own website, we can help plan and build an Information Center that fits your business, your content, and your existing site structure.