Visibility, Discoverability, Findability, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Academic SEO in Digital Repositories: A scoping review

Abstract:

Visibility plays a critical role in enhancing the impact of scientific research, yet it is often interpreted in diverse and overlapping ways. Related concepts – such as discoverability, findability, search engine optimization (SEO), and academic search engine optimization (ASEO) – are frequently used interchangeably, despite having distinct meanings. This study aims to clarify how these terms are conceptualized in the context of digital repositories and to identify the techniques proposed to optimize them. A theoretical framework was first developed to define and differentiate these concepts based on their usage in the broader web environment. This was followed by a scoping review, conducted in accordance with the SALSA framework, of 67 scholarly articles that address the use of these terms within the domain of repositories. The review analyses how the concepts are understood and applied, and catalogues the optimization strategies discussed. The results reveal a lack of clear conceptual distinctions among the terms, which are often used synonymously. The review does however identify 22 distinct optimization techniques aimed at improving the visibility of content stored in digital repositories.