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Digital Marketing Glossary

127 terms across 12 categories — tap any card to reveal its definition.

Branding12 terms

Brand Mission

Branding

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Definition

What the company does every day; its core purpose in the now.

Example

Starbucks: 'To inspire and nurture the human spirit — one person, one cup, one neighborhood at a time.'

Brand Vision

Branding

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Definition

The aspirational goal; where the brand is headed in the future.

Example

IKEA: 'To create a better everyday life for the many people.'

Brand Values

Branding

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Definition

Core beliefs and principles that guide a brand's decisions, culture, and behavior. Usually expressed as abstract nouns (e.g., Integrity, Innovation).

Brand Voice

Branding

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Definition

The distinct personality a company evokes in its communications. It's what sets a brand apart from competitors.

Example

Mailchimp's voice is quirky, approachable, and humorous.

Brand Personality

Branding

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Definition

The set of human-like traits and characteristics people associate with a brand.

Example

Harley-Davidson: rebellious, rugged, bold.

Brand Marketing Strategy

Branding

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Definition

An approach that highlights the personality, values, and identity of a brand. Goes beyond a logo — it's about consistency of messaging and synchronicity across channels.

Value Proposition

Branding

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Definition

A short statement that explains what the company offers, who it's for, and why it matters. Formula: '[Brand] makes [offering] for [audience] so they can [benefit].'

SWOT Analysis

Branding

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Definition

A framework for evaluating a company's internal strengths and weaknesses, and external opportunities and threats.

Brand Awareness

Branding

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Definition

How familiar people are with your brand.

Brand Equity

Branding

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Definition

The value and perception of your brand in the market.

Positioning

Branding

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Definition

How a brand is perceived relative to competitors in the market.

Niche

Branding

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Definition

A specific segment of a market that a brand focuses on.

Digital Channels11 terms

Digital Marketing Channels

Digital Channels

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Definition

Categories of online platforms used to reach a target audience. Examples: Social media, Websites, Email, Search, Display.

Digital Marketing Strategy

Digital Channels

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Definition

A planning process that ensures the actions you take with digital channels align with business goals.

Display

Digital Channels

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Definition

A category of digital marketing channels that includes visual ads placed on websites, apps, or social media.

OOH (Out of Home)

Digital Channels

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Definition

Marketing channels outside the home — billboards, posters, taxi signage. Many are considered 'traditional' marketing channels.

Organic Digital Marketing

Digital Channels

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Definition

Content people find naturally via search engine queries or shared social media posts — no paid promotion.

Paid Media

Digital Channels

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Definition

Advertising you pay for — ads, sponsorships, boosted posts.

Inbound Marketing

Digital Channels

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Definition

Attracting customers through valuable content and experiences rather than interrupting them.

Outbound Marketing

Digital Channels

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Definition

Traditional push marketing — ads, cold outreach, direct mail.

Omnichannel Marketing

Digital Channels

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Definition

Creating a seamless, consistent experience for the customer across all channels and touchpoints.

Native Advertising

Digital Channels

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Definition

Ads that match the look and feel of the platform's content so they don't feel disruptive.

Influencer Marketing

Digital Channels

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Definition

Partnering with individuals who have audiences to promote products or services.

Customer Journey14 terms

Customer Journey

Customer Journey

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Definition

A visualization framework that maps every customer interaction with a brand from awareness to purchase and beyond.

Funnel (Marketing Funnel)

Customer Journey

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Definition

Stages customers move through — from awareness to purchase. Wider at the top (more people), narrower at the bottom (buyers).

Top of Funnel (TOF)

Customer Journey

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Definition

The awareness stage of marketing — reaching the broadest possible audience.

Middle of Funnel (MOF)

Customer Journey

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Definition

The consideration stage — nurturing leads who know you and are evaluating options.

Bottom of Funnel (BOF)

Customer Journey

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Definition

The conversion stage — where interested prospects become customers.

Touchpoints

Customer Journey

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Definition

Every interaction a customer has with your brand along their journey.

Conversion

Customer Journey

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Definition

When a user completes a desired action — purchase, signup, download, etc.

Lead Nurturing

Customer Journey

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Definition

The process of building relationships with potential customers at every stage of the journey.

Retention

Customer Journey

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Definition

Marketing to existing customers to keep them engaged and coming back.

Conversion Path

Customer Journey

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Definition

The specific steps a user takes before completing a conversion.

Buyer Persona

Customer Journey

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Definition

A semi-fictional profile of your ideal customer based on research and data.

Demand Generation

Customer Journey

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Definition

Strategies designed to create awareness and interest before people are actively searching for your product.

Attribution

Customer Journey

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Definition

Assigning credit to the touchpoints that contributed to a conversion.

Lifetime Value (LTV)

Customer Journey

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Definition

The total revenue a business can expect from a single customer over the entire relationship.

Lead Generation6 terms

Lead Generation

Lead Generation

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Definition

Attracting prospective customers and converting them into leads who show interest by providing contact info.

Lead

Lead Generation

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Definition

A potential customer who has shown interest in your product or service.

Lead Magnet

Lead Generation

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Definition

A free resource — PDF, checklist, guide — offered in exchange for someone's contact information.

CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost)

Lead Generation

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Definition

The total cost to acquire one new customer.

Example

If you spend $500 on ads and get 10 customers, your CAC is $50.

Drip Campaign

Lead Generation

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Definition

An automated sequence of emails or messages sent to leads over a period of time.

First-Party Data

Lead Generation

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Definition

Data collected directly from your own audience — email lists, purchase history, website behavior.

Analytics22 terms

KPI (Key Performance Indicator)

Analytics

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Definition

A measurable value that shows how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives.

ROI (Return on Investment)

Analytics

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Definition

Profit relative to marketing spend — how much you earn back for every dollar spent.

Performance Marketing Strategy

Analytics

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Definition

An approach focused on driving measurable actions (sales, leads, clicks) and tracking contribution to ROI.

Behavioral Data

Analytics

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Definition

Data from customer interactions — purchase history, pages viewed, content downloaded, ads clicked.

CRM Analytics

Analytics

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Definition

Insights from CRM platforms that aggregate consumer data to reveal sales trends and purchase patterns.

Performance Data

Analytics

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Definition

Quantifiable results from digital marketing efforts — clicks, conversions, revenue.

Web Analytics

Analytics

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Definition

Measurement and analysis of website data to understand and improve performance.

Bounce Rate

Analytics

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Definition

Percentage of users who leave a page without taking any action or visiting another page.

CTR (Click-Through Rate)

Analytics

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Definition

Percentage of people who click after seeing your content or ad.

Example

1,000 impressions, 50 clicks = 5% CTR.

Conversion Rate

Analytics

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Definition

Percentage of users who complete a desired action out of total visitors.

Page Views

Analytics

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Definition

The total number of times a page is loaded or viewed.

Session

Analytics

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Definition

A single visit to a website — includes all the pages viewed and actions taken during that visit.

Unique Visitor

Analytics

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Definition

An individual user counted only once within a given time period, regardless of how many times they visit.

Exit Rate

Analytics

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Definition

The percentage of users who leave your site from a specific page.

Heatmap

Analytics

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Definition

A visual representation of where users click, scroll, or hover on a webpage.

UTM Parameters

Analytics

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Definition

Tags added to URLs to track which campaigns, sources, or content drove traffic.

Example

?utm_source=instagram&utm_campaign=spring_sale

Pixel

Analytics

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Definition

A small piece of tracking code placed on a website to collect data on user behavior for advertising purposes.

Churn Rate

Analytics

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Definition

Percentage of customers who stop engaging with or buying from you over a period of time.

Impressions

Analytics

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Definition

The number of times your content or ad is displayed — regardless of whether it's clicked.

Frequency

Analytics

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Definition

How often the same user sees your ad within a given period.

Traffic

Analytics

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Definition

The total number of visitors to a website or platform.

Organic Traffic

Analytics

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Definition

Visitors who arrive through unpaid sources — search engines, shared posts, direct links.

Audience Segmentation6 terms

Affinity Audiences

Audience Segmentation

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Definition

People categorized based on online activity that indicates their interests, hobbies, and lifestyle.

Demographic Data

Audience Segmentation

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Definition

Socio-economic attributes of a group — gender, age, education, income, marital status, occupation.

In-Market Audiences

Audience Segmentation

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Definition

People with a higher likelihood of buying based on recent online searches. Data sourced from Google properties.

Psychographic Data

Audience Segmentation

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Definition

Data that provides insight into personal values, attitudes, political views, and interests.

Personalization

Audience Segmentation

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Definition

Tailoring content, messaging, or experiences to individual users based on their data and behavior.

Geo-Targeting

Audience Segmentation

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Definition

Delivering ads or content based on a user's geographic location.

SEO & Content20 terms

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

SEO & Content

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Definition

Optimizing your website and content so it ranks higher in search engine results pages.

Keyword

SEO & Content

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Definition

A word or phrase users type into search engines that your content should target.

Short-Tail Keyword

SEO & Content

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Definition

Broad, high-volume search terms (1–2 words). Competitive and hard to rank for.

Example

'cake recipe' — millions of results, very competitive.

Long-Tail Keyword

SEO & Content

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Definition

Specific, lower-volume phrases (3+ words). Easier to rank for and often convert better.

Example

'best carrot cake recipe with walnuts'

Keyword Density

SEO & Content

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Definition

How frequently a keyword appears within a piece of content relative to total word count.

Backlink

SEO & Content

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Definition

A link from another website to yours — a signal of authority and trust for search engines.

SERP (Search Engine Results Page)

SEO & Content

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Definition

The page Google (or another search engine) displays in response to a search query.

Meta Description

SEO & Content

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Definition

The short summary of a webpage that appears beneath the title in search results.

Meta Tags

SEO & Content

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Definition

HTML tags that provide metadata about a page to search engines — title, description, robots.

On-Page SEO

SEO & Content

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Definition

Optimization done within a page itself — headings, keywords, images, internal links, meta tags.

Content Marketing

SEO & Content

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Definition

Creating and distributing valuable content to attract, engage, and retain a clearly defined audience.

Evergreen Content

SEO & Content

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Definition

Content that stays relevant and useful over time — not tied to a specific trend or news cycle.

Reach

SEO & Content

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Definition

The total number of unique people who see your content.

Engagement Rate

SEO & Content

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Definition

Interactions (likes, comments, shares, saves) relative to reach or impressions.

Engagement

SEO & Content

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Definition

Any user interaction with content — likes, comments, clicks, shares, saves.

Hook

SEO & Content

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Definition

The opening element of content (video, post, email) designed to capture attention in the first few seconds.

GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)

SEO & Content

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Definition

Optimizing content to appear in AI-powered search results like Google's AI Overviews or ChatGPT.

White Hat SEO

SEO & Content

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Definition

Ethical SEO practices that follow search engine guidelines — no shortcuts or manipulation.

Click Depth

SEO & Content

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Definition

The number of clicks it takes to reach a page from the homepage. Fewer clicks = better for SEO.

Above the Fold

SEO & Content

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Definition

The portion of a webpage visible without scrolling — prime real estate for CTAs and key messaging.

Paid Advertising11 terms

PPC (Pay Per Click)

Paid Advertising

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Definition

An ad model where you pay each time someone clicks your ad.

CPC (Cost Per Click)

Paid Advertising

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Definition

The actual cost you pay for each click in a paid ad campaign.

CPM (Cost Per Mille)

Paid Advertising

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Definition

Cost per 1,000 impressions — used in brand awareness campaigns.

CPA (Cost Per Acquisition)

Paid Advertising

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Definition

The cost to generate one conversion or desired action from your ad spend.

Ad Spend

Paid Advertising

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Definition

The total budget allocated and used for paid advertising.

SEM (Search Engine Marketing)

Paid Advertising

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Definition

Paid advertising within search engines — primarily Google Ads.

Quality Score

Paid Advertising

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Definition

Google Ads' rating (1–10) of your ad's relevance, expected CTR, and landing page experience.

Retargeting

Paid Advertising

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Definition

Showing ads to users who previously visited your site or engaged with your content.

Example

Seeing an ad for shoes after browsing a shoe store.

A/B Testing

Paid Advertising

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Definition

Comparing two versions of an ad, page, or email to determine which performs better.

Split Testing

Paid Advertising

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Definition

Another term for A/B Testing — running two variants simultaneously to find the winner.

Algorithm

Paid Advertising

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Definition

Platform rules that determine what content gets shown, to whom, and how often.

Campaign Planning9 terms

Marketing Objectives

Campaign Planning

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Definition

Goals that a campaign should achieve within a given timeframe — awareness, leads, conversions, etc.

Industry Data (Industry Benchmarking)

Campaign Planning

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Definition

Data that shows how other companies in your industry are performing — used to set realistic targets.

Campaign

Campaign Planning

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Definition

A coordinated set of marketing activities designed to achieve a specific goal over a set period.

Automation

Campaign Planning

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Definition

Using tools to perform marketing tasks automatically — email sequences, ad scheduling, reporting.

Dynamic Content

Campaign Planning

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Definition

Content that automatically changes based on user behavior, location, or data.

Digital Footprint

Campaign Planning

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Definition

The sum of all online presence tied to a brand or person — posts, mentions, links, profiles.

Social Proof

Campaign Planning

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Definition

Evidence that others trust or use a product — reviews, testimonials, follower counts, press mentions.

Viral Content

Campaign Planning

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Definition

Content that spreads rapidly through organic sharing across users and platforms.

Query

Campaign Planning

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Definition

The actual words a user types into a search engine.

Email Marketing5 terms

Email Marketing

Email Marketing

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Definition

Using email to communicate with an audience — promotions, newsletters, updates, automation sequences.

Open Rate

Email Marketing

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Definition

The percentage of email recipients who open a given email.

Subject Line

Email Marketing

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Definition

The first line of an email recipients see — determines whether they open it.

Welcome Sequence

Email Marketing

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Definition

A series of automated emails sent to new subscribers to build trust and introduce the brand.

Segmentation (Email)

Email Marketing

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Definition

Dividing your email list into groups based on behavior, interests, or demographics to send more relevant messages.

Social Media6 terms

Social Media Marketing

Social Media

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Definition

Using social platforms to build brand awareness, engage audiences, and drive traffic or conversions.

Content Pillars

Social Media

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Definition

Core recurring themes your content consistently covers — e.g., Educational, Behind-the-Scenes, Promotional, Community.

Organic Reach

Social Media

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Definition

The number of people who see your content without paid promotion.

Paid Reach

Social Media

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Definition

The number of people who see your content as a result of paid promotion.

Saves

Social Media

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Definition

When a user bookmarks your post for later — a strong signal to algorithms that content is valuable.

Shares

Social Media

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Definition

When a user distributes your content to their own audience — expands organic reach.

Conversion & UX5 terms

Landing Page

Conversion & UX

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Definition

A standalone page designed with a single purpose — to convert a visitor into a lead or customer.

UI (User Interface)

Conversion & UX

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Definition

The visual design and layout of a product, app, or webpage — buttons, menus, typography, colors.

UX (User Experience)

Conversion & UX

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Definition

The overall experience a user has when interacting with a product — ease, flow, satisfaction.

CTA (Call to Action)

Conversion & UX

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Definition

A prompt that tells the user what to do next — 'Buy Now', 'Learn More', 'Subscribe'.

Above the Fold CTA

Conversion & UX

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Definition

A call-to-action placed in the visible area of a webpage before any scrolling is required.