SEO Software Glossary
(A - C)
(D - F)
(G - L)
(M - O)
(P - Q)
(R - Z)
Page Popularity
definition: a measure of the number and quality of links to a
particular page (inbound links). Many search engines (and most
noticeably Infoseek) are increasingly using this number as part of
the positioning process. The number and quality of inbound links is
becoming as important as the optimisation of page content.
Back To Top
PageRank
definition: a proprietary numerical score that is assigned by Google
to every web page in their index. PR for each page is calculated by
Google using a special mathematical algorithm, based on the number
and quality (as determined by Google) of the inbound links to the
page. PageRank a technical asset of Google, it is an
exponential-based value that signifies importance of a webpage. The
PR will display as a number out of 10 in a green bar of the Google
Toolbar whenever you visit a website.
Back To Top
Page View
definition: used in site statistics as a measure of pages viewed
rather than server hits. Many server hits may be made to access a
single page, causing many separate log file entries. Analysis
software can determine that these server hits were generated when a
visitor viewed a single page, and group them together to provide
this more useful method of counting visitors. Every time a complete
page displays, it counts as one page view, even when the visitor
just refreshes the page, or leaves it for a second and then comes
back. This is a much more accurate metric than a hit for analyzing
user experience.
Back To Top
PageRank for Money
definition: selling or buying a link from a web page with a high
Google PageRank for the stated purpose of increasing the other
page's PR. This is highly frowned upon by Google and will result in
a penalty for both pages if Google finds out about it.
Back To Top
Paid Inclusion
definition: guaranteed inclusion on a search engine's results in
exchange for payment, without any guarantee of how high the listing
will appear. A paid inclusion appears to the user as an editorial
listing rather than as a sponsored link. Pricing is typically based
on a flat fee or index fee.
Back To Top
Paid Placement
definition: a guaranteed listing that appears next to search
results, usually in relation to specified keywords. In response to
recent Federal Trade Commission guidelines, many search engines
clearly identify paid placements as "sponsored links" and run them
separately from the editorial portion of the page. Paid placement
programs are typically based on cost-per-click (CPC) or
cost-per-thousand (CPM) pricing, and the cost is higher than paid
inclusion ads. Also known as pay-for-placement.
Back To Top
Paid Sponsorship
definition: with this model, an advertiser pays a flat fee to a
search engine. In return, the search engine shows the advertiser's
ads together with search results for pre-selected keywords.
ExactSeek, for example, features this pay-for-performance model.
Back To Top
Parents
definition: if a page has links to other files, it is known as a
parent page to these files. By selecting a link in the left pane and
turning Web CEO Auditor's 'Parents' filter on, you can view all
pages that reference the selected file, that is the 'Parents' of
that link.
Back To Top
Pay-for-Inclusion
definition: services are designed for Webmasters that are having
trouble getting pages listed in spider-based search engines. A main
benefit of PFI is fast respidering (every 48 hours or so), giving
site owners and Webmasters instant positioning feedback and the
ability to change content frequently. Also, site owners can submit
deep-linked pages and be guaranteed that the URL will be included.
The typical PFI program is an annual URL-based subscription with
regular refresh cycles and click-based reporting. These programs are
highly effective and potent for use in conjunction with seasonal
campaign pages.
Back To Top
Pay for Performance (PFP)
definition: Pay for Performance options are the next: pay per click,
pay for inclusion and paid sponsorship. As opposed to organic search
results (free by nature), the majority of search engines now offer
pay for performance options. Pay for performance lets you promote
your site by paying for search engine exposure, rather than by
relying on solely organic listings determined by your SEO efforts.
Back To Top
Pay-for-Performance Search Engines
definition: offer paid (guaranteed) inclusion on a search engine's
results in exchange for payment, without any guarantee of how high
the listing will appear. A paid inclusion appears to the user as an
editorial listing rather than as a sponsored link. Pricing is
typically based on a flat fee or index fee.
Back To Top
Pay per Click
definition: is a type of search marketing where advertisers pay a
set amount every time their ad is clicked by a prospect (otherwise
known as a click thru). Some search engines, such as Yahoo! Search
Marketing (former Overture), specialize in this type of advertising
medium, although pay per click is not limited solely to
pay-per-click engines. For instance, Looksmart, a directory,
recently changed its business model to pay per click. Also, XML
trusted feeds through Inktomi and Fast are sold at a per-click
basis.
Back To Top
Pay-per-Click Advertising
definition: uses sponsored search engine listings to drive traffic
to a website. The advertiser bids for search terms, and the search
engine ranks ads based on a competitive auction as well as other
factors. PPC advertisement is a short advertisement that typically
appears alongside the search engine results pages and leads visitors
to your site. When running a PPC campaign, you pay whenever someone
clicks on your ad.
Back To Top
Penalty
definition: a punishment levied against a web page by a search
engine as a result of using an SEO tactic that it doesn't approve
of. Tactics that most often result in penalties include using hidden
text, sneaky redirects, and linking to a bad neighborhood. A penalty
usually results in a web page being credited for a lower Google
PageRank (PR) than it has actually "earned". Penalties also result
in a page being "buried" deep within the SERPS where it will almost
never be found again by searchers.
Back To Top
PFI
definition: short of Pay for Inclusion. Used by various search
engines that guarantees that your site will be listed in a search
engine database. Google is a noteable exception that does not
'offer' such a service.
Back To Top
Phrase Match
definition: your ad appears when users search on the exact phrase
and also when their search contains additional terms as long the
keyword phrase is in exactly the same order. A phrase match for "web
promotion" would include "web promotion software". In the case of
one-word keywords, there's no difference between a broad match and a
phrase match.
Back To Top
Pop-up Ad
definition: an ad that appears in a separate window above or beneath
the user's current page. A pop-under ad is concealed until the top
window is closed, moved, resized, or minimized. A pop-up ad is
similar to a daughter window, but without an associated banner.
Back To Top
Portal
definition: Designation for websites that are either authoritative
hubs for a given subject or popular content driven sites (like
Yahoo) that people use as their homepage. Most portals offer
significant content and offer advertising opportunities for relevant
sites.
Back To Top
Portal Site
definition: a generic term for any site which provides an entry
point to the internet for a significant number of users. Examples
are search engines, directories, built-in default browser or service
provider homepages, sites hardwired to browser buttons, sites
offering free homepages, e-mail or personalised news and any popular
(or heavily advertised) sites that significant numbers of people may
bookmark or set as default pages.
Back To Top
Position
definition: the ranking assigned by a search engine to a page. The
position denotes where that page is displayed in the search results
for a given keyword or phrase.
Back To Top
Positioning
definition: the process of ordering web sites or web pages by a
search engine or a directory so that the most relevant sites appear
first in the search results for a particular query. Software such as
Web CEO can be used to determine how a URL is positioned for a
particular search engine when using a particular search phrase. The
GoHip Search site allows you to see positioning information from
many of the big search engines, displayed all on one page.
Back To Top
Positioning Technique
definition: a method of modifying a web page so that search engines
(or a particular search engine) treat the page as more relevant to a
particular query (or a set of queries).
Back To Top
PPC
definition: Pay Per Click.
Back To Top
PR
definition: abbreviation for PageRank - Google's proprietary measure
of link popularity for web pages. Google offers a PR viewer on their
Toolbar.
Back To Top
Promotion
definition: is the fourth element of the ubiquitous 4P marketing mix
(Product-Price-Place-Promotion). It is disseminating information
about a product, product line, brand, or company. It is comprised of
four subcategories: advertising, personal selling, sales promotion
and publicity and public relations.
Back To Top
Proximity
definition: refers to how close keywords that make up your key
phrase are to each other. You should try to use your keyword
combination as a unit, keeping your keywords together. In other
cases try to put your keywords as close together as possible and
make sure your sentences are clear. Keyword proximity is used by
some engines, such as Google, as a part of their ranking formulas.
Back To Top
definition: a request for information, usually to a search engine or a database. The user types in words or topics, and the search engine returns matching results from its database. A query is at the center of every search engine interaction.
Back To Top