SERP - SERP is an acronym for Search Engine Results Page. That is, the listing
of Web page links
returned by a Search Engine
when visitors search for a given Keyword
phrase.
The important thing to understand about search engine results is that most
visitors will only see the first ten results for their search, which is the
default setting of search engines, and most of them will click on the first
links within those first ten links. The goal of
Search Engine Optimization
is to improve the positioning of specific webpage and website listings within
the the SERPs for popular keywords.
Positioning in the SERP is often confused or used interchangeable with
PageRank,
which is the measure of Authority
of a Web page in general. Pagerank affects SERP positioning for a given search
phrase or keyword, but it is not the same thing. If you search for [widget], the
search engine should list the pages that are most relevant to [widget]
regardless of their
PageRank.
Ideally, the SERP for [widget] should list the most relevant 10 pages for
[widget] ordered by the relevance and
PageRank
of those pages.
SERP and positioning effectiveness may also be affected by special features that
are injected "artificially" into SERPs. For example the
Google Onebox
display may put a listing of
Local Business Results
at the top of the SERP. This displaces the top regular listing downward and
probably reduces its ability to draw visitors. Onebox also may put a video
listing in the middle of the SERP, so that any listing below that video result
is affected accordingly.
Ami Isseroff
February 14, 2009
Note - Definitions of Search Engine
Optimization terms are based on inferences from common usage and definitions given by other sources. Conclusions about
search engine behavior are based on understanding of the behavior of the most popular search engines. Both are subject
to error or may change. Search engine company management may define or use a term or set or change any policy in any way
they see fit, and may make these definitions and specifications public or not. These decisions and definitions are
beyond our control. Notice: Copyright
All materials are copyright 2008, 2009 by Ami Isseroff. All rights reserved. These pages may not be reproduced in any
form in electronic or printed media without express written permission from the author.
SEO Glossary
