Website & SEO Glossary

The portion of a web page visible to a user without scrolling. Content here gets the most attention — roughly 57% of viewing time according to research.

A text description added to an HTML image tag. Screen readers use it for accessibility; search engines use it to understand image content. Should be descriptive and keyword-relevant.

A link from another website pointing to yours. High-quality backlinks from authoritative sites are one of Google's strongest ranking signals.

The percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate often signals a mismatch between visitor intent and page content.

A button, link, or prompt that directs users to take a specific action — "Book a Free Call," "Get a Quote," "Start Free Trial." Every page should have one primary CTA.

The preferred URL for a piece of content when multiple URLs could show the same content. Tells search engines which version to index and rank.

A Core Web Vital measuring how much your page shifts around while loading. A score under 0.1 is considered good. Caused by images without dimensions or ads loading late.

The percentage of visitors who complete a desired action (filling out a form, clicking a CTA, making a purchase). A 2–5% conversion rate is typical for most small business sites.

Google's set of user experience metrics: LCP (loading), INP (interactivity), and CLS (visual stability). These are official ranking signals since 2021.

A domain name you own and connect to your website (e.g., yourbusiness.com) instead of a platform subdomain (yourbusiness.metaliquestudios.com). Required for professional credibility and full SEO control.

The system that maps domain names to IP addresses. When you connect a custom domain, you update DNS records (A records, CNAMEs) at your domain registrar to point to your host.

The small icon that appears in browser tabs, bookmarks, and mobile home screens. A branded favicon improves recognition and professionalism.

The first section of a webpage, typically containing a headline, subheadline, background image, and CTA. The most important real estate on your site — it determines whether visitors stay or leave.

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) encrypts data between the browser and server. An SSL certificate enables HTTPS, shown as the padlock in the browser bar. Required for trust, SEO, and modern browser compliance.

A word or phrase that users type into search engines. Pages should naturally include relevant keywords in titles, headings, and body text to rank for those terms.

A Core Web Vital measuring how long it takes for the largest visible element on the page to load. Target: under 2.5 seconds. Often the hero image or headline.

Search engine optimization focused on ranking for location-specific queries ("plumber near me," "dentist in Austin"). Involves Google Business Profile, local citations, and location-specific page content.

A 120–160 character summary of a page shown in search results below the title. Doesn't directly affect rankings but significantly impacts click-through rate. Should include target keywords and a CTA.

A design approach where the mobile layout is designed first, then expanded for larger screens. Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning your mobile site is what gets ranked.

The combination of business information that must be consistent across all online directories (Google, Yelp, Facebook, etc.). Inconsistent NAP hurts local search rankings.

The image that appears when your page is shared on social media. Set via an Open Graph meta tag. Should be 1200×630px and represent your page content.

How quickly a page loads. Measured by Core Web Vitals and Google PageSpeed Insights. Affects both SEO rankings and conversion rate — a 1-second delay can reduce conversions by 7%.

Automatically sending users from one URL to another. A 301 redirect is permanent and passes SEO value; a 302 redirect is temporary. Used when URLs change, domains are migrated, or pages are removed.

A design approach where a website automatically adapts its layout to different screen sizes. All Metalique Studios templates are responsive — they work on phones, tablets, and desktops without separate mobile sites.

Structured data added to HTML that helps search engines understand your content. Enables rich results (star ratings, FAQs, events) in Google search. Types include LocalBusiness, Product, Article, and FAQ.

A self-contained block of content in Metalique Studios (Hero, About, Services, Gallery, etc.). Sections can be added, removed, duplicated, and reordered — all handled by our team on request.

A file (or page) that lists all pages on your website. An XML sitemap submitted to Google Search Console helps Google discover and index your pages faster.

The URL-friendly version of a page title. Lowercase, hyphen-separated, no special characters. Example: "How to Build a Website" → /how-to-build-a-website. Good slugs include target keywords.

Evidence that other people have trusted or benefited from your business — reviews, testimonials, client logos, case studies, media mentions. One of the most powerful conversion signals on a website.

A pre-designed website layout in Metalique Studios. Templates include section structure, placeholder content, and a color scheme tailored to a specific industry. All elements are fully customizable.

The HTML title of a webpage, shown as the blue link in search results and in the browser tab. The most important on-page SEO element. Should be 50–60 characters, include the primary keyword, and be unique per page.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines — international standards for making web content accessible to people with disabilities. WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the standard most organizations target.

Empty space between elements on a page. Often called negative space. Far from wasted space, whitespace improves readability, reduces cognitive load, and makes CTAs stand out. Overcrowded pages convert worse.