If you’re just diving into the world of SEO, you’ve likely discovered how overwhelming it can be. To simplify things, we’ve curated this ultimate beginner’s glossary of SEO terms that will give you the foundation to
optimize your website and boost your organic traffic.
Ready to master SEO and stay ahead of your competitors? Let’s dive in
Anchor Text
The clickable text in a hyperlink that links to another webpage. It’s critical for SEO because search engines analyze anchor text to understand the context of linked pages.
Example of anchor text. Image credit: Moz.
Pro Tip: Avoid keyword stuffing your anchor texts, or you might face penalties!
Alt Attribute Text (Alt Text)
The descriptive text attached to images to help search engines and visually impaired users understand what the image represents.
Why It Matters: Alt text is an SEO goldmine for driving image-based traffic to your site.
How trustworthy a page or domain is based on content quality, backlinks, and other factors. High-authority pages rank better.
Backlink analytics: an excellent and niche-relevant example. Image credit: SEMrush.
Bots
Programs used by search engines to crawl websites and index their content. Helpful bots improve your ranking visibility, but harmful ones might spam your site.
Title Tag
An HTML element that defines the title of a webpage. Search engines and users rely on this to understand what your page is about.
Meta Description
A brief summary of your page that appears in search engine results. A well-crafted meta description improves your click-through rate.
Keyword
The specific terms users type into search engines. Optimizing your site around high-traffic keywords is crucial for visibility.
Long Tail Keyword
Extended keyword phrases (3+ words) that target niche audiences.
Example: Instead of “SEO,” try “Beginner’s guide to SEO for small businesses.”
Keyword Density
How often a keyword appears on a webpage. Focus on natural placement—overloading your content can hurt rankings.
Domain Authority (DA)
A ranking score (1-100) indicating a domain’s likelihood of ranking well. It’s hard to manipulate directly, but quality backlinks and great content help.
Domain Authority: What it Means and Why it Matters. Image credit: Moz.
Page Authority (PA)
Similar to DA, but measures the likelihood of an individual page ranking well in search results.
Analyzing SEO Metrics for Better Rankings. Image credit: Moz.
Do Follow and No Follow Links
Defines whether a link passes authority to the linked page.
Pro Tip: Build a mix of both for a natural backlink profile.
301 Redirect
A permanent redirect from one URL to another. Use this to consolidate link equity when restructuring your site.
Canonical URL
The preferred URL when duplicate content exists on multiple pages. Essential for avoiding duplicate content penalties.
Headings (H1-H6)
HTML tags that structure your content hierarchy.
Quick Win: Ensure your H1 accurately describes your page’s primary focus.
Inbound Links
Links from other websites pointing to yours. The more high-quality inbound links, the higher your authority.
Outbound Links
Links on your site pointing to other reputable sites. These can enhance user experience and credibility.
SERP (Search Engine Results Page)
The page search engines display after a user query. Understanding SERP features like snippets and ads can boost your strategy.
Breadcrumb Navigation
A trail of links showing users their current location on a website. It helps both SEO and user experience.
Sitemap
A roadmap for search engines to navigate your site structure. Submit it to Google Search Console for improved indexing.
