9 SEO Terms Explained Simply With Real-Life Examples
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can be complex, especially with the myriad of terms and jargon involved. To make it easier, we’ve simplified 9 essential SEO terms and provided real-life examples to help you understand and implement these concepts in your digital marketing strategy.
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1. Keyword
Explanation: Keywords are words or phrases that people type into search engines to find information. They are the foundation of SEO and help search engines understand the content of your website.
Example: If you own a bakery, keywords might include “fresh bread,” “custom cakes,” or “gluten-free pastries.”
SEO Tip: Use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner to find relevant keywords for your business.
2. On-Page SEO
Explanation: On-page SEO refers to the optimization of individual web pages to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engines. This includes optimizing content, meta tags, and internal links.
Example: A blog post about healthy eating should include relevant keywords in the title, headers, and throughout the content.
SEO Tip: Ensure your website’s images have alt text that describes the content of the image using relevant keywords.
RELATED: How to Find (and Win!) Long Tail Keywords for a Website
3. Backlink
Explanation: Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your site. They are crucial for SEO because they signal to search engines that your site is credible and valuable.
Example: If a popular food blog links to your bakery’s website in one of their posts, that’s a backlink.
SEO Tip: Build backlinks by creating high-quality content that others want to share and link to.
4. Meta Description
Explanation: A meta description is a short summary of a web page’s content that appears under the title in search engine results. It helps searchers understand what the page is about and can influence click-through rates.
Example: For a page about custom cakes, a meta description might be: “Explore our delicious custom cakes made with fresh ingredients and designed for any occasion. Order yours today!”
SEO Tip: Keep meta descriptions under 160 characters and include primary keywords.
RELATED: 5 Ways to Create a Winning SEO Content Marketing Strategy
5. Alt Text
Explanation: Alt text (alternative text) is used to describe images on a web page. It helps search engines understand what the image is about and improves accessibility for visually impaired users.
Example: For an image of a chocolate cake, the alt text might be: “Chocolate cake with dark chocolate frosting and fresh berries.”
SEO Tip: Write descriptive, keyword-rich alt text for all images on your website.
6. Anchor Text
Explanation: Anchor text is the clickable text in a hyperlink. It should be relevant to the page you’re linking to and help search engines understand the context of the link.
Example: In a blog post about baking tips, the anchor text “cake decorating ideas” could link to a page with tutorials on decorating cakes.
SEO Tip: Use clear and descriptive anchor text instead of generic phrases like “click here.”
RELATED: DIY SEO for Small Business: Your Easy-to-Follow Checklist
7. SERP (Search Engine Results Page)
Explanation: SERP is the page that search engines display in response to a query. It includes organic search results, paid ads, and other features like featured snippets and image results.
Example: When you search for “best bakery in NYC,” the SERP shows a list of bakeries, ads, and possibly a map with local bakery locations.
SEO Tip: Optimize your content to appear in featured snippets by answering common questions clearly and concisely.
8. Bounce Rate
Explanation: Bounce rate is the percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate can indicate that visitors aren’t finding what they’re looking for or that the page isn’t engaging.
Example: If someone lands on your bakery’s homepage and leaves without clicking on any other pages, that counts as a bounce.
SEO Tip: Reduce bounce rate by improving page load speed, creating engaging content, and ensuring your site is mobile-friendly.
RELATED: 5 Essential Tips Every Small Business Owner Needs to Know
9. Long-Tail Keywords
Explanation: Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific keyword phrases that visitors are more likely to use when they’re closer to making a purchase.
Example: Instead of “cakes,” a long-tail keyword might be “custom chocolate birthday cakes in NYC.”
SEO Tip: Target long-tail keywords to attract highly targeted traffic and improve conversion rates.
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