Question: Does Google treat misspelled versions of my AdWords like a different word?
Answer: The answer is yes and no. If two sites are well optimized on SEO, and site A has the misspelling (e.g. preventative maintenance) and another has the correct spelling (preventive maintenance) AND the search query is the WRONG spelling – guess what, the WRONG spelling site WILL WIN.
It’s all about BEST MATCHING. So, in general, try to get as close as possible to how your customers type into Google. CLOSEST match wins.
But, that said, in many cases it isn’t that important as the competition is not that tough. In those cases, you don’t have to worry about it so much.
Finally, when it comes to misspellings, you have to think about your branding. As a company, you don’t want to look stupid by misspelling things, so I recommend creating content that says people spell such-and-such WRONG but here is how to spell it RIGHT, which shows you both know the correct spelling yet reach out to people typing it into Google incorrectly.
Got a question? Click this link to or call . is founder and Senior SEO / Social Media Director of the . He teaches the SEO training classes for the group, and therefore provides most of the SEO tips for this blog. His goal with this blog is to provide an easy 'one-stop shop' for the busy marketer looking for tips, tricks, and secrets on how to get to the top of Google and Bing for free using proven SEO tactics. When not dreaming up SEO tips, Dr. McDonald lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, two dogs, a cat, four iguanas and twelve children (just kidding). Really you read down to the bio on this guy? Enjoy the blog.
Does Google recognize misspellings for search engine optimization (SEO)?
Question: Does Google treat misspelled versions of my AdWords like a different word?
Answer: The answer is yes and no. If two sites are well optimized on SEO, and site A has the misspelling (e.g. preventative maintenance) and another has the correct spelling (preventive maintenance) AND the search query is the WRONG spelling – guess what, the WRONG spelling site WILL WIN.
It’s all about BEST MATCHING. So, in general, try to get as close as possible to how your customers type into Google. CLOSEST match wins.
But, that said, in many cases it isn’t that important as the competition is not that tough. In those cases, you don’t have to worry about it so much.
Finally, when it comes to misspellings, you have to think about your branding. As a company, you don’t want to look stupid by misspelling things, so I recommend creating content that says people spell such-and-such WRONG but here is how to spell it RIGHT, which shows you both know the correct spelling yet reach out to people typing it into Google incorrectly.
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