SEO lingo explained.
You’ve probably heard terms like keywords, backlinks, and meta descriptions—but what do they actually mean?
Trying to understand SEO terms without getting overwhelmed? At JI Design, we keep things simple and strategic. If you’re a small business owner trying to get a handle on SEO (search engine optimization), this guide breaks it down.
Key SEO terms.
What is SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.
It’s how you improve your website so it shows up higher on Google. Higher visibility means more people find you—and that means more potential customers.
Keyword
The words or phrases people type into Google when they’re looking for something.
Example: “Best yoga studio in Sitka.”
SERP
(Search Engine Results Page)
The list of websites that shows up after someone hits “search.”
Organic Traffic
People who find your site through search engines—not ads.
Ranking
Your position in the search results. Higher is better.
On-page SEO... what's on your website.
Title Tag
Meta Description
A short sentence or two under your title in search results. It doesn’t affect ranking much, but it can help people decide to click.
Header Tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.)
These organize your content and show Google what’s most important.
Alt Text
Internal Links
Links to other pages on your own site. They help people explore more—and help Google understand your site structure.
Off-page SEO... what's outside your website.
Backlink
A link from another website to yours. Think of it as a recommendation.
Domain Authority
A score from tools like Moz or Ahrefs that estimates how strong your site is compared to others—based on things like backlinks.
Technical SEO... behind-the-scenes basics.
Site Speed
How fast your site loads. A slow site can hurt rankings and frustrate visitors.
Mobile-Friendly
Your site needs to look good and work well on phones and tablets.
SSL Certificate
Lets Google and your visitors know your site is secure (https:// instead of http://).
XML Sitemap
A file that lists all the pages on your site to help search engines index your content.
Content strategy and SEO.
Content Marketing
Writing blogs, creating videos, or sharing useful info that brings the right people to your site.
Duplicate Content
Repeating the same text on multiple pages (or copying someone else’s). Google prefers original content.
Search Intent
The reason someone is searching—are they trying to learn, compare options, or buy something? Your content should match what they’re actually looking for.
Tools that help.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics shows who’s visiting your site, how they found you, and what they’re doing once they get there.
Google Search Console
Google Search Console tracks how your site performs in search results. It also helps you find and fix issues.
Free SEO Audit
See how your website stacks up. Get a full report on your site’s performance, search rankings, and opportunities—on demand and at no cost.
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