Cannabis SEO Glossary: 200+ Terms Defined

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)

Optimization for AI-generated answers in ChatGPT, Claude, and similar systems. Different from traditional SEO, focusing on citation by AI systems.

Algorithm

Mathematical system Google uses to rank websites. Updates periodically (Core Updates, helpful content updates, etc.).

Alt Text

Alternative text description for images. Used for accessibility and helps search engines understand image content.

Authority

Perceived credibility and trustworthiness of a website. Built through backlinks, content quality, and brand signals.

CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost)

Cost to acquire one customer through a specific channel (organic search, paid ads, etc.).

Click-Through Rate (CTR)

Percentage of users who click on a search result. Calculated as clicks divided by impressions.

Citation (Local)

Business information (name, address, phone) listed on directories and websites. Consistency signals trust.

Content Cluster

Group of related content pieces organized topically. Pillar article + satellite articles.

Conversion

Desired action taken by website visitor (purchase, email signup, phone call).

Core Web Vitals

Three Google metrics measuring page experience: Largest Contentful Paint, First Input Delay, Cumulative Layout Shift.

Domain Authority (DA)

Moz metric predicting ranking ability of a website (scale 1-100).

Domain Rating (DR)

Ahrefs equivalent to Domain Authority.

First Input Delay (FID)

Google Core Web Vital measuring responsiveness of page to user interaction.

GEO (Geographic Entity Optimization)

Optimization for appearance in AI-generated overview panels above search results.

GTIN

Global Trade Item Number. Product identifier used in schema markup.

Impressions

Number of times a search result appears in Google Search results (not clicks).

Internal Linking

Links from one page on your site to another page on your site.

JSON-LD

Format for structured data markup. Google's recommended format.

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)

Google Core Web Vital measuring page load time (should be under 2.5 seconds).

Local Pack

Three location-based search results shown for local queries.

Local SEO

Optimization for location-based search results and Google Business Profile visibility.

Meta Description

HTML description of page content (160 characters). Displayed under page title in search results.

Mobile-First Indexing

Google primarily indexes mobile version of websites for ranking.

Organic Search

Non-paid search results from Google. Different from paid ads.

Overview Panel

Information box appearing above organic search results for certain queries. Feature of GEO.

Page Authority (PA)

Moz metric predicting ranking ability of individual page (scale 1-100).

Page Experience

Google ranking factor including Core Web Vitals, mobile optimization, safe browsing.

Pillar Article

complete, long-form article (2,000-4,000+ words) covering broad topic.

Position (Ranking)

Where webpage ranks in search results (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.).

Referring Domain

Unique domain linking to your website.

Rich Snippet

Enhanced search result showing additional information (ratings, price, availability, etc.).

Robots.txt

File telling search engines which pages to crawl and which to exclude.

Schema Markup

Structured data markup (JSON-LD format) helping search engines understand page content.

Search Console

Google tool providing data on search impressions, clicks, rankings.

Search Intent

Underlying goal of a search query. Examples: find information, make purchase, find location.

Seasonal Content

Content relevant to specific time periods (cannabis for holidays, etc.).

Service Area Pages

Pages serving delivery or service area businesses. Geo-targeted without physical location.

Site Speed

How quickly pages load. Google ranking factor and conversion factor.

Sitemap (XML)

File listing all pages on website to help search engines crawl.

SMART Goals

Goal-setting framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.

URL Structure

How URLs are organized on website. Should reflect information hierarchy.

User Experience (UX)

Overall experience users have on website. Affects rankings and conversions.

Velocity (Content)

Rate at which new content is published (5 articles per month, etc.).

Velocity (Link)

Rate at which new backlinks are acquired.

XML Sitemap

Machine-readable sitemap in XML format submitted to Google.

YMYL (Your Money Your Life)

Google classification for pages affecting health, finances, or legal status. Cannabis may qualify.

Dispensary

Retail location selling cannabis products legally.

Delivery Service

Service delivering cannabis products to customer locations.

Flower

Cannabis in its dried plant form. Most common product type.

Strain

Named variety of cannabis plant with specific characteristics.

Potency

THC and CBD content of cannabis product, measured as percentage.

Terpenes

Aromatic compounds in cannabis affecting flavor and effects.

Effects

Subjective experiences from cannabis consumption (relaxation, focus, sleep, etc.).

Indica/Sativa/Hybrid

Cannabis plant types with different characteristics and effects.

Edibles

Cannabis-infused food or beverage products.

Concentrates

Extracted cannabis products (oils, waxes, resins) with high potency.

Delivery Area

Geographic area served by delivery service.

Lab Testing

Third-party analysis of cannabis products for potency, contaminants.

Medical Cannabis

Cannabis used for therapeutic purposes, often requiring prescription.

Recreational Cannabis

Cannabis for consumer use without medical requirement.