Local Search
Terms, Explained

A permanent redirect that sends users and search engines from an old URL to a new one, transferring ranking authority to the new address.

Google's AI-generated summary that appears above search results, synthesizing answers from multiple web sources before the traditional links.

A text description added to an image's HTML that tells search engines and screen readers what the image shows. Also called alternative text or alt attributes.

The clickable, visible text in a hyperlink that tells both users and search engines what the linked page is about.

The practice of optimizing your content to appear as direct answers in AI-powered search results, voice assistants, and featured snippets.

A link from another website to yours. Backlinks act as votes of confidence that signal to search engines your content is trustworthy.

The percentage of website visitors who leave after viewing only one page without taking any further action: no clicks, no scrolling, no form fills.

A prompt on your website that tells visitors exactly what to do next, like 'Call Now,' 'Get a Free Quote,' or 'Book Online.'

The preferred version of a webpage that tells search engines which URL to index when duplicate or near-duplicate content exists across multiple URLs.

Any online mention of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) on directories, websites, or social platforms.

The process of creating, monitoring, and correcting your business name, address, and phone number across online directories to keep local search rankings strong.

The percentage of people who see your listing in search results and actually click on it. Calculated by dividing clicks by impressions and multiplying by 100.

The process of researching your competitors' online presence, rankings, and marketing tactics to identify opportunities for your business.

A content organization strategy where one pillar page covers a broad topic and links to related cluster pages that cover subtopics in depth.

Creating and distributing valuable content (blog posts, guides, videos) to attract and retain customers instead of directly selling to them.

The percentage of website visitors who complete a desired action like calling, filling out a form, booking an appointment, or making a purchase.

Google's three key metrics for measuring real-world user experience on your website: loading performance (LCP), interactivity (INP), and visual stability (CLS).

How easily search engine bots can access and move through your website's pages to discover and analyze your content.

A score from 0 to 100 predicting how likely a website is to rank in search engine results. Higher scores indicate stronger ranking potential.

Identical or very similar content appearing on multiple URLs, which confuses search engines about which page to rank.

Google's quality framework standing for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, used by human reviewers to evaluate content quality and by algorithms as ranking signals.

An SEO strategy focused on establishing your business as a recognized entity in Google's Knowledge Graph and AI systems, rather than just targeting individual keywords.

A highlighted answer box at the top of Google search results (position zero) that pulls a direct answer from a website, giving that site maximum visibility above all other organic results.

The practice of optimizing your content so it gets cited, quoted, or referenced by AI-powered search engines like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity.

Google's free web analytics tool (currently GA4) that tracks website visitors, their behavior, traffic sources, and conversions, showing you what's working and what isn't.

Your free business listing on Google that appears in Maps and local search results. Formerly called Google My Business (GMB).

The process of optimizing your Google Business Profile and online presence so your business appears prominently in Google Maps search results.

The group of three local business listings displayed with a map at the top of Google search results for local queries. Also called the Local Pack or 3-Pack.

A free Google tool that shows how your website performs in search results, including which queries bring visitors, which pages rank, and any technical issues hurting your visibility.

A visual representation of where users click, scroll, and spend time on your website, using color gradients from cool (low activity) to hot (high activity).

The process of Google adding your web pages to its searchable database so they can appear in search results.

Links that connect one page of your website to another page on the same website, helping users find content and distributing SEO authority across your pages.

When multiple pages on your site compete for the same keyword, splitting ranking signals and weakening each page's ability to rank.

The process of finding and analyzing the search terms people use to find businesses like yours, so you can target them in your content.

Google's database of billions of real-world entities (people, places, businesses, things) and the relationships between them, used to understand search queries and power AI-generated answers.

A standalone web page designed for a single purpose, usually to capture leads or drive a specific action from visitors.

The process of attracting and converting strangers into potential customers who have expressed interest in your business.

The process of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites to your own, which helps search engines discover your pages and determine how well they should rank.

Online mentions of your business name, address, and phone number on directories, websites, and social platforms that help search engines verify your business information.

The strategy of earning backlinks from locally relevant websites like chambers of commerce, local news, and community organizations.

The map-based section of Google search results that displays three local business listings with their name, rating, address, and a map pin.

The process of optimizing your online presence to attract customers from nearby geographic searches like 'plumber near me' or 'best restaurant in Titusville.'

A specific, multi-word search phrase (usually 3+ words) with lower search volume but higher conversion intent than broad, generic keywords.

A short HTML snippet (150-160 characters) that summarizes a page's content and appears below the meta title in search engine results.

The HTML title tag that appears as the clickable headline in search engine results and in the browser tab. It's one of the most important on-page SEO elements.

Google's practice of using the mobile version of your website as the primary version for ranking and indexing, rather than the desktop version.

Having your business Name, Address, and Phone number listed identically across every online directory, website, and social profile.

Website visitors who arrive through unpaid search engine results. They found you by searching Google, not by clicking an ad.

How fast your web pages load for visitors, measured by metrics like time to first byte, largest contentful paint, and overall page load time.

Online advertising where you pay each time someone clicks your ad in search engine results. PPC stands for Pay-Per-Click, and Google Ads is the most common platform.

The practice of monitoring, influencing, and improving how your business appears in online reviews and search results.

A web design approach where your site automatically adjusts its layout, images, and content to fit any screen size, from desktop monitors to smartphones.

The rate at which your business receives new customer reviews over time, a key signal for local search rankings.

An enhanced search result that displays extra information like star ratings, prices, FAQs, or images pulled from structured data on your website.

A file at the root of your website that tells search engine crawlers which pages they can and cannot access on your site.

Structured data code added to your website that helps search engines understand your business information, services, and content in a machine-readable format.

The underlying goal or purpose behind a user's search query, whether they want information, a specific website, a local service, or to make a purchase.

A business that travels to customers rather than serving them at a storefront, like plumbers, electricians, landscapers, and mobile pet groomers. Google treats SABs differently in local search.

A full evaluation of a website's technical health, SEO performance, and user experience to identify issues that may be hurting search rankings or conversions.

An XML file that lists all your website's important pages, helping search engines discover and crawl your content efficiently.

A security credential that encrypts data between your website and visitors, shown by the padlock icon and HTTPS in the browser address bar.

Code added to your website that helps search engines and AI systems understand your business details, services, reviews, and content in a standardized format.

A short summary placed at the top of a long article or page that gives readers the key takeaway in a few sentences, so they can decide whether to read the full piece.

The level of expertise and thorough coverage a website demonstrates on a specific subject, signaling to Google that the site is a trusted resource for that topic.

How easy and pleasant it is for visitors to use your website, from finding information to completing actions like calling, booking, or buying.

A search where the user gets their answer directly on the Google results page (from featured snippets, AI Overviews, or knowledge panels) without clicking through to any website.