When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), you’ll encounter many SEO acronyms and terms every day.
Learning SEO terminology can feel a lot like learning another language at times. If you’re feeling confused or looking for a resource to share with your team, we created this ultimate SEO glossary to help you out.
Check out our list of SEO terms and definitions below!
404
404 Page (SEO)
A custom error page that helps users find content instead of bouncing. Keep links and search box.
A
A/B testing
Test two versions to see which converts better. Change one big thing at a time.
AI Overviews (SGE)
Google’s AI answers that summarize topics. Optimize with structured, trustworthy content.
AOV (Average Order Value)
Average revenue per order. Lift using bundles, upsells, and thresholds.
Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)
Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)
Accessibility (a11y)
Designing websites so people with disabilities can use them. Includes alt text, contrast, keyboard navigation, and ARIA roles.
Algorithm
Algorithm
Ad Assets (Extensions)
Extra elements like sitelinks, callouts, and images. Improve CTR and relevance.
Ad Group
A set of ads and keywords around one theme. Tight groups raise Quality Score.
Ad Rank
Google’s score for auction position based on bid, quality, and impact of assets.
Ad Schedule
Hours/days your ads run. Align with business hours and conversion windows.
Ad Strength
Google’s signal of ad variety and relevance, especially for RSAs.
Add‑to‑Cart Rate
Percent of sessions adding an item. Diagnose with product fit, price, and UX.
Alt Text
Text that describes an image for accessibility and SEO. Use plain, descriptive language.
Anchor Text
The clickable text of a link. Descriptive, relevant anchors help Google understand topics.
Analytics
Analytics
API (Application Programming Interface)
API (Application Programming Interface)
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
B
C
Carousel Ad
Carousel Ad
CCPA
California privacy law governing data rights and disclosures. Requires opt‑outs and notices.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
Code that controls how a site looks—layout, fonts, spacing. Clean CSS improves speed and perceived quality.
Call to Action (CTA)
Words or buttons that drive the next step. Make it specific and benefit‑led.
Canonical Tag
Tells Google the preferred version of similar pages. Prevents duplicate content dilution.
Cart Recovery Email
Automated message that brings cart abandoners back with reminders or incentives.
Chatbot
Chatbot
Citation
Finding and fixing inconsistent NAP data across directories.
Click‑Through Rate (CTR)
Clicks divided by impressions. A proxy for ad relevance to the query.
Click Fraud
Click Fraud
CMS (Content Management System)
CMS (Content Management System)
Community Management
Responding to comments and DMs, moderating, and nurturing fans.
Content Marketing
Content Marketing
Content Calendar
A schedule that plans posts, campaigns, and themes. Keeps cadence consistent.
Cloaking
Cloaking
Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)
Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)
Conversion Rate (CRO)
Conversion Rate (CRO)
Conversion Tracking
Conversion Tracking
Cookies (1P/3P)
Small files that store user info. First‑party persists; third‑party is being phased out.
Cost Per Mille (CPM)
Cost Per Mille (CPM)
Core Web Vitals
Google’s speed and stability metrics: LCP, INP, CLS. Better scores support ranking and UX.
Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)
Average cost to get one lead or sale. A key efficiency metric.
Cost Per Click (CPC)
What you pay for each ad click. Influenced by competition and Quality Score.
Crawler
Crawler
Crawlability
How easily search bots access content. Clean architecture, internal links, and sitemaps help.
Crisis Management
Plans and actions to handle negative press or incidents. Speed, honesty, and fixes matter.
D
De-index
De-index
Deliverability
Your ability to land in the inbox, not spam. Depends on reputation and authentication.
Demand Gen Campaigns
Google campaign type using YouTube, Discovery, and Gmail to create demand.
Disavow File
A list you submit to ignore toxic links. Use carefully after clear link spam issues.
Display Ads
Visual banners across sites and apps. Great for reach, remarketing, and creatives.
Display Network
Display Network
Do Not Sell/Share
Consumer control under CCPA/CPRA for data selling or sharing.
Domain Name
Domain Name
Domain Authority
Domain Authority
Domain Name System (DNS)
Domain Name System (DNS)
Do-follow / Dofollow backlinks
Do-follow / Dofollow backlinks
Double Opt‑In
Users confirm their subscription via email. Produces cleaner lists and higher engagement.
Drip Campaign
Automated sequence that nurtures leads over time. Tailor by behavior and stage.
Duplicate Content
Substantially similar content across URLs. Use canonicals or consolidation.
Dynamic Ads
Dynamic Ads
E
ESP (Email Service Provider)
Platforms like Acumbamail or Mailchimp to design, send, and track email.
E-Commerce SEO
E-Commerce SEO
Email Marketing
Email Marketing
Email Automation
Email Automation
Embeddings
Numeric vectors that capture meaning of text or images. Enable semantic search.
Engagement
Likes, comments, shares, saves, and replies. A signal of post relevance.
Event (GA4)
A user interaction sent to analytics, replacing the old hit types.
External link
External link
Exact Match
Shows on searches with the same meaning. Good for high‑intent control.
E‑E‑A‑T
Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust. Build with credible authors, sources, and proof.
F
Front-End Development
Front-End Development
FTP
FTP
Favicon
The small icon shown in browser tabs and bookmarks. Improves brand recognition and click confidence.
Featured Snippet
A highlighted answer box on Google. Win it with concise, structured, question‑based content.
Feed Optimization
Clean product titles, attributes, and images to improve Shopping ad performance.
Form Optimization
Shorten fields, add autofill, and clarify errors. Speeds completion.
G
GA4 (Google Analytics 4)
Event‑based analytics with engagement metrics and privacy‑friendly design.
Guest Blogging
Guest Blogging
Google Ads
Google Ads
GDPR
EU privacy law requiring lawful basis and user rights for data processing.
GenAI‑Works
Coozmoo’s proprietary system for AI‑powered content and search optimization.
Geo‑Modifiers
Location words like ‘near me’ or city names in queries. Align pages and GBP for them.
Google Business Profile (GBP)
Google’s listing for local visibility on Maps and Search. Keep NAP, hours, and categories accurate.
Google Merchant Center
Google’s system for product feeds powering Shopping ads. Keep data accurate.
Google Tag Manager (GTM)
A container that deploys tags without code pushes. Speeds testing and tracking.
Googlebot
Googlebot
Google Search Console
Google Search Console
Growth Hacking
Growth Hacking
Grey Hat
Grey Hat
H
H1/H2/H3 Headings
Structured headings that organize content. One H1 per page; use subheads to map topics.
Hashtags
Keywords with # that make content discoverable in searches and trends.
Heatmap
Heatmap
Hyperlink
Hyperlink
Hero Section
The top visual block of a page with headline, benefit, and CTA. Sets clarity and relevance fast.
HTTP / HTTPS
HTTP / HTTPS
HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
Homepage
Homepage
Hosting
Hosting
Hummingbird
Hummingbird
Hreflang
Hreflang
I
Inbound Link
Inbound Link
Image Compression
Reducing file size without killing quality. Improves load time and Core Web Vitals.
Impression
Each time your ad is shown. Watch alongside reach and frequency.
Indexing
When search engines store your pages for retrieval. Block low‑value pages; ensure key URLs are indexable.
Influencer Marketing
Partnering with creators who have audience trust. Pick for fit, not just follower count.
Internal Links
Links between your own pages that pass context and authority. Build topic clusters with hubs.
IP Address
IP Address
J
JavaScript SEO
Ensuring JS‑rendered content is crawlable and indexed. Use hydration checks and dynamic rendering if needed.
JSON
JSON
K
Keyword Cannibalization
Multiple pages target the same term and compete. Consolidate or re‑target to fix.
Keyword Difficulty
How hard it is to rank for a term based on competition and authority.
Keyword Density
Keyword Density
Keyword Intent
What the searcher wants: informational, navigational, transactional, or local.
Keyword Research
Finding terms your audience uses and mapping them to pages. Balance intent, volume, and difficulty.
KPI (Key Performance Indicator)
KPI (Key Performance Indicator)
L
Landing Page
A focused page built for one action like leads or sales. Removes distractions and aligns with ad intent.
Lead Magnet
A free, useful resource offered for contact details. Kick‑starts nurture.
Lead Generation
Lead Generation
List Hygiene
Regularly removing inactive or bad contacts to protect sender score.
Local Citations
Mentions of NAP on directories and sites. Consistency builds trust and local rank.
Local Finder
The full list view that opens from the map pack. Optimize to appear high there.
Local Pack (Map Pack)
The 3‑pack of map results. Proximity, relevance, and prominence drive it.
Local SEO
Optimizing for nearby searches. Focus on GBP, reviews, pages per location, and links.
Local Services Ads (LSA)
Pay‑per‑lead ads for local providers with Google screening. Great for service businesses.
LSI Keywords
LSI Keywords
Lookalike / Similar Audiences
Find new prospects similar to your best customers. Works with first‑party data.
Link Building
Link Building
Long tail keywords
Long tail keywords
LTV (Life time value)
LTV (Life time value)
M
Machine Learning (ML)
Machine Learning (ML)
Manual Action
A Google penalty for policy violations. Fix issues, then submit reconsideration.
Maximize Conversions
Automated bid strategy optimizing for volume of conversions.
Media Kit
A folder with logos, photos, bios, and facts for journalists.
Media Outreach
Directly contacting journalists to earn coverage beyond distribution.
Meta Description
A short summary shown in SERPs. Write benefit‑led copy to improve CTR.
Meta Title (Title Tag)
The main ranking title in SERPs. Lead with the primary keyword and value.
Mobile-First Design
Design for small screens first, then expand. Matches user behavior and Google’s mobile indexing.
N
Negative Keywords
Terms you exclude to avoid irrelevant clicks. Essential for budget control.
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Nofollow
Link attribute that doesn’t pass authority. Use on untrusted or paid links.
Noindex
Directive that tells search engines not to index a page. Use for thin or private pages.
O
Open Graph Tags
Tags that control how your page preview looks on social platforms. Better previews drive higher CTR.
On page SEO
On page SEO
Off page SEO
Off page SEO
Open Rate
Percent of recipients who opened. Use as a trend, not an absolute metric.
Opt‑In
Permission to receive email or SMS. Required for compliance and performance.
Organic Reach
How many people see your posts without ads. Driven by relevance, recency, and relationships.
OrganicTraffic
OrganicTraffic
Omnichanel Marketing
Omnichanel Marketing
Outbound Link
Outbound Link
Orphan Page
Page with no internal links pointing to it. Add links or remove.
P
Page Experience
Overall usability signals including speed, stability, and safety. Supports rankings and retention.
Pagination (SEO)
Correctly linking paginated lists with logical structure. Avoid orphaning and duplicates.
Paid Social
Advertising on social platforms. Use creative testing and conversion APIs for performance.
Paid Search
Paid Search
People Also Ask (PAA)
Expandable Q&A boxes in SERPs. Target with concise answers and FAQ schema.
Performance Max (PMax)
Goal‑based campaign across all Google inventory using automation.
Personalization
Tailoring experiences by segment, behavior, or context to lift relevance.
Pillar Page
A comprehensive hub page covering a topic. Supports cluster pages and internal links.
Page Speed
Page Speed
Pixel
A small script that records actions for ads and analytics platforms.
PPC
PPC
Prompt Engineering
Prompt Engineering
Press Release
A formal announcement sent to media about company news.
Primary Category (GBP)
The main business type on GBP. Choose carefully—it heavily impacts ranking.
Privacy Policy
A public page explaining what data you collect and how you use it.
Product Feed
A structured list of products with attributes like price, GTIN, and availability.
Product Reviews (Ecom)
Social proof on PDPs that reduces doubt and increases conversion.
Programmatic Advertising
Automated, real‑time ad buying via DSPs and exchanges. Scales targeting and reach.
Prompt Engineering
Crafting inputs that guide AI to better answers. Clear roles, constraints, and examples help.
Q
Query (Search Query)
Query (Search Query)
Quality Score
Ad relevance + expected CTR + landing page experience. Higher QS lowers CPC.
R
Ranking
Ranking
Reach
Reach
Rich Snippet
Rich Snippet
Return on Investment (ROI)
Return on Investment (ROI)
Rank Tracking
Monitoring keyword positions over time. Focus on groups and business outcomes, not vanity ranks.
Redirect (301/302)
Permanent or temporary URL forwarding. Preserve equity and guide bots/users correctly.
Remarketing (Retargeting)
Show ads to users who visited or acted before. Tailor creative by funnel stage.
Reputation Management
Tactics to push down negatives and highlight positives via content and PR.
Responsive Design
Layouts that adapt to any screen or device. Essential for usability, SEO, and conversions.
Responsive Search Ads (RSA)
Ads that mix headlines/descriptions dynamically. Provide variety and pin when needed.
Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)
Revenue divided by ad spend. A core profitability metric.
Review Management
Collecting, responding to, and resolving reviews. Improves ratings and local rank.
Robots.txt
File that tells crawlers what not to access. Don’t block important assets like CSS/JS.
S
SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)
Unique product identifier for tracking inventory and sales.
SMS Marketing
Promotional or transactional texts. Keep short, timely, and value‑driven.
Scraping
Scraping
Sitemap (XML)
A bot‑friendly list of important URLs. Keep clean, updated, and error‑free.
Schema Markup (Structured Data)
Code that adds meaning (FAQ, product, review). Enhances rich results and CTR.
SERP (Search Engine Results Page)
SERP (Search Engine Results Page)
Search Engine
Search Engine
Search Intent
The reason behind a query. Align content type and depth to match it.
Search Volume
Estimated monthly searches for a keyword. Use directionally—tools vary.
SSL Certificate
SSL Certificate
Segmentation
Grouping contacts by traits or behavior for more relevant messages.
Semantic SEO
Cover related entities and questions deeply, linking clusters. Helps AI overviews and rankings.
Service Area Business (SAB)
Businesses that serve customers at their location (no storefront). Set service areas in GBP.
Session
A group of interactions by a user in a time window. In GA4, sessions are event‑based.
Shopping Ads
Product ads using Merchant Center feeds. Great for e‑commerce intent.
Spam Score
Spam Score
Smart Bidding
Automated bidding using signals like device, location, and intent.
Social Listening
Monitoring platforms for mentions and themes. Turns feedback into improvements.
Social Proof
Signals like reviews, UGC, and counts that build trust and reduce anxiety.
Star Rating
Average review score users see on listings and SERPs. Strong predictor of conversion.
Subscription Commerce
Recurring deliveries with predictable revenue. Focus on churn and onboarding.
T
Target CPA
Bid to hit a specific acquisition cost. Requires stable conversion data.
Technical SEO
Technical SEO
Temperature (AI)
Controls randomness in generation. Lower = focused; higher = creative.
Thin Content
Pages with little value or duplication. Merge, expand, or noindex.
Thought Leadership
Publishing expert opinions to shape category conversations.
Token (AI)
Chunks of text AI reads and writes. Affects context length and cost.
Topic Cluster
A pillar page with interlinked subtopics. Signals topical authority to Google.
Title Tag
Title Tag
Top of Funnel (TOFU)
Top of Funnel (TOFU)
Trust Signals
Badges, guarantees, and transparent policies that reduce risk perception.
U
UGC (User‑Generated Content)
Content made by customers or fans. Authentic, scalable, and high converting.
UI (User Interface)
Visual and interactive elements—buttons, forms, menus. Clear UI makes actions obvious.
URL Slug
The readable part of a URL. Keep short, descriptive, and keyword‑aligned.
UTM Parameters
Tags added to URLs for source/medium/campaign tracking.
UTM Tags on GBP
Track clicks from GBP to your site. Adds clarity in analytics.
UTM in Email
Track campaign/source/medium with tagged links to see downstream impact.
UX (User Experience)
How easy and satisfying it is to use your site. Driven by clarity, speed, and trust.
Upselling & Cross‑Selling
How easy it is for the content on a website to be discovered by search engines and users.
Usability Testing
Watch users try to complete tasks. Reveals blockers you won’t catch in reports.
V
Value Proposition
A clear statement of who you help, how, and why you’re different.
Video Marketing
Video Marketing
Viral Content
Viral Content
Voice Search SEO
Optimize for conversational queries and local intent. Aim for concise answers and speed.
W
WebP
Modern image format that loads faster with good quality. Boosts speed metrics.
Web Traffic
Web Traffic
White hat SEO
White hat SEO
Wireframe
A blueprint of a page layout before design and copy. Aligns teams on structure and priority.
Y
YouTube Marketing
YouTube Marketing
Z
Zero‑Click Search
Searches resolved on the SERP via snippets, PAA, or maps. Optimize for visibility and brand.
Zero‑Party Data
Data a user intentionally shares (preferences, intentions). High‑quality and compliant.
Zombie Pages
Zombie Pages
