The A-Z Local SEO Glossary: 200+ Terms Explained

Your definitive A-Z guide to local SEO. This glossary explains 200+ terms, helping you master key concepts like NAP, citations, and the Local Pack.

Local SEO Glossary: 200+ Essential Terms Defined

Absolute URL: The full web address of a page, including the protocol (https://), domain name, and path.
Aggregator (or Data Aggregator): A company that collects, verifies, and distributes business data (name, address, phone number) to a wide network of online directories and platforms. The major data aggregators in the U.S. are Infogroup, Localeze, and Factual. Submitting correct information to these sources is a foundational step in ensuring NAP consistency.
Algorithm: A complex set of rules and calculations used by search engines like Google to determine how to rank web pages and business listings for a given search query. The local algorithm is distinct from the general organic algorithm, as it evaluates businesses based on three core pillars: Relevance, Distance, and Prominence. Understanding this framework provides essential context for many other terms in this glossary.

Relevance: How well a local business’s profile and services match what a user is searching for.
Distance (or Proximity): How far each potential search result is from the location of the searcher or the location term used in the search.
Prominence: How well-known and reputable a business is, based on information Google finds across the web, such as links, online reviews, and directory listings.

Alt Text: A short, written description of an image on a webpage, which helps search engines understand the image’s content and improves accessibility.
Anchor Text: The visible, clickable words used for a hyperlink. Optimizing anchor text with relevant keywords can help search engines understand the context of the linked page.
Apple Business Connect: The free platform provided by Apple that allows business owners to create and manage their business listings on Apple Maps. Optimizing this profile is crucial for reaching users of iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices.
Audit (Local SEO): A comprehensive analysis of a business’s online presence, best understood as a diagnostic process to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. An effective audit reveals specific issues like inconsistent citations or areas of poor visibility on a map—problems that specialized tools like Local Dominator’s “Custom Audit” and “Scan Analyzer” features are built to uncover and help remedy. The process typically examines Google Business Profile optimization, citation consistency, online reviews, website on-page SEO, and the local backlink profile.
Authority: The perceived credibility and trustworthiness of a website in the eyes of search engines, often influenced by factors like high-quality backlinks and expert content.

Absolute URL: The full web address of a page, including the protocol (https://), domain name, and path.
Aggregator (or Data Aggregator): A company that collects, verifies, and distributes business data (name, address, phone number) to a wide network of online directories and platforms. The major data aggregators in the U.S. are Infogroup, Localeze, and Factual. Submitting correct information to these sources is a foundational step in ensuring NAP consistency.
Algorithm: A complex set of rules and calculations used by search engines like Google to determine how to rank web pages and business listings for a given search query. The local algorithm is distinct from the general organic algorithm, as it evaluates businesses based on three core pillars: Relevance, Distance, and Prominence. Understanding this framework provides essential context for many other terms in this glossary.

Relevance: How well a local business’s profile and services match what a user is searching for.
Distance (or Proximity): How far each potential search result is from the location of the searcher or the location term used in the search.
Prominence: How well-known and reputable a business is, based on information Google finds across the web, such as links, online reviews, and directory listings.

Alt Text: A short, written description of an image on a webpage, which helps search engines understand the image’s content and improves accessibility.
Anchor Text: The visible, clickable words used for a hyperlink. Optimizing anchor text with relevant keywords can help search engines understand the context of the linked page.
Apple Business Connect: The free platform provided by Apple that allows business owners to create and manage their business listings on Apple Maps. Optimizing this profile is crucial for reaching users of iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices.
Audit (Local SEO): A comprehensive analysis of a business’s online presence, best understood as a diagnostic process to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. An effective audit reveals specific issues like inconsistent citations or areas of poor visibility on a map—problems that specialized tools like Local Dominator’s “Custom Audit” and “Scan Analyzer” features are built to uncover and help remedy. The process typically examines Google Business Profile optimization, citation consistency, online reviews, website on-page SEO, and the local backlink profile.
Authority: The perceived credibility and trustworthiness of a website in the eyes of search engines, often influenced by factors like high-quality backlinks and expert content.

Absolute URL: The full web address of a page, including the protocol (https://), domain name, and path.
Aggregator (or Data Aggregator): A company that collects, verifies, and distributes business data (name, address, phone number) to a wide network of online directories and platforms. The major data aggregators in the U.S. are Infogroup, Localeze, and Factual. Submitting correct information to these sources is a foundational step in ensuring NAP consistency.
Algorithm: A complex set of rules and calculations used by search engines like Google to determine how to rank web pages and business listings for a given search query. The local algorithm is distinct from the general organic algorithm, as it evaluates businesses based on three core pillars: Relevance, Distance, and Prominence. Understanding this framework provides essential context for many other terms in this glossary.

Relevance: How well a local business’s profile and services match what a user is searching for.
Distance (or Proximity): How far each potential search result is from the location of the searcher or the location term used in the search.
Prominence: How well-known and reputable a business is, based on information Google finds across the web, such as links, online reviews, and directory listings.

Alt Text: A short, written description of an image on a webpage, which helps search engines understand the image’s content and improves accessibility.
Anchor Text: The visible, clickable words used for a hyperlink. Optimizing anchor text with relevant keywords can help search engines understand the context of the linked page.
Apple Business Connect: The free platform provided by Apple that allows business owners to create and manage their business listings on Apple Maps. Optimizing this profile is crucial for reaching users of iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices.
Audit (Local SEO): A comprehensive analysis of a business’s online presence, best understood as a diagnostic process to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. An effective audit reveals specific issues like inconsistent citations or areas of poor visibility on a map—problems that specialized tools like Local Dominator’s “Custom Audit” and “Scan Analyzer” features are built to uncover and help remedy. The process typically examines Google Business Profile optimization, citation consistency, online reviews, website on-page SEO, and the local backlink profile.
Authority: The perceived credibility and trustworthiness of a website in the eyes of search engines, often influenced by factors like high-quality backlinks and expert content.

Absolute URL: The full web address of a page, including the protocol (https://), domain name, and path.
Aggregator (or Data Aggregator): A company that collects, verifies, and distributes business data (name, address, phone number) to a wide network of online directories and platforms. The major data aggregators in the U.S. are Infogroup, Localeze, and Factual. Submitting correct information to these sources is a foundational step in ensuring NAP consistency.
Algorithm: A complex set of rules and calculations used by search engines like Google to determine how to rank web pages and business listings for a given search query. The local algorithm is distinct from the general organic algorithm, as it evaluates businesses based on three core pillars: Relevance, Distance, and Prominence. Understanding this framework provides essential context for many other terms in this glossary.

Relevance: How well a local business’s profile and services match what a user is searching for.
Distance (or Proximity): How far each potential search result is from the location of the searcher or the location term used in the search.
Prominence: How well-known and reputable a business is, based on information Google finds across the web, such as links, online reviews, and directory listings.

Alt Text: A short, written description of an image on a webpage, which helps search engines understand the image’s content and improves accessibility.
Anchor Text: The visible, clickable words used for a hyperlink. Optimizing anchor text with relevant keywords can help search engines understand the context of the linked page.
Apple Business Connect: The free platform provided by Apple that allows business owners to create and manage their business listings on Apple Maps. Optimizing this profile is crucial for reaching users of iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices.
Audit (Local SEO): A comprehensive analysis of a business’s online presence, best understood as a diagnostic process to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. An effective audit reveals specific issues like inconsistent citations or areas of poor visibility on a map—problems that specialized tools like Local Dominator’s “Custom Audit” and “Scan Analyzer” features are built to uncover and help remedy. The process typically examines Google Business Profile optimization, citation consistency, online reviews, website on-page SEO, and the local backlink profile.
Authority: The perceived credibility and trustworthiness of a website in the eyes of search engines, often influenced by factors like high-quality backlinks and expert content.

Absolute URL: The full web address of a page, including the protocol (https://), domain name, and path.
Aggregator (or Data Aggregator): A company that collects, verifies, and distributes business data (name, address, phone number) to a wide network of online directories and platforms. The major data aggregators in the U.S. are Infogroup, Localeze, and Factual. Submitting correct information to these sources is a foundational step in ensuring NAP consistency.
Algorithm: A complex set of rules and calculations used by search engines like Google to determine how to rank web pages and business listings for a given search query. The local algorithm is distinct from the general organic algorithm, as it evaluates businesses based on three core pillars: Relevance, Distance, and Prominence. Understanding this framework provides essential context for many other terms in this glossary.

Relevance: How well a local business’s profile and services match what a user is searching for.
Distance (or Proximity): How far each potential search result is from the location of the searcher or the location term used in the search.
Prominence: How well-known and reputable a business is, based on information Google finds across the web, such as links, online reviews, and directory listings.

Alt Text: A short, written description of an image on a webpage, which helps search engines understand the image’s content and improves accessibility.
Anchor Text: The visible, clickable words used for a hyperlink. Optimizing anchor text with relevant keywords can help search engines understand the context of the linked page.
Apple Business Connect: The free platform provided by Apple that allows business owners to create and manage their business listings on Apple Maps. Optimizing this profile is crucial for reaching users of iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices.
Audit (Local SEO): A comprehensive analysis of a business’s online presence, best understood as a diagnostic process to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. An effective audit reveals specific issues like inconsistent citations or areas of poor visibility on a map—problems that specialized tools like Local Dominator’s “Custom Audit” and “Scan Analyzer” features are built to uncover and help remedy. The process typically examines Google Business Profile optimization, citation consistency, online reviews, website on-page SEO, and the local backlink profile.
Authority: The perceived credibility and trustworthiness of a website in the eyes of search engines, often influenced by factors like high-quality backlinks and expert content.