Glossary

Making sense of the jargon, so you don't have to.

The TSCA SEO Glossary

Terms

  • 10 Blue Links

    The 10 Blue Links refer to the traditional format of Google search results, displaying ten organic listings, each with a blue clickable title and URL.

  • A/B Testing

    A/B testing, also known as split testing, is a method of comparing two versions of a webpage or app to determine which one performs better. This method is widely used in various industries to optimise the user experience and increase conversions. By analysing data from A/B tests, businesses can make informed decisions that lead to

  • Above the Fold

    “Above the Fold” is a prominent term in web design and content creation. Originating from the newspaper industry, it refers to the upper half of the front page of a newspaper, where the most crucial news stories are placed. This prime real estate is intended to catch the reader’s attention immediately. In the digital generation,

  • Aged Domains

    If you’re looking to create a new website or enhance your existing one, you may have come across the term “aged domains.” An aged domain refers to a domain name that has been registered for a considerable period and has previously hosted a website. These domains can hold significant value due to factors such as

  • CTR (Click-Through Rate)

    Click-through rate (CTR) measures the percentage of clicks your ad or link receives relative to the number of impressions, indicating its effectiveness in driving traffic.

  • Declined Keywords

    Declined keywords are those that have dropped in ranking but remain within the top 100 search results. Monitoring them helps recover lost positions and optimise traffic.

  • Declined Keywords

    Declined keywords are those that have dropped in ranking but remain within the top 100 search results. Monitoring them helps recover lost positions and optimise traffic.

  • Destination Site

    A Destination Site is the website a user visits directly after leaving your domain. Understanding this can provide insights into user intent and competitor analysis.

  • Direct Traffic

    Direct traffic refers to visits where users access a website by typing its URL directly into their browser, indicating strong brand recognition and user loyalty.

  • Disavow

    Disavow is a technique used in SEO to remove low-quality or spammy backlinks from your profile, telling search engines not to consider these links in their ranking calculations, thereby protecting your site’s reputation.

  • Display Ads

    Display ads combine text, images, and videos to promote products or services. They appear on websites, apps, and social media, driving traffic and building brand awareness.

  • Ecommerce (Electronic Commerce)

    Ecommerce refers to the buying and selling of goods and services online, involving various models such as B2C, B2B, and C2C, and supported by digital platforms.

  • Engagement Rate

    Engagement rate measures how effectively social media posts generate interactions, calculated by dividing total interactions by impressions, multiplied by 100, to gauge audience interest and participation.

  • Estimated Accuracy

    Estimated Accuracy is a metric that gauges the reliability of traffic data, with larger websites generally having higher accuracy due to larger data sample sizes.

  • Estimated Traffic

    Estimated Traffic is a metric used to gauge the amount of traffic a website receives, calculated through Semrush tools like Domain Analytics, Traffic Analytics, and Position Tracking.

  • Facebook Engagement

    Facebook Engagement measures audience interactions on your posts, including reactions, comments, shares, and clicks, offering valuable insights into content effectiveness and audience connection.

  • Follow Links

    Follow links pass authority to linked sites, influencing SEO rankings. They signal trust and credibility, making them essential for building domain authority and improving search visibility.

  • GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

    The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) ensures data privacy and security across the EU and EEA, mandating explicit consent, transparency, and stringent penalties for non-compliance.

  • Google AdSense

    Google AdSense is an advertising program that allows website owners to earn revenue by displaying targeted ads based on their content, driving traffic and engagement.

  • Google Algorithm

    The Google Algorithm determines the ranking of websites based on relevance, quality, and user experience, using complex signals and frequent updates to deliver the best search results.

  • Google Analytics (GA)

    Google Analytics is a free tool that provides detailed insights into website traffic, user behaviour, acquisition channels, and conversion rates, helping optimise digital marketing efforts.

  • Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)

    Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) helps local businesses manage their presence on Google Search and Maps, allowing them to engage with customers and improve visibility.

  • Google Looker Studio

    Google Looker Studio is a free tool for creating custom reports and data visualisations, integrating data from multiple sources to deliver actionable insights for businesses.

  • Google Review Link

    A Google Review Link is a URL that directs customers to your Google Business Profile review section, making it easier for them to leave feedback and improve visibility.

  • Google SE Traffic

    Google SE Traffic refers to the estimated monthly visitors coming from the first 100 organic Google search results, reflecting a website’s visibility and SEO performance.

  • Heading Tag

    Heading tags are HTML elements used to structure content hierarchically on a webpage. Proper use of heading tags enhances SEO and user experience.

  • Heat Map

    Heat maps visually display areas of high user engagement on a webpage. They use colour gradients to highlight where visitors click, look, or scroll the most.

  • Historical Data

    Historical data helps analyse past SEO and digital marketing performance. By tracking keyword rankings, domain authority, and traffic trends, businesses can refine strategies and optimise future growth.

  • Hreflang Tags

    Hreflang tags are HTML elements that help search engines display the correct language or regional version of a page, improving SEO and user experience across multiple regions.

  • HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security)

    HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) forces browsers to use secure HTTPS connections, protecting websites from downgrade attacks and cookie hijacking, enhancing security and SEO performance.

  • HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

    HTML (HyperText Markup Language) structures web content using tags to define headings, paragraphs, images, and links. It’s crucial for SEO and helps search engines interpret pages.

Sites that load within 2 seconds have an average bounce rate of 9%, compared to a bounce rate of 38% for pages that take 5 seconds or longer.
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