Glossary SEO Terms SEO All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Filter All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A Average Posistion / SEO Average Position was a Google Ads metric showing ad rank in search results. It indicated placement but was retired in 2019, replaced with more precise metrics. Attribution / SEO Attribution in marketing identifies touchpoints or channels contributing to a desired outcome. It helps marketers understand effectiveness and allocate budgets more efficiently. App Store Optimization / SEO App Store Optimization boosts an app's visibility and ranking in app stores. It optimizes elements like title and keywords to attract organic downloads and improve user engagement. Anchor Text / SEO Anchor text is the clickable text in a hyperlink, providing context for both users and search engines about the linked content. It helps improve the understanding and relevance of the destination page. Alt Text / Accessibility Alt text describes an image on a webpage for search engines and screen readers. It provides context when an image cannot load and improves accessibility. B Business Listing / SEO A business listing is an online profile with key business information like name, address, and hours. It improves local search visibility and builds customer trust on platforms like Google Business Profile and Yelp. Breadcrumb / SEO Breadcrumb refers to a navigational element showing a user's path within a website. It helps users understand their location and easily move between sections. Black Hat SEO / SEO Black hat SEO uses unethical practices to quickly improve rankings, violating search engine guidelines. These tactics can lead to penalties, lower rankings, or complete removal from search results. Backlink / SEO Backlinks are hyperlinks from one website to another, acting as a signal of trust and authority for search engines. High-quality backlinks from relevant sites can improve a page's search ranking and visibility. C Crawling / SEO Crawling is how search engines navigate websites to collect content for indexing. Automated programs called crawlers follow links to discover new and updated pages. Crawler / SEO A crawler systematically browses the web by following hyperlinks to collect information. Search engines use this data to build indexes and determine page rankings in search results. Core Web Vitals / SEO Core Web Vitals are Google metrics assessing web page performance and user experience. They measure loading, interactivity, and visual stability, influencing search rankings. Cloaking / SEO Cloaking is a black hat SEO technique showing different content to search engines than users. This deceptive practice violates guidelines and can result in penalties. Citation / SEO Citation refers to any online mention of a business's name, address, and phone number (NAP). Consistent and accurate citations across platforms improve local search visibility and credibility. Cannonical Tag / SEO A canonical tag indicates the preferred webpage version for similar content. It signals search engines which URL to index, consolidating ranking signals and avoiding duplication penalties. D Dwell Time / SEO Dwell time measures the time a user spends on a page after clicking from search results. Longer dwell times often indicate relevant and engaging content, though not a confirmed ranking factor. Domain Name / Development A domain name is a website's unique address on the internet. It identifies the web server where a website is hosted and is registered through domain registrars. Domain Authority / SEO Domain authority predicts website search ranking likelihood based on factors like backlinks and site structure. Scores from 1 to 100 indicate ability to compete in search results. E E.A.T / SEO E-A-T stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, used in SEO to evaluate content quality. It helps determine how well a page meets user needs, especially for sensitive topics. F Featured Snippet / SEO A featured snippet is a highlighted summary appearing at the top of Google search results. It provides a quick answer from a webpage, often called "position zero." G Geofencing / SEO Geofencing creates virtual boundaries to trigger real-time actions on devices entering or exiting an area. It uses location data to deliver targeted messages like push notifications or ads. Geo-Modifier / SEO A geo-modifier adds a location to a keyword for targeted search results. It helps businesses appear in local searches by specifying a city or region, enhancing relevance. Geo-targeting / SEO Geo-targeting delivers digital ads based on user location, using data like IP addresses or GPS. It focuses campaigns on specific regions or neighborhoods for relevance. H Hyperlink / SEO A hyperlink is a clickable element on a webpage that connects to another document or page. They guide users to other URLs, files, or sections, supporting navigation and SEO. I Internal Link / SEO Internal links are hyperlinks connecting pages within the same website domain. They aid user navigation, help search engines index content, and distribute page authority for SEO. Indexing / SEO Indexing is how search engines store and organize crawled content to make it searchable. Only indexed pages can appear in search results, making it crucial for search engine optimization. K Knowledge Panel / SEO A knowledge panel appears on Google search results for well-known entities, providing a snapshot of key information. It draws from the Knowledge Graph and trusted sources, including facts, images, and social media links. Keyword Stuffing / SEO Keyword stuffing overloads webpages with keywords to manipulate search rankings, harming user experience. Search engines penalize this unethical SEO tactic, lowering rankings or removing sites. Knowledge Graph / SEO Knowledge Graph enhances search by understanding relationships between entities, not just keywords. It powers features like information panels with quick facts, images, and links. Keyword Bid / SEO A keyword bid is the maximum price an advertiser sets for a click on their ad for a specific keyword. This bid influences ad placement and cost in pay-per-click advertising campaigns. Keyword Density / SEO Keyword density measures how often a keyword appears in content relative to the total word count. It impacts SEO relevance but excessive use, known as stuffing, can harm rankings. Keyword / SEO Keywords are specific words or phrases users enter in search engines to find information. They are strategically used in content and metadata to improve search visibility and target audiences. L Local SEO / SEO Local SEO improves online visibility for businesses in local search results. It optimizes factors like Google Business Profile and local citations to attract nearby customers. Link Juice / SEO Link juice refers to SEO value passed from one webpage to another via hyperlinks. Links from authoritative sources boost the linked page’s ranking and visibility in search results. Latent Semantic Indexing / SEO Latent Semantic Indexing helps search engines understand content context, not just keywords. It identifies word relationships to discern meaning, aiding more accurate search results. M Mobile Friendliness / SEO Mobile friendliness ensures a website performs well on smartphones and tablets. It adapts to smaller screens and is crucial for SEO and user experience, reducing bounce rates. Mobile First Indexing / SEO Mobile-first indexing uses a website's mobile version as the primary one for search ranking. This reflects increased mobile use and prioritizes mobile-friendly content for users. Meta Description / SEO Meta description is an HTML attribute providing a brief webpage summary in search results. It improves click-through rates by offering a compelling preview of content. N Noindex / SEO Noindex is a tag instructing search engines not to include a page in their index, even if crawled. It's used for pages not meant for public search results, like login screens or duplicate content. Natural Search / SEO Natural search, or organic search, is how users find websites through unpaid search results based on content relevance. Traffic is earned by optimizing website content and structure through SEO. NAP+W / SEO NAP+W stands for Name, Address, Phone number, and Website, crucial for Local SEO. Consistency across online listings helps search engines and users identify businesses and improves local search rankings. O Organic Listing / SEO Organic listings appear in search results based on relevance, not ads. They gain ranking through SEO efforts and are trusted more than sponsored results, driving consistent traffic. On-page SEO / SEO On-page SEO optimizes individual web pages to improve search engine visibility and user experience. It involves elements like keyword placement, meta descriptions, and content quality to enhance page relevance. P Position Zero / SEO Position zero describes the featured snippet at the top of search results, above organic listings. It provides a brief answer to a query, often from a webpage that best addresses the question. Penalty (Search engine) / SEO A search engine penalty is a negative action against a website for violating rules, applied manually or algorithmically. Reasons include keyword stuffing and buying backlinks. Pay Per Click / SEO Pay per click advertising charges advertisers each time their ad is clicked. Primarily used on search engines, it drives targeted traffic with precise control over budget and tracking. Pages per Visit / SEO Pages per visit measures the average pages a user views in one website session. It helps assess site engagement and navigability by showing if visitors explore multiple areas. Page Speed / SEO Page speed is how fast web content loads, affecting user experience and search rankings. Factors like image size and code efficiency influence load time. Page Experience Signals / SEO Page experience signals assess user experience beyond content, including mobile-friendliness and loading speed. They impact search ranking and user satisfaction with factors like Core Web Vitals. Page Authority / SEO Page authority predicts a webpage's search ranking potential on a 1-100 scale, based on links, content, and SEO signals. Unlike domain authority, it focuses on a single page's strength. R Robots.txt / SEO Robots.txt is a file instructing search engine crawlers on allowed website access. It helps manage indexing of pages or sections using directives for different bots. Rich Results / SEO Rich results are enhanced search listings with extra visual features powered by structured data. They help users quickly access key information like ratings, prices, and FAQs. Ranking Factors / SEO Ranking factors are criteria search engines use to order webpages in results, influencing visibility. Key factors include content quality, speed, backlinks, and user engagement signals. RankBrain / SEO RankBrain uses machine learning to understand search queries and relationships between words. It helps Google deliver more relevant search results, especially for complex or ambiguous searches. S Structured Data / SEO Structured data is code formatted to help search engines understand webpage content and display enhanced search results. It uses schema.org vocabulary to tag elements like products, reviews, and events. Spider / SEO A spider, or web crawler, is an automated program used by search engines to browse the internet and gather website information. This data builds the search index, influencing page rankings. Soft Bounce / SEO A soft bounce is a temporary email delivery failure, often due to a full mailbox or server issues. These addresses are usually retried, unlike hard bounces which are permanent failures. Slug / SEO A slug is the readable part of a URL after the domain name, identifying a specific page. It uses keywords and hyphens, important for user experience and SEO by providing content context. Sitelink / SEO Sitelinks are additional links displayed beneath a main search result listing, leading to specific pages within the same website. They help users navigate directly to relevant content and make the listing more prominent. Sitemap / SEO A sitemap is an XML file providing search engines with website details and page relationships. It acts as a roadmap for crawlers, helping them discover and index content efficiently. SEO Audit / SEO An SEO audit evaluates a website's search engine appearance, identifying strengths and weaknesses. It assesses technical setup, content, and user experience to uncover issues impacting rankings. Search Intent / SEO Search intent is the reason behind a user's query on a search engine. Understanding intent helps marketers align content and improve relevance, engagement, and search rankings. Search Query / SEO Search query is the exact word or phrase a user types into a search engine. It reflects user intent and is categorized by intent (informational, navigational, or transactional). Search Engine Optimization / SEO Search engine optimization (SEO) improves website visibility in organic search results by optimizing on-page and off-page factors. It aims to make a website more relevant to user queries. Search Engine Results Page / SEO Search engine results pages (SERP) display search engine responses, combining organic and paid results with features like snippets. Ranking higher on a SERP increases visibility and click-through rates, varying with query intent and device. Search Engine Algorithm / SEO Search engine algorithms determine web page ranking in search results by evaluating hundreds of factors. They match pages to user queries and are continually updated by major search engines. Search Engine Marketing / SEO Search engine marketing (SEM) uses paid ads to boost website visibility in search results. It involves bidding on keywords to display ads alongside organic listings, driving targeted traffic. Schema Markup / SEO Schema markup is structured data added to webpages to help search engines understand content. It uses a shared vocabulary to label elements, enhancing search listings with rich results. Search Engine / SEO Search engines help users find information on the internet by using crawlers to index websites. They apply algorithms to rank results based on relevance and authority, including organic and paid listings. T Tracking Code / Analytics Tracking code monitors website user interactions and behaviors, collecting data for analytics platforms. It helps evaluate performance and measure campaign success by sending information to tools like Google Analytics. V Voice Search / SEO Voice search uses spoken commands to interact with devices or search the internet, powered by natural language processing. Its growing use on mobile and smart home devices influences online content and optimization. W White Hat SEO / SEO White hat SEO uses ethical, search engine-approved practices to improve website ranking by providing value to users. It focuses on high-quality content, site optimization, and earning reputable backlinks. Y Yoast / SEO Yoast is a popular WordPress plugin for SEO optimization, offering real-time suggestions and tools for technical elements. It is widely used to ensure content and technical SEO are well managed. Your-Money-or-Your-Life (YMYL) / SEO YMYL content significantly affects health, finances, or well-being. Google holds these topics to high standards for accuracy and trustworthiness due to their potential impact.