Plain language definitions for the terms you meet when getting a small business found online.
A short written description of an image, read by screen readers and used by search engines to understand the image. Good alt text describes the image plainly.
The visible, clickable words of a link. Descriptive anchor text helps readers and search engines understand what the linked page is about.
A link from another website to yours. Links from relevant, trustworthy sites can help a page be found, while low quality or paid links can cause harm.
The share of visits where someone views a single page and leaves without further interaction. On its own it is a weak signal and should be read in context.
A line of code that tells search engines which version of a page is the preferred one, used to avoid duplicate content problems.
A mention of a business name, address, and phone number on another website or directory. Consistent citations support local search visibility.
The share of people who click a result after seeing it. A clear title and description can improve it.
A desired action a visitor takes, such as a call, a form submission, or a purchase. SEO work is judged against conversions, not traffic alone.
A set of page experience measures from Google covering loading, interactivity, and visual stability.
The process by which a search engine robot discovers and reads pages on the web by following links.
A third party score, created by SEO tool vendors rather than Google, that estimates a site strength. It is an estimate, not an official ranking factor.
A set of quality ideas Google raters use: experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. Content should show who wrote it and why they are credible.
Generative engine optimisation, the practice of writing pages so that AI assistants can understand and cite them accurately.
A free business listing from Google that can appear in Maps and local search results. A complete, accurate profile is a high return task for local businesses.
The main heading of a page. Each page usually has one clear H1 that states what the page is about.
The process by which a search engine stores and organises pages it has crawled so they can appear in results.
A word or phrase people type into search. Useful keyword work starts with the real questions customers ask.
Finding the words and questions people actually use, often through free sources such as search suggestions and the questions real customers ask.
Earning links from other websites. Ethical link building focuses on being genuinely useful and relevant, not buying links.
The block of local business results, often with a map, that appears for searches with local intent.
A short summary of a page that can appear under the title in search results. It does not directly affect ranking but can affect clicks.
Name, address, and phone number. Keeping these consistent across the web supports local search.
A link attribute that tells search engines not to pass ranking credit through the link.
Visits that come from unpaid search results, as opposed to paid advertising.
How quickly a page loads and becomes usable. Faster pages tend to serve visitors and search better.
The exact words a person types or speaks into a search engine.
Search results shown with extra detail, such as review stars or frequently asked questions, often enabled by structured data.
A shared vocabulary of structured data that helps search engines understand page content, such as articles, products, or reviews.
Search engine results page, the page of results returned for a query.
A file that lists the pages on a site to help search engines discover them.
The parts of SEO concerned with how a site is built and served, such as crawling, indexing, speed, and structured data.
The clickable headline of a result and the title shown in the browser tab. A clear, specific title helps readers and search.
The readable part of a web address that identifies a page, usually made of words separated by hyphens.
The reason behind a search, such as learning, comparing, or buying. Matching intent is central to useful content.