SEO Glossary in Plain English
SEO terms get thrown around fast. This glossary explains the words a South Carolina business owner is likely to hear during an audit, redesign, Local SEO project, or ranking discussion.
Technical SEO Terms
Crawlability means search engines can reach the page. Indexing means the page is eligible to appear in results. Canonical tags point to the preferred URL. Redirects send users and search engines from one URL to another.
On-Page SEO Terms
Title tags name the page in search results. Meta descriptions help explain the page. Headings organize the content. Internal links connect related pages. Schema gives search systems structured context.
Local SEO Terms
Google Business Profile is the business listing that can show in Maps. Citations are business mentions on directories. NAP means name, address, and phone. Reviews and local landing pages help customers compare options.
What This Page Covers
Use the definitions below to understand a report, then verify the term against the actual page, source code, profile, or Search Console data.
Core Web Vitals
Speed and usability signals that describe loading, responsiveness, and visual stability.
Search Intent
The reason behind a search, such as hiring, comparing, learning, calling, or buying.
Keyword Cannibalization
When multiple pages compete for the same query and weaken each other instead of working together.
Official Google Search Documentation
This guidance for “SEO Glossary in Plain English” was reviewed against current Google Search Central documentation, including Google Search documentation.
Questions About Common SEO Terms
These answers focus on SEO glossary: plain-English terms, audit language, ranking reports, and practical SEO decisions.
Why explain SEO terms plainly?
Business owners need to know what is being fixed, why it matters, and whether the work helps visibility, trust, speed, or calls.
Which terms matter most?
Crawlability, indexation, title tag, meta description, internal links, schema, Local SEO, Core Web Vitals, canonical tag, and conversions matter often.
How is a glossary used?
Use it to ask better questions during an audit, compare proposals, and understand reports without getting buried in jargon.
Need a Plain-English SEO Explanation?
Send the term, warning, or report label that is causing confusion. The response will explain what it means, whether it matters, and what action—if any—the website actually needs.