As a marketer, it’s important to understand the basics of SEO. Even if you’re outsourcing your SEO efforts, it’s helpful to have a fundamental understanding of what’s going on behind the scenes.
In this post, we’ll define 200 terms related to SEO and provide some insight into what each one means. Whether you’re just getting started with SEO or you’re looking for a refresher, this glossary is a great place to start. Without further ado, let’s get started!
The Importance Of Understanding
SEO is constantly evolving, and if you want to stay ahead of the curve, it’s important to understand the terms and definitions that are associated with it. By familiarizing yourself with these concepts, you’ll be able to make more informed decisions about your website’s SEO strategy and improve your chances of ranking higher on search engine results pages.
200 SEO Terms & Definitions
Below you will find 200+ terms and definitions for SEO, this list will help you understand SEO’s terminology and help you improve your website’s ranking on Google.
Anchor Text
The anchor text is the text that is hyperlinked to another web page. Anchor text is important for SEO because it is used by search engines to determine the relevance of a website.
Average Session Duration
The average session duration, also known as the average visit duration, is a metric used by webmasters and marketers to measure the length of a visit to their website. This is usually calculated by dividing the total time spent on the website by the number of visits.
Algorithm
An algorithm is a set of rules or instructions that are used to solve a problem or accomplish a task. Algorithms are often used by computers to perform complex operations, such as search engine results pages (SERPs).
- Algorithm Update – This is a change to the algorithms used by search engines to rank websites.
- New Algorithm – These are updates that can be minor or major, and they can have a significant impact on the rankings of websites.
Alt Text
Alt-text is a short, descriptive phrase used to identify an image for people who are visually impaired.
Authority sites
An authority site is a website that is considered an expert on a certain topic. People can trust these websites for accurate and reliable information. Authority sites are often referenced by other websites as a source of information, and they typically have high domain authority and PageRank scores.
A/B Testing
A/B testing, also known as split testing, is a method of comparing two versions of a web page or email to see which one performs better. In SEO, this can be used to determine the best title tag, meta description, or call to action for a page. In email marketing, it can be used to determine the best subject line, sender name, or email content for an email campaign.
Ad Rank
Ad Rank is a measure of the quality and relevance of an ad. Ad rank is used to determine where an ad will be placed on a search engine results page (SERP).
CPC (Cost Per Click) Bid * Quality Score = Ad Rank
API
An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a set of protocols that allow two applications to communicate with each other. APIs are important for SEO because they can help businesses access data from other websites. By using an API, businesses can improve the visibility of their website and increase the number of visitors who come to their website.
Bing
Microsoft’s search engine that powers the search results on Yahoo!. Bing accounts for approximately one-tenth of all global search traffic.
- Bing Ads – A Bing ad is a form of online advertising that uses the Bing search engine to direct traffic to a website.
- Bing Webmaster Tools – Bing Webmaster Tools is a free service offered by Microsoft that allows website owners to track their website’s search performance.
Bounce Rate
The percentage of website visitors who visit a single web page on the website before leaving. Bounce rate is important for SEO because high bounce rates can indicate that a website is not relevant to the search query.
Backlink
A link from one website to another website. Backlinks are important for SEO because they are used by Google and other search engines to determine the rank of a website.
Breadcrumbs
Breadcrumbs are a navigation aid that helps users to understand their location on a website. They typically appear as a series of links, starting with the home page and leading to the current page. Breadcrumbs can be an effective way to improve website usability and help search engines to index your site.
Blog
A blog is a website that contains a series of articles or posts. Businesses can use blogs to build their online presence, manage reviews, and attract potential customers.
- Guest Blogging – This is a marketing strategy that involves publishing articles on other websites.
- Private Blogging – This is a way for business owners to share their thoughts and ideas with a select group of people. Only people who have been given permission can view the blog.
Behavioural Targeting
Behavioral targeting is the process of targeting a specific type of customer with online content. Behavioural targeting can be used to target customers who have a history of engaging with a particular type of content.
Black Hat SEO
Black hat SEO is a type of SEO that focuses on increasing SERP rankings through methods that violate Google’s terms of service. Black hat SEO is considered to be unethical and can result in penalties from Google.
Branded Keywords
Branded keywords are keywords that are used to identify a particular brand or product. Branded keywords are important for SEO because they can help improve the website’s visibility and ranking. Branded keywords are often included in the website’s title, meta description, and header tags.
Browser
A browser is a program that allows users to view websites. The most popular browsers are Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Browser usage is important for SEO because the popularity of a browser can help determine the ranking of a website in search engine results pages.
Competitor Analysis
The process of analyzing a competitor’s website to find out what strategies they are using to rank higher in search engines. Competitor analysis includes researching the competition’s backlinks, SEO tactics, and PPC campaigns.
Conversion
A conversion is a goal that is set for a website, and it is usually defined as the number of times a visitor completes a desired action. Conversion goals can include submitting a form, clicking on a link, or making a purchase. Converting visitors into customers is the goal of most eCommerce websites, and many different strategies can be used to improve conversion rates.
Conversion Rate
The percentage of website visitors who take the desired action, such as signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase. Conversion rate is important for SEO because high conversion rates indicate that a website is relevant to the search query.
Cost Per Click (CPC)
CPC is the amount of money that an advertiser pays each time a user clicks on their ad. CPC is determined by the advertiser’s budget and the competitiveness of the keyword or phrase.
Click-Through Rate
A click-through rate (CTR) is the number of times a user clicks on a link divided by the number of impressions of that link. It is commonly used as an indicator of the effectiveness of an online advertising campaign.
Crawling
Crawling is the process of fetching web pages from the Internet. Crawling is performed by search engines to populate their indexes. Web crawlers typically download the HTML code of a page and follow links to other pages on the same website.
Community Manager
A community manager builds and maintains relationships with the followers of a social media account. They often interact with users on behalf of the company or individual they represent and work to create a positive image for the brand.
Campaigns
Campaigns are a way for businesses to reach out to their target audience and promote their product or service. There are many different types of campaigns that businesses can use, such as print ads, TV commercials, online ads, and direct marketing.
Call To Action
A Call To Action (CTA) is a phrase or button that encourages website visitors to take a specific action, such as subscribing to a newsletter, downloading a white paper, or making a purchase. CTAs are an important part of website design, as they can help persuade visitors to take the desired action.
Citation
A citation is an online mention of your business, typically on a directory or review site. Citations can help to improve your business’s visibility and ranking in local search results.
Cost-Per-Thousand Impressions (CPM)
The cost-per-thousand impressions (CPM) is the amount that a business pays for every 1,000 impressions of its ad. The CPM is used to calculate the cost of an advertising campaign.
Cloaking
Cloaking is a type of black hat SEO that involves showing different content to users and search engines. Cloaking is considered to be unethical and can result in penalties from Google.
Comment spam
Comment spam is the act of posting acomment on a blog or forum with the sole purpose of promoting a website. Comment spam is considered to be unethical and can result in penalties from Google.
Cookies
Cookies are small files that are placed on a user’s computer to track their online activity. Cookies can be used to store information about a user’s browsing habits or preferences.
Direct Traffic Sources
Direct traffic sources are those that come to a website or landing page through a direct link, such as typing the URL into a web browser or clicking on a bookmark. This type of traffic is considered more reliable and likely to result in conversions than traffic from other sources, such as search engines.
Description Tag
A description tag is an HTML element that is used to provide a brief description of a web page. Description tags are often used by search engines to help determine the relevancy of a page. They can also be used by browsers and other software to provide a summary of a page’s content.
Density
Keyword density is the number of times a keyword appears on a web page, divided by the total number of words on the page. Keyword density is often used to determine the relevancy of a page.
Domain Authority
Domain authority is a number that represents the importance of a domain name. The higher the domain authority, the more important the domain name is. Domain authority is used by Moz to determine the order of search results pages (SERPs).
Domain Name
This is your website’s address, and it’s what people will use to find your site. It’s important to choose a domain name that is easy to remember and spell.
Domain Name Registrar
Domain name registrars are companies that help businesses register their domain names. When a business registers a domain name, they are reserving the rights to that name for a period of time. Domain name registrars are important for SEO because they can help businesses secure their domain names and improve their website’s visibility on search engine results pages.
Dwell Time
This is the amount of time that a user spends on a website after clicking on it from a SERP. A longer dwell time usually indicates that the user found the site relevant and useful.
Doorway page
A doorway page is a type of website that is designed to funnel traffic from SERPs to another website. Doorway pages are considered to be a type of black hat SEO and can result in penalties from Google.
Dynamic Tags
Dynamic tags are a type of HTML tag that can be used to dynamically insert data into a web page. Dynamic tags are helpful for SEO because they can help improve the website’s authority and visibility. Dynamic tags are commonly used to insert content from databases or to include the current date and time.
Dead Link
Dead links are links on a website that no longer work. Dead links can be frustrating for visitors because they cannot be used to navigate the website. Dead links can also be harmful to SEO because they can hurt the website’s authority and visibility. Dead links should be removed from the website whenever possible.
Duplicate Content
Duplicate content is a term that is used to describe content that is found on more than one website. Duplicate content can be harmful to SEO because it can confuse the search engine algorithms and cause the website to be penalized.
Directory
A directory is a website that lists businesses in a particular category. Businesses can use directories to build their online presence, manage reviews, and attract potential customers.
External Linking
The process of linking one website to another website. External linking is important for SEO because it helps Google and other search engines crawl and index your website pages.
Exit Rate
Exit rate is the percentage of people who leave a website after viewing only one page. Exit rate is used to measure how well a website is performing and to find ways to improve it.
Ebooks
An electronic book (eBook) is a digital book. It is a book that has been published in electronic form, as opposed to being printed on paper.
Engagement
Engagement is a measure of how often users interact with an ad. Engagement is used to calculate the effectiveness of an advertising campaign.
Email spam
Email spam is the act of sending unsolicited emails. Email spam is considered to be unethical and can result in penalties from Google.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is the use of email to promote products or services. It usually involves sending a commercial message to a group of people, although it can also be a one-to-one communication.
eCommerce SEO
eCommerce SEO is the process of optimizing a website for higher rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs) when selling products or services online. eCommerce SEO is important because it can help websites rank higher in search engine results pages, which can result in more website traffic and increased sales. eCommerce SEO techniques include optimizing the website’s content, title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and images.
Meta (Facebook)
Meta (Facebook) is a social networking site that enables users to connect with friends and businesses. Businesses can use Meta (Facebook) to build their online presence, manage reviews, and attract potential customers.
- Meta (Facebook) Ads – Meta (Facebook) ads are a way for businesses to promote their products or services to a specific audience on Meta (Facebook). Businesses can create an ad campaign, target a specific audience, and then choose the type of ad they want to run.
- Meta (Facebook) Analytics – Meta (Facebook) analytics is a tool that businesses can use to learn more about their audiences. With Meta (Facebook) Analytics, businesses can track how people are interacting with their content, figure out where their audience is located, and see how successful their campaigns have been. Additionally, Meta (Facebook) analytics can help businesses understand which demographics are most likely to respond to their advertising efforts.
Frequency
Frequency is the number of times that a user sees an ad. Frequency is used to measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign.
Forum
A forum is a website where users can post questions and answers. Businesses can use forums to build their online presence, manage reviews, and attract potential customers.
Forum spam
Forum spam is the act of posting a message on a forum with the sole purpose of promoting a website. Forum spam is considered to be unethical and can result in penalties from Google.
Fresh Content
A website that is updated (weekly or monthly) with material that might include a blog, a resource center, and up-to-date information.
FTP
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a network protocol that is used to transfer files between devices. FTP is a standard protocol that is used by many different types of devices, including desktop computers, servers, and mobile devices.
Forms
A form is a collection of fields that are used to collect information from a visitor. Forms can be used to collect contact information, order information, or any other type of information. Forms are helpful for SEO because they can help improve the website’s visibility and ranking.
The most popular search engine in the world. Google accounts for approximately two-thirds of all global search traffic.
Google AdWords
Google’s advertising program allows businesses to place ads on the Google SERP. Google AdWords is a pay-per-click advertising program that allows businesses to place ads on the Google SERP. Advertisers only pay when a user clicks on their ad.
Google Analytics
Google’s free website analytics program that allows businesses to track the traffic and engagement of their website. Google Analytics is a free website analytics program that allows businesses to track the traffic and engagement of their website. It provides data on website visitors, traffic sources, and engagement metrics.
Google Images
Google Images is a search engine that allows users to search for images from the Internet. The images are displayed on a web page with accompanying information such as the image’s file name and the website where it was found.
Google Search Console
Google’s Search Console is a free service that helps website owners track their website’s search performance. It provides information about how often your website appears in Google search results, the number of clicks your website receives from Google search results, and the average position of your website in Google search results.
Google Penalties
Google penalties are a form of punishment that the company can impose on websites that violate its terms of service. There are a variety of penalties that Google can apply, such as removing a website from its search engine results pages (SERPs), demoting a website in its search results, or banning a website from its platform altogether.
Google Webmaster Tools
Google Webmaster Tools is a free service offered by Google that allows website owners to track their website’s search performance. It provides information about how often your website appears in Google search results, the number of clicks your website receives from Google search results, and the average position of your website in Google search results.
Google My Business
Google My Business is a free tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence on Google. This includes creating and claiming a business listing, managing reviews, and adding photos and other information about the business.
Google Maps
Google Maps is a mapping service that enables users to find directions and businesses in a particular area. It also provides businesses with an opportunity to list their business on the map, which can help to improve their visibility and attract potential customers.
Google Places
Google Places is a business listing service that enables businesses to manage their online presence on Google. This includes creating and claiming a business listing, managing reviews, and adding photos and other information about the business.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews are user-generated reviews that appear on Google when someone searches for a particular business. These reviews can help to improve a business’s visibility and attract potential customers.
Google+
Google+ is a social networking site that enables users to connect with friends and businesses. Businesses can use Google+ to build their online presence, manage reviews, and attract potential customers.
Google Display Network
The Google Display Network is a network of websites that agree to display Google ads. The Google Display Network reaches over 90% of internet users.
Google Search Network
The Google Search Network is a network of websites that agree to display Google ads when users search for specific keywords. The Google Search Network includes Google.com and other Google properties.
Google algorithm
The Google algorithm is a set of rules that are used to calculate the order of SERP results. The Google algorithm is constantly evolving, and it is not known exactly how it works.
Gray hat SEO
Gray hat SEO is a type of SEO that uses methods that are not strictly in compliance with Google’s terms of service but are not considered to be unethical.
Geo-Targeting
Geo-targeting is the process of targeting a specific geographic area with online content. Geo-targeting can be used to target a specific city, state, or country.
Hashtag
A hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by the “#” symbol, used on social media websites such as Twitter to identify messages on a specific topic.
Header Tags
The header tags are the HTML elements that specify the header of a web page. Header tags are important for SEO because they are used by search engines to determine the relevance of a website.
HTML
TML (HyperText Markup Language) is a markup language that is used to create web pages. HTML is a standard specification that defines the structure and layout of a web page. HTML is used to create titles, headings, paragraphs, and images, and it can also be used to create hyperlinks and tables.
H1
The H1 is the largest text on the page, and it is usually the primary idea. This is frequently the name of a blog post for blogs. It can be identical to or similar to your title to optimize SEO efforts.
Internal Linking
The process of linking one web page to another within the same website. Internal linking is important for SEO because it helps Google and other search engines crawl and index your website pages.
Indexing
Indexing is the process of storing web pages in a search engine’s index. Indexing is performed by search engines to provide users with relevant results. When a user submits a query, the search engine looks up the pages in its index and returns the results.
Instagram is a social ntworking site that enables users to share photos and videos. Businesses can use Instagram to build their online presence, manage reviews, and attract potential customers.
- Instagram Analytics – Instagram analytics provide businesses with information about how their Instagram account is doing. This can include data on how many people are seeing their posts, how many people are clicking through to their website, and what types of posts are the most popular. By understanding this data, businesses can make changes to their Instagram strategy to improve their results.
- Instagram Ads.- Instagram Ads are a form of advertising that allows businesses to promote their products or services to a wider audience on the Instagram platform. They work by businesses creating an ad campaign, which includes a photo or video, as well as a call-to-action button, and then targeting that campaign to specific demographics.
Intent Targeting
Intent targeting is the process of targeting a specific type of customer with online content. Intent targeting can be used to target customers who are looking for a particular product or service.
Impression
An impression is a measure of how often an ad is seen by users. Impressions are used to calculate the reach of an advertising campaign.
Image Optimization
Image optimization is the process of improving the quality and size of images for use on the web.
IP Address
An IP address is a unique identifier that is assigned to every device that is connected to the internet. IP addresses are used to route traffic between devices and are necessary for communicating with other devices on the internet. IP addresses can be static or dynamic, and they can be assigned to a website, a server, or a computer.
Keyword
A keyword is a word or phrase that is used to describe the content of a web page. Keywords are typically used by search engines to help determine the relevancy of a page. They can also be used by browsers and other software to provide a summary of a page’s content.
- Keyword Research – The process of researching the best keywords to target for SEO. Keyword research includes analyzing the competition, finding keywords with high search volume, and targeting the right keywords for your business.
- Keyword Targeting – Keyword targeting is the process of targeting a specific keyword or phrase with online content. Keyword targeting can be used to improve a website’s visibility and ranking on search engine results pages.
- Keyword difficulty – Keyword difficulty is a measure of how difficult it is to rank for a particular keyword. Keyword difficulty is used to determine the feasibility of an SEO campaign.
- Keyword stuffing – Keyword stuffing is a type of black hat SEO that involves cramming a large number of keywords into a small amount of web content. Keyword stuffing is considered to be unethical and can result in penalties from Google.
Link Building
Link building is the process of creating links to a website. The goal of link building is to improve the visibility and ranking of a website in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are those that are three or more words long, and they tend to be less popular than short-tail keywords. However, because they are less popular, they can be easier to rank on search engine results pages. Additionally, long-tail keywords are often more specific and relevant to a particular business than short-tail keywords.
Local SEO
Local SEO is a form of SEO that is focused on promoting websites to local customers. This can be done through a variety of methods, such as optimizing website content for local keywords, creating location-specific pages, and building citations.
LinkedIn is a social networking site that enables users to connect with friends and businesses. Businesses can use LinkedIn to build their online presence, manage reviews, and attract potential customers.
- LinkedIn Ads – LinkedIn Ads is a pay-per-click advertising platform that enables businesses to advertise their products and services on LinkedIn.com.
Link farm
A link farm is a type of website that is designed to increase the number of inbound links to a website. Link farms are considered to be a type of black hat SEO and can result in penalties from Google.
Link Volume
Link volume is the number of links that a website has. Link volume is important for SEO because it can help determine the quality of the website. The more high-quality links a website has, the more likely it is that the website will rank higher on search engine results pages.
Landing Page
A landing page is a web page that is designed to solicit a visitor’s information. Landing pages are often used to capture leads or to sell products or services. Landing pages are typically created with the goal of getting the visitor to take a specific action, such as filling out a form or clicking on a link.
Local Listings
Local listings are websites that list businesses in a particular geographic area. Businesses can use local listings to build their online presence, manage reviews, and attract potential customers.
Link Profile
A link profile is a collection of all the links that a website has. A link profile is important for SEO because it can help determine the quality of the website. The more high-quality links a website has, the more likely it is that the website will rank higher on search engine results pages.
Meta Descriptions
The meta descriptions are the HTML elements that describe the contents of a web page. Meta descriptions are important for SEO because they are used by search engines to determine the relevance of a website.
Meta Tags
Meta tags are HTML tags that are used to provide information about a web page. They are typically used by search engines to help determine the topic and relevancy of a page. Meta tags can also be used by browsers and other software to provide information about a page, such as its author, last-modified date, and keywords.
MOZ Bar
The MOZ Bar is a toolbar that allows users to view the Page Authority, Domain Authority, and other metrics for a website. The MOZ Bar is important for SEO because it can help businesses see how their website is performing in terms of SEO. The MOZ Bar can also help businesses track the progress of their SEO campaigns.
New Visitor
A new visitor to a website is a person who visits the site for the first time. They may have found the site through a search engine, or by clicking on a link from another website.
Newsletters
Newsletters are a great way to keep your website’s audience engaged and up-to-date on your latest content and offerings. By optimizing your newsletters for search engine visibility, you can ensure that more people see your content and potentially convert into customers.
Niche Keywords
Niche keywords are those that are specific to a particular industry or topic. They are often less popular than general keywords, but because they are more specific, they can be more relevant and valuable to a business. Niche keywords can be identified through keyword research, and businesses can use them to target potential customers who are interested in specific products or services.
NAP
NAP stands for name, address, and phone number. It is the basic information that is needed to list a business online. NAP should be consistent across all online listings, as inconsistency can lead to decreased visibility in search results.
Negative Keyword
A negative keyword is a keyword that is associated with a particular type of content that a business does not want to target. Negative keywords can be used to improve a website’s visibility and ranking on search engine results pages.
Nofollow
The rel=”nofollow” attribute is not recognized by Google. In some cases, such as when a link has been purchased, Google encourages the use of these.
On-Page Optimization
The practice of optimizing a website’s content and structure to improve its search engine ranking. On-page optimization includes optimizing keywords, titles, metatags, and anchor text.
Off-Page Optimization
The practice of optimizing a website’s external links to improve its search engine ranking. Off-page optimization includes link building and social media marketing.
Organic Search Results
The search results are displayed at the top of the SERP and are not paid for. Organic search results are determined by the search engine’s algorithms based on the relevance of a website to the search query
On-Page SEO
On-page SEO is the process of optimizing a website for higher rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs). On-page SEO techniques include optimizing the website’s content, title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and images.
Off-Page SEO
Off-page SEO is the process of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). This can be done by improving the website’s content, authority, and visibility. Off-page SEO techniques include link building, social media engagement, and search engine optimization (SEO).
Outbound Link
An outbound link is a hyperlink on a website that links to another website. Outbound links are used to provide additional information about a topic or to reference another source of information. Outbound links can be helpful for SEO because they can help improve the website’s authority and visibility.
Paid Search Results
The search results are displayed at the bottom of the SERP and are paid for. Paid search results are determined by the search engine’s advertisers based on the relevance of their website to the search query.
Paid Traffic
Paid traffic is traffic that is bought, as opposed to organic traffic, which is unpaid. Paid traffic can come from various sources, such as search engines, social media, or online advertising.
Pageviews
SEO page views are the number of times a page has been viewed as a result of a search engine optimization (SEO) campaign. This metric can be used to measure the success of an SEO campaign and help determine which pages are most successful in driving traffic to your site.
Page Speed
Page speed is the amount of time it takes for a website to load. Page speed is important for SEO because slow loading times can cause visitors to leave the website. The faster the page speed, the more likely it is that the website will be successful.
Paid Ads
Paid ads are advertisements that are purchased by a business to be shown to users on websites, apps, and other digital platforms.
PageRank
PageRank is a number that represents the importance of a web page. The higher the PageRank, the more important the page is. PageRank is used by Google to determine the order of search results pages (SERPs).
Pinterest is a social networking site that enables users to share photos and videos. Businesses can use Pinterest to build their online presence, manage reviews, and attract potential customers.
- Pinterest Ads – Pinterest ads are a form of online advertising that is used to promote products or services. Pinterest ads are unique because they allow businesses to target specific audiences based on their interests. Pinterest ads are also very effective because they allow businesses to track the results of their campaigns.
Paid Search
Paid search is a type of online advertising that enables businesses to advertise their products and services on search engine results pages (SERPs). Paid search ads are usually displayed at the top or bottom of SERPs.
Private Blog Network (PBN)
A private blog network (PBN) is a group of websites that are owned and operated by the same person. PBNs are considered to be a type of black hat SEO and can result in penalties from Google.
Panda Update
The Panda update was a change to the Google algorithm that was designed to improve the quality of the search results. The Panda update penalized websites that had low-quality content, and it also penalized websites that had duplicate content.
Penguin Update
The Penguin update was a change to the Google algorithm that was designed to penalize websites that had spammy links. The Penguin update helped to improve the quality of the search results by penalizing websites that had low-quality links or spammy links.
Page Authority
Page authority is a metric that is used to measure the quality of a website. Page authority is determined by analyzing the number and quality of links that point to a website. The higher the page authority, the higher the website will rank in search engine results pages.
Purchased Links
Exchanging money, or anything else of value, for a link. If you acquire a link, it is regarded as an advertisement and should be accompanied by a nofollow tag to avoid passing PageRank.
Quality Score
A quality score is a number that reflects how relevant a given AdWords ad is to a user’s query. The higher the quality score, the better the ad position and the lower the cost-per-click (CPC) for the ad. Quality score is determined by click-through rate (CTR), historical keyword performance, and the relevance of the ad and keyword to one another.
Query
A query is a question or request that is submitted to a search engine. Queries are typically submitted via a search box on a web page. The results of a query are typically a list of web pages that are relevant to the query.
Qualified Traffic
Qualified traffic is traffic that is targeted and relevant to a business. Qualified traffic is valuable because it is more likely to result in conversions and sales. businesses can generate qualified traffic by using effective SEO techniques.
RankBrain
This is an artificial intelligence system that helps Google sort and rank search results. It is constantly learning and evolving, making it one of the most important factors in SEO.
Returning Visitor
A returning visitor, or repeat visitor, is a person who has visited a website multiple times. A website can track the number of times a person has visited by setting a cookie on their computer. This cookie will expire after a certain amount of time has passed, typically 30 or 60 days.
Referral Traffic Sources
Referral traffic sources are websites that send visitors to your website. Common referral traffic sources include social media websites, directories, and search engines.
Robot Txt File
A robot txt file is a text file that contains specific instructions for web crawlers and other automated agents visiting a website.
Ranking
The ranking is the process of sorting a list of items in order of importance or relevance. Rankings are often used by search engines to determine the relevancy of a web page.
Result
A result is an answer or response to a question or request. Results are typically displayed as a list of web pages, images, or other content that is relevant to the query.
Rich Snippets
These are additional pieces of information that can appear on a SERP next to a result, such as review stars or pricing information. They are designed to give users a more detailed look at a result before they click on it.
Responsive Design
Responsive design is a web design approach that ensures a website looks good and functions properly regardless of the device or screen size it’s being viewed on. This can be done through a variety of methods, including using fluid or responsive grids, flexible images, and media queries.
RSS Feed
An RSS feed is a format that enables users to subscribe to a website’s content. Businesses can use RSS feeds to syndicate their content and reach a wider audience.
Reach
Reach is the number of unique users who see an ad. Reach is used to measure the size of an advertising campaign.
Reciprocal link
A reciprocal link is a link between two websites that are owned by the same person. Reciprocal links are considered to be a type of black hat SEO and can result in penalties from Google.
Search Engine Optimization
The practice of optimizing a website for Google and other search engines. This includes optimizing the website content, structure, and on-page elements like titles, metatags, and anchor text.
Social Media Optimization
The process of optimizing a website’s social media presence to improve its search engine ranking. Social media optimization includes optimizing Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn profiles, and creating social media marketing campaigns.
SEO Services
The process of hiring a third-party company to improve a website’s search engine ranking. SEO services include optimizing website content, structure, and on-page elements, as well as conducting competitor analysis and developing link building and social media marketing campaigns.
SERP
SERP stands for “search engine results page.” The SERP is the page that is displayed when a user conducts a search query on a search engine. The SERP usually contains a list of web pages that are ranked by the search engine based on their relevance to the search query.
SERP Features
These are the different elements that can show up on a search engine results page (SERP), such as:
- News articles
- Images
- Videos
- Maps.
Spam Score
A spam score is a metric that is used to measure the quality of a website. A spam score is determined by analyzing the number and quality of links that point to a website. The higher the spam score, the more likely it is that the website will be penalized by Google.
Session Duration
Session duration is the length of time that a visitor spends on a website. Session duration is important for SEO because it can help determine the quality of the website. The longer the session duration, the more likely it is that the website is providing value to the visitor.
Search Volume
A search volume is the number of times a particular keyword or phrase is entered into a search engine. Search volume is important for SEO because it can help determine the popularity of a keyword or phrase. The higher the search volume, the more competition there is for that keyword or phrase.
Search Query
A search query is a text that is entered into a search engine to find results. Search queries can be simple words or phrases, or they can be more complex queries that include multiple terms and operators. Search queries are used to find information on the internet, and they are also used to generate targeted traffic to websites.
Search Traffic
Search traffic is the visitors who come to a website through a search engine. The higher the ranking of a website in a search engine, the more likely it is that the website will receive traffic from that source.
Social Media Spam
Social media spam is the act of posting a message on a social media site with the sole purpose of promoting a website. Social media spam is considered to be unethical and can result in penalties from Google.
Snapchat
Snapchat is a social networking site that enables users to share photos and videos. Businesses can use Snapchat to build their online presence, manage reviews, and attract potential customers.
- Snapchat Ads. – Snapchat ads are a form of online advertising that is used to promote products or services. Snapchat ads are unique because they allow businesses to target specific audiences based on their interests. Snapchat ads are also very effective because they allow businesses to track the results of their campaigns.
- Snapchat Analytics – Snapchat analytics is a form of data tracking that allows businesses to see how well their Snapchat campaigns are performing. Snapchat analytics can help businesses see which ads are the most effective, and they can also help businesses track the number of views and clicks that their ads receive.
Search Engine Marketing
Search engine marketing (SEM) is a form of online marketing that involves promoting websites through paid advertising. SEM can be an effective way to improve website visibility and attract potential customers.
Short Tail Keywords
Short tail keywords are those that are typically one or two words long, and they are the most popular keywords that people use to search for information online.
SSL Certificate
This is a security measure that encrypts data sent between your website and visitors’ browsers. This helps to protect sensitive information, such as credit card details.
Site Crawler
A site crawler is a program that systematically browses the World Wide Web, typically following links from one page to the next. Crawlers are used by search engines to build indexes of the web, and by webmasters to find broken links and other problems with their websites.
Social Media Posts
A social media post is a message that is sent or published on a social media platform. Additionally, social media platforms provide businesses with an easy way to connect with their target audience.
- Social Media Manager – A social media manager is someone who oversees a company’s social media platforms.
- Social Media Strategists – A social media strategist is someone who creates and implements social media campaigns. They are responsible for determining the goals of the campaign, as well as which platforms to use and what content to post.
- Social Media Coordinator – A social media coordinator helps with the day-to-day tasks of managing social media accounts. This includes creating content, scheduling posts, responding to comments and messages, and monitoring data.
Schema Markup
This is code that can be added to a website to help search engines better understand its content. It can be used to add rich snippets to a SERP listing.
Slug
This is the part of a URL that comes after the domain name, and typically describes the page’s content. It is important to make sure that your slugs are short, relevant, and keyword-rich.
Search Engine
A search engine is a software program that is used to search for information on the Internet. Search engines use algorithms to crawl and index web pages, and they return results based on user queries. The most popular search engines are Google, Bing, and Yahoo!.
SEO
SEO stands for “search engine optimization.” SEO is the process of optimizing a website for search engines. The goal of SEO is to improve the visibility and ranking of a website in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Sitemap
A site map, or sitemap, is a list of pages on a website. It can be used by webmasters to indicate the relative importance (weight) of pages on their site, and can also help search engines crawl and index a website more effectively.
Title Tags
The title tags are the HTML elements that specify the title of a web page. Title tags are important for SEO because they are used by search engines to determine the relevance of a website.
Time On-Site
Time on site is a metric used to measure the amount of time a visitor spends on a website. It can be calculated by dividing the total number of minutes by the number of unique visitors. Time on site is often used as a measure of engagement and can be used to help determine whether or not a website is providing value to its visitors.
Twitter is a social networking site that enables users to connect with friends and businesses. Businesses can use Twitter to build their online presence, manage reviews, and attract potential customers.
- Twitter Ads – Twitter Ads are a form of online advertising that allows businesses to promote their products and services on the Twitter platform. Twitter Ads are handled through the company’s Ads Manager, and businesses can create ads using a variety of formats, including photos, videos, and tweets. Twitter Ads can be targeted to specific users based on demographics, interests, or behaviors, and businesses can set a budget for their ad campaigns.
Thumbnail
A thumbnail is a small image that is used to represent a website or web page. Thumbnails are important for SEO because they can help improve the visibility of a website. When a thumbnail is clicked, it can direct the visitor to the website or web page.
User
A user is someone who visits your website. In Google Analytics, you can see how many users have visited your website, where they came from, and what they did on your website. This information can help you to improve your website and marketing efforts.
URL
A URL (uniform resource locator) is a unique identifier that is used to identify a specific web page on the internet. URLs are also used to route traffic between devices and are necessary for communicating with other devices on the internet. URLs can be static or dynamic, and they can be assigned to a website, a server, or a computer.
Usability
Usability is a term that is used to describe the ease of use and efficiency of a website or application. Usability is important for SEO because it can help improve the website’s visibility and ranking. Usability can be improved by making sure the website is easy to navigate and by using clear and concise text.
UTM Code
A UTM code is a unique tracking code that is used to track the results of a marketing campaign. UTM codes allow businesses to see where their traffic is coming from, and they can also help businesses track the number of conversions that their campaigns are generating.
Webinars
Webinars are a type of seminar or workshop that is conducted over the internet. They also help you to build relationships with potential customers and clients. Additionally, webinars can help you to improve your SEO ranking.
Whitepapers
Whitepapers are documents that are used to provide information on a particular topic. They are often used to promote or market a product or service. In the context of SEO, whitepapers can be used to provide information on how to improve website visibility and ranking. They can also be used to provide information on search engine optimization techniques.
Web Hosting
Web hosting is a service that provides businesses and individuals with the technology and resources needed to create and maintain a website. Web hosting providers offer services such as:
- Website design
- Domain names
- Web traffic
- Webmaster
A webmaster is a person who is responsible for the maintenance and administration of a website. A webmaster typically has experience in website design, development, and hosting.
Website
A website is a collection of online resources, such as web pages, that are accessed via the Internet. Websites are typically owned and operated by businesses or individuals.
Website Audit
A website audit is a process of evaluating a website for potential improvements and vulnerabilities. The audit can cover areas such as design, performance, security, and SEO.
Website Content
Website content is the text, images, and other information that appears on a website. Businesses need to have high-quality website content that is both informative and persuasive. This content can be used to attract potential customers and persuade them to purchase a product or service.
“Content is King”
-Bill Gates, January 3, 1996
When Bill Gates said content is king, he was referring to the importance of high-quality content on a website. If you want to keep people coming back, you need to provide valuable information that they can’t find elsewhere. Gates wrote this statement in 1996 when the internet was still in its early stages.
We strongly recommend reading Bill Gates’s essay “Content Is King” which can be found on Wayback Machine.
Web Design
This covers everything from the overall look and feel of a website to the specific layout of individual pages. It’s usually the responsibility of a web designer to create a visually appealing site that is also easy to use.
Web Development
Web development is the process of creating websites. It involves planning, creating, testing, and maintaining websites. Web developers use a variety of tools and technologies to build websites, including:
- HTML (HyperText Markup Language) refer to HTML’s definition.
- CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) – a style sheet language used for describing the presentation of a document written in a markup language.
- JavaScript – Javascript is a programming language that was designed for the web. It allows developers to create interactive websites and web applications.
- PHP (PHP Hypertext Preprocessor)- It is a programming language that helps web developers create dynamic websites.
WordPress
WordPress is a content management system that enables you to create a website or blog from scratch or to improve an existing website. It’s free and open-source software released under the GPL.
White Hat SEO
White hat SEO is a type of SEO that focuses on increasing SERP rankings through methods that comply with Google’s terms of service. White hat SEO is considered to be ethical and is the only type of SEO that is endorsed by Google.
Webspam
Webspam is the act of posting a message on a website with the sole purpose of promoting a website. Webspam is considered to be unethical and can result in penalties from Google.
XML Sitemap
An XML (Extensible Markup Language) sitemap is a file that contains a list of all the pages on a website. XML sitemaps are used to help search engines index websites.
Yahoo!
The second most popular search engine in the world. Yahoo! Accounts for approximately one-quarter of all global search traffic.
301 Redirect
A 301 redirect is a type of server response that is used to indicate that a requested page has been moved to a new location.
302 Redirect
A 302 redirect is a type of server response that is used to indicate that a requested page has been temporarily moved to a new location.
Unlike a 301 redirect, which is a permanent move, a 302 redirect is only temporary. The user is typically not redirected to the new page location.
404 Error
A 404 error is an error message that is displayed when a user attempts to access a page on a website that does not exist.
5XX Server Error
A 5xx server error is an HTTP response status code indicating that the server cannot fulfill the request. The most common 5xx errors are 500 (Internal Server Error) and 503 (Service Unavailable).
SEO can be a complex and ever-changing field, but by familiarizing yourself with the most common terms and definitions, you’ll be better equipped to make strategic decisions that can help improve your website’s visibility and ranking. To help you get started, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of SEO terms and definitions. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter so you can stay up-to-date on all the latest news and trends in the world of SEO!
