Table of Contents
Anyone learning SEO for the first time benefits from understanding the core ideas that shape how websites gain visibility. Following are the basic seo terms and concepts used commonly online.
Key SEO Terms
| Term | Basic Meaning |
|---|---|
| Traffic | The number of visitors reaching a website. |
| Keywords | Words people type into search engines to find information. |
| Backlinks | Links from other websites pointing to your pages. |
| Optimization | Enhancing content and structure so a page performs better. |
| Crawlability | How easily search engines can explore and access a website. |
| Content | Search engine results pages are shown after a user enters a query. |
| Ranking | A page’s position in search engine results. |
| Metadata | Behind-the-scenes titles and descriptions that explain a page. |
| SERPs | How pages are organised and linked across a website. |
| Information is published on a website, such as text, visuals, or videos. | The goal or purpose behind a user’s search. |
| User Experience | How easy and pleasant it is for visitors to use a website. |
| Site Structure | The process by which search engines store pages for showing in results. |
| Indexing | Enhancing content and structure so that a page performs better. |
| Page Speed | How quickly a webpage loads and responds. |
| Mobile-Friendliness | How well a site works on phones and tablets. |
| Authority | How trustworthy and credible a website appears to search engines. |
Traffic
Traffic refers to the flow of visitors reaching a website, often through search engines. A blog gaining steady daily visitors through simple search queries is benefiting from healthy traffic.
Keywords
Keywords are the exact terms users type into search engines. Someone looking for an affordable laptop types those words directly into Google, making them a keyword that guides content creation.
Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other sites that point to a page. When a popular tech reviewer links to a product page from their own article, that connection counts as a backlink and increases credibility.
Optimization
Optimization involves improving elements like headings, layout, and clarity so that a page becomes easier to understand. A blog post with a clearer title and smoother paragraph structure reflects this process.
Crawlability
Crawlability measures how easily search bots can explore and understand a site. A website that avoids broken links and loads reliably allows search engines to crawl its pages without difficulty.
Content
Content includes the articles, videos, and visuals a website provides to help its audience. A fitness site that publishes weekly workout guidance is actively improving its content library.
Ranking
Ranking refers to a page’s position in search results. A travel guide appearing near the top for searches related to Bali shows that the page ranks well for that topic.
Metadata
Metadata consists of titles and descriptions that help search engines interpret a page. A clear headline describing a beginner-friendly sourdough recipe demonstrates how metadata shapes understanding.
SERPs
SERPs are the pages users see after entering a query. When someone searches for the day’s weather and sees a page filled with forecasts and links, they’re looking at a SERP.
Basic Concepts in SEO
Search Intent
Search intent reveals what a user hopes to accomplish with their query. Someone typing in “best wireless earbuds under $50” is clearly searching with a purchasing goal in mind.
User Experience
User experience focuses on how enjoyable and easy a site is to use. A store that loads quickly and lets shoppers find products without effort is offering good usability.
Site Structure
Site structure shapes how information is organized and interconnected. A cooking website that groups recipes into breakfast, lunch, and dinner categories is applying strong structural organization.
Indexing
Indexing occurs when search engines save a page into their database so it can appear in results. A newly published article might take a bit of time to be stored this way before it becomes visible.
You can get your articles indexed by Google Search Console.
Page Speed
Page speed measures how quickly a page loads and responds. A site that opens almost instantly keeps visitors engaged and reduces frustration.
Mobile-Friendliness
Mobile-friendliness ensures a website works smoothly on phones and tablets. A clothing store whose layout adjusts neatly to smaller screens shows strong mobile compatibility.
Authority
Authority represents how trustworthy and reliable a website appears. A health-related site backed by experienced professionals tends to hold more weight in search results.
You can find the authority score or authority rating of a website by using seo tools like Semrush or Ahrefs.
If you have any issues regarding SEO, book your consultation today at Promotezz International.