SEO Terminology: 5 Points to Know About SEO

Some people find SEO or Search Engine Optimization a little too complicated because there are too many foreign terms used. Below you'll find some of the more common terms you need to know to help you understand the basics of Search Engine Optimization.

1. SEO

SEO means "Search Engine Optimization." This refers to several techniques and processed that are done to a website in order to improve its ranking on search engines using certain keywords or keyword phrases.

The real goal behind this is to increase the traffic to a particular site in hopes of generating better business. Studies have shown that the top 1-4 listings get more traffic than others found on the page, hence this is the main goal for adding SEO.

2. SEM

SEM means "Search Engine Marketing." Pinning SEM to a particular meaning is a bit tricky since some people disagree about what the term means.

However, generally, these SEM specialists use three particular practices when it comes to promoting their client's websites.

· Traditional SEO techniques for both on-page and off-page search engine optimization strategies
· Purchasing paid ads offered by search engines, most likely from Google, Yahoo or Bing
· Purchasing paid 'inclusions' from search engines. This is when a specialist pays a search engine in order to guarantee that they'll be included in the search.

3. SERPs

These stand for "Search Engine Results Pages." This is the page that comes up whenever you use a search engine like Google. When you use SEO, it helps improve your web page's ranking among all the other listings on the SERPs.

4. Keyword Phrase

A keyword phrase is any set of word that internet users type into search engines when they start a search. The main goal of the SEO Consultant is to find out which keyword phrases are most important to your website or type of business since this will bring your target audience to your page.

Once this has been determined, the phrases are used during the optimization process with the intent of getting higher rankings based on the specific terms.

5. Backlinks

Although commonly used, it's hard to define backlinks since there are other terms that can be used in its place. This link could come from an image, banner or it could be a link in the text.

When it comes to SEO, the text links are the most important with the goal to include the keyword phrases you are optimizing for.

You'll find hundreds of SEO terms out there but knowledge of the above terms and its meaning should help you get started. Regardless of whether you want to learn about SEO to help improve your website or to be able to discuss these things with your SEO specialist, it's important to find out and learn more about this. You'll find plenty of great resources online.

Article by John Neuhaus, he helps local business increase revenues, grow their customer base for St. Louis SEO and St Louis Web Design.
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