Glossary
Marketing has its own jargon, and most of it isn't explained anywhere. Here's what the terms on this site actually mean, in plain English — no marketing-speak, no circular definitions.
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
- The work of getting your business to show up higher in Google's regular search results, without paying for ads. It covers things like your website's speed, your Google Business Profile, and whether your business's name, address, and phone number match everywhere online.
- GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)
- The same idea as SEO, but for AI tools like ChatGPT, Google's AI answers, and Perplexity — the ones people now ask instead of typing into a search box. It's newer, and it relies on a lot of the same honest groundwork as SEO: accurate information, real reviews, and clear answers on your website.
- Google Business Profile
- The free listing that shows up on the right side of Google search results and on Google Maps when someone looks up your business — hours, photos, reviews, directions. It's separate from your website, and it's often the very first thing a customer sees.
- Local Pack / Google Maps results
- The group of three businesses with a little map that Google shows at the top when someone searches for something nearby, like "plumber near me." Landing in there sends a lot more customers your way than being further down the page.
- Organic search vs. paid ads
- Organic results are the ones nobody paid for — they show up because Google (or an AI tool) decided they're the best answer. Paid ads are the ones marked "Sponsored," where a business pays for every click. Organic takes longer to build but keeps working without an ongoing bill.
- Keyword
- The actual words someone types (or says) when they're searching — like "emergency plumber Pasadena." Building a page or writing an article around a real keyword means it can actually be found by the person asking that exact question.
- Google reviews
- The star ratings and comments customers leave on your Google Business Profile. They're one of the biggest factors in whether Google — and now AI tools — recommend you over a competitor, and they're free to earn, just not free to ignore.
Don't see a term you're stuck on? Ask us — if you're wondering, someone else reading this is too.