AI Mode

Google's generative AI search interface that synthesizes multi-source answers.

AEO

Answer Engine Optimization — optimizing for Featured Snippets and direct answers.

Backlink

A link from another website pointing to yours. A key ranking signal.

Core Web Vitals

Google's UX metrics: LCP (loading), INP (interactivity), CLS (stability).

Crawl Budget

The number of pages Google will crawl on your site in a given timeframe.

E-E-A-T

Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust — Google's content quality framework.

Entity

A distinct concept (person, place, thing) that search engines can understand and connect.

Featured Snippet

Answer box shown above organic results. Also called Position Zero.

GEO

Generative Engine Optimization — optimizing content for AI-powered search engines.

Google Business Profile

Free listing for local businesses in Google Search and Maps.

Hreflang

HTML attribute telling Google which language/region a page targets.

Index Bloat

When search engines index low-value pages, diluting your site's quality signals.

JSON-LD

JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data — preferred format for Schema markup.

Knowledge Graph

Google's database of entities and their relationships.

LLM

Large Language Model — AI systems like GPT, Gemini, Claude that power AI search.

Long-Tail Keyword

Specific 3+ word phrases with lower volume but higher conversion intent.

NAP

Name, Address, Phone — must be consistent across all local citations.

Orphan Page

A page with no internal links pointing to it. Hard for crawlers to discover.

PageRank

Google's original algorithm measuring page importance via link equity.

RAG

Retrieval-Augmented Generation — how AI search engines find and cite sources.

robots.txt

File telling crawlers which pages to crawl or avoid on your site.

Schema Markup

Structured data vocabulary (schema.org) helping search engines understand content.

Search Intent

The purpose behind a search query: informational, navigational, commercial, transactional.

SERP

Search Engine Results Page — what you see after searching on Google.

Sitemap

XML file listing all important URLs on your site for search engines.

Topical Authority

Deep, comprehensive coverage of a topic that signals expertise to Google.

UCP

Universal Commerce Protocol — Google's standard for AI agent-powered purchases.

Zero-Click

Search where the answer appears directly in SERP — user doesn't click through.