99 SEO Terms Explained - Part 3

21. ALT Text

ALT Text (Alternative Text) is used within the HTML code to describe the appearance and function of an image on a webpage. While it primarily serves as a description for visually impaired users, it also plays a crucial role in SEO. Search engines use ALT text to understand what an image represents, helping them to index it properly. Well-written ALT text can improve image SEO and even contribute to your overall website rankings. Make sure your ALT text is descriptive and relevant to the content of the page for the best results.

22. E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

E-A-T stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, a set of guidelines used by Google to assess the quality of websites and their content. E-A-T is especially critical for "Your Money, Your Life" (YMYL) websites, which cover topics like health, finance, and legal advice. Demonstrating expertise involves showcasing deep knowledge in your niche, while authoritativeness is about being a recognized leader or trusted source in your field. Finally, trustworthiness means ensuring your site is secure, transparent, and reliable. Improving your E-A-T can significantly boost your SEO, particularly for competitive topics.

23. Local SEO

Local SEO is the practice of optimizing your online presence to attract more business from relevant local searches. It's especially important for brick-and-mortar businesses or service providers that cater to a specific geographic location. Local SEO strategies include creating and optimizing a Google My Business profile, obtaining local citations, and encouraging customer reviews. Keywords that include local identifiers like city names and optimizing for mobile users are also crucial elements of local SEO. Local SEO helps your business stand out in local searches, making it easier for nearby customers to find you.

24. Semantic Search

Semantic Search refers to the way search engines attempt to understand the intent and contextual meaning behind a user's search query. Instead of just matching keywords, search engines now focus on the broader context, using natural language processing and machine learning to offer more accurate results. For SEO, this means that simply stuffing keywords into content is no longer effective. Instead, creating content that answers users' questions and provides valuable, contextually relevant information is key. Semantic search is designed to provide better results by understanding what the searcher is really asking for.

26. Evergreen Content

Evergreen Content is content that remains relevant and valuable over a long period, regardless of the passage of time. This type of content typically covers topics that are always of interest to your audience, rather than being time-sensitive or trending. Examples include how-to guides, FAQs, and comprehensive industry overviews. Evergreen content can help boost SEO performance because it consistently attracts traffic, backlinks, and engagement over time. Regular updates to evergreen content also ensure it stays fresh and valuable to readers and search engines alike.

27. Long-tail Keywords

Long-tail Keywords are highly specific search phrases consisting of three or more words. Unlike short, broad keywords, long-tail keywords tend to have lower search volume but are more targeted and less competitive. Users who search with long-tail keywords are often further along in their buyer journey and more likely to convert. For example, instead of targeting a generic keyword like "shoes," a long-tail keyword could be "best running shoes for flat feet." Incorporating long-tail keywords into your SEO strategy can help you attract a niche audience that is more likely to engage with your content or products.

28. SEO

We can't talk about SEO without understanding the term itself. SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of enhancing a website to improve its visibility on search engines like Google. SEO involves a variety of strategies, from on-page optimization like content creation and keyword usage to technical aspects like improving site speed and mobile-friendliness. The goal of SEO is to drive organic (non-paid) traffic to a website by improving its rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs). Effective SEO requires a holistic approach, covering everything from high-quality content to user experience and link building.

29. Anchor Text

Anchor Text is the clickable text in a hyperlink, usually displayed in a different color or underlined. The words you choose for anchor text are important because they provide context to search engines and users about the linked page's content. Optimized anchor text can boost SEO when it's relevant and descriptive, helping search engines understand the relationship between linked pages. However, over-optimization (like using too many exact-match keywords) can lead to penalties. Using a mix of branded, exact-match, and generic anchor text is a good practice for effective SEO.

30. Featured Snippet

A Featured Snippet is a summary of an answer to a user's query displayed at the top of Google's search results in a special box, often called "Position Zero." Featured snippets aim to answer search queries directly, often without the need for users to click through to a website. There are different types of featured snippets, including paragraphs, lists, and tables. Getting your content featured in this space can significantly increase your visibility and traffic. To optimize for featured snippets, answer common questions clearly and concisely in your content, using structured data where applicable.