Welcome to your front-row seat on this grand tour of the digital cosmos, specifically designed for you, the non-techie! Fasten your seatbelts and prepare for take-off as we journey through 'The A to Z of Wix SEO Terms - A Non-Techie's Guide'.
Does the world of SEO seem like a dense, impenetrable forest to you? Are you overwhelmed by the acronyms, technical lingo, and those mysterious terms that SEO gurus throw around with reckless abandon? Fear not! You're about to embark on an exciting adventure, a transformation from SEO novice to conversant, without the need for a translator.
With our guide, you won't need to become an SEO wizard overnight (unless, of course, you fancy a wizard's hat). Instead, we'll gently walk you through the language of SEO as if it's a delightful afternoon stroll through Hyde Park, taking in the sights, sounds, and scenery of search engine optimisation.
Whether you're a large or small business owner yearning for your website to top the charts, or a curious mind eager to demystify the cryptic language of SEO, we've got you covered.
We'll start our journey with the letter 'A', for 'Alt Text', and won't stop until we've explored every nook and cranny, all the way to 'Z', for 'Zero-Click Searches'. In true British fashion, we'll make this trip as pleasant as a perfectly steeped cup of tea, rich with information but light enough to enjoy at your leisure.
So, are you ready to delve into the world of Wix SEO with us, one letter at a time? Don your explorer's hat and let's set off on this thrilling quest together. We promise, by the end of our journey, you'll navigate through SEO terms as confidently as a London cabby manoeuvres the city's busy streets!
Shall we begin our Wix SEO terms adventure?
A is for ALT Text: ALT text, short for alternative text, refers to the written copy that appears in place of an image on a webpage if the image fails to load on a user's screen. In a more practical sense, ALT text serves two primary functions. Firstly, it aids accessibility for visually impaired users who rely on screen readers to browse the internet. The screen readers can read out the ALT text, helping these users understand the content of the picture. Secondly, ALT text helps search engines like Google understand what an image is about, which can boost your site's SEO. If you were selling floral dresses on your Wix site, for instance, an appropriate ALT text for a product image might be "floral summer dress, sunflower pattern". This gives a detailed picture of the image, both for search engines and users who can't see the image.
B is for Backlinks: Backlinks, also known as inbound links or incoming links, are created when one website links to another. For instance, if a popular fashion blog links to your floral dress on their site, that's a backlink for you. It's one of the ways Google assesses the popularity and credibility of your site - if reputable sites link to your websites content, it suggests that you've got information worth sharing. It's a bit like being popular in school - the more people who like you and talk about you, the more popular you're perceived to be.
C is for Crawlers: Crawlers, often also called spiders or bots, are how search engines explore the internet. They start by fetching a few web pages, and then they follow the links on those pages to find new URLs. By doing this repeatedly, they find and index a vast number of pages. Think of them as intrepid explorers or detectives, investigating your site, trying to find clues (like keywords, backlinks, and ALT text) that tell them what your site is about so they can present it to the right users.
D is for Domain: In the simplest terms, a domain name is the address of your website. It's the URL that users type into their browsers to access your website. For example, 'www.yourcompany.co.uk' could be a domain name. It's vital for it to be unique, relevant to your business, and easy to remember. It’s like your home address but on the internet - it needs to be precise, otherwise, your guests (or in this case, your users) won't find you.
E is for External Links: External links are hyperlinks that point at any domain other than the domain the link exists on. If another website links to you, this is considered an external link to your site. Similarly, if you link out to another website, this is also considered an external link. Think of them as bridges between different islands on the vast ocean of the internet. They help guide traffic around, introducing users to new and relevant resources, and assisting search engines in mapping out the interconnected world of the web.
F is for FAQ Schema: A schema is a structured data vocabulary that defines the entities, actions, and relationships on the Internet (like the relationship between a recipe and its ingredients, for example). In the context of an FAQ Schema, it refers to a piece of code that explicitly tells search engines that certain text on your page is an FAQ. This is fantastic for SEO because if done correctly, search engines might show this FAQ information directly in the search results. Imagine it as if you're giving Google a detailed map, telling them, "Look, here are my FAQs," allowing your potential site visitors to see your helpful information right in their search results.
G is for Google Business Profile: Google Business Profile (formally Google My Business) is a free tool that allows you to promote your business profile and website on Google Search and Maps. With your Google My Business account, you can see and connect with your customers, post updates to your Business Profile, and see how customers are interacting with your business on Google. It's like your business's personal ID card on Google, where you can show all the crucial details about your business, including address, operating hours, and even customer reviews. If your website is your digital storefront, Google My Business is the attractive signpost directing customers towards it.
H is for H1 Tags: In HTML, the code that structures web pages, H1 tags define the most significant heading on the page (usually the title). H1 tags are to a webpage what a book title is to a book. They give a clear indication of what the content is about, both for readers and for search engines. Imagine you're writing a newspaper article - the H1 tag would be the large, bold headline at the top. As such, they're critically important for SEO because search engines use these tags to understand, specifically, what the page content is about.
I is for Internal Links: Internal links are hyperlinks that direct to another page on the same website. They're essential for three main reasons: they help users navigate your website, they help establish an information hierarchy for the given website, and they help spread ranking power (also known as link equity) around websites. It's as if you're taking your site visitor by the hand and leading them on a curated tour of your website, showing them all the interconnected rooms and halls, and in the process, making it easier for them to find what they're looking for.
J is for JSON-LD: JSON-LD stands for JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data. This might sound overly technical, but in essence, it's a way of encoding linked data using JSON. In simpler terms, it's a method of helping search engines understand the content of a page and its relationship to other things and concepts. Imagine if you had to explain to an alien what a 'birthday party' is. You might start by explaining individual concepts (like birthday, cake, balloons), and then explain how they're all connected in the context of a 'party'. JSON-LD does something similar for search engines, allowing them to better understand your page's content and how it relates to other entities, thereby improving your SEO.
K is for Keywords: Keywords are the core of SEO. They're the phrases and terms that users type into search engines. When your web pages include these keywords, it signals to search engines that your content is relevant to what users are looking for. It's rather like playing a game of "I Spy." Your visitors are saying, "I spy with my little eye something beginning with..." and your website answers, "Is it a blue velvet sofa?" If that's precisely what they were looking for, voila! They're led straight to your site.
L is for Long-tail Keywords: These are more specific keyword phrases that visitors are more likely to use when they're closer to making a purchase or when they're using voice search. They're longer, often more conversational, and generally have less search volume than more generic keywords. But don't be fooled by their specificity and lower volume. They're less competitive and can attract highly targeted traffic, which tends to convert well. If keywords are the key to the front door of a mansion, long-tail keywords are the keys to specific rooms. The more precise the visitor is, the more likely they're looking for that particular room (and are willing to make a purchase).
M is for Meta Description: The meta description is a small summary of a webpage that appears on search engine results pages (SERPs) beneath the page title and URL. It's your chance to advertise your content to searchers and to let them know exactly whether your page contains the information they're looking for. Although meta descriptions don't directly impact SEO rankings, they do affect whether users click on your page, which does indirectly impact SEO. Consider it your elevator pitch to potential site visitors. It's your moment to shine and convince them to choose your page over all the others appearing in the search results.
N is for No-follow Links: When a website links to another website, but the link has a no-follow tag, that link does not pass link equity. Link equity, also known as 'link juice', is a search engine ranking factor based on the idea that certain links pass value and authority from one page to another. It's like creating a pathway but telling search engines not to consider this pathway when judging your website's value. It's often used when linking to unverified content or in the context of paid links.
O is for Organic Traffic: This is the number of visitors that land on your website as a result of unpaid ('organic') search results. These are visitors who found your website after using a search engine like Google or Bing, hence the term 'organic'. The higher your webpages rank in search results, the more likely you are to garner a high amount of organic traffic. It's like attracting customers to your shop because they were walking past and liked what they saw in the window, rather than because you placed an advert in a newspaper.
P is for Page Speed: This refers to the amount of time it takes for a webpage to load. It's measured in seconds and includes both the time it takes for the first content to appear on the screen (First Contentful Paint) and the time it takes for the page to be fully loaded with all features usable (Time to Interactive). It's a crucial aspect of user experience; people tend to abandon slow-loading websites, leading to higher bounce rates. Furthermore, Google considers page speed a ranking factor, making it vital for SEO. Imagine if you walked into a shop, and it took forever for the shopkeeper to acknowledge you; you'd probably leave and find somewhere else to shop. The same principle applies online.
Q is for Query: In the context of SEO, a query is the word or phrase that a user types into a search engine in their search for information. Google and other search engines respond by providing a list of webpages that they consider most relevant and useful to the query. SEO is, at its core, the art and science of making sure your webpages are among those results. Essentially, if your customers' queries are questions, your website should be the answer.
R is for Redirect: A redirect is a way to send both users and search engines to a different URL from the one they originally requested. This can be helpful if you've deleted or moved a page. It ensures that people who have bookmarked or linked to the old address will still reach their intended destination. It's like if you moved your physical shop to a new location—you'd put a sign at the old address directing your customers to the new one.
S is for Sitemap: An XML sitemap is a file where you can list the web pages of your site to tell Google and other search engines about the organisation of your site content. It's like a roadmap of your website that leads Google to all your important pages. Sitemaps are particularly important if your site is hard for search engines to crawl, for example, if it's very large or if it has a lot of archived content that doesn't get linked to anymore.
T is for Title Tag: The title tag is an HTML element that specifies the title of a webpage. This is the text that appears in the browser tab and in search engine results as the headline for your page. It's one of the most critical on-page SEO elements and should be optimised to include your primary keyword. If a book's title tells you what to expect inside, the title tag does the same for a webpage.
U is for URL: URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator, which is just a techy way of saying 'web address'. Each URL is unique to a specific webpage. An optimised URL is short, descriptive, and includes a keyword. URLs are displayed in search results and can influence click-through rates. Think of URLs as the exact postal address for every room in your mansion of a website; each one needs to be unique so your visitors can find their way.
V is for Voice Search: Voice search is a speech recognition technology that allows users to search by saying their query out loud instead of typing it into a search bar. The growing popularity of voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant is making voice search increasingly important. This trend has implications for SEO, as voice searches often take the form of full questions and are typically longer than text-based queries. As a result, content optimised for voice search often focuses on long-tail keywords and answering specific questions. Imagine you're preparing for a debate; you'd want to anticipate the questions and have your responses ready. Voice search optimisation works similarly.
W is for Wix SEO Wiz: The Wix SEO Wiz is a tool developed by Wix to help users improve their site's SEO. The wizard asks users a series of questions about their site and generates a personalised SEO plan based on the answers. It's like having a personal trainer who assesses your fitness level, then creates a custom workout plan to help you reach your goals. The Wix SEO Wiz does the same, but with improving your site's search engine rankings.
X is for XML Sitemap: As mentioned earlier in the term 'Sitemap', an XML sitemap is a roadmap for search engines. It lists all your website's important pages, making sure search engines can find and crawl them all. Consider it your website's 'Table of Contents' for search engine bots. And while there aren't many SEO terms beginning with 'X', it's important to recognise XML sitemaps' significant role in SEO!
Y is for YouTube SEO: While not a direct feature of Wix, YouTube SEO is essential to know if you're planning on integrating videos into your Wix site. As the second largest search engine (right behind Google), optimising your videos for YouTube can drive significant traffic to your Wix site. This involves using strategic keywords in your video titles, descriptions, and tags; encouraging user engagement (like comments and likes); and optimising your video thumbnails. Think of YouTube SEO as your ticket to the limelight in the world's largest video library.
Z is for Zero-Click Searches: A zero-click search is when answers are displayed directly at the top of a Google search result. The user gets the information they need without clicking any search result links. These often occur in the form of featured snippets or knowledge panels. While they can lead to fewer overall website clicks, they also present an opportunity to provide immediate value and build trust. It's like delivering a top-notch elevator pitch—concise, useful, and engaging enough to pique interest.
The A-Z of Wix SEO Terms Conclusion
And so, dear explorers, we've reached the end of our extraordinary journey through the beguiling landscape of Wix SEO terms. From the lofty peaks of Alt Text to the mysterious depths of Zero-Click Searches, we've ventured through every letter, uncovering the secrets of this intriguing digital realm.
You've now transformed from an intrepid newcomer into a seasoned traveller in this vast universe of search engine optimisation. No longer will you be stumped by the cryptic language of SEO, as you've now acquired the lexicon to converse with the best of them.
Remember how we began, feeling as if we were lost in an impenetrable forest of technical jargon? Look at us now, navigating the paths of SEO as comfortably as one would stroll through a well-loved garden. The once obscure terms like 'Meta Description', 'Long-tail Keywords', and 'Organic Traffic' are now familiar friends, each playing a role in crafting the bigger picture of your website's visibility.
This journey may have felt a bit like training for a marathon, sometimes taxing, but ultimately rewarding. You've persevered and gathered knowledge that will be instrumental in shaping your website's success. You should now be able to enhance your site's performance and visibility on search engines, thereby reaching a wider audience. It's a bit like learning the rules of cricket and now being ready to step onto the pitch.
While we've reached the end of 'The A to Z of Wix SEO Terms - A Non-Techie's Guide', remember that the world of SEO is dynamic and ever-evolving, much like the bustling streets of London. This guide will serve as your trusty map, but don't forget to keep exploring, learning, and adapting to new changes as they come along.
And who knows? Maybe our paths will cross again on another digital adventure. Until then, may your newfound SEO knowledge guide you well, and may your website flourish like a perfectly manicured English garden. Happy optimising!