Glossary
Backlinks
Links from one website to another. In the context of local SEO, backlinks from relevant local websites to your site can improve your search engine visibility by indicating your website’s importance and relevance.
Citations
Mentions of your business name, address, and phone number on other webpages, even if there is no link to your website. Citations from well-established and well-indexed portals help increase the degree of certainty search engines have about your business’s contact information and categorization.
Geotargeting
The practice of delivering content or advertisements to a user based on their geographic location. In local SEO, geotargeting is used to target customers in a specific area.
Google Business Profile (GBP)
Previously known as Google My Business (GMB), it’s a free tool for businesses and organizations to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps.
Google Maps
A web mapping service developed by Google. It provides detailed information about geographical regions and sites around the world. In local SEO, being accurately listed on Google Maps is crucial for driving foot traffic.
Google My Business (GMB)
A free tool provided by Google that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. It helps businesses provide key information like location, hours, and services.
Keywords
Words or phrases that describe the content on your page or post best. Keywords are the terms that searchers enter into search engines. Your pages will rank better for those keywords if the keywords are effectively incorporated into your SEO strategies.
Local Pack
A section of Google’s search results that shows the local businesses related to your query. It typically displays a map, places listings, and vital business information like addresses and phone numbers.
Local Search
A search aimed at finding something within a specific geographic area. For example, “coffee shops near me” or “best plumber in [City Name].”
Local SEO
The process of optimizing your online presence to attract more business from relevant local searches. This includes optimization across search engines, maps, and local directories.
Marketing
The action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising. In the context of local SEO, it involves strategies to promote a local business online.
NAP Consistency
The practice of ensuring your business’s Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) are consistently listed the same way across all online platforms, including your website, social media profiles, and business directories.
Organic Search Traffic
Visitors who come to your website from unpaid search engine listings. It is traffic considered earned rather than paid for, indicating your website’s relevance and authority on certain topics or locations.
PageRank
An algorithm used by Google Search to rank web pages in their search engine results. It is based on the premise that more important websites are likely to receive more links from other websites.
Prominence
How well-known a business is, which can affect its visibility in local search results. Prominence is based on information that search engines have about a business, from across the web, like links, articles, and directories.
Proximity
The closeness of the searcher to the business location. In local searches, search engines prioritize businesses that are nearest to the searcher’s location to provide the most relevant local options.
Relevance
In local SEO, relevance refers to how well a local business’s online information matches what the searcher is looking for. This can be influenced by accurate business categorization, detailed service descriptions, and targeted keywords.
Search Engine Results Page (SERP)
The page displayed by a web search engine in response to a query by a searcher. The main component of the SERP is the listing of results returned by the search engine in response to a keyword query.
Sitemap
A file where you provide information about the pages, videos, and other files on your site, and the relationships between them. Search engines read this file to more intelligently crawl your site.
Spam
In the context of local SEO, spam can refer to the practice of using unethical techniques to manipulate search rankings. This includes keyword stuffing, fake reviews, and creating false listings.