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SEO Glossary

Every SEO term explained in plain English. No jargon, no fluff.

A

Algorithm

The system Google uses to decide which websites to show for any given search. It considers hundreds of factors including content quality, page speed, and trustworthiness. Algorithm updates are changes to how these factors are weighted.

See how Korvex tracks algorithm changes

Anchor Text

The clickable text in a hyperlink. Instead of linking with 'click here', using descriptive anchor text like 'SEO monitoring tools' tells Google what the linked page is about. It is a small but meaningful ranking signal.

B

Bounce Rate

The percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate can signal that your content does not match what visitors expected, though it depends on the page type. A blog post with a high bounce rate is normal; a product page is not.

C

Canonical Tag

An HTML tag that tells Google which version of a page is the 'official' one. Useful when the same content exists at multiple URLs (common in e-commerce). Without it, Google may index the wrong version or split your ranking power between duplicates.

Click-Through Rate

The percentage of people who see your listing in search results and actually click on it. Abbreviated as CTR. A higher CTR means your title and description are compelling. Korvex tracks this daily for every page.

See how Korvex reports on CTR

Content Gap

A topic or keyword that your competitors rank for but you do not. Finding and filling content gaps is one of the fastest ways to grow organic traffic. Korvex identifies these automatically by analysing your competitors daily.

See how Korvex finds content gaps

Conversion Rate

The percentage of visitors who take a desired action on your site, such as making a purchase, filling out a form, or calling your business. This is the metric that connects SEO to actual revenue.

See how Korvex tracks conversions

Core Web Vitals

Three specific metrics Google uses to measure your website's user experience: loading speed (LCP), interactivity (INP), and visual stability (CLS). Poor scores can hurt your rankings. Google provides these metrics in Search Console.

See how Korvex monitors Core Web Vitals

Crawl Budget

The number of pages Google will crawl on your site within a given timeframe. Large sites with thousands of pages need to manage this carefully. If Google wastes its budget on unimportant pages, your key pages may not get indexed.

D

Domain Authority

A third-party score (not from Google) that predicts how likely a website is to rank. Developed by Moz, it ranges from 1 to 100. While useful as a rough benchmark, it is not a Google ranking factor. Focus on real metrics like traffic and revenue instead.

E

E-E-A-T

Stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. This is the framework Google uses to evaluate content quality. Pages that demonstrate real expertise and first-hand experience rank higher, especially in health, finance, and legal topics.

See how Korvex scores E-E-A-T

F

G

Google Business Profile

A free listing that controls how your business appears in Google Maps and local search results. Essential for any business with a physical location. Includes your address, hours, reviews, photos, and more.

Google Search Console

A free tool from Google that shows you how your website performs in search. It reveals which keywords drive traffic, which pages rank, and any technical issues Google finds. Korvex connects to Search Console to pull this data automatically.

See how Korvex integrates with Search Console

H

H1 Tag

The main heading on a webpage, defined in HTML. Each page should have exactly one H1 that clearly describes what the page is about. Think of it as the page's title. Google uses it as a strong signal of page content.

I

Indexing

The process by which Google adds your webpage to its database. A page must be indexed before it can appear in search results. If Google cannot find, access, or understand your page, it will not be indexed.

See how Korvex monitors indexing status

K

Keyword

A word or phrase that someone types into Google. Your goal is to rank for keywords that your potential customers use when searching for what you offer. Not all keywords are equal. The best ones have high search volume and strong buying intent.

Keyword Cannibalization

When multiple pages on your site compete for the same keyword. Instead of one strong page, Google sees several mediocre ones and may not rank any of them well. The fix is to consolidate the content into a single authoritative page.

See how Korvex detects cannibalization

Keyword Difficulty

A score that estimates how hard it would be to rank on page one for a specific keyword. Higher difficulty means more competition. Business owners should balance targeting high-volume keywords with ones they can realistically win.

Knowledge Graph

Google's database of facts about people, places, and things. When Google shows a panel of information on the right side of search results (like a company overview or person bio), that data comes from the Knowledge Graph.

Koray Score

A content quality rating out of 100 based on the methodology developed by Koray Tugberk. It measures topical coverage, entity relevance, content structure, and E-E-A-T signals. Korvex uses it to score every page on your site daily.

Read: What is a Koray score and why does it matter?

L

Landing Page

The first page a visitor sees when they arrive on your site from a search result, ad, or link. In SEO, every page that ranks for a keyword is effectively a landing page. Each one should be optimised to match the search intent it serves.

Local Pack

The group of three local businesses that appears in Google search results with a map. Appearing here requires a Google Business Profile and strong local SEO signals like reviews, location data, and local content.

Long-Tail Keyword

A longer, more specific search phrase like 'best waterproof hiking boots for wide feet' rather than just 'hiking boots'. Long-tail keywords have lower search volume but higher conversion rates because the searcher knows exactly what they want.

M

Meta Description

The short summary that appears below your page title in search results. While not a direct ranking factor, a well-written meta description increases your click-through rate. Keep it under 155 characters and make it compelling.

Mobile-First Indexing

Google predominantly uses the mobile version of your website for indexing and ranking. If your site looks different or has less content on mobile, that is what Google sees. Mobile usability is no longer optional; it is the baseline.

N

Nofollow

An HTML attribute that tells Google not to pass ranking credit through a link. Used for paid links, user-generated content, and untrusted sources. A mix of follow and nofollow links in your backlink profile is natural and expected.

O

Organic Traffic

Visitors who find your website through unpaid search results (as opposed to paid ads). Organic traffic is generally the most valuable traffic source because these visitors are actively searching for what you offer. It compounds over time unlike paid traffic.

See how Korvex tracks organic traffic

P

Page Speed

How fast your webpage loads. Google uses this as a ranking factor, and visitors abandon slow sites. Each additional second of load time increases bounce rate by roughly 32%. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights measure and diagnose speed issues.

See how Korvex monitors page speed

PageRank

Google's original algorithm for measuring page importance based on links. While Google no longer shares PageRank scores publicly, the concept still underlies how Google evaluates link-based authority. More quality links generally means more authority.

Position Zero

Another name for the featured snippet position. It appears above the traditional first result, giving the page enormous visibility. Structured content, clear answers to questions, and proper heading usage increase your chances of earning this position.

R

Redirect (301/302)

A redirect sends visitors and search engines from one URL to another. A 301 is permanent (passes full ranking power). A 302 is temporary (does not pass full ranking power). Using the wrong type is a common SEO mistake during site migrations.

Rich Snippet

An enhanced search result that shows extra information like star ratings, prices, recipe times, or FAQ answers. Rich snippets are powered by structured data (schema markup) and significantly improve click-through rates.

Robots.txt

A text file on your website that tells search engines which pages they can and cannot crawl. Misconfiguring this file can accidentally block important pages from Google. It is a simple file with significant consequences if set up wrong.

S

Schema Markup

Code you add to your website to help Google understand your content. It explicitly labels things like products, reviews, events, and FAQs. Proper schema markup enables rich snippets in search results, which increase visibility and clicks.

Search Intent

The reason behind a search query. Someone searching 'buy running shoes' has commercial intent. Someone searching 'how to clean running shoes' has informational intent. Matching your content to the right intent is critical for ranking.

See how Korvex analyses search intent

SERP

Search Engine Results Page. The page Google shows after you type a query. Modern SERPs include organic results, ads, featured snippets, knowledge panels, local packs, and more. Understanding SERP features helps you identify ranking opportunities.

Site Architecture

How your website's pages are organised and linked together. A clear, logical structure helps Google crawl and understand your site. It also helps visitors find what they need. Think of it as the blueprint of your website.

Sitemap

An XML file that lists all the important pages on your website. Submitting a sitemap to Google Search Console helps Google discover and crawl your pages more efficiently. Especially important for large sites or new sites with few external links.

Structured Data

A standardised format for providing information about a page and classifying its content. Also known as schema markup. It helps Google understand exactly what your page contains, enabling rich results in search.

T

Technical SEO

The practice of optimising the technical aspects of your website so search engines can crawl, index, and rank it effectively. Includes page speed, mobile usability, structured data, crawlability, and URL structure. The foundation everything else builds on.

See how Korvex handles technical SEO

Title Tag

The HTML element that defines a page's title. It appears as the clickable headline in search results and in the browser tab. The most important on-page SEO element. Keep it under 60 characters, include your primary keyword, and make it compelling.

Topical Authority

The extent to which Google considers your website an authority on a particular subject. Built by creating comprehensive, interlinked content across all aspects of a topic. A site with 50 thorough articles about hiking boots has more topical authority than one with two.

See how Korvex builds topical authority

U

URL Structure

How your page addresses are formatted. Clean, descriptive URLs like /products/hiking-boots are better for SEO and users than messy URLs like /p?id=38291. Good URL structure reflects your site hierarchy and includes relevant keywords.

User Experience (UX)

How easy and pleasant it is for visitors to use your website. Google increasingly uses user experience signals (like Core Web Vitals, mobile usability, and page layout) as ranking factors. A site that frustrates visitors will eventually lose rankings.

V

X

XML Sitemap

A structured file that lists all pages on your site that you want Google to know about. Different from an HTML sitemap (which is for users). Submit it via Google Search Console to ensure Google discovers all your important pages.

Stop Googling SEO terms. Start ranking.

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