Scraper sites – Sites that source content from other search-engine results pages (many times without permission) and create a new website with that ‘scraped’ content are called Scraper Sites. Such sites typically comprise advertisements and redirects.
Search engines (SE) – A web site that functions for the sole purpose of providing users the facility to search content from the web world is called a Search Engine. To provide this feature, the search engine uses spiders to roam on the internet and explore any number of web pages and pick up content that is added to the database of the search engine. Web pages that include relevant key phrases are given pride of place making keywords critical to web ranking.
Search engine marketing (SEM) – With the growing popularity of e-commerce, specific techniques have evolved that are aimed at increasing the number and quality of leads generated by search engines; these strategies and tactics collectively comprise Search Engine Marketing.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – Web page ranks are said to drive traffic to a site; as a result, methods are employed to influence the rankings of web pages in the search engines; this function is known as Search Engine Optimization. It comprises aspects such as technical optimization, content optimization and link building; all of these have the single aim to increase traffic and thereby enhance revenues for the web site owner.
Search Engine Results Page (SERP) – A query fed into a search engine results in specific pages listing search results; SERP is an acronym for Search Engine Results Page.
Search Term – A query fed into a search engine may be a word or a phrase or a number of words; these are the Search Term.
Skyscraper Ad – Sometimes an ad is created like a skyscraper: tall, thin and running down one side of a web page; typically, a Skyscraper Ad is 120 x 600 pixels or 160 x 600 pixels.
Sniffer Script – A script or program used to find out the specific web browser software being used by an Internet user is called Sniffer Script; once the data is specified, the matching browser-specific cascading style sheet is made available to the user. Sniffer Script may also be employed to find out if the user has the Macromedia Flash plug-in installed on his system; if it is so, a Flash version of the page is displayed.
Spam & Spamming – Spam refers to manipulation techniques to obtain higher page ranking that are not allowed by or approved by the search engines. The act of performing this fraudulent technique is called Spamming; sending unsolicited commercial email as SEO, using disreputable tactics to achieve high search engine rankings, and submitting spamglish-containing doorway pages are all types of spamming.
Spiders – Search engines use specific programs to roam the World Wide Web and obtain HTML content from web sites; this is reduced to the basic useful information and stored in the search engines database. These programs are called Spiders or Bots or Robots or Crawlers. Bots can also be used to source specific types of information from Web pages, such as harvesting e-mail addresses (usually for spam). When a particular website is indexed by the Spider, it is called 'being spidered.'
Spider trap – Sometimes a bot or spider gets entangled in the multiple ever-changing URLs of dynamic pages; this condition is known as Spider Trap. This happens when the URL of the home page is different and the search engine is not able to understand both URLs as being for the same page.
Splash page – Some website owners create a home page that simply says: Welcome or Enter Here; it has no other content. Such a page is called a Splash Page and is usually created in Flash. It is a method that loses out on the impact that a keyword-rich home page may have on web page rankings; since a splash page is devoid of keywords, it does not get ranked.
Standards Compliant – The term refers to sites that use valid XHTML and CSS and separate the content layer from the presentation layer. Such sites achieve better page ranks in search engines as they are accessible to both humans and spiders alike.
Static – A web page created and saved as an HTML file is known as a Static Web Page; this is different from creating a web page dynamically from a database.
Status Code Definition - HTTP 301 – When a URL is not available for any reason, an error message reading: Status Code Definition - HTTP 301 appers on the page to indicate that the URL requested has either moved permanently to a new location or has been assigned a new URL. Duplicate content often gets reflected by this message.
Status Code Definition - HTTP 302 – This message indicates that the URL requested has been found but it is temporarily placed under a different URL for a time period. The original requested URL may, however, be used for future requests.
Status Code Definition - HTTP 400 – This message indicates a bad or invalid request.
Status Code Definition - HTTP 401 – This message indicates that the user is not authorized to access the URL; user authentication is required.
Status Code Definition - HTTP 403 – This message indicates that the user is prohibited access.
Status Code Definition - HTTP 404 – This message indicates that the document could not be found.
Status Code Definition - HTTP 410 – This message indicates that the document is no longer available and there is no forwarding address.
Status Code Definition - HTTP 500 – This message indicates that the document could not be accessed owing to an internal server error.
Status Code Definition - HTTP 501 – This message indicates that the server does not recognize the document request method.
Streaming Media – The Internet provides the user the facility of simultaneously viewing audio-visual content as it is being downloaded from the web; this is referred to as Streaming Media.
Supplemental Index – Some pages show on search result pages but do not exist in that moment; these are called Supplemental Index as they provide additional information about the particular search.
Syndication – This refers to the act of distributing ads to additional partner sites.
