14 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Terms

Search Engine Optimization
Terminology

1. Back Link - A back link is a link that points back to the a web page, also known as IBL's (inbound links). They can be placed almost anywhere such as a blog, forum, social media platform like Facebook or Twitter and if placed carefully, as a published comment.

2. Cloaking - Cloaking involves delivering a page to the search engine spider that is different from what the human visitor sees. Cloaking is a violation of the Terms Of Service (TOS).

3. Conversion - The term conversion refers to the ROI with traffic visiting each web pages and judges based on the pages (or websites) individual goals. Traffic that flows to the website and then converts into a customer or client by registering, wants to receive your monthly newsletter or buying a product and/or using your services. Conversion is measured so techniques can be altered, as necessary, if the ROI is low.

4. Gateway Page - A gateway (doorway) page has one purpose, to drive traffic to another page. They aren't designed for humans more so for search engines to achieve higher rankings. One key phrase is generally optimized and a violation of TOS. Varies from a Splash Page because it has very little text and is used as eye candy to entice visitors further...

5. Keywords & phrases - Both keywords and keyword phrases are the words a user uses to search for what they are looking for. As a webmaster, the end goal is to know and use these same search terms or queries within their web pages to increase page ranking with search engines.

6. Keyword Stuffing - When you are adding unnecessary keywords and keyword phrases that are of no use the the human visitor, you are keyword stuffing. They may not even be visible to the naked eye, only to 'search spiders' and is considered SPAM and against TOS! (Even when the stuffed keywords and phrases do pertain to the content, it takes away from the end users experience and is a pain in the ars to read ;)

7. Link Farm - A link farm is a group of separate yet highly interlinked websites created for the purposes of inflating link popularity (otherwise known as Page Rank). Engaging in link farms is a violation of the Terms Of Service with most search engines and could be grounds for banning.

8. Mirror Site - A mirror site is considered a duplicate site that implements the use of similar, yet different, keywords and phrases in an attempt to attract all types of search engine queries. It is usually considered a violation of TOS.

9. Non-Organic Search - The term non-organic search refers to websites and their content. These sites are brought up by search engines as a result of a search by the end user. Most of these types of web pages retrieved in this manner have rrelatively little content, could consist of a link farm feeling and are stuffed with overused keywords and phrases. These pages are popular but, in the end seem to lose out to websites with true, organic content. 
 
10. Organic search - Organic search results are those web pages retrieved by search engines, due again to particular keywords and/or keyword phrases but, they are relevant content usable to the end user! Unique, well written and informative content = A+ organic search results! When I surf for information it's more than frustrating to come across page after page of irrelevant crap before I find what I need.

11. Page Rank - Page rank (PR) is used to describe where your web page link appears on the long list of pages brought up by the search engines after a pertinent term is queried. Ideally, you want your page to be #1 or as close to it as possible and yes, over the long run counts too!

12. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - Search engine optimization is the process of making your web page, website, blog etc. a 'sprider' friendly zone. From what I gather is done best by creating pages with usable, relevant content and keywords (once again ;)

13. Search Engine Results Page/Positioning (SERP)  - The term SERP refers to organic search results and where they appear in results after a query. SERP's do not include paid listings.

14. Spider - A Spider is also known as Bot or Robot and is a software program that scans the web for various purposes of both good and evil. They can index web page for search engines or they can harvest e-mail addresses for spammers!

...for more SEO cartoons, see seoz87

Travel Industry - Marketing online; are you out of the loop if you don't?

Marketing comes in many forms with the purpose being increased recognition and thus money. It works like that of an 'it takes money to make money' concept that certainly works but, what about the small businesses who have little or no advertising budget to play with? Are they going to be so out of the loop they'll become unnecessary and forgotten?...swallowed up by companies who've taken the initiative to at least create an online presence, if even with only a simple, basic website?

I'd say that even though you may have a good reputation and/or be in a great location, it's always best to cover all the bases especially the free ones! Promoting your business online is highly favourable and it's economical if, you don't mind doing some leg work first.

For example...

Since getting my laptop I do research and then book my flights online. My two fav's are travelocity.ca and/or westjet.ca, depending on what I'm looking for. Both of these companies have created advertising campaigns in a manner that appeals to me, my funny bone and my pocketbook which is a great combination.

Travelocity's gnome who mumble hums...'I wanna get outta here' makes me smile and while no specific WestJet ads come to mind, the word of mouth chatter regarding their cheap flights sang in my ear.

Post vacation: So, I've just returned from the Okanagan valley with Penticton, BC being the farthest point travelled. The only thing planned was my flight in and out all else was winged as each day came or the night before (see Babblicious blog for more details and pics)...then poof back in TO!

Kalamalka Lake, Vernon BC

But, I don't book hotel rooms that way, not unless necessary. That's because I've learnt that cheap, clean hotel/motel type inns etc. aren't necessarily advertised online. How did I learn this? Well, while searching and pre-booking rooms (itinerary was required) to travel through Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick we'd aimed for Halifax first. Unknown to us though, mid August in Halifax is also the annual Busker's Festival so, most hotel rooms were already booked. Which left us with somewhat clean yet overpriced, off the beaten path in seedy location types of lodging (pssst, that weren't in the brochure ;) ...and for a room we pretty much just sleep and shower in, we felt a little rooked. Thus, I stopped booking and instead researched towns and cities separately to discover where the majority of hotels were located. One thing to remember though is that festivals, tournaments and conventions book up rooms quickly within smaller areas!

So no, not everyone is in the loop of advertising online. Too bad though because in today's world, with technology at our fingertips I don't understand why everyone wouldn't have at least one free basic yet informative website?!

p.s. I'd recommend not to leave 'getting a room' until too late into the evening because once night falls it's a lot trickier finding your way around an unknown city.

Driving through the Rockies in BC, Canada