Definition
A named entity is an identifiable and categorizable element mentioned in a text, such as a person, place, organization, event, product, or concept. In SEO, named entities are at the core of Google's Knowledge Graph, which connects information in a knowledge graph. Google uses named entity recognition (NER) to understand what a page is about beyond simple keywords. Integrating clearly identified entities into your content helps Google better understand the subject and associate your page with the right queries.
Key Points
- Identifiable elements: people, places, organizations, concepts
- At the core of Google's Knowledge Graph
- Helps Google understand the topic beyond keywords
Practical Examples
SEO article
An article mentioning entities like 'Google', 'Googlebot', 'PageRank', 'Search Console', and 'John Mueller' helps Google understand that it covers search engine optimization.
Local page
A page mentioning 'Paris', 'Eiffel Tower', 'Trocadero Metro', and 'Fine dining restaurant' helps Google understand the geographic context and theme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Analyze the top-ranking pages for your query and identify the people, organizations, concepts, and places mentioned. Use Google's NLP API or tools like TextRazor for automated extraction.
No, they complement them. Keywords remain important, but entities add a layer of semantic understanding that helps Google better grasp the subject and context of your content.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07