GLOSSARY OF SEARCH TERMS web hosting web site Design search engine campaigns web positioning virtual tours internet marketing solutions christian web sites web hosting

Cloaking

In terms of search engine optimization, cloaking is often referred to as a spamming technique. Cloaking uses specific software programs to send search engine spiders to alternative pages that are not seen by the end user. These pages are designed to mislead the spiders and return results based on these alternative pages rather than the pages actually seen by the public. Some Search Engine Positioning Companies implement this practice as a way to obtain rankings. The practice of cloaking is considered by many to be a deceptive or spamming technique. Spamming is a serious offense in the eyes of the search engines and will likely result in the permanent banning of the site in question.


Doorway/Gateway/Bridge Pages

Doorway, gateway or bridge pages are web pages used to help increase rankings on specific key terms. These pages are often engine specific and are created by inserting the key terms in specific positions within the HTML code and text.


Hidden Text

Hidden text provides a way for pages to be filled with enormous amounts of key term text. This easily detectable spamming technique is considered by some to be appealing to the search engine spiders. When discovered, hidden text can cause major problems including penalties or even banning.


Internet Marketing

Internet marketing will mean different things to different people depending on their situation. Internet marketing is a conduit that enables customers to interact with your business from any computer connected to the web. In terms of search engine optimization, Internet marketing involves any and all steps taken to increase the rankings and positions of your site for returned queries. The reach of Internet marketing, also known as site promotion, web site promotion and search engine marketing provides ample opportunities for companies to increase their market share.


Internet Promotion

Internet promotion relates to any steps taken by a company or individual to promote their site on the Internet. The scope of Internet promotion includes everything from television and radio spots to billboard and magazine advertisements. Internet promotion, as it relates to search engine optimization, consists of any and all measures taken to help increase the rankings of a particular site. Internet promotion techniques will vary depending on the Search Engine Positioning firm you choose. Search engine optimization services, web site promotion and web site marketing are a few of the other names for Internet promotion.


Keyword Marketing

Keyword marketing is simply finding a way to put your message in front of the people who are searching on the Internet using particular keywords and keyword phrases. Keyword marketing is an important element of search engine optimization. Without proper keyword marketing, a great deal of the effectiveness of a marketing strategy can be lost.


Keyword Submission

Keyword submission is most notably associated with pay-per-click search engine optimization services. Keyword submission provides immediate short-term results. With a pay-per-click agreement, the advertiser will only pay for qualifying clicks to the site based on a per-click rate. Keyword submission does not require any changes to be made to an existing site.


Meta Tags

Meta tags are the descriptive terms used within the HTML code of a web page that provides a summary of the page's content for a search engine spider. In the early days of the Internet, web masters often stuffed their Meta tags with popular keywords unrelated to their sites in order to gain traffic. The practice of abusing Meta tags in order to gain traffic on keywords unrelated to your site is considered Spam. Most search engines no longer use Meta tags in their ranking algorithms because of the past abuses of web masters. Often however, Meta tags may be used by search engines to display information about a web page in the search results pages.


Optimization Services

Optimization services consist of any services that a search engine optimization company offers designed to improve the positioning of a site with one or more of the search engines. Optimization services provide a platform from which potential clients may be introduced to a new site. Optimization services encompass a variety of services and techniques including site redesign, optimization of meta and alt tags and more. The term optimization services is also referred to as: Site Optimization, Internet Promotion and Search Engine Positioning Service

Paid Inclusion

Paid inclusion refers to a fee based listing that occurs with several of the major search engines and directories including Yahoo, LookSmart, Teoma, Ask Jeeves, Alta Vista, Lycos, Inktomi and FAST. The fees for paid inclusion range from a "per URL" cost for each page to a one-time fee for a directory listing. In addition to paying for inclusion within their listings, the engines and directories are instituting additional opportunities for companies to receive better placement within listing results. By paying an even higher sum of money to these engines and directories, you can increase the position of your site among the rankings. These listings are typically served at the top of a results page giving companies the opportunity to be in a premium spot above the rest of the "basic" paid listings. The benefits of this type of paid inclusion include faster listing times, more access to your listing when changes needed to be made as well as better overall reporting on those who click through to your site. Remember, paid inclusion in no way means that your site receives any sort of ranking privileges within the engine. Those sites that purchase paid inclusion get just that, a listing within the database of site results and optimization is still needed to create an effective listing, so don't be fooled.


Pay-Per-Click

The pay-per-click system works on the premise of paying for a fixed position through a bidding system within the engine. The cost of maintaining this fixed position can range from mere pennies per click to well over $10.00 depending on the amount of competition for that specific keyword. The more competitive the market and keywords, the more you will pay to have that user visit your site. Unlike traditional search engine optimization, the longevity of a pay-per-click campaign is only as long as you fund it.


Professional Search Engine Optimization

Professional search engine optimization is optimization that has been done by an individual or company in the search engine optimization field. The main goal of professional search engine optimization is to increase the traffic and placement of a site. Professional search engine optimization should be in accord with current search engine optimization techniques and work to help create better rankings through the implementation of these techniques.


Search Engine Marketing

Search engine marketing ventures are endeavors taken to help increase the rankings and visibility of a site. The scope of search engine marketing is vast in its applications and implementations. Also known as web site marketing, Internet marketing and web site promotion; search engine marketing can help create a solid Internet foundation on which a business can build.


Search Engine Optimization

The process of choosing targeted and relevant keywords and keyword phrases related to a site and driving traffic to that site based upon those keywords and keyword phrases is known as search engine optimization. Search engine optimization methods provide a conduit through which businesses and potential clients are able to become aware of each other. Search engine optimization involves making the pages of a site more easily accessible to search engines spiders and emphasizing the key topics relating to a specific site. Search engine optimization is also often referred to as search engine positioning and search engine promotion.

Search Engine Placement

Like search engine optimization and search engine positioning, search engine placement is a term that is used to describe the process used by Search Engine Positioning firms to obtain rankings for their clients. Search engine placement also refers to the position of a site within a search engine of directory query. Search engine placement is often synonymous with search engine positioning and search engine optimization.


Search Engine Positioning

Search engine positioning is the process by which rankings are achieved through either search engine optimization, pay-per-click or a number of other methods. Search engine positioning also refers to the ordering process that search engines and directories use to produce relevant results to queries. Search engine positioning is also known as search engine optimization and search engine promotion.


Search Engine Registration

Search engine registration is the process by which search engines and directories alike are informed that a new site or page needs to be indexed. Search engine registration is also known as search engine submission, web site submission, url submission and keyword submission.


Submissions

Submissions to search engines are a key part of search engine optimization. Submissions are done when you, your web master, or your Search Engine Positioning firm submit your site to a search engine in order to be included in the index or directory. The submission process should be done carefully and by someone who is very familiar with the current rules of each search engine. Stay away from automated submissions as they often cause more harm than good to a Search Engine Positioning campaign