Social Media Glossary & Marketing Terms

A

A/B testing

A/B testing is a way to compare two versions of something digital to see which one works better. You might test different social media posts, web pages, or ads. It's like a mini-experiment where you show version A to some people and version B to others.

Access group

An access group is a feature in social media management tools that lets you control who can see and do what with your accounts. It's a way to organize users and give them specific permissions.

Algorithm

A social media algorithm is a computer program that decides what content you see on your feed. It's like a smart sorting system that picks posts based on your likes, comments, and other actions.

Alt text

Alt text is a short description you add to images on your social media posts and websites.

AMA

AMA stands for "Ask Me Anything." It's a popular Q&A format that started on Reddit and spread to other social media platforms.

API

An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a set of rules that lets different software talk to each other.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is computer technology that mimics human thinking. It's software that can learn, reason, and make choices like you do.

Augmented reality (AR)

Augmented reality (AR) blends digital elements with your real-world surroundings. It's like adding a layer of virtual info on top of what you see.

Avatar

An avatar is your digital representation in the online world. It's the image or character that shows up when you interact on social media platforms, forums, or games.

Average response time

Average response time is how long it takes a brand to reply to customer messages on social media. It's the average time between when customers send inquiries and when you respond.

B

B2B

B2B, or Business-to-Business, refers to companies that sell products or services to other businesses. It's different from B2C (Business-to-Consumer), where companies sell directly to individuals.

B2C

B2C stands for business-to-consumer. It's when companies sell products or services straight to you, the end user. This differs from B2B, where businesses sell to other businesses.

BeReal

BeReal is a social media app that focuses on sharing authentic, unfiltered moments of your day, unlike the carefully curated posts you see on other platforms like Instagram.

BFR

BFR stands for "Be For Real" on social media. It's a popular slang term used to express disbelief or skepticism.

Bitmoji

A Bitmoji is your personal emoji – a cartoon version of you. It's a fun way to express yourself on social media and in messages.

Blogger

A blogger is someone who writes and publishes content on a blog. You might be a blogger if you regularly share your thoughts, experiences, or expertise online.

BoFu (Bottom of the Funnel)

BoFu, or Bottom of Funnel, is the final stage in your social media marketing funnel. It's where your leads are closest to making a purchase decision.

Boosted post

A boosted post is a paid social media promotion that extends the reach of your organic content.

Brand advocate

A brand advocate is someone who loves your brand and tells others about it. They're your biggest fans who spread the word without being paid.

C

Call to action (CTA)

A call to action (CTA) is a prompt that encourages you to take a specific action on social media. It's a key part of posts and ads, designed to get you to engage.

Caption

A caption is a short text that goes with a photo or video on social media. It's your chance to add context and meaning to your visual content.

Chatbot

A chatbot is a software program that simulates conversations with users on social media platforms like Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Check-in

A check-in is a social media feature that lets you share your current location with your followers. It's a way to tell people where you are and what you're up to.

Chronically online

Being chronically online describes people who spend too much time on the internet. It's a state where you're always connected, shaping how you think and act.

Click-through rate (CTR)

CTR, short for click-through rate, helps you measure audience engagement.

Clickbait

Clickbait refers to misleading content designed to get clicks. Learn how it works, its impact on brand trust, and how to avoid it.

Clout

Clout is your social media influence and power. It's how much sway you have online. People with clout can shape trends and opinions.

Clubhouse

Clubhouse is an audio-based social media app that lets you join live conversations. It's like a mix of podcasts and conference calls, but more interactive.

Comment

A comment is how you interact with posts on social media platforms. When you see content you want to respond to, you can leave a comment to share your thoughts.

Community manager

A community manager is a social media pro who builds relationships between a brand and its online followers. Their goal? Turn casual fans into loyal brand advocates.

Content curation

Content curation is the process of finding, organizing, and sharing valuable content from different sources to engage your target audience.

Content marketing

Content marketing is a strategy you can use to connect with your audience online. It's all about creating and sharing valuable content that your target audience will find useful or interesting.

Conversion

Conversion in social media is when you get users to take a specific action that helps your business goals. It's about turning interactions into real results.

Conversion rate

Conversion rate is the percentage of users who take a desired action after engaging with your social media content or marketing campaigns.

Cost per click (CPC)

Cost per click (CPC) is how much you pay when someone clicks on your ad. It's a key part of pay-per-click (PPC) advertising on social media and search engines.

Cost per mille (CPM)

Cost per mille (CPM) is the amount you pay for 1,000 ad impressions. It's a key metric in digital advertising, especially for social media campaigns.

Cross-posting

Cross-posting is a social media strategy that lets you share the same content across multiple platforms. It’s a time-saving trick that helps you reach more people without extra work.

Crowdsourcing

Crowdsourcing is a way to get ideas and help from lots of people online. It's big on social media. Brands ask their followers for thoughts on new products or content.

CSAT

CSAT is a key metric that shows how happy customers are with your product, service, or interaction. It's a quick way to get feedback, usually through short surveys.

D

Dark social

Dark social refers to the sharing of content through private, untraceable channels. It happens when you send links via messaging apps, email, or direct messages on social media.

Demographics

Demographics are the key traits that describe a group of people. They include things like age, gender, income, and location.

Direct message (DM)

A private way to chat on social media. You can send DMs to other users without anyone else seeing them.

Direct response

Direct response marketing is a strategy that aims to get you to take action right away. It's different from other marketing that focuses on building brand awareness over time.

Discord

Discord is a free communication app you can use to chat with friends and communities. It started as a tool for gamers but now welcomes all kinds of groups.

Doomscrolling

Doomscrolling is when you can't stop scrolling through bad news on social media. It's the habit of constantly looking at upsetting posts or articles on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or news sites

E

E-commerce chatbot

An e-commerce chatbot is your AI-powered assistant for online shopping. It's a smart program that talks to customers on your website or social media platforms.

Ecommerce

Ecommerce is buying and selling products or services online. It's grown huge in the digital age, with social media playing a big role. You can shop on websites, apps, and marketplaces 24/7.

EdgeRank

EdgeRank was Facebook's first algorithm for sorting your News Feed. It came about in 2010 when Facebook needed a way to handle the growing amount of content on the platform.

Emoji

Emojis are small digital images or icons used to express emotions, ideas, or objects in electronic messages and web pages.

Engagement

Social media engagement is how you interact with content on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X. It's all about the actions you take when you see a post or video.

Engagement rate

Engagement rate measures how much your audience interacts with your social media content. It's a key metric to gauge your online performance.

Ephemeral Content

Ephemeral content is short-lived media that vanishes after a set time, usually 24 hours. You'll find it on popular social platforms like Instagram Stories, Snapchat, and Facebook Stories.

Evergreen content

Evergreen content is material that stays fresh and relevant long after it's published. Like evergreen trees that keep their leaves year-round, this type of content remains useful and interesting to readers over time.

Explore Page

The Explore page is a key feature on Instagram. It's a personalized feed that shows you content you might like. You can find it by tapping the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the app.

F

Facebook (FB)

Facebook is the world's largest social media platform. Mark Zuckerberg founded it in 2004, and it's now owned by Meta. Facebook lets you connect with friends, family, and people worldwide.

Finsta

A finsta is a secret Instagram account you create to share more personal content with a small group of close friends. It's short for "fake Instagram."

Fleet

Fleets were Twitter's version of disappearing posts. Introduced in 2020, they let you share temporary content that vanished after 24 hours. You could post text, photos, videos, or reactions to tweets.

Follower

A social media follower is someone who subscribes to your account on social media platforms. When you follow an account, you'll see their posts in your feed.

FR (For Real)

FR stands for "for real" in social media lingo. You'll often see it used to express sincerity or agreement in online chats and posts. When someone says "FR," they're emphasizing that they're being truthful or genuine.

Friction

Friction in social media is anything that makes it hard for you to use a platform or take action. It's like a roadblock that slows you down or stops you from doing what you want.

FYP (For You Page)

It's a personalized content feed you'll find on popular social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

G

Geotag

A geotag is a piece of geographical data added to your digital content. It's like a virtual stamp that shows where you took a photo, made a post, or shared a video.

Ghosting

Ghosting is when you suddenly stop all communication with someone on social media without any explanation. It's like vanishing into thin air, leaving the other person wondering what happened.

GIF

A GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is a digital image file you'll often see on social media. It's a compact format that can show both still pictures and short, looping animations without sound.

Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile is a free tool that helps you manage your business's online presence on Google Search and Maps.

Groups

Social media groups are online communities where you can connect with others who share your interests. You'll find them on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Reddit.

GUI (Graphical User Interface)

A graphical user interface (GUI) is a user-friendly way to interact with your devices and apps. Instead of typing commands, you use visual elements like icons, buttons, and menus.

H

Hashtag

A keyword or phrase you add to your social media posts by putting a "#" symbol in front of it. It's a way to tag and organize content.

Header image

A header image is the large picture at the top of your social media profile. It's one of the first things people see when they visit your page.

I

Impressions

Impressions are a key social media metric. They show how often your content appears on users' screens.

Influencer

An influencer is someone who can shape your opinions and decisions on social media. They're active on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Instagram

Instagram (IG) is a popular social media app. It lets you share photos and videos with your followers. In 2010, it started as a simple photo-sharing platform.

K

Key performance indicator (KPI)

A KPI in social media is a measurable value that shows how well you're meeting your goals. It helps you track progress and make smart choices for your social media strategy.

L

Like

A "like" is a quick way to show you enjoy or agree with content on social media. It's a simple click that lets you interact without typing a comment.

Link in bio

'Link in bio' refers to the clickable URL you can add to your social media profile. It's a way to share important content with your followers.

M

Marketing funnel

A marketing funnel is a model that shows how customers move through the buying process. It starts with people learning about your brand and ends with them making a purchase.

Meme

A meme is digital content, often humorous, that spreads rapidly online. Discover how memes shape culture and social media trends.

Mention

A mention is when you tag or refer to another user on social media, usually with the "@" symbol. You'll see this on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Meta Ads Manager

Meta Ads Manager is your go-to tool for creating and managing ads across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.

N

Native advertising

Native advertising is a paid media format that blends in with organic content on social media, news sites, and search engines.

Newsjacking

Newsjacking is a strategy where you use trending news stories to boost your brand's visibility. It's about jumping on hot topics and adding your own twist.

O

Open Graph

Open Graph is a protocol created by Facebook to make web content more shareable on social media.

Organic reach

Organic reach is the number of unique users who see your content on social media without paid promotion. It's different from paid reach, which involves spending money to boost your posts.

P

Paid social

Paid social is when you pay to show ads on social media platforms. It's a way to get your content in front of more people who might like what you offer.

Pay-per-click (PPC)

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) is a digital advertising model where you pay when users click on your ads. It's a popular way to drive traffic and sales on platforms like:

Pinned post

A pinned post is a social media feature that lets you keep a specific post at the top of your profile. It's like putting a thumbtack on your most important note.

Post

A post is content you share on social media platforms. It can be text, images, videos, or links.

R

Reach

Social media reach is the number of people exposed to your posts. Learn the difference between reach and impressions, and see tips on how to expand your audience.

Real-time marketing

Real-time marketing is all about jumping on current trends and events to connect with your audience right away.

Regram

A regram is when you share another user's Instagram post on your own account. It's like reposting content, but specifically for Instagram.

Repost

A repost is when you share someone else's content on your social media profile. It's a way to spread interesting posts you've seen to your own followers.

Retweet

A retweet is a way to share someone else's post on X (formerly Twitter). When you retweet, you're spreading that content to your own followers.

S

Selfie

A selfie is a photo you take of yourself. You usually use your smartphone to take it. It's a fun way to capture moments and share them on social media.

Sentiment analysis

Sentiment analysis is a powerful tool you can use to understand how people feel about your brand on social media.

Share

A share on social media is when you spread content from another user or page to your own followers. When you share, you're boosting the reach of that content.

Share of voice (SOV)

Share of voice (SOV) measures how much of the conversation your brand owns compared to competitors. It's a key metric for tracking your visibility across social media and other digital channels.

Slay

“Slay” is a popular slang term you'll often see on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X. It means to excel or perform exceptionally well in a confident way.

Snapchat

Snapchat is a popular multimedia messaging app that's changed how you share moments with friends. It's known for its disappearing messages and real-time content sharing.

Social bookmarking

Social bookmarking is a way for you to save and organize web links online. Instead of keeping bookmarks in your browser, you store them on a platform that's accessible from any device. You can tag and categorize your saved links, making them easy to find later.

Social commerce

Social commerce involves buying and selling products directly through social media. Learn how to implement social commerce in your strategy.

Social customer service

Social customer service is when companies use social media to help their customers. It's a new way to solve problems and answer questions.

Social listening

Social listening is a powerful tool for understanding your audience on social media. It's the process of tracking and analyzing online conversations about your brand, competitors, and industry.

Social media

Social media is a group of online platforms that let you connect with others and share content. You can use these websites and apps to post photos, videos, and messages.

Social media analytics

Social media analytics helps businesses understand how users interact with content. See how these insights inform better decisions and boost success.

Social media bio

A social media bio is a short description about you or your brand on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and TikTok. It's your chance to make a great first impression in just a few words.

Social media campaign

A social media campaign is a planned set of marketing activities on social platforms to achieve a specific goal. It's different from regular social posts because it's strategic and focused.

Social media handle

A social media handle is your unique username on platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook. It's how people find and tag you online.

Social media monitoring

Social media monitoring is the practice of keeping track of what people are saying about you, your brand, or your industry online.

Social proof

Social proof is when you look to others to figure out what to do. It's a powerful force that shapes how you act online and off.

Spam

Spam is unwanted, repetitive content that floods your social media feeds and inboxes. You've probably seen it – those annoying ads, fake profiles, or suspicious links that pop up everywhere.

Subscribers

Subscribers are people who choose to follow your content on social media platforms or newsletters. When you subscribe, you sign up to get updates from creators, brands, or businesses you like.

T

TBF

TBF stands for "to be fair." You'll often see this acronym used in social media posts and online chats. When you use TBF, you're adding a balanced view to a conversation.

Thread

A thread is a series of connected posts or messages on social media that form a single conversation or story.

URL

A URL is the web address you type into your browser to visit a website. It stands for Uniform Resource Locator and acts like a digital street address for online content.

URL shortener

A URL shortener is a tool that converts long web addresses into shorter, more manageable links. It's especially useful for social media, where character limits can be an issue.

User-generated content (UGC)

User-generated content (UGC) is stuff made by regular people about brands and products. It's not created by companies themselves.

V

Viral

Viral refers to content that spreads quickly across social media platforms. When something goes viral, it gains lots of attention in a short time. This happens through massive sharing and engagement.

Viral marketing

Viral marketing is a strategy that gets people to share your content widely on social media. It's like a digital version of word-of-mouth advertising. You create something catchy or interesting that spreads quickly among users, much like a virus.

W

Watch time

Watch time is the total amount of minutes users spend viewing your videos on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, or TikTok. It's a key metric for measuring audience engagement with your content.

Webinar

A webinar is a live, online seminar that lets you connect with an audience in real-time. It's a virtual event where you can share information, give presentations, or hold discussions from anywhere in the world.

X

X Spaces

X Spaces is a live audio chat feature on X (formerly Twitter). It lets you join real-time conversations with other users right from your mobile device. You can host your own Space or listen in on others' discussions.

Y

YouTube

YouTube is a global video-sharing platform where you can upload, watch, and share videos. Founded in 2005 and later bought by Google, it's become a huge part of online culture.

YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts are bite-sized vertical videos you can create and watch on YouTube. They're up to 60 seconds long and designed for quick, engaging content on your phone.

Social Media Glossary

No results found

Suggestions