The SEO Glossary
SEO is full of jargon. This glossary explains the terms that actually matter in plain English — 43 definitions and counting, written by working SEO specialists.
301 Redirect
A permanent redirect that sends visitors and search engines from an old web address to a new one.
Read definition → On-PageAlt Text
A written description of an image used by screen readers and search engines to understand what the image shows.
Read definition → On-PageAnchor Text
The visible, clickable words of a hyperlink that tell readers and search engines what the linked page is about.
Read definition → Off-PageBacklink
A link from another website to yours, which acts like a vote of confidence and helps your search rankings.
Read definition → AnalyticsBounce Rate
The percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page without taking further action.
Read definition → TechnicalCanonical Tag
A snippet of code that tells search engines which version of a page is the main one when similar pages exist.
Read definition → LocalCitation
Any online mention of your business name, address, and phone number, such as in a directory listing.
Read definition → AnalyticsClick-Through Rate (CTR)
The percentage of people who click your listing after seeing it in search results.
Read definition → ContentContent Cluster
A group of related pages organised around one main topic, linked together to build topical authority.
Read definition → AnalyticsConversion Rate
The percentage of visitors who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase or submitting an enquiry.
Read definition → TechnicalCore Web Vitals
Google's set of metrics measuring real-world page experience: loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability.
Read definition → TechnicalCrawl Budget
The number of pages search engines will crawl on your site within a given time, which matters most for large sites.
Read definition → Off-PageDomain Authority
A third-party score estimating how likely a website is to rank in search, based largely on its backlink profile.
Read definition → ContentDuplicate Content
Identical or very similar content appearing on more than one web address, which can confuse search engines.
Read definition → ContentE-E-A-T
Google's quality framework: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness of content and its creators.
Read definition → ContentFeatured Snippet
A highlighted answer box that appears at the very top of some search results, pulled directly from a web page.
Read definition → LocalGoogle Business Profile
Your free business listing on Google that powers your appearance in Maps and local search results.
Read definition → Off-PageGuest Posting
Writing an article for another website in your industry, usually to earn a backlink and reach a new audience.
Read definition → On-PageHeader Tags
HTML headings (H1 to H6) that organise your page content into a clear, scannable structure for readers and search engines.
Read definition → TechnicalHreflang
A tag that tells search engines which language and region a page is meant for, so the right version is shown.
Read definition → TechnicalHTTPS
The secure, encrypted version of the web protocol that protects data between a visitor and your website.
Read definition → AnalyticsImpressions
The number of times your listing appears in search results, whether or not anyone clicks it.
Read definition → TechnicalIndexing
The process where search engines store and organise your pages so they can appear in search results.
Read definition → On-PageInternal Linking
Links from one page on your website to another page on the same site, helping visitors and search engines navigate.
Read definition → On-PageKeyword Density
How often a keyword appears on a page relative to the total word count, expressed as a percentage.
Read definition → AnalyticsKeyword Ranking
The position your page holds in search results for a particular search term, such as 1st, 5th, or 20th.
Read definition → ContentKeyword Research
Finding the actual words and phrases people type into search engines so you can create content that matches them.
Read definition → Off-PageLink Building
The practice of earning links from other websites to yours in order to improve authority and rankings.
Read definition → LocalLocal Link Building
Earning backlinks from other local websites, such as community groups, sponsors, and regional press.
Read definition → LocalLocal Pack
The block of three local business listings with a map that appears for location-based searches.
Read definition → ContentLong-Tail Keyword
A longer, more specific search phrase that usually has lower competition and higher buying intent.
Read definition → On-PageMeta Description
The short summary shown under your page title in search results that helps convince people to click through.
Read definition → LocalNAP
Your business Name, Address, and Phone number, which should be consistent everywhere online for local SEO.
Read definition → Off-PageNofollow
A link attribute that tells search engines not to pass ranking credit through that particular link.
Read definition → AnalyticsOrganic Traffic
Visitors who reach your website through unpaid search engine results rather than ads or other channels.
Read definition → TechnicalPage Speed
How quickly your web pages load, which affects both user experience and your search rankings.
Read definition → TechnicalRobots.txt
A text file that tells search engine crawlers which parts of your website they are allowed to access.
Read definition → ContentSearch Intent
The underlying goal behind a search query: what the person actually wants to find, do, or buy.
Read definition → AnalyticsSERP
The Search Engine Results Page, the page of listings and features you see after searching for something.
Read definition → TechnicalStructured Data
Special code that helps search engines understand your content and can unlock rich results like stars and FAQs.
Read definition → On-PageTitle Tag
The clickable headline that shows for your page in Google search results and at the top of the browser tab.
Read definition → On-PageURL Slug
The readable part of a web address that identifies a specific page, such as the "about-us" in yoursite.com/about-us.
Read definition → TechnicalXML Sitemap
A file listing the important pages on your site to help search engines find and crawl them efficiently.
Read definition →Know the terms? Now put them to work.
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