SEO glossary with over 100 terms and definitions that you need to know:

  1. SEO (Search Engine Optimization): The process of optimizing a website to improve its visibility and rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs).
  2. SERP (Search Engine Results Page): The page displayed by a search engine in response to a user’s query.
  3. Organic Search Results: Listings on a search engine results page that are not paid advertisements, but rather the natural or organic rankings of web pages.
  4. Keyword: A specific word or phrase that users enter into search engines to find relevant information.
  5. Keyword Research: The process of discovering and analyzing keywords that are relevant to your website and target audience.
  6. On-Page SEO: The optimization techniques applied directly on a website’s pages to improve its search engine rankings, such as optimizing content, meta tags, URLs, and internal linking.
  7. Off-Page SEO: SEO activities that take place outside of a website, such as link building, social media promotion, and online reputation management.
  8. Backlink: A hyperlink on one website that points to another website, considered as a vote of confidence or recommendation by search engines.
  9. Anchor Text: The visible, clickable text of a hyperlink. It helps search engines understand the content of the linked page.
  10. Page Title: The title of a webpage displayed in search engine results and at the top of web browsers. It should accurately describe the content and include relevant keywords.
  11. Meta Description: A brief summary or snippet of information about a webpage that appears below the page title in search results. It should be concise, compelling, and contain relevant keywords.
  12. Header Tags: HTML tags (H1 to H6) used to define headings and subheadings on a webpage. They help structure the content and improve user experience.
  13. Alt Text: A description added to an image’s HTML tag that provides textual information about the image. It is used by search engines to understand the content of the image.
  14. Canonical URL: A preferred version of a webpage that search engines should index and display in search results when there are multiple versions of the same page.
  15. XML Sitemap: A file that lists all the URLs of a website and provides additional information to search engines about the organization and content of the site.
  16. Robots.txt: A text file placed on a website’s server that instructs search engine crawlers on which pages to crawl and which to exclude.
  17. Crawlability: The ability of search engine bots to crawl and index webpages on a website.
  18. Indexability: The ability of search engines to include webpages in their index, making them eligible to appear in search results.
  19. Page Speed: The time it takes for a webpage to load completely. Faster loading pages tend to have better user experience and may rank higher in search results.
  20. Mobile-Friendly: A website design that is optimized for mobile devices, providing a seamless user experience across different screen sizes.
  21. User Experience (UX): The overall experience a visitor has while interacting with a website, including factors like navigation, design, speed, and content.
  22. Bounce Rate: The percentage of visitors who leave a website after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate may indicate poor user experience or irrelevant content.
  23. Conversion Rate: The percentage of website visitors who take a desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form.
  24. Long-Tail Keywords: More specific and longer keyword phrases that typically have lower search volume but higher conversion potential.
  25. Keyword Density: The percentage of times a keyword appears in relation to the total number of words on a webpage. It should be balanced to avoid keyword stuffing.
  26. Keyword Stuffing: The practice of overusing keywords unnaturally in an attempt to manipulate search engine rankings. It is considered a black hat SEO technique.
  27. White Hat SEO: Ethical SEO techniques that comply with search engine guidelines and focus on providing value to users.
  28. Black Hat SEO: Unethical SEO techniques that attempt to manipulate search engine rankings and deceive users. It can lead to penalties or bans from search engines.
  29. Local SEO: The process of optimizing a website to improve its visibility and rankings in local search results, especially for location-based queries.
  30. Schema Markup: A code added to a webpage that helps search engines understand the content and context of the page, enabling rich snippets in search results.
  31. Rich Snippets: Additional information displayed in search results, such as star ratings, reviews, pricing, and event details. They enhance the appearance and visibility of a listing.
  32. 301 Redirect: A permanent redirect from one URL to another. It informs search engines that the original URL has moved permanently to a new location.
  33. 404 Error: An error message displayed when a webpage is not found. Customized and user-friendly 404 pages can help retain visitors and prevent them from leaving the site.
  34. Internal Linking: The practice of linking one page on a website to another page within the same site. It helps search engines understand the website structure and distributes link authority.
  35. External Linking: The practice of linking to pages on other websites. It can provide additional value to users and help search engines understand the relevance and authority of a webpage.
  36. Domain Authority (DA): A score developed by Moz that predicts a website’s ability to rank in search engine results based on factors like link profile, popularity, and trust.
  37. Page Authority (PA): A score developed by Moz that predicts a specific page’s ability to rank in search engine results based on factors like link profile, content quality, and relevancy.
  38. Keyword Ranking: The position of a webpage in search engine results for a specific keyword. Higher rankings generally result in more visibility and organic traffic.
  39. Traffic: The number of visitors a website receives within a given period. It can be categorized as organic (from search engines), direct (typed URLs), referral (from other websites), or social (from social media platforms).
  40. Click-Through Rate (CTR): The percentage of users who click on a search result or advertisement after viewing it. Higher CTRs indicate more compelling and relevant listings.
  41. Impressions: The number of times a webpage appears in search results or is displayed on a website. It indicates the visibility of a webpage.
  42. Meta Tags: HTML tags that provide metadata about a webpage. They include the meta title, meta description, and meta keywords.
  43. Nofollow Link: A hyperlink attribute that tells search engines not to pass any authority or ranking credit to the linked page. It is often used for paid or untrusted links.
  44. Dofollow Link: A standard hyperlink attribute that allows search engines to follow the link and pass authority to the linked page.
  45. Duplicate Content: Content that appears on multiple webpages, either within a website or across different websites. It can negatively impact search engine rankings and user experience.
  46. Google Analytics: A web analytics service by Google that tracks and reports website traffic, user behavior, conversions, and other metrics.
  47. Google Search Console: A free tool provided by Google that helps website owners monitor and optimize their site’s presence in Google search results.
  48. CTR Optimization: The process of improving click-through rates by optimizing titles, descriptions, and other elements in search results to make listings more compelling and relevant.
  49. A/B Testing: Comparing two versions of a webpage or element to determine which one performs better in terms of user engagement, conversion rates, or other metrics.
  50. Landing Page: A webpage specifically designed to receive and convert visitors, often created for advertising or specific marketing campaigns.
  51. Robots Meta Tag: A meta tag that provides instructions to search engine crawlers on how to interact with a webpage, such as indexing, following links, or not indexing.
  52. Above the Fold: The portion of a webpage visible to users without scrolling. Important content and calls-to-action should be placed in this area.
  53. User Intent: The underlying goal or motivation a user has when searching for information on the internet. Understanding user intent helps create relevant and valuable content.
  54. Long-Form Content: In-depth and comprehensive content that typically exceeds 1,500 words. It often performs well in search results due to its thoroughness and quality.
  55. Canonicalization: The process of selecting and specifying a preferred URL when there are multiple versions of the same webpage to avoid duplicate content issues.
  56. Niche: A specialized segment or topic within an industry or market. Targeting a niche can help websites attract a specific audience and improve relevance.
  57. SERP Features: Additional elements displayed in search results, such as featured snippets, knowledge panels, local packs, image carousels, and video thumbnails.
  58. Google My Business: A free tool by Google that allows businesses to manage their online presence and appear in local search results and Google Maps.
  59. Google PageRank: A now-retired algorithm developed by Google to measure the importance and authority of webpages based on the quantity and quality of backlinks.
  60. Guest Blogging: Writing and publishing content on someone else’s blog or website. It can help build brand awareness, generate backlinks, and increase exposure.
  61. Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI): A mathematical technique used by search engines to identify related terms and concepts to improve search accuracy and relevance.
  62. Google Algorithm: The complex set of rules and calculations used by Google to determine the ranking and relevance of webpages in search results.
  63. Panda: A Google algorithm update aimed at lowering the rankings of low-quality, thin, or duplicate content and improving the overall quality of search results.
  64. Penguin: A Google algorithm update focused on identifying and penalizing websites with manipulative link building practices, such as spammy or irrelevant backlinks.
  65. Hummingbird: A Google algorithm update that aimed to better understand user intent and provide more relevant search results by interpreting the meaning behind search queries.
  66. RankBrain: A machine learning component of Google’s algorithm that helps process and understand search queries to provide more relevant search results.
  67. E-A-T: An acronym for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. It is a concept used by Google to evaluate the quality and credibility of webpages.
  68. Core Web Vitals: A set of performance metrics used by Google to evaluate and measure user experience, including page loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability.
  69. Knowledge Graph: A knowledge base used by Google to enhance search results with information from various sources, providing direct answers to user queries.
  70. Google Penalty: A negative impact on a website’s rankings and visibility in search results due to violating Google’s Webmaster Guidelines or algorithmic updates.
  71. Keyword Cannibalization: When multiple pages on a website target the same keyword, resulting in internal competition and potential ranking issues.
  72. Crawl Budget: The number of webpages search engines crawl and index on a website within a given timeframe, determined by factors like site quality and server performance.
  73. Voice Search: The practice of using voice commands to search the internet through devices like smartphones, smart speakers, or virtual assistants.
  74. Rank Tracking: Monitoring and analyzing the positions of webpages in search results for specific keywords over time to evaluate SEO performance.
  75. Link Building: The process of acquiring backlinks from other websites to improve a website’s authority, visibility, and rankings in search results.
  76. Domain Name: The unique address that identifies a website on the internet. It should be relevant, memorable, and reflect the website’s purpose or brand.
  77. SSL Certificate: A security certificate that encrypts data transmitted between a user’s browser and a website, ensuring secure communication and enhancing trust.
  78. Above-the-Line (ATL) Marketing: Traditional advertising methods that reach a broad audience, such as TV, radio, and print media.
  79. Below-the-Line (BTL) Marketing: Marketing activities targeted at specific individuals or segments, including direct mail, email marketing, and targeted online advertising.
  80. Alt Attribute: An HTML attribute added to an image tag that provides alternative text to describe the image for visually impaired users or when the image cannot be displayed.
  81. Content Marketing: The practice of creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and engage a target audience and drive profitable actions.
  82. Evergreen Content: Content that remains relevant and valuable over an extended period, regardless of trends or current events.
  83. Keyword Difficulty: A metric that measures the level of competition for a keyword based on factors like backlink profiles, content quality, and domain authority of the top-ranking pages.
  84. Link Juice: The SEO value or authority passed from one webpage to another through hyperlinks. It helps improve the ranking potential of the linked page.
  85. Rich Media: Media elements like images, videos, and interactive content that enhance user engagement and provide a richer experience on a webpage.
  86. Sandbox: A hypothetical place where new websites or webpages may be placed by search engines until they have established trust and authority.
  87. Crawling: The process of search engine bots discovering and visiting webpages to gather information and update search engine indexes.
  88. Indexing: The process of search engines analyzing and storing information from webpages in their databases to be retrieved and displayed in search results.
  89. Dwell Time: The amount of time a user spends on a webpage after clicking on a search result. Longer dwell times can indicate content relevance and quality.
  90. User-Generated Content (UGC): Content created by users or customers, such as reviews, comments, or social media posts. It can enhance authenticity and engagement.
  91. SERP Ranking Factors: The various elements and signals search engines consider when determining the ranking of webpages, including content quality, backlinks, and user experience.
  92. Clickbait: Sensational or misleading headlines or content designed to attract clicks or generate traffic, often lacking in substance or relevance.
  93. Keyword Research Tools: Software or platforms that help identify relevant keywords, analyze competition, and provide data to guide SEO strategies, such as Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush.
  94. User Agent: The software or application that acts as an intermediary between a user and a server, allowing access to websites and requesting webpages.
  95. Redirect Chain: A series of multiple redirects that occur when a webpage is accessed, potentially causing slow page load times and affecting user experience.
  96. Referral Traffic: Visitors who land on a website by clicking on a hyperlink from another website or source.
  97. Niche Edits: The process of adding or modifying existing content on a webpage to include a hyperlink to another website. It is a form of link building.
  98. Keyword Density: The percentage of times a keyword appears in relation to the total number of words on a webpage. It should be balanced to avoid keyword stuffing.
  99. Knowledge Panel: A prominent information box displayed by Google in search results for specific entities, providing a summary, images, key details, and related information.
  100. Search Engine Marketing (SEM): A form of online marketing that involves promoting websites and increasing visibility through paid advertising on search engines.