When you made a plan to jump in the deep end and take your digital marketing to the next level – you probably didn’t expect to have to start learning the lingo! I get it – it’s like a whole other language at times! It’s acronym after acronym, abbreviation after abbreviation, and if you have been struggling with it all you’ve probably had a bit of FOMO. I’m hoping after reading this you’ll be DMing your BFF to say you’ll BRB as you’ll be ready to go off and kickstart your SEO and SMM efforts…

OK – Yes. I’ll stop that now.

Basically, I just wanted to offer up a basic glossary for you. Warning – it’s late in the evening as I write this, it may get a little silly.

(Disclaimer: This seemed funny when I wrote it. I often have to explain to people when I first meet them how funny I am. It’s kind of a warning.)

OK here goes!

Social Media Centric

1. DM: Direct message
   Messages sent by frustrated purchasers who have received poor service from large brands using social media sites such as Twitter (I may have to rewrite this in a few weeks and change this to Threads following its launch this week!). Conversations usually start in the public domain and are quickly moved into a more private arena via DMs.
   OR, over-obviously automated tweets that make your brand sound like a robot when received by your latest Twitter followers
2. UGC: User-generated content
   When you get someone else to produce content for your brand and share it, tagging you in and telling their network how awesome you are, seriously though – This is something to think about, with influencer marketing now being a pretty standard go to market strategy and everyone developing their social platforms to create more personal experiences UGC is only going to continue to grow in prominence.
3. SM: Social media
   That stuff we all spend way too much time looking at and having an opinion on. Yes, even people who say they don’t do social media spend a lot of time talking about it and their opinion of it!
4. SMM: Social media marketing
   The activity we should all be doing while hanging out on social media so that we can actually make use of the fantastic opportunity it presents us with.

Things the techies say

1. API: Application Programming Interface
   A bit of codey-wodey-goodness that makes software A talk to software B. The outcome of which is to aid efficiency (as long as it is working).
2. CMS: Content Management System
   The thing that you log into in order to upload your blog.
3. CPC: Cost per click
   If you’re using Google Ads, every time someone clicks, you’re paying for it. Your CPC tells you how much in £££s
4. CPA: Cost Per Acquisition/Action – How much it’s actually cost to get that client, that lead, that like, that view or whatever it was you decided to spend your cold hard marketing cash on. This let’s you know if what you’re doing is effective and efficient… or a complete waste of time!
5. PPC: Pay per click
   A bit like CPC – only this time (usually) you’re saying how much you are prepared to pay. It’s your bid essentially!
6. CR: Conversion rate
   How much did I pay out vs how much did I make?
7. CTA: Call to action
   Imagine shouting in someone’s face telling them what to do next! That’s what a CTA does! Make sure you use them in all your marketing
8. CX: Customer experience
   What’s it really like using your website/software/working? You know yourself, poor experience does not encourage you to buy! (Not to be confused with UI – User interface. Basically, how pretty/scary is the page your customers are presented with?)
9. ESP: Email service provider
   Snooze – I can’t make this one funny.
10. GA: Google Analytics
    Ah! Google Analytics is the thing that tells you if your online activities are actually working or not. A fantastic tool you should be looking at regularly. This is being updated to something called GA4. Not as complicated as it’s predecessor, and if you ask me, not as useful as it once was unless you like to get down and dirty with data.
11. RSS: Rich site summary (Also known as really simple syndication)
    A feed on a website that can be used to automagically announce updates, such as new blogs being added to a site, via email or other digital tools. There is more to it, but that is as simple as I can make it. If you want to know more – ask me! (FYI – if you use MailChimp you can use your RSS to automate a weekly or monthly newsletter!)
12. SEO: Search engine optimisation
    There are a ton of activities that operate under SEO; they are all intended to ensure that when search engines such as Google or Bing look at your website they are speaking the same language, and therefore able to get you as close to position one as possible in search results.
13. SERP: Search engine results page
    Everyone wants to be number one on the Google listings! When you are looking to see what position you are in, you are looking at a SERP!
14. UI: User interface
    What’s in yer face as a user. (You were supposed to giggle there.)
15. UX: User experience
    This is probably more relevant for websites – as a user of your site, is my experience good or am I getting frustrated with menus that don’t work and pages that won’t load?

Stuff the kids use

1. FOMO: Fear of missing out
2. IKR: I know, right?
3. TBH: To be honest
4. YOLO: You only live once

I would give you examples of how to use those – but I’m just not cool enough.

Good to know…

1. WOM: Word of mouth
   The number one way most people build their businesses in the early days before they actually start marketing outside of their initial network. Also, what people say when they don’t know what marketing they’ve been doing and are too embarrassed to say ‘nothing’.
2. ICYMI: In case you missed it
   I like this one – but I don’t think I’ve ever actually been able to use it!
3. IMO/IMHO: In my opinion, In my humble opinion
   In my opinion means, you’re wrong I’m right. In my humble opinion (or I would say honest opinion) means you’re definitely wrong, I’m right, and I’m getting a little frustrated now.
4. AMA: Ask me anything
   Means go on I dare you, Ask me anything – as long as it’s not too taxing, or you’ve given me a day to practice my answer.
5. NSFW: Not safe for work
   Example – the photos taken at 3 am after the works Christmas party
6. IRL: In real life – that thing that you engage in when you’re not checking out social media, that you then refer to when using social media!

And everyone’s favourite of course…

ROI: Return on investment
Ch-Ching!

Ok – I did warn you it would get a little silly. July is about to disappear with a flurry of events, good weather (hopefully) and the beginning of the holiday season so I’m stepping into the fun zone. If you have taken the time to read this, I hope I’ve given you a little knowledge and a little light entertainment in between sipping your Pimms, attending sports days and planning your duty-free purchases.