SEO Glossary

Your comprehensive guide to SEO terminology. Learn the essential terms and concepts that every digital marketer and business owner should know.

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Algorithm

Technical SEO

A complex system used by search engines to retrieve data from their search index and instantly deliver the best possible results for a query.

Related Terms:
Ranking FactorsSERPCrawling

Alt Text

On-Page SEO

Alternative text that describes an image. It helps search engines understand what an image is about and improves accessibility for visually impaired users.

Related Terms:
Image SEOAccessibilityHTML

Anchor Text

Link Building

The clickable text in a hyperlink. It provides context about what the linked page is about and is an important ranking factor.

Related Terms:
BacklinksLink BuildingInternal Links

Backlink

Link Building

A link from one website to another. High-quality backlinks are one of the most important ranking factors in SEO.

Related Terms:
Link BuildingDomain AuthorityLink Juice

Bounce Rate

Analytics

The percentage of visitors who navigate away from a site after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate can indicate poor user experience.

Related Terms:
User ExperienceDwell TimePage Views

Canonical URL

Technical SEO

The preferred version of a web page when there are multiple pages with similar or duplicate content.

Related Terms:
Duplicate ContentURL StructureHTML

Core Web Vitals

Technical SEO

A set of metrics that measure user experience aspects of web pages, including loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability.

Related Terms:
Page SpeedUser ExperienceLCPFIDCLS

Crawling

Technical SEO

The process by which search engines discover and scan web pages to understand their content and structure.

Related Terms:
IndexingCrawl BudgetRobots.txt

CTR (Click-Through Rate)

Analytics

The percentage of people who click on a specific link compared to the total number of people who view the page, email, or advertisement.

Related Terms:
SERPMeta DescriptionTitle Tag

Domain Authority

Link Building

A metric that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages. Higher domain authority indicates better ranking potential.

Related Terms:
Page AuthorityBacklinksLink Building

Featured Snippet

SERP Features

A special search result that appears at the top of Google's search results, providing a direct answer to a user's query.

Related Terms:
Position ZeroSERPSchema Markup

Heading Tags (H1, H2, H3)

On-Page SEO

HTML elements used to structure content hierarchically. They help search engines understand the content organization and importance.

Related Terms:
HTMLContent StructureOn-Page SEO

Indexing

Technical SEO

The process by which search engines store and organize web pages in their database after crawling them.

Related Terms:
CrawlingSearch ConsoleSitemap

Keyword Density

Content SEO

The 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.

Related Terms:
Keyword ResearchContent OptimizationKeyword Stuffing

Keyword Research

Content SEO

The process of identifying and analyzing search terms that people use to find content related to your business or topic.

Related Terms:
Search VolumeKeyword DifficultyLong-tail Keywords

Link Building

Link Building

The process of acquiring high-quality backlinks from other websites to improve your site's authority and search rankings.

Related Terms:
BacklinksDomain AuthorityGuest Posting

Local SEO

Local SEO

The practice of optimizing your website to rank better for local searches and attract customers from your geographic area.

Related Terms:
Google My BusinessLocal CitationsNAP

Meta Description

On-Page SEO

A brief summary of a web page's content that appears in search engine results. It should be compelling and encourage clicks.

Related Terms:
Title TagSERPCTR

Page Speed

Technical SEO

How quickly a web page loads completely. It's a crucial ranking factor and affects user experience significantly.

Related Terms:
Core Web VitalsUser ExperienceMobile-First

Robots.txt

Technical SEO

A file that tells search engine crawlers which pages or sections of a website they can or cannot crawl.

Related Terms:
CrawlingIndexingSitemap

Schema Markup

Technical SEO

Structured data that helps search engines understand the context and meaning of your content, potentially leading to rich snippets.

Related Terms:
Structured DataRich SnippetsFeatured Snippets

SERP (Search Engine Results Page)

General SEO

The page displayed by search engines in response to a user's query, containing organic results, ads, and other features.

Related Terms:
Featured SnippetsOrganic ResultsPaid Results

Title Tag

On-Page SEO

An HTML element that specifies the title of a web page. It appears in search results and is crucial for SEO and user experience.

Related Terms:
Meta DescriptionOn-Page SEOCTR

XML Sitemap

Technical SEO

A file that lists all the pages on a website to help search engines discover and crawl them more efficiently.

Related Terms:
CrawlingIndexingSearch Console

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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