SEO Glossary

If you’re new to SEO, you need to understand phrases listed in this resource.

SEO – starts from the basic definition and proceeds through complex procedures.

So, let’s get started.

SEO Glossary

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO refers to the art of increasing search visibility for a page.

SEO includes rules preferred by search engines, such as Google.

In simple words, the more a site or page satisfies SEO rules, the better it can rank on search pages.

SEO Content

The content optimized for search rankings refers to SEO content.

Specifically, SEO content is made optimized for search engines, via on-page SEO.

Here is what contributes to SEO content.

• Search intent
• On-page SEO
• Content quality
• Backlinks pointing to a page
• Type of content, tailored towards users’ needs

Backlink(s)

If a site gains incoming links from another source, the link is a “Backlink” for the site.

As its name suggests, a backlink can help you improve search rankings.

There is a rule of thumb for search engines.

The more a page gains backlinks, the better page’s content is ranked on search pages.

Here, search engines assess the quality of incoming links – sometimes, refers to the link juice or quality.

Sitemap

As its name shows, a sitemap helps site owners search engines understand, the URL map of a site.

A sitemap file, an XML file – is created in WordPress, once the WordPress installation is over.

If you’re looking to creating SEO content, a sitemap is essential in WordPress.

In this case, WordPress automatically generates one. You don’t need to use a plugin.

So, a sitemap helps you quickly let search engines discover, crawl, index, and finally – rank your content.

Internal Links

Internal links, as its name describes – are the links from one page to another.

Internal links help you better map site’s content. It helps you create optimized content clusters – helping search engines better understand your site’s content, quickly scan your site, and index new pages, faster. Perfect.

External Links

External links are opposite to internal links.

As its name displays, the outgoing links from a site are known as “external links” for the site.

For example, a site (A) links to a site (B) – the outgoing link to site (B) is referred to as external link for site (A).

Anchor Text

The text of a hyperlink is called “Anchor Text”.

For example, if a phrase links to a page, the text in the link is called anchor text, simple.

Anchor text also contribute to SEO. If you’re building links, pay attention to using natural, diverse, and relevant anchor texts across external sources.

Bounce rate

Bounce rate is a metric on search pages.

Basically, the percentage of users bouncing back from your page, once they land from search engines, is the page’s bounce rate.

If a page’s bounce rate is high – it can affect rankings for the page on search pages.

Indeed, bounce rate helps search engines understand, if a page is satisfying users’ intent.

Relevancy

Relevancy of content shows, how relevant a piece of content is, according to users’ intent on search pages.

Remember, search engines prefer content’s relevancy, at all cost.

In simple words, if a content is relevant, chances of rankings become high. The opposite case is terrible.

Dofollow Link

The link tag, “dofollow”, helps pass link juice from one page to another.

A dofollow attribute tells search engines, follow the link to pass the link juice. In simple words, the linking site shows search engines – “Yes, we prefer the target page’s content”.

Nofollow Link

The opposite of “Dofollow” is “Nofollow” attribute.

If you’re building links, pay attention to having a mixture of both links.

A “nofollow” attribute doesn’t take responsibility of passing the link juice to another page.

Domain Authority (DA)

Domain Authority (DA) is developed by Moz.

It is a number from 1 to 100, shows how well a site is able to rank on search pages.

In SEO, a site’s DA is mostly influenced by backlink profile. If a site has quality links pointing to its pages, the DA of the site becomes high.

Page Authority (PA)

In simple manner, Domain Authority (DA) on a page level refers to Page Authority (PA).

A page’s content, backlinks pointing to the page, and the DA of a domain – help a page rank well on search pages. In simple words, the mentioned metrics help to boost a page’s authority (PA).

Spam Score

Spam score, as its name suggests – shows if a site is linked to spam practices.

Here is what contributes to a site’s spam score.

• Low content quality, also known as thin content pages.
• Links from sites with based reputation.
• If a site is involved in illegal SEO practices, such as spamming, the spam score raises high.

The spam score of a site shows, the relation of a site with other spam sites, showing how likely it is to get a penalty from search engine. It is calculated in numbers, from 1 to 100.

Duplicate Content

On a site, if a piece of content is present on multiple places, counts as duplicate content.

Duplicate content hurts a site’s SEO.

Evergreen content

A piece of content – helping users solve problems, always and doesn’t go outdated.

Evergreen content helps build authority on search pages. In simple words, an evergreen content is also called “Pillar pages”.

Editorial Link

A link gained naturally is called an “Editorial Link”.

In this case, you don’t ask for the link, nor pay to host the link.

Editorial links help boost search rankings – ideal for SEO. It quickly helps site owners build trust.

Simply put, quality content gains editorial links, link worthy content wins always.

Google Algorithms

Google prefers specific rules to rank relevant pages.

In this case, the set of rules Google prefers is called “Google Algorithms”.

If you’re doing SEO, following Google’s guidelines is what, you should always do. Perfect.

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a free tool from Google.

It helps site owners see a site’s traffic sources.

Google Analytics also help you assess sessions data, users, bounce rates, and traffic sources, perfect.

Google Search Console

Google’s second product, search console helps site owners improve search visibility.

Google Search Console (GSC) helps users submit pages to Google, remove crawl errors, assess content quality, update content, and see if pages are improving.

Like Analytics, GSC is free to use. A Gmail address is enough to proceed.

Google Updates

Google Updates refer to what users should satisfy.

In simple words, the set of rules Google prefers for search visibility, is often referred to Google Updates.

In this case, Google releases major updates in a year, 1-2 updates.

Once rolled out a new update, SEO experts intent to update content, according to what Google suggests.

Google Penalty

If a site is involved in shady routines, Google can penalize the site.

So, a penalty is basically, the outcomes of a site involved in illegal actions.

When happens, a site can disappear from search pages. A site, if gets a penalty from Google, loses organic traffic, impressions, and rankings.

Google Sandbox

In simple words, Google implements specific duration for assessment of new sites, domains, or pages.

In this scenario, Google checks if investing crawl budget on a new site is suitable.

In this case, Google can’t trust if a site is relevant enough, will last longer, and is able to show up on search pages – makes sense.

In most cases, Google’s sandbox duration for a new domain lasts six months. However, pointing relevant, high quality backlinks can help site owners decrease the sandbox duration.

Google Bot

Google Bot refers to the automated, crawler of the Google.

Google Bot is responsible to crawl sites for new pages.

In experts’ opinion, a suitable frequency of the crawler activity helps site owners quickly index new content. It helps you achieve rankings, quickly.

Here is what you should expect.

• Crawler first, discovers a new piece of content.
• Second, the Google crawler comes to crawl a page’s content. It helps Google understand the content of a page.
• Next, a search engine, such as Google adds a page to its index.
• And, finally – the phase of ranking on search pages helps site owners achieve rankings.

Header Tags

Header tags are referred to H1 to H6 tags.

Header tags help users define a page’s structure. It helps search engines quickly understand the structure of a page.

On the other hand, header tags help you define, if a specific section in a page needs more attention.

Search Intent

Probably, the most important aspect of SEO content is Search Intent.

In simple words, search intent related to a content relevancy against a search query.

Technically, search intent shows a query’s, content, or user’s intent to take an action.

In other words, search intent shows users’ intent to search for information, buy a product, navigate to a specific brand, or complete an abandoned action, such as buying a product.

Keep in mind, if you don’t know how search intent works in SEO, you have no luck finding a place on search pages. Simple.

Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs)

The page Google shows after a user has searched for a phrase, is called “SERPs”.

It refers to Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).

If you want to know, what the intent of a search query is, see the query’s SERP results.

Similarly, if you want to see if a keyword is rank-able easily, see the ranking sites’ competition level.

Keywords

A keyword, in SEO – refers to an identifier – helping search engines understand what the user is searching for on Google.

In simple words, a keyword refers to the phrase users are searching for on Google.

In this regard, a keyword defines the intent, search results, and interpretation of search queries on search pages.

Keyword Clustering

In SEO, keyword clustering is an advanced routine.

In simple words, keyword clustering is the process of grouping relevant search queries.

The process helps you target more keywords, via single pieces of content. Based on search intent, keywords are grouped for SEO performance.

Keyword Difficulty

Keyword difficulty refers to a score, ranging from 1 to 100.

Basically, it shows how hard beating competition for a keyword is on search pages.

In SEO, there are two ways to assess a keyword’s competition.

• Using manual expertise, you can assess and figure out, if a keyword is easy to rank for you.
• SEO Tools can help estimate a keyword’s difficulty on search pages.

Competition involves various factors, such as number of backlinks pointing to ranking pages. Similarly, a site’s DA, page’s PA, and content quality also makes ranking for a keyword hard on SERPs.

Competition Analysis

If you want to know, if a site has ranking opportunity for a keyword, you’ll need to perform keyword competition analysis.

In simple words, the process helping users understand, figure out, and see possible opportunities on search pages.

For example, competition analysis for a keyword helps you understand:

• If you can rank for the keyword, on the Google’s 1st page, preferably in the Google’s top 3-5 positions.
• Helps you figure out, if you can rank for a keyword – helping you convert visitors into paying subscribers.
• And, finally, the process of keyword competition analysis helps you assess traffic potential for a topic.

Again, it would be good if you’ve learned how to perform competition analysis for a keyword – manually.

Search Volume

Search volume shows the average number of searches for a keyword. The data is calculated on a monthly basis, in most cases.

Here, you need to consider a rule of thumb.

• The more a keyword has a high search volume, the more a site will be driving traffic.

However, you need to see if your site can rank for the keyword with a high search volume.

In this regard, here is what you need to understand.

• Tools can help you see a keyword’s search volume. Keep in mind, the data in Tools are estimations, not the exact numbers.
• Second, competition analysis can help you figure out, if ranking for a high search volume keyword is possible.

Perfect.

Link Exchange

Normally, the term is coined once a site’s owner is able to offer backlink(s), in exchange for some favor.

For example, if a site (A) is asking for a backlink from site (B) – the site (B) agrees in exchange for a backlink from site (A), the partnership is referred to as a link exchange deal.

In SEO, according to what Google suggests, involving in link exchange partnerships is bad for SEO. If, for example – if Google has pointed out, rankings can drop, instead.

Link Juice

Link Juice shows a link’s worth for SEO performance.

For example, a backlink from a high quality, relevant site weighs more importance, as compared to a link from a low quality source.

In this case, links from high DA sites have more link juice.

Backlink profile

As its name suggests, a backlink profile refers to collection of pointing backlinks.

For example, the number, quality, and collection of sources pointing to a site, refers to the backlink profile of the site.

In SEO, the more a site has a strong backlink profile, the more a site achieves high rankings on search pages.

Long Tail Keywords

The keywords having focus on addressing targeted search intent, are known as Long Tail Keywords.

In normal scenarios, long tail keywords have more words, such as a phrase having more than 3 words.

Long Tail keywords help users clearly define search intent. In simple words, long tail keywords narrow down users’ intent, clearly on search pages.

Meta Tags

In SEO, Meta Tags help search engines understand the purpose of a page.

In this case, meta tags help users define the title, description, and keywords of a page.

In WordPress, SEO plugins, such as Yoast SEO – help users set meta tags for pages and posts.

Off page SEO

Let’s categorize SEO in two categories, based on a page level.

The first case is called On-page SEO – refers to improving page level factors to improve a page’s rankings.

Second – the case to improve external factors to improve rankings for a page, falls under Off-page SEO.

In most cases, building backlinks for a page is referred to as Off-page SEO.

Organic Traffic

Simply, the natural traffic from search engine pages is called “Organic Traffic in SEO”.

By natural traffic, the meaning helps you focus on one thing – rankings on search pages. It also helps you understand, organic traffic shouldn’t involve manipulation of search rules. Perfect.

In this case, the more organic traffic for your site is natural, the more you can convert visitors into paying subscribers.

For example, users searching for a keyword on Google, naturally finds your site, clicks your page and comes to read your article. You get the idea.

Orphan page

Orphan pages affect indexability.

On a site, the unlinked pages are called “Orphaned pages”.

If a page has no internal links, chances of Google crawling the page becomes slim.

In this case, the page may take time being discovered by Bots.

Page speed

Page speed shows how fast a page loads when a user clicks the page on a search page.

According to Google, page speed can be a ranking factor.

The more a site loads faster, the better search engines can rank the site high on search pages. Simple.

Page speed also helps site owners convert well. People leave slow loading sites, immediately.

Primary Keyword

The head, seed, or main keyword of a page is known as the “Primary Keyword” for the page.

In simple words, the keyword a page is trying to rank for on search pages, is called the “Primary” keyword.

Sometimes, a primary keyword is also referred to as a “Focus” keyword.

Private Blog Networks (PBNs)

The network of sites used to manipulate search rankings via backlinks, is known as PBNs.

Instead of improving pages’ rankings, PBNs can harm your site’s SEO. Take it seriously.

Here is what you should consider.

• Don’t participate in PBNs backlinks.
• If possible, gain backlinks naturally, editorial links, via link worthy content on search pages.

Simple.

Rank Brain

Rank Brain is the part of Google’s core algorithm.

Basically, the set of rules Google uses to assess search queries, and show relevant results, is referred to as Rank Brain algorithm.

In simple manner, if you want to see how Google ranks pages, you’ll need to understand what rules Google’s Rank Brain prefers.

Related Searches

Related searches refer to a section at the end of Google SERPs.

The section is used to see related phrases, once a user enters a keyword in Google.

Especially SEO experts, can pick related phrases for keyword researches.

SEO Audit

The process of checking a site for weaknesses, and improve things accordingly, is known as “Site Audit”.

The process considers multiple aspects of a site, including:

• Content
• Backlinks
• Disowning illegal resources
• Improving page speed
• Assessment of discovery, crawling, indexability, and ranking, status
• Content optimization

Site audit is performed to improve a site’s overall quality. Simple.

Thin content

As its name suggests, a page having less content is known as “Thin content”.

If you’re trying to rank for a keyword, thin content is not acceptable. You’ve to make sure, the piece of content trying to rank for a keyword is well optimized.

In this case, the process of competition analysis helps users figure out, how much content can help rank a page, possibly.

Topical Relevance

Topical relevance, in most cases – helps you calculate the possibility of ranking for a keyword on domain level.

For example, Topical relevancy can help you understand, if Google will be choosing your site’s page for ranking, instead of paying attention to competitors.

It happens only, if your site is generally relevant to the niche, not a specific keyword.

Content optimization

Generally, content optimization means, updating the content to increase pages’ relevancy.

Technically, content optimization refers to improving users’ experience. It helps you convert better.

In this case, from content updating to improving page’s speed, everything falls under content optimization.

The process includes improving technical assets, such as page speed – as well as work on content related benchmarks.

Search Visibility

Search visibility shows a site’s existence on search pages.

Technically, search visibility helps you understand the proposed traffic.

It helps you estimate, how many clicks on search pages, a site’s pages can get based on ranking pages, content, or keywords.

Simply put, to improve your site’s search visibility, rank for more keywords.

Keyword Density

Keyword density shows the existence of a keyword on a page. Specifically, it shows how many times a keyword appears on a page.

Keyword density can affect a page’s SEO status. You should avoid keyword stuffing at all cost.

In this regard, keyword stuffing refers to the excessive use of a keyword on a page.

404 error

If a user tries to access a non-existing page, the error occurs in return is referred to as a 404 error.

The 404 error is not a point of concern; however, dealing 404 errors can have an impact.

Redirection

Redirects help you send a user from one page to another.

For example, if a page doesn’t exist, the user is redirected to another page.

This helps you keep user experience streamlined, avoids distracting users, and convert well.

However, you should take care of connecting relevant pages in redirects. In this case, redirecting users to a different, irrelevant page sounds bad.

ALT Text

ALT Texts are used in image SEO. It refers to “Alternative Text”.

Basically, if an image fails to load, the description behind an image helps users understand, what the image was displaying.

ALT text helps users understand the context of an image, in case some images on a page fail to load properly.

Engagement

Engagement shows interactions of users on search pages.

For example, you can figure out via data, how searchers interact with your site’s pages.

In this case, engagement data helps you figure out, if you should improve specific pages.

User Experience

User Experience shows a user’s experience on a page.

If a page has positive user experience signals, chances of ranking well becomes high.

In SEO, search engines understand via bounce rate, if a page’s user experience is satisfying users.

Conversion Rate

Conversion Rate directly affects a site’s revenue.

In SEO, the percentage of users on a site, completing a desired action, is referred to Conversion Rate.

For example, a user comes from SERPs, clicks a product page, and buys the product or read more information.

Domain Reputation

Domain Reputation is the rate of ideal, positive, and clean status of a domain’s health.

It shows, how well a specific domain is able to rank on search pages.

If a site is not involved in shady SEO practices, the domain reputation is measured positively.

Broken Links

If a link fails to send a user to another location, the link is categorized as Broken.

Broken links can hurt user experience. It can increase a page’s bounce rate, if a page ranking on search pages doesn’t lead users to a stable location.

Content Strategy

In SEO, the content strategy helps site owners decide the topics, purpose, and conversion philosophy of relevant content.

In simple words, content strategy figures out, what potential opportunities help us convert more users, from readers into paying subscribers.

Robots.TXT File

In a site’s root location, the Robots.TXT file helps search engines understand, what resources on a site needs to crawl or block from search pages.

Basically, the file helps site owners efficiently control public resources on search pages.

For example, if you don’t want the Google crawl to index specific resources, Robots.TXT file can help.

A/B Testing

In SEO, A/B Testing helps users test various conditions to understand, which use case makes more sense.

Once the data helps decide, the purpose of A/B testing is accomplished.

In this case, a staging site helps better test various workflows during A/B testing.

Click Through Rate (CTR)

CTR is a measure for user conversions.

It shows the percentage of users clicking on a page, ad, or link on search pages.

CTR shows a source’s traffic, conversion possibilities, and positive user experience.

Summing up

I hope, the phrases in this resource helped you understand basic definitions of SEO.

Not all definitions can help you, pick the ones most suitable to what you’re doing currently, such as content creation.

Once you become more fluent, come back to read more information on SEO phrases.