As a business owner, you know how to provide your service, sell your product, or run your organization and that’s a lot on its own, so learning the terminology of the web can be very confusing for the uninitiated. Terms like SERP, Meta Tags, Indexing, Backlinks, Impressions, and so many more get thrown around all the time.
Over the next several months, we will explore some of these terms together to hopefully demystify SEO and get you started on the path to high traffic, high conversions, and high ranking.
First of all, what is SEO?
Short for Search Engine Optimization, this term just refers to tactics we can employ to make sure your websites are both discoverable to and optimized for search engines.
And remember, if you need help with your web strategy, get in touch with us!
Anatomy of a Search Result
There are so many words and phrases that circle SEO, that it can be maddening. Let’s go over just a few of these core concepts, starting with the main sections of a SERP.
- SERP – This stands for “Search Engine Results Page” and refers to what you see when you search Google, Bing, or any other search engine. This is often broken down further into three sections, paid spots, local results, and organic results.
- Paid Ads – Usually at the top of the search results page, these spots are reserved for ad campaigns. These are sponsored results.
- Organic – Like organic juices? Nope! Organic in this context means non-paid search results that appear based on relevance to the user who is searching at the specific time they are searching
- Local Results – When you search for restaurants, grocery stores, car dealerships, movie theaters, local internet marketing agencies or any other local business, you’ll see a section of the results dedicated to Google Business Profiles, Apple Maps listings, Bing Places, etc. These results are considered local results and are usually accompanied by customer reviews and a map listing as well as a click to call or directions link.
Now that you understand the layout of a Search Result, let’s talk about a few other terms that will be important to your journey going forward.
- Keyword – The word or phrase a searcher types into the search engine. Example: “digital marketing agencies near me”
- Search Intent – The reason behind a search, why a user searches for a keyword (to get information, to make a purchase, etc). Search engines are really good at determining why users are searching based on searcher behavior.
- Rank – This is the position a web page has on a search results page for any specific search query
Speaking the Language of SEO
Understanding the language of SEO is just the first step to understanding SEO as a whole. While it might feel like a lot at first, getting comfortable with these terms empowers you to make smarter decisions about your web presence and your marketing strategy.
Whether you’re doing SEO in-house or working with an agency like Posture, a solid grasp of the basics helps you ask the right questions, spot opportunities, and stay informed as the digital ecosystem evolves.
If you’re ready to put this knowledge to work but want some backup, our team is here to help. Let’s build a web strategy that delivers results.
Need help optimizing your website? Get in touch with Posture today.
