SEO or Search Engine Optimization is a constantly changing field. If you have no previous knowledge or have only heard a small amount of what SEO is, these terms will give you an idea of just how vast SEO really is.
These 13 SEO terms for beginners will help you get a clear picture of what SEO entails.
1. Anchor Text
Anchor text is a clickable text in a hyperlink. For example, learn about marketing acronyms. In general, hyperlinks are highlighted in blue but through HTML customization it can be changed. Keywords in anchor text is a factor for search engines.
2. Authority Site
An authority site is a very high-quality website that is respected by knowledgeable people in its industry and has multiple traffic channels. Some examples are Forbes, BBC News, and AdWeek.
3. Above the Fold
When your website is ranking above the fold, that means people will know who you are. When you search a term, the results you see immediately are considered above the fold. It’s anything you see immediately when you land on a page.
4. Backlink
Backlinks are important to have in SEO. It’s a link one website gets from another website. This is how traffic is built and the quality of the backlinks should be more important that the quantity. Having a backlink from an authority site such as Forbes ranks much higher than having multiple from a friends blog. Search engines prefer what other people have to say about you than what you have to say about yourself.
5. Black Hat
Simply, black hat is a set of disapproved SEO practices. You can get penalized or banned by using black hat tactics. Having hidden text and links, buying links, keyword stuffing, and spam comments are a few blackhat tactics.
6. Crawler
Crawlers look at web pages and follow links on those pages. These crawlers, or “spiders,” go from link to link and bring data about those web pages back to the search engines.
7. External Links
If you link from your website to another website, this is an external link. External linking is becoming just as important as backlinking.
8. Landing Page
As mentioned in number 3, a landing page is where you land on after clicking a link be it via the search results or any other link. It’s where you’re taken to.
9. Ranking Factor
One element of how a search engine determines where to rank a certain page. These factors include the number of inbound links to a page or the contents of the title tag on that page. There are many other ranking factors.
10. Robots.txt
This is a standard used by websites to communicate with web crawlers. The robots.txt tell what the spiders should crawl and what should be indexed. You want your page to be indexed so it can be ranked so having a robots.txt. is a must.
11. Search Engine Results Page
Search Engine Results Page or SERP is the list of results you receive when you search a term on Google or Bing. Every SERP is unique to the user because it is based on the search term and due to the Google penguin update, location.
12. Sitemap
Sitemap along with robots.txt is probably one of the most important of the 13 SEO terms to know. A sitemap is an XML file that contains a list of all web pages on your site. It can also contain metadata information from your site. And just like robots.txt, a sitemap is a must-have.
13. White Hat
White hat refers to the usage of SEO strategies, techniques, and tactics that focus on a human audience opposed to search engines. Unlike black hat SEO, white hat SEO follows search engine rules and policies.So no spamming, link buying, or keyword stuffing.
Now that you’ve learned these 13 SEO terms, learn about the 12 acronyms you should know if you’re in marketing.
VIDEO:
More Perspectives:
5 SEO Tricks to Increase CTR (Click-Through Rate)
How to Use Social Media as a Nonprofit
FAQs
What is anchor text, and why is it important for SEO?
Anchor text is the clickable text in a hyperlink that directs users to another page. It’s important for SEO because search engines use the keywords in anchor text to understand the content of the linked page, helping determine its relevance and rank.
What is the difference between black hat and white hat SEO?
Black hat SEO involves using unethical practices like keyword stuffing, buying links, or hiding text to manipulate search engine rankings, which can result in penalties or bans. White hat SEO, on the other hand, follows search engine guidelines and focuses on creating high-quality, user-centered content and earning organic backlinks.
What is a sitemap, and why is it crucial for a website?
A sitemap is an XML file that lists all the pages of a website, helping search engines discover and index them efficiently. It also contains metadata that provides additional information about each page. Having a sitemap improves the chances of search engines understanding the structure of your site and ranking it appropriately.
What is the purpose of a robots.txt file?
A robots.txt file is used to communicate with web crawlers, instructing them on which parts of the website should or should not be crawled and indexed. This is essential for managing how search engines interact with your site and ensuring that only relevant content is indexed.