SEO Glossary

Understanding SEO can feel like learning a new language, with its own set of terms and jargon. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

That’s why we’ve created this simple glossary—to make everything clearer and more accessible. Here, you’ll find straightforward definitions of the key terms we use, helping you better understand the strategies we implement and the results we deliver.

301 Redirect

A permanent way to send users and search engines to a different URL from the one they originally requested. This helps maintain SEO value when a page is moved.

404 Not Found

An error message that appears when a page can’t be found, often because the link is broken or the page has been removed.

Anchor Text

The clickable text in a hyperlink, which gives users and search engines an idea of what the linked page is about.

Backlink

A link from one website to another. Backlinks are important for SEO because they indicate to search engines that your content is credible and valuable.

Black Hat SEO

Unethical SEO practices that violate search engine guidelines, aiming to manipulate rankings quickly. This can lead to penalties or bans from search engines.

Bounce Rate

The percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate may indicate that visitors aren’t finding what they’re looking for.

Canonical URL

The preferred version of a web page that you want search engines to index, especially when there are multiple versions of the same content.

Content

Any information (text, images, videos) on your website. High-quality content is essential for engaging users and improving your SEO rankings.

Crawlers

Automated programs that search engines use to scan and index websites. These bots help search engines understand your site’s content.

Index

The database of all the web pages that a search engine has discovered and deems valuable enough to show in search results.

Internal Link

A hyperlink that points to another page on the same website. Internal links help users navigate your site and spread SEO value across your pages.

Keyword

A word or phrase that users enter into search engines when looking for information. Keywords are crucial for aligning your content with what people are searching for.

Link Building

The process of acquiring backlinks from other websites to your own, which helps increase your site’s authority and visibility in search engine results.

Meta Description

A short summary of a webpage’s content that appears in search engine results, intended to attract users to click through to your site.

NoIndex Tag

A meta tag that tells search engines not to index a particular page, preventing it from appearing in search results.

Organic Search Results

Listings on search engine results pages that appear naturally due to their relevance to the search query, not because of paid advertising.

Page Speed

How quickly your website loads for users. Faster page speed improves user experience and can boost your SEO rankings.

Ranking

Ranking refers to the position your website holds on search engine results pages (SERPs) for a specific search.

Redirect

A way to send users and search engines to a different URL from the one they initially requested. A 301 redirect is permanent, while a 302 is temporary.

Robots.txt

A file that tells search engine crawlers which parts of your website they should or shouldn’t access, helping to control what gets indexed.

Schema Markup

Code you add to your website to help search engines return more informative results for users, often leading to enhanced listings known as rich snippets.

SEO

Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of optimizing your website to improve its visibility in search engine results.

SERP

Search Engine Results Page, the page you see after conducting a search, displaying a list of results relevant to the query.

Sitemap

A file that lists all the important pages on your website, helping search engines crawl and index your site more effectively.

Title Tag

The title of a webpage that appears in search engine results and browser tabs. It’s an important element for both SEO and user experience.

Visibility

Visibility in SEO refers to how prominently your website appears on search engine results pages (SERPs). The more visible a website is, the higher it ranks, increasing the likelihood that users will click through to your site.

White Hat SEO

Ethical SEO practices that comply with search engine guidelines, focusing on providing value to users rather than exploiting loopholes.