SEO Scanner Glossary
Welcome to our SEO glossary! Below you'll find a list of key SEO terms with brief descriptions. Click the links to learn more about each term.
- 301 Redirect - A permanent redirect from one URL to another, used to preserve SEO value when a page moves.
- 302 Redirect - A temporary redirect that indicates the original page will return at some point.
- 404 Error - An HTTP status code indicating that the requested page was not found on the server.
- Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) - A web framework that enables fast-loading mobile pages.
- Algorithm - The formula used by search engines to rank web pages in search results.
- Alt Text - A description of an image used for accessibility and to help search engines understand the content of images.
- Anchor Text - The visible, clickable text in a hyperlink.
- Authority - The perceived trustworthiness and relevance of a website, contributing to its ranking.
- Backlinks - A link from another website to your own, important for SEO authority.
- Bing Webmaster Tools - Microsoft's SEO tool for monitoring website performance in Bing search results.
- Black Hat SEO - Unethical SEO practices aimed at manipulating search engine algorithms.
- Blog - A website or section of a website featuring regularly updated content, often focused on a specific niche or topic.
- Bounce Rate - The percentage of visitors who leave a website after viewing only one page.
- Breadcrumb Navigation - A type of secondary navigation that helps users track their location within a site.
- Broken Link - A hyperlink that no longer works, resulting in a 404 error.
- Canonical Tag - An HTML element used to prevent duplicate content issues by specifying the preferred version of a web page.
- Click-Through Rate (CTR) - The percentage of users who click on a search result after seeing it in the SERP.
- Cloaking - A black hat SEO technique that shows different content to users and search engines.
- CMS (Content Management System) - A software platform that allows users to create and manage website content without coding.
- Competitor Analysis - The process of evaluating your competitors' SEO strategies to identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Content Delivery Network (CDN) - A network of servers that deliver content to users from the closest geographical location, improving site speed.
- Content Marketing - The creation and distribution of valuable content to attract and engage a target audience.
- Conversion Rate - The percentage of website visitors who complete a desired action, such as filling out a form or making a purchase.
- Core Web Vitals - Google's set of metrics focused on user experience, specifically loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability.
- Crawl Budget - The number of pages a search engine will crawl on your site within a set timeframe.
- Crawler - A program used by search engines to scan and index content from websites.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) - A Core Web Vital metric that measures unexpected layout shifts during page load.
- Customer Journey - The process a customer goes through when interacting with your brand, from awareness to conversion and beyond.
- Data Layer - A JavaScript object that stores information about a website and user interactions for analytics tracking.
- Deep Linking - Linking to a specific, often deeper page within a website rather than the homepage.
- Directory Submission - Submitting your website to online directories for the purpose of building backlinks and improving visibility.
- Disavow Links - A Google tool that allows webmasters to tell Google to ignore certain backlinks when assessing a site.
- Domain Authority (DA) - A metric developed by Moz that predicts how well a website will rank on search engines based on its authority.
- Dwell Time - The amount of time a user spends on a webpage before returning to the search results.
- E-A-T - Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, key factors Google considers when evaluating content quality.
- Editorial Calendar - A schedule of content to be published over a set period, used to plan and organize content marketing efforts.
- Engagement Rate - A measure of user interaction with content, such as likes, shares, and comments.
- Exact Match Domain (EMD) - A domain name that exactly matches a search query, which can impact SEO performance.
- Featured Snippet - A summary of an answer to a search query, displayed at the top of Google search results.
- First Contentful Paint (FCP) - A metric that measures how long it takes for the first content element to load on a page.
- First Input Delay (FID) - A Core Web Vital metric that measures the time it takes for a page to respond to a user's first interaction.
- Flat Site Architecture - A website structure where all pages are only a few clicks away from the homepage, helping with SEO.
- Google Ads - Google's paid advertising service that displays ads in search results.
- Google Analytics - A tool from Google that provides insights into website traffic and user behavior.
- Google My Business - A tool that helps businesses manage their online presence across Google Search and Maps.
- Google Search Console - A free tool that helps website owners monitor their site's performance in Google search results.
- Headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.) - HTML elements used to structure content, important for both user experience and SEO.
- HTML (HyperText Markup Language) - The standard language used to create and design web pages.
- Image Compression - The process of reducing the file size of an image to improve website load times.
- Inbound Marketing - A marketing strategy that focuses on attracting customers through relevant and valuable content.
- Indexed Pages - Pages that have been crawled by a search engine and added to its index.
- Information Architecture - The organization and structure of content on a website, affecting usability and SEO.
- Internal Link - A hyperlink that points to another page within the same website.
- JavaScript SEO - The process of optimizing websites that use JavaScript so search engines can properly crawl and index content.
- JSON-LD - A method of encoding linked data using JSON, commonly used for implementing structured data.
- Keyword - A word or phrase that represents the content of a webpage and is targeted in search engine optimization efforts.
- Keyword Cannibalization - When multiple pages on the same website compete for the same keyword, diluting SEO efforts.
- Keyword Density - The percentage of times a keyword appears in the content compared to the total number of words.
- Keyword Research - The process of finding and analyzing search terms that users enter into search engines.
- Knowledge Graph - Google's database of interconnected information, used to enhance search results with facts and answers.
- Landing Page - A standalone web page created for marketing or advertising campaigns, designed to drive conversions.
- Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) - A method used by search engines to identify relationships between terms and concepts in content.
- Link Building - The process of acquiring backlinks from other websites to improve your own site's search engine rankings.
- Link Equity (Link Juice) - The value or authority passed from one page to another through hyperlinks.
- Link Farm - A group of websites created solely to link to one another, often considered a black hat SEO tactic.
- Local Pack - The group of three local business listings that appear at the top of Google's search results for local queries.
- Local SEO - The practice of optimizing a website to rank for location-based searches.
- Long-Tail Keyword - A more specific, lower-volume keyword that often has higher conversion potential.
- LSI Keywords - Related keywords that help search engines better understand content context and relevance.
- Manual Action - A penalty applied by Google when a site violates its quality guidelines.
- Meta Description - A brief summary of a webpage's content that appears under the title tag in search results.
- Meta Tags - HTML elements that provide metadata about a webpage, including title, description, and keywords.
- Mobile-First Indexing - Google's approach of indexing and ranking websites based primarily on their mobile versions.
- NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) - Crucial information for local SEO that should be consistent across your website and business listings.
- Negative SEO - The practice of using unethical tactics to sabotage a competitor's search engine rankings.
- NoFollow Link - A link with a rel="nofollow" attribute, signaling to search engines not to pass authority or link equity.
- Off-Page SEO - SEO efforts that take place outside of your website, such as link building and social media marketing.
- On-Page SEO - The process of optimizing individual web pages to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engines.
- Open Graph Tags - Metadata used by social networks like Facebook to display content more effectively when shared.
- Organic Traffic - Traffic that comes to your website through unpaid search results.
- Outbound Link - A link from your website to an external site.
- Page Authority (PA) - A metric developed by Moz that predicts how well a specific page will rank on search engines.
- Page Speed - The amount of time it takes for a webpage to load, a crucial factor for user experience and SEO.
- PageRank - Google's original algorithm for ranking web pages based on the quantity and quality of backlinks.
- Panda Algorithm - A Google algorithm update aimed at reducing the ranking of low-quality content.
- Pay-Per-Click (PPC) - An online advertising model where advertisers pay each time a user clicks on one of their ads.
- Penguin Algorithm - A Google algorithm update that targets sites using manipulative link-building tactics.
- Permalink - A URL that points to a specific blog post or page, which remains unchanged over time.
- Personalization - Customizing search results based on a user's search history, location, and other factors.
- Pillar Content - Comprehensive, authoritative content on a specific topic, often used as the foundation of a content marketing strategy.
- Plugin - A software add-on that extends the functionality of a content management system like WordPress.
- Position Zero - The first position in Google's search results, typically occupied by a featured snippet.
- PPC Advertising - A form of online advertising where businesses pay for each click on their ads.
- RankBrain - A machine learning algorithm used by Google to help process search queries and rank results.
- Reciprocal Link - A mutual link between two websites, often seen as a way to boost rankings but can be risky if overused.
- Redirect - Sending a user from one URL to another, typically used when a page has been moved or deleted.
- Relevance - The degree to which content on a webpage matches the user's search query.
- Responsive Design - A web design approach that ensures a website looks and functions well on
- Return on Investment (ROI) - A measure of the profitability of SEO efforts compared to the cost of those efforts.
- Rich Snippet - A search result that includes additional information like reviews, images, or ratings, often pulled from structured data.
- Robots.txt - A file used to instruct search engine crawlers which pages or sections of a website should not be crawled.
- Schema Markup - Code that helps search engines better understand and display content in search results, often leading to rich snippets.
- Scraped Content - Content copied from other websites without permission, a practice that can lead to SEO penalties.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - The process of optimizing your website to improve its visibility in search engine results.
- Search Engine Marketing (SEM) - A broader term that encompasses both paid search advertising (PPC) and SEO.
- Search Intent - The purpose behind a user's search query, such as informational, navigational, or transactional.
- Search Volume - The number of times a specific keyword is searched for in a given timeframe.
- Search Visibility - A metric that represents the share of traffic your website receives from organic search results.
- Security Certificate (SSL) - A digital certificate that provides authentication for a website and enables an encrypted connection.
- SERP (Search Engine Results Page) - The page displayed by search engines in response to a user's query.
- Sitemap - A file that lists all the pages of a website, helping search engines crawl and index them more efficiently.
- Site Speed - The overall speed at which all the pages on a website load.
- Sitelinks - Additional links that appear under the main search result for a website, often to important internal pages.
- Skyscraper Technique - A content marketing strategy that involves creating better, more comprehensive content than what currently ranks for a target keyword.
- Social Bookmarking - The practice of saving and sharing web pages on platforms like Pinterest and Reddit for increased visibility and backlinks.
- Social Signals - Engagement metrics from social media platforms, such as likes, shares, and comments, which can influence SEO.
- Spam Score - A metric that indicates the likelihood of a website being penalized for spammy SEO practices.
- Speed Index - A performance metric that measures how quickly the content of a page is visibly populated.
- Split Testing - Running two or more versions of a webpage or ad to see which performs better.
- SSL Certificate - A security protocol that encrypts data between a user's browser and the website, crucial for SEO.
- Structured Data - A standardized format for providing information about a page, enabling search engines to understand its content better.
- Thin Content - Web content with little or no value to users, often penalized by search engines.
- Title Tag - An HTML element that specifies the title of a webpage, displayed as the clickable headline in search results.
- Topical Authority - Establishing your website as an authority on a specific topic by creating comprehensive, in-depth content.
- Top-of-the-Funnel Content - Content aimed at attracting potential customers in the early stages of the buying process.
- Traffic - The number of visitors that come to your website from various sources, including organic search, social media, and paid ads.
- Trust Flow - A metric developed by Majestic SEO that measures the quality and trustworthiness of the links pointing to your website.
- Unnatural Links - Links that are built in a manipulative way, violating Google's guidelines and often leading to penalties.
- URL (Uniform Resource Locator) - The web address of a specific page or resource on the internet.
- User Experience (UX) - The overall experience a user has while interacting with a website, influencing SEO and engagement metrics.
- User-Generated Content (UGC) - Content created by users rather than the brand, often used to build engagement and trust.
- Video SEO - The process of optimizing video content to improve visibility and rankings in search engines.
- Voice Search Optimization - The practice of optimizing content to rank for voice-based search queries, often using natural language and question phrases.
- Web 2.0 - A term used to describe the second generation of the web, characterized by user-generated content and social media platforms.
- Web Vitals - Google's core set of metrics to measure essential aspects of user experience, such as loading speed and interactivity.
- Website Architecture - The structure and organization of a website's pages, which can impact crawlability and SEO.
- White Hat SEO - Ethical SEO practices that follow search engine guidelines and aim for sustainable, long-term success.
- Word Count - The number of words on a webpage, often considered in SEO, especially for content-heavy pages.
- XML Sitemap - A file that lists a website's important pages in XML format, helping search engines crawl them efficiently.
- Yandex Webmaster - A tool provided by Yandex, a Russian search engine, to help website owners manage their site's presence in Yandex search results.
- Yoast SEO - A popular WordPress plugin that helps users optimize their content for search engines.
- Zero-Click Search - A search result that answers the user's query directly on the SERP, without the need for the user to click through to a website.
- Zebra Algorithm - An algorithm by Google designed to penalize low-quality ecommerce sites.
- Z-index - A CSS property that defines the stack order of elements on a webpage, which can impact user experience.
- Zombie Pages - Pages on a website that receive little or no traffic and may negatively impact overall site performance.
- Zone File - A text file that contains information about a domain, such as IP addresses and name servers, important for DNS configuration.
- Zoom Fatigue - The feeling of exhaustion after virtual meetings, related to the increase in remote work; can impact productivity and online engagement.
- Zurb Foundation - A popular front-end framework for developing responsive websites, often compared to Bootstrap.
- Zero Latency - The minimal delay in data transmission, which can be important for real-time SEO performance and user interactions.
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