By Damaris Okino
When I first transitioned into the world of marketing, I was confused by the way People were throwing around words like “SEO,” “CTR,” and “URL,” so casually, and I had no idea what they meant. I remember sitting in a meeting, nodding along as I understood, while secretly Googling terms under the table.
If you’ve been there or you’re about to step into that world, don’t worry. In this post, I’ll walk you through 150 marketing terms that every newbie marketer should know in 2024.
1. A/B Testing
Imagine you have two posters, one with a red background and one with a blue background. You put them in different places to see which one gets more attention. That’s A/B testing. In marketing, it’s about testing two ideas to see which works better.
2. Above the Fold
Think of a newspaper. The most important stories are at the top, where you don’t have to fold the paper to see them. On a website, “above the fold” is the part you see without scrolling.
3. Account-Based Marketing (ABM)
Focusing your marketing on the people who matter the most is what is called ABM. if you’ve a customer who buys 10 bags from you every month you’d be on them.
4. Ad Extensions
Have you ever seen an ad that also shows a phone number or extra links? Those extra details are called ad extensions. They make your ad more useful and clickable.
5. Ad Group
If you’re running ads for a toy shop, you might have one group of ads for dolls and another group for action figures. Keeping related ads in separate “ad groups” ensures better targeting and performance tracking.
6. Ad Relevance
Imagine you’re trying to sell ice cream to someone who only eats chocolate. Showing them vanilla ads wouldn’t work, right? Ad relevance means making sure your ad matches what people actually want.
7. Affiliate Marketing
This is like when you tell your friend about a new game, and they buy it because of you. In marketing, if someone promotes a product and gets paid for every sale, it’s called affiliate marketing.
8. Alt Text
Tells search engines and people who can’t see the picture what it’s about. For example, a picture of a dog could have alt text saying, “Cute brown puppy playing with a ball.”
9. Analytics
Analytics is just a fancy word for looking at numbers to see how you’re doing. If you’re selling orange juice, you might track how many people bought it each day. In marketing, tools like Google Analytics do this for websites.
10. Anchor Text
You know when you see a clickable word or phrase on a website, like “Learn more here”? That’s the anchor text. It tells you and search engines what the link is about.
11. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI helps automate and optimize marketing efforts, from ad creation to customer engagement through chatbots and personalized recommendations. Tools like ChatGPT (yes, me!) are examples of AI in action.
12. Attribution
If you bake cookies and sell them at school, how do you know if people came because of your flyer or your Instagram post? Attribution helps figure out which thing made people buy.
13. Backlink
When another site links to yours, it’s called a backlink. These help your site get more attention from search engines.
14. Banner Ad
Those big ads you see on websites, usually at the top or side? Those are banner ads. They’re like billboards on the internet.
15. Behavioral Targeting
Imagine knowing your friend always buys bubblegum. You’d make sure to bring bubblegum to sell. Behavioural targeting means using people’s past actions to show them things they’d like.
16. Black Hat SEO
This is like cheating in a game. Some people use tricks to rank their websites higher on Google. But if they get caught, they could get kicked out. Always play fair!
17. Blog
A blog is like a personal diary, but for sharing ideas with the world. If you love cooking, you could start a blog with your favourite recipes. Businesses use blogs to share helpful tips and bring more visitors to their websites.
18. Bounce Rate
Imagine someone walking into a shop, looking around for two seconds, and leaving without buying anything. On a website, this is called a “bounce.” A high bounce rate means people aren’t sticking around—time to make your site more interesting!
19. Brand Awareness
You know how everyone recognizes the Coca-Cola logo? That’s brand awareness, making sure people know and remember your brand.
20. Brand Equity
Brand equity is like having a good reputation. If everyone trusts your brand, like Apple or Nike, you can charge more because people know you’re worth it.
21. Brand Positioning
This is how you want people to think about your brand. For example, Volvo = safety, and Tesla = innovation. What’s your brand’s “thing”?
22. Buyer Persona
A buyer persona is like imagining your dream customer. Are they a sporty teenager? A busy mom? Knowing this helps you talk to them in a way they’ll understand.
23. Call to Action (CTA)
Ever seen a button that says “Buy Now!” or “Sign Up Here!”? That’s a CTA. It tells people what to do next. Without it, they might just scroll past.
24. Canonical Tag
This is a little tag that tells search engines which version of a page is the main one. It’s like saying, “This is the real deal!”
25. Chatbot
Chatbots are like robots that talk to you online. If you’ve ever typed a question into a website and got an instant reply, that was probably a chatbot.
26. Click-Through Rate (CTR)
Click-through rate (CTR) measures how effective an ad is. If 100 people see your ad and 10 click, your CTR is 10%. A higher CTR often means better audience engagement.
27. Content Management System (CMS)
A CMS is like the software you use to build a website, even if you don’t know how to code. WordPress is a popular example.
28. Content Marketing
Content marketing is all about sharing helpful or fun stuff to attract people. For example, a sports store might post-workout tips to get people interested in their gear.
29. Conversion Path
This is the journey someone takes to become a customer. Maybe they saw your Instagram ad, clicked a link, and bought something. That whole process is the conversion path.
30. Conversion Rate
If 100 people visit your website and 5 of them buy something, your conversion rate is 5%. The higher, the better!
31. Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
CRO is like tweaking your lemonade stand to sell more cups. Maybe you add a bigger sign or move the table closer to the playground. In marketing, it’s about making small changes to your website or ads to get more people to take action.
32. Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)
Let’s say you spend ₦1,000 on ads and get 2 new customers. Your CPA is ₦500 per customer. Keeping this cost low means you’re marketing smartly.
33. Cost Per Click (CPC)
Cost per click (CPC) refers to the amount paid for each ad click. For instance, if you spend ₦1,000 and get 100 clicks, your CPC is ₦10. Lower CPC often means better ad efficiency.
34. Customer Journey
Imagine someone hearing about your brand, checking your website, and finally buying your product. That’s their customer journey. Your job is to make every step easy and enjoyable.
35. Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)
If a customer keeps coming back and spends ₦50,000 with your business over a few years, that’s their CLV. Focus on keeping customers happy so they stick around longer.
36. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
A CRM is like a digital notebook where you track all your customers. It helps you remember important details, like their favourite products or when to follow up.
37. Data Mining
Data mining is like digging through sand to find gold. In marketing, it’s analyzing lots of data to find useful patterns, like when customers buy the most.
38. Demand Generation
Imagine you’re selling bikes, and you get people excited about biking with events or social media posts. That’s demand generation—creating interest before people even know they want what you’re offering.
39. Digital Marketing
Digital marketing is simply promoting your brand online. It includes social media, emails, ads, and websites. If it’s on the internet, it’s digital marketing.
40. Direct Marketing
Direct marketing is like sending a letter straight to someone’s mailbox, but online. Think email newsletters, text messages, or DMs—anything that goes directly to your customer.
41. Display Advertising
Are those image or video ads you see on websites? That’s display advertising. Make them colourful and eye-catching to grab attention.
42. Drip Campaign
A drip campaign is like sending reminders one step at a time. For example, you send an email saying, “Welcome!” and another one a few days later saying, “Here’s how to get started.”
43. Dynamic Content
Dynamic content changes based on who’s viewing it. For example, Netflix recommends shows based on what you’ve watched before. That’s dynamic content at work.
44. Earned Media
Earned media is free publicity you didn’t pay for, like when someone shares your blog or tweets about your product. It’s the best kind of exposure!
45. Email Marketing
Email marketing is like writing letters to your customers. Use it to share updates, special offers, or tips. Just make sure your emails are helpful, not spammy.
46. Engagement Rate
If you post on Instagram and 100 people like, comment, or share, that’s engagement. A high engagement rate means people love what you’re sharing.
47. Evergreen Content
Evergreen content never goes out of style. Think “How to Tie a Tie” or “Best Cake Recipes.” It stays useful no matter when someone finds it.
48. Geotargeting
Geotargeting means showing ads based on location. For example, if it’s raining in Abuja, a brand might show ads for raincoats there—but not in Lagos, where it’s sunny.
49. Growth Hacking
Growth hacking is like finding shortcuts to grow your business. Dropbox, for example, grew by giving users more storage when they referred friends.
50. Hashtag
Hashtags are like labels for your content. If you post about dogs, adding #CuteDogs can help more people find your post. Use popular ones to reach a wider audience.
51. Heatmap
A heatmap shows where people click or spend time on your website. It’s like a treasure map, helping you see what’s working and what’s not.
52. Hyperlink
A hyperlink is just a clickable link, like “Visit our site.” Use it to connect your audience to useful pages.
53. Inbound Marketing
Inbound marketing is like planting seeds and waiting for people to come to you. Create helpful content that attracts people naturally, like blogs or free guides.
54. Influencer Marketing
This is like getting a cool kid in school to talk about your lemonade stand. When influencers promote your product, their fans pay attention.
55. Infographic
An infographic is like a colorful poster full of useful info. Use them to explain ideas in a fun, visual way.
56. Interactive Content
Interactive content gets people involved. For example, quizzes like “What’s Your Style?” keep users engaged longer.
57. Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
KPIs are your goals, like “Get 1,000 Instagram followers this month.” They help you track your progress.
58. Keyword
Keywords are the words people type into Google, like “best laptops for students.” Use them in your content so people can find you.
59. Keyword Density
If your blog is about dogs, make sure “dogs” show up often—but not too much, or it’ll feel unnatural. Keyword density is about balance.
60. Keyword Research
Keyword research is like figuring out what people are searching for. Tools like Google’s Keyword Planner can help you find the best keywords to use.
61. Landing Page
A landing page is a single page designed for one thing—like signing up for a free trial. Keep it simple and focused.
62. Lead Generation
Lead generation is about collecting contact details from people who might buy from you. Offer something free, like an eBook, in exchange for their email.
63. Lead Nurturing
Once you’ve got a lead’s email, don’t forget about them! Send them helpful tips or updates until they’re ready to buy.
64. Link Building
Link building is like making friends online. When other websites link to yours, it tells Google, “This site is worth visiting!” Create great content so others want to link to you naturally.
65. Long-Tail Keyword
Long-tail keywords are longer, specific search phrases, like “best running shoes for flat feet.” They’re easier to rank for and attract people who are ready to buy.
66. Lookalike Audience
If you already have loyal customers, platforms like Facebook can find people who are similar to them. This is your lookalike audience—people who are likely to love your brand too.
67. Marketing Automation
Imagine you could set up emails or social posts to send automatically while you sleep. That’s marketing automation, and tools like Mailchimp make it super easy.
68. Marketing Funnel
A well-optimized funnel can improve conversions significantly. For instance, Amazon’s funnel, from personalized recommendations to one-click purchases, helps maintain its 38% conversion rate (far above the e-commerce average of 2-3%).
69. Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL)
An MQL is like a friend who says, “I’m interested in your lemonade stand, but I’m not ready to buy yet.” They’re more likely to buy than a random person, but they need more convincing.
70. Meta Description
When you search Google, that short summary under the link is the meta description. Write one that’s clear and catchy to make people click your link.
71. Meta Tags
Meta tags are bits of code that help search engines understand your website. They’re like labels that tell Google, “This page is about cats.”
72. Mobile Optimization
Have you ever visited a website on your phone and it looked weird? Mobile optimization means making sure your site looks great and works well on phones and tablets.
73. Multichannel Marketing
This means using lots of platforms—like social media, email, and ads—to reach your audience. The more places you show up, the better!
74. Native Advertising
Native ads blend in with the content around them. For example, a sponsored post on Instagram looks like a regular post, but it’s actually an ad.
75. Negative Keywords
Let’s say you sell luxury handbags. You wouldn’t want to show your ads to people searching for “cheap handbags.” Negative keywords tell search engines to skip certain words.
76. Net Promoter Score (NPS)
NPS measures how likely your customers are to recommend you to others. If you get a 9 or 10, that’s great! Anything below 7 means there’s room for improvement.
Companies like Tesla and Apple have NPS scores above 70, showing strong customer loyalty. In contrast, airlines often score below 40 due to inconsistent service.
77. Omnichannel Marketing
Omnichannel marketing is like being everywhere your customers are. They can start chatting with you on Instagram, continue on your website, and finish in your app without any hiccups.
78. On-Page SEO
This is about improving things directly on your website, like adding keywords, writing great headlines, or making your pages load faster.
79. Open Rate
In email marketing, the open rate shows how many people opened your email. A catchy subject line can help boost this number.
80. Organic Search
Organic search is when people find your website naturally, without you paying for ads. Good SEO makes this happen.
81. Outbound Marketing
Outbound marketing is when you reach out to people first, like sending an email blast or making cold calls.
82. Page Authority
Page authority is a score that predicts how well your page will rank on Google. The higher the score, the better your chances.
83. Pageview
Every time someone visits a page on your website, it counts as a pageview. More page views mean people are interested in your content.
84. Pay Per Click (PPC)
With PPC ads, you pay only when someone clicks on your ad. For example, Google Ads works on this model.
85. Persona
A persona is a detailed description of your ideal customer. For example, “Sarah, a 25-year-old student who loves fashion and shops online weekly.”
86. Programmatic Advertising
This is like using a smart machine to buy ads for you. It’s fast and makes sure your ads are shown to the right people.
87. Qualified Lead
A qualified lead is someone who’s likely to buy from you because they match your target audience and have shown interest in your product.
88. Reach
Reach is the number of people who see your content. The bigger your reach, the more people know about your brand.
89. Remarketing
You know those ads that follow you around after you visit a website? That’s remarketing, and it’s great for reminding people to come back and buy.
90. Responsive Design
Responsive design means your website looks good on all devices—phones, tablets, or computers. It’s a must in today’s world.
91. Return on Investment (ROI)
ROI measures how much money you make compared to how much you spend. If you spent ₦1,000 on ads and earned ₦5,000, your ROI is great!
92. Retargeting
Similar to remarketing, retargeting shows ads to people who’ve already interacted with your site or app.
Retargeting ads have 10x higher click-through rates than regular display ads and contribute to a 70% increase in conversion rates (WordStream, 2023).
93. Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
SEM uses paid ads to make your website show up in Google searches. Combine it with good SEO for even better results.
94. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is all about making your website easy to find on Google. Use keywords, write great content, and get backlinks to improve your ranking.
95. Search Engine Results Page (SERP)
When you search for something on Google, the list of results is called the SERP. Your goal? Get on the first page!
96. Segmentation
Segmentation is about dividing your audience into smaller groups. For example, separate your email list into students and working professionals for better targeting.
97. Share of Voice
Share of voice is how much people talk about your brand compared to your competitors. The more, the better!
98. Sitelink
Sitelinks are extra links that appear under a search result, helping users find specific pages faster.
99. Social Listening
Social listening is like eavesdropping on social media. It helps you see what people are saying about your brand.
100. Social Media Marketing (SMM)
Using platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to connect with your audience and promote your brand.
Nike’s “You Can’t Stop Us” campaign generated 50 million views in 24 hours, proving the power of viral brand storytelling.
101. Split Testing
Split testing is like A/B testing. You test two versions of something—like two email subject lines—to see which one gets a better response. It’s all about finding what works best.
102. Sponsored Content
Sponsored content is when a brand pays to have its message shared, but it looks like regular content. For example, an influencer might post a picture of your product with “#Sponsored.”
103. Subscriber
A subscriber is someone who signs up to get updates from you, like your newsletter. Treat them well—they’re your biggest fans!
104. Target Audience
Your target audience is the group of people most likely to buy your product. For a toy store, your target audience might be parents with young kids.
105. Thought Leadership
This is about showing you’re an expert. Share your knowledge through blogs, webinars, or speaking events to become a go-to person in your industry.
106. Top of the Funnel (TOFU)
This is the first stage where people learn about your brand. Focus on grabbing attention with blogs, videos, or social media posts.
107. Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
Your USP is what makes you special. For example, if your lemonade is made with organic lemons, that’s your USP!
108. User Experience (UX)
UX is about how easy and enjoyable it is to use your website or app. Think of it like this: if people can’t figure out how to buy from your site, they’ll leave.
109. User-Generated Content (UGC)
This is content made by your customers, like reviews or photos of them using your product. It’s like free advertising!
110. Value Proposition
A value proposition is the reason people should choose your product. For example, “We deliver fresh pizza in 30 minutes or less.”
111. Video Marketing
Using videos to promote your brand. A short clip showing how your product works can be more engaging than just words or pictures.
112. Viral Marketing
When your content spreads like wildfire—think funny memes or catchy TikTok dances. Aim for shareable, relatable ideas.
113. Web Analytics
This is like looking at the score after a game. Web analytics tools like Google Analytics show you how many people visit your site, what they do, and where they come from.
114. Webinar
A webinar is like an online class where you teach people something useful and talk about your product at the same time.
115. White Hat SEO
This is the good, honest way to improve your search rankings—using great content, proper keywords, and ethical strategies.
116. White Paper
A white paper is a detailed guide or report on a topic. For example, if you sell eco-friendly products, write a white paper about reducing waste.
117. Workflow
A workflow is an automated sequence of tasks. For example, when someone signs up for your email list, they automatically get a welcome email, followed by a discount offer.
118. XML Sitemap
An XML sitemap is like a map of your website for search engines. It helps them understand all the pages you have.
119. Yield Management
This is about adjusting prices based on demand. For example, airlines charge more for tickets during holidays because demand is high.
120. Zero Moment of Truth (ZMOT)
This is the moment when someone decides to search for your product online before buying it. Be present with reviews, blogs, or videos to influence their choice.
121. Account-Based Selling
Account-based selling focuses on specific high-value customers, like big companies, instead of targeting everyone.
122. Behavioural Segmentation
This is grouping your audience based on their behaviour, like people who visit your website but don’t buy. Send them a reminder to complete their purchase!
123. Brand Ambassador
A brand ambassador is someone who loves your product and tells others about it. Think of athletes promoting sports drinks—they’re ambassadors!
124. Brand Loyalty
Brand loyalty is when people keep choosing your brand, even if other options are available. Build loyalty by offering great products and amazing service.
125. Buyer’s Journey
The buyer’s journey is the steps people take to go from learning about your product to actually buying it. Make each step easy and fun!
126. Churn Rate
The churn rate is the percentage of customers who stop using your service. Keep it low by keeping your customers happy and engaged.
127. Click-Through
When someone clicks on your ad or email, that’s a click-through. The more clicks, the better!
128. Cohort Analysis
This is about grouping people based on when they joined. For example, see how customers who signed up in January behave compared to those in February.
129. Content Curation
Content curation is sharing helpful or interesting stuff from other people. For example, share an article from a trusted source with your own thoughts added.
130. Contextual Advertising
This means showing ads that match the content around them. For example, an ad for travel deals appears on a blog about vacation spots.
131. Conversion Funnel
The conversion funnel is the path people take to become their customers. Guide them step by step, from learning about your product to making a purchase.
132. Cost Per Impression (CPM)
CPM is how much you pay for 1,000 people to see your ad. It’s a common way to price brand awareness campaigns.
133. Cross-Selling
Cross-selling is when you suggest other products to customers. For example, “Would you like fries with that ice-cream?”
134. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)
This is how much you spend to get a new customer. Keep it low by focusing on smart, efficient marketing strategies.
135. Customer Engagement
Customer engagement is how often people interact with your brand. Respond to comments, share updates, and keep the conversation going!
136. Customer Retention
Retention is about keeping your customers coming back. Offer rewards, great service, and stay in touch to build loyalty.
137. Customer Segmentation
Divide your audience into groups based on things like age, location, or behaviour. This helps you create more personalized campaigns.
138. Data-Driven Marketing
This is using numbers and facts to make smarter decisions. For example, if your data shows people open emails at 8 AM, send your campaigns at that time.
139. Direct Response Marketing
This is marketing designed to get immediate action, like “Buy now!” or “Sign up today!”
140. Dynamic Remarketing
Dynamic remarketing shows personalized ads based on what people look at on your website. For example, if they browse shoes, they’ll see ads for those shoes later.
141. Emotional Branding
Emotional branding connects with people’s feelings. For example, Nike inspires athletes with “Just Do It,” tapping into their motivation.
142. Event Marketing
This is promoting your brand through events, like webinars or live shows. It’s a fun way to engage your audience.
143. Exit Rate
The exit rate shows the percentage of people who leave your site from a specific page. High exit rates might mean something’s wrong with that page.
144. Geofencing
Geofencing is like setting up an invisible boundary. When people enter that area, they see your ads—for example, showing a pizza deal to people near your shop.
145. Guerrilla Marketing
Guerrilla marketing is all about creativity. Think of flash mobs, street art, or viral stunts that grab attention without a huge budget.
146. Lifetime Value (LTV)
LTV measures how much money a customer will spend with you over time. Keep customers happy to increase this number.
147. Marketing Mix
The marketing mix is the four Ps: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Balance these to create a successful strategy.
148. Multivariate Testing
This is testing multiple things at once—like two headlines and two images—to see which combination works best.
149. Retargeting
Retargeting shows ads to people who already visited your site but didn’t buy. It’s like saying, “Hey, remember me?”
150. Web Analytics
Web analytics helps you track and understand how people use your site. Use tools like Google Analytics to see what’s working and what’s not.
Conclusion
And there you have it—150 marketing terms explained in a way that’s easy to understand and super relatable. Keep this guide handy as you start your marketing journey, and you’ll be talking like a pro in no time.
