If you’re looking to improve your online presence, understanding Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is crucial. In this blog, we’ll walk you through 15 essential SEO terms that everyone should know.
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Keywords
Keywords, sometimes known as keyword phrases, are the words or phrases people type into search engines to find information. They are the foundation of SEO, helping search engines match content to relevant queries.
SERP (Search Engine Results Page)
The SERP is the page displayed by search engines after a user submits a query. It includes organic results, ads, relevant business information, sometimes featured snippets and AI Overviews.
Organic Traffic
Organic traffic refers to the visitors who come to your website through unpaid search results. It’s a crucial metric for measuring the success of your SEO efforts.
Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your site. They are a significant factor in SEO, as search engines view them as proof of your content’s quality.
Meta Description
A meta description summarises the webpage’s content that appears in search results. A compelling meta description can improve click-through rates by providing a reason for users to visit your site.
Alt Text
Alt text is descriptive text added to images on your website. It helps search engines understand what the image is about, improving accessibility and potentially boosting your SEO.
Title Tag
The title tag is the title of a webpage that appears in search results and in the browser tab. It’s essential for both SEO and user experience.
Anchor Text
Anchor text is the clickable text in a hyperlink. It’s important for SEO because it gives context to the linked page, helping search engines understand its relevance.
Bounce Rate
Bounce rate is the percentage of visitors who leave your website after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate may indicate that your site isn’t providing the content or experience visitors are looking for.
Crawling
Crawling is the process by which search engines scan your website to understand its content. This process is essential for indexing your pages and ensuring they appear in search results.
Indexing
Indexing is when search engines store and organise the content of your website. Indexed pages are eligible to appear in search results, so ensuring your site is fully indexed is crucial for visibility.
Ranking
Ranking refers to the order in which websites appear in search results. Higher rankings usually mean more visibility and traffic, making it a key focus of any SEO strategy.
On-Page SEO
On-page SEO involves optimising elements on your website, such as content and HTML code, to improve your search engine rankings. This includes keyword optimisation, meta tags, and ensuring a user-friendly design.
Off-Page SEO
Off-page SEO refers to actions taken outside your website to improve its ranking. This includes building backlinks, social media marketing, and other efforts to enhance your site’s authority and relevance.
Schema Markup
Schema markup is code you add to your website to help search engines provide more informative results for users. It enhances how your content is displayed in SERPs, potentially leading to better click-through rates.
Conclusion
Understanding these SEO terms is the first step in mastering the art of optimising your online presence. By focusing on these areas, you can create a solid foundation for your SEO strategy, driving more organic traffic and improving your website’s visibility.
