Marketing can sometimes feel like a world of jargon and buzzwords. To help demystify some of the most common terms, we’ve put together a guidebook of the top 50 marketing terms (in alphabetic order). From A/B testing to ROI, we’ve got you covered with a brief description of each term in alphabetical order. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting out, this guidebook is a handy reference to have on hand.
A/B testing: comparing two versions of a marketing asset to see which performs better.
Above the fold: the part of a web page that is visible without scrolling down.
Affiliate marketing: promoting a company’s product or service and earning a commission for each sale.
B2B marketing: marketing aimed at businesses rather than individual consumers.
B2C marketing: marketing aimed at individual consumers rather than businesses.
Branding: the process of creating and establishing a brand identity.
Buyer persona: a fictional representation of a company’s ideal customer.
Call to action: a request for the viewer or reader to take a specific action, such as signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase.
Click-through rate (CTR): the percentage of clicks on a link compared to the total number of impressions.
Conversion rate: the percentage of website visitors who take a desired action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form.
Content marketing: creating and distributing content to attract and engage a specific audience.
Cost per acquisition (CPA): the cost to acquire a new customer.
Cost per click (CPC): the cost for each click on an online advertisement.
Customer acquisition cost (CAC): the cost of acquiring a new customer.
Customer lifetime value (CLV): the total value a customer brings to a business over their lifetime.
Customer relationship management (CRM): managing interactions and relationships with customers.
Digital marketing: marketing using digital channels such as social media, email, and search engines.
Direct mail: marketing through physical mail.
Display advertising: banner or image ads on websites or mobile apps.
Earned media: publicity gained through editorial coverage rather than paid advertising.
Email marketing: using email to promote products or services.
Engagement rate: the percentage of people who engage with a post, such as liking or commenting on a social media post.
Funnel: the process of moving a potential customer from awareness to purchase.
Geotargeting: targeting ads or content to a specific location.
Hashtag: a word or phrase preceded by a hash (#) symbol used to categorize social media posts.
Impressions: the number of times a piece of content is displayed.
Influencer marketing: partnering with influential individuals or organizations to promote products or services.
Key performance indicator (KPI): a metric used to measure success.
Landing page: a web page specifically designed to convert visitors into leads or customers.
Lead generation: the process of generating potential customers for a product or service.
Lead nurturing: building relationships with potential customers to eventually convert them into customers.
Lead scoring: assigning a value to a lead based on their behavior and likelihood to become a customer.
Long-tail keyword: a longer and more specific keyword used to target a niche audience.
Market segmentation: dividing a market into smaller groups with similar needs or characteristics.
Marketing automation: using software to automate repetitive marketing tasks.
Marketing funnel: the process of moving a potential customer from awareness to purchase.
Marketing mix: the combination of tactics used to promote a product or service.
Marketing plan: a roadmap for achieving marketing objectives.
Marketing strategy: the overall approach to achieving marketing goals.
Mobile marketing: marketing to mobile device users.
Net promoter score (NPS): a metric used to measure customer loyalty.
On-page optimization: optimizing a website’s content and structure for search engines.
Organic Traffic: Refers to the visitors that come to your website from unpaid sources, such as search engine results or social media shares. Outreach: A marketing tactic that involves reaching out to influencers or other websites to collaborate, guest post, or promote your brand or content.
Pay-Per-Click (PPC): An advertising model where advertisers pay each time a user clicks on one of their ads, typically used in search engine advertising or social media advertising.
Persona: A fictional character or profile that represents a particular target audience, used in marketing to personalize and target campaigns to specific groups.
Podcasting: The creation and distribution of audio content in the form of a series or episodes, typically for educational or entertainment purposes.
Positioning: The process of establishing a distinctive place or perception in the minds of target audiences for a brand or product.
Public Relations (PR): The practice of managing and influencing public opinion and perceptions of a company or individual, typically through earned media and strategic communications.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization): The process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) and increasing the quantity and quality of organic traffic to your website.
SERP (Search Engine Results Page): The page displayed by a search engine in response to a query by a user. It includes organic search results, paid search ads, featured snippets, and other features.
Social Media Marketing: The practice of promoting products or services on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. It involves creating and sharing content, engaging with followers, and running paid ads.
Split Testing: A method of testing two or more versions of a marketing element such as a landing page, ad, or email to determine which version performs better.
Target Market: The specific group of people or businesses that a product or service is intended to reach and appeal to. It is determined by demographics, psychographics, and behavior patterns.
User Experience (UX): The overall experience of a user when interacting with a website, app, or product. It encompasses design, functionality, ease of use, and satisfaction.
Video Marketing: The use of videos to promote and market products or services. It includes creating promotional videos, tutorials, product demos, and customer testimonials.
Viral Marketing: A marketing strategy that relies on social sharing and word-of-mouth to promote a product or service. It involves creating content that is highly shareable and engaging.
In conclusion, marketing can be a complex and ever-evolving field, but with this guidebook of the top 100 marketing terms, you are now equipped with a solid foundation of knowledge. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting out, understanding these key terms can help you communicate effectively with your team, clients, or stakeholders. By mastering these terms, you can confidently navigate the world of marketing and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and strategies.
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