SEO Glossary
Your comprehensive guide to SEO terminology. Learn the essential terms and concepts that every digital marketer and business owner should know.
Algorithm
Technical SEOA complex system used by search engines to retrieve data from their search index and instantly deliver the best possible results for a query.
Alt Text
On-Page SEOAlternative text that describes an image. It helps search engines understand what an image is about and improves accessibility for visually impaired users.
Anchor Text
Link BuildingThe clickable text in a hyperlink. It provides context about what the linked page is about and is an important ranking factor.
Backlink
Link BuildingA link from one website to another. High-quality backlinks are one of the most important ranking factors in SEO.
Bounce Rate
AnalyticsThe percentage of visitors who navigate away from a site after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate can indicate poor user experience.
Canonical URL
Technical SEOThe preferred version of a web page when there are multiple pages with similar or duplicate content.
Core Web Vitals
Technical SEOA set of metrics that measure user experience aspects of web pages, including loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability.
Crawling
Technical SEOThe process by which search engines discover and scan web pages to understand their content and structure.
CTR (Click-Through Rate)
AnalyticsThe percentage of people who click on a specific link compared to the total number of people who view the page, email, or advertisement.
Domain Authority
Link BuildingA metric that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages. Higher domain authority indicates better ranking potential.
Featured Snippet
SERP FeaturesA special search result that appears at the top of Google's search results, providing a direct answer to a user's query.
Heading Tags (H1, H2, H3)
On-Page SEOHTML elements used to structure content hierarchically. They help search engines understand the content organization and importance.
Indexing
Technical SEOThe process by which search engines store and organize web pages in their database after crawling them.
Keyword Density
Content SEOThe percentage of times a keyword appears in content compared to the total number of words. Modern SEO focuses on natural keyword usage rather than specific density.
Keyword Research
Content SEOThe process of identifying and analyzing search terms that people use to find content related to your business or topic.
Link Building
Link BuildingThe process of acquiring high-quality backlinks from other websites to improve your site's authority and search rankings.
Local SEO
Local SEOThe practice of optimizing your website to rank better for local searches and attract customers from your geographic area.
Meta Description
On-Page SEOA brief summary of a web page's content that appears in search engine results. It should be compelling and encourage clicks.
Page Speed
Technical SEOHow quickly a web page loads completely. It's a crucial ranking factor and affects user experience significantly.
Robots.txt
Technical SEOA file that tells search engine crawlers which pages or sections of a website they can or cannot crawl.
Schema Markup
Technical SEOStructured data that helps search engines understand the context and meaning of your content, potentially leading to rich snippets.
SERP (Search Engine Results Page)
General SEOThe page displayed by search engines in response to a user's query, containing organic results, ads, and other features.
Title Tag
On-Page SEOAn HTML element that specifies the title of a web page. It appears in search results and is crucial for SEO and user experience.
XML Sitemap
Technical SEOA file that lists all the pages on a website to help search engines discover and crawl them more efficiently.
Quick Reference Guide
Essential SEO concepts every business owner should understand.
Getting Started
New to SEO? Start with Algorithm, Keywords, and SERP to understand the basics.
Technical Focus
Learn about Core Web Vitals, Schema Markup, and XML Sitemaps for technical SEO.
Content Strategy
Master Keyword Research, Title Tags, and Meta Descriptions for better content.
Link Building
Understand Backlinks, Domain Authority, and Anchor Text for off-page SEO.
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