Do you know the difference between a feed and a timeline? Find out by using the below feature to search through our Social Media Glossary.
The glossary is being updated all the time. If you think there is anything missing, please get in touch to let us know at justin@theonlineadvertisingguide.com
Please note: The below contains terms related to social media, acronyms of social media terms, abbreviations of social media terms, and synonyms of social media terms!
If you’re looking for something specific, we recommend you use the search box.
Want to learn more about social media marketing? Check our SMM Guide!

a
- A2AAn acronym for Ask to Answer. On Quora users can request answers to questions from specific... Learn More >
- Active ModerationWhen a moderator is reading the majority of posts or comments on a website or social network to... Learn More >
- Alt TagA bit of text that is attached to an image on a webpage appears when the image doesn't load.... Learn More >
- AMAAMA stands for Ask Me Anything and is a form of question and answer session that originated on... Learn More >
- Amplification RateThe rate at which an individual post is shared on social media. This is calculated by taking the... Learn More >
- AnalyticsThe measurable statistics of a website or an ad campaign (such as impressions). Typically... Learn More >
- Analytics PlatformA provider of website analytics such as Google Analytics.
- Animated GifA Gif that cycles through different images. Gif is an acronym that stands for graphic... Learn More >
- AppApp is an abbreviation of Application and is generally used to refer to applications on mobile... Learn More >
- Applause RateThe rate at which an individual post is liked on social media. This is calculated by taking... Learn More >
- ApplicationApp is an abbreviation of Application and is generally used to refer to applications on mobile... Learn More >
- Ask Me AnythingAMA stands for Ask Me Anything and is a form of question and answer session that originated on... Learn More >
- Ask to AnswerAn acronym for Ask to Answer. On Quora users can request answers to questions from specific... Learn More >
- AvatarA way of representing yourself with an icon or figure. Reddit launched a new Avatar builder at... Learn More >
b
- Behavioural SegmentationBehavioural Segmentation is the process of splitting people by their activity (or lack of... Learn More >
- BitmojiAn emoji that is intended to look like you, and is used as your avatar on many social platforms.
- BlacklistA list of (usually permanently) banned people or things. For example, users who break rules... Learn More >
- BlogosphereThe informal collective name for all blogs.
- BookTokThe informal name for any book-related content on TikTok. Notable for the fact that this... Learn More >
- BufferBuffer is a social media scheduling tool.
- BulletinBulletin is Facebook/Meta's email newsletter product.
c
- CamelCaseAlso known as Title Case. Camel Case Means Capitalising Every Word In a Sentence. This is used... Learn More >
- CanvaA popular and simple design tool that can be accessed through a browser. Canva has a large... Learn More >
- CashtagA version of hashtags on Twitter that are used for stocks. Instead of the #, Cashtags use $ -... Learn More >
- Chat BotA chatbot is a program that talks to the public on a companies behalf. They can be used to... Learn More >
- ClickWhat is a Click? When it comes to online advertising, a click refers to a user clicking on an... Learn More >
- Click-Through RateLast updated May 2023 What does CTR mean? CTR stands for Click-Through Rate. It is the... Learn More >
- ClubhouseAn audio-chat social network app which launched in 2020. Users of Clubhouse can listen to and/or... Learn More >
- ConsumptionA consumption is a metric Facebook uses, which basically means the number of clicks on any of... Learn More >
- Cookie PolicyA policy that explains which cookies are dropped by a website, and what they are being used for.... Learn More >
- CoTweetsA way for two accounts on Twitter to tweet together (the Tweet will say it's from both of them).... Learn More >
- Creative AgencyA Creative Agency is a company that creates advertising on behalf of other companies. They... Learn More >
- Creator ModeA way to manage posts and assets on LinkedIn for creators.
- CTRLast updated May 2023 What does CTR mean? CTR stands for Click-Through Rate. It is the... Learn More >
d
- Dark SocialTraffic from social media platforms that doesn't contain any referral information so cannot be... Learn More >
- DemographicsDemographics are factors such as age, race, gender, sex, location which are often used to break... Learn More >
- Direct MessageAn internal message on a social network (such as Twitter). Often abbreviated to DM, it is now... Learn More >
- DiscordDiscord is a chatroom app popular with gamers, which is often described as a social media platform.
- DisqusA commenting plugin that can be used on any website which requires users to create profiles.... Learn More >
- DMAn internal message on a social network (such as Twitter). Often abbreviated to DM, it is now... Learn More >
- DogfoodingA phrase referring to the idea of Dog Food makers should test their own dog food (presumably on... Learn More >
e
- Earned MediaAlso known as Free Media, Earned Media is advertising that was inspired rather than placed or... Learn More >
- eCommerceeCommerce refers to buying or selling goods or services online, as well as online transactions.... Learn More >
- eCommerce ConversionAn online sale. A subset of conversion in general, which don't have to be sales or money related... Learn More >
- eCommerce Conversion RateThe conversion rate of online sales (as opposed to other types of conversions).
- eCPEEffective Cost Per Engagement. This term is used when a cost per engagement is being calculated... Learn More >
- Effective Cost Per EngagementEffective Cost Per Engagement. This term is used when a cost per engagement is being calculated... Learn More >
- EmojiA standard set of small images that can be added to messages and posts that is used to express... Learn More >
- EngagementAn Engagement is any sort of interaction with content. For example on a video it would... Learn More >
- Engagement RateEngagement Rate (or ER) is the percentage of people who saw a piece of content or ad and engaged... Learn More >
- EREngagement Rate (or ER) is the percentage of people who saw a piece of content or ad and engaged... Learn More >
- Even DeliveryIn ad platforms, this is an option to specify that ads should be delivered evenly as possible... Learn More >
f
- FacebookA social networking site, where users can post updates in their timeline which include text,... Learn More >
- Facebook AnalyticsFacebook's website analytics program (similar to Google Analytics) that was officially retired... Learn More >
- Facebook BlueprintThe free Facebook advertising course run by Facebook. It is very comprehensive.
- Facebook BoostFacebook Boost is a system where you pay Facebook to show organic posts to more people, with no... Learn More >
- Facebook Creator StudioFacebook's built-in social media management tool for Facebook and Instagram. It can be used to... Learn More >
- Facebook LiveBroadcasting live onto Facebook, with a video appearing in your feed which is shown in real-time.
- Facebook MessengerThe messaging system that is built into Facebook, which is broken out into a separate app on... Learn More >
- FBA social networking site, where users can post updates in their timeline which include text,... Learn More >
- Fear Of Missing OutAn acronym that stands for Fear Of Missing Out, which refers to the idea that people always... Learn More >
- FeedA social media term meaning either the list of updates you have posted or the list of updates... Learn More >
- FollowThe act of choosing to add someone's updates to your social media feed (and becoming their... Learn More >
- FollowerA follower is a social media term that means someone who has chosen to see your updates on that... Learn More >
- Follow FridayAn old tradition on Twitter where people would suggest interesting accounts to follow (these... Learn More >
- Follow RatioWhat does Follow Ratio mean? Follow Ratio is the number of followers compared to the number of... Learn More >
- FOMOAn acronym that stands for Fear Of Missing Out, which refers to the idea that people always... Learn More >
- FreemiumA service that has a basic version that is free to use, but for which a premium version of the... Learn More >
g
- GAGoogle Analytics is one of the most commonly used providers of web statistics. It's free and... Learn More >
- GifA type of image file, which can be animated. Gif is an acronym that stands for graphic... Learn More >
- Google+Google+ was a social network from Google. It has now been switched off.
- Google AnalyticsGoogle Analytics is one of the most commonly used providers of web statistics. It's free and... Learn More >
- Graphic Interchange FormatA type of image file, which can be animated. Gif is an acronym that stands for graphic... Learn More >
- Growth EngineThe mechanism that makes a startup grow in a sustainable fashion. This can often mean a... Learn More >
h
- Half-LifeIn digital marketing, half-life is defined as the time it takes for a piece of content to... Learn More >
- Half SwipeOn Snapchat, a half-swipe is when you uncover a message to read it without notifying the other... Learn More >
- HashtagA hashtag is this symbol #. It is used on social media to categorize posts so that other users... Learn More >
- HootsuiteHootsuite is a (great!) social media scheduling tool.
- House PartyA social network based around group video chats.
i
- Idea PinsThe new version of Story Pins. Idea Pins however are intended to be long-term 'stories' rather... Learn More >
- IGInstagram is a free photo and video sharing social network, created in 2010 and acquired in 2012... Learn More >
- ImpressionWhat does Impression mean? Impression means when something (usually content, an ad or post) is... Learn More >
- Inactive SubscriberIn email marketing, the term ‘Inactive Subscriber’ refers to someone who has chosen to continue... Learn More >
- Infinite ScrollInfinite Scroll refers to a feature on websites where a user can continue scrolling down a page... Learn More >
- InfluencerAn Influencer is essentially the internet version of a celebrity. The unofficial definition of... Learn More >
- Influencer MarketingUsing influencers to market a product or brand. This can be direct via paying an influencer (eg... Learn More >
- InstagramInstagram is a free photo and video sharing social network, created in 2010 and acquired in 2012... Learn More >
- Instagram LiveBroadcasting live onto Instagram, with your video appearing live in your feed.
- Instagram ReelsInstagram Reels is Instagram's version of TikTok. You can record a 15-60 second clip set to... Learn More >
- Instagram StoriesA way that users can curate a group of their own Instagram posts. These stories are only... Learn More >
j
- Joint Photographic Experts Groupjpg is the file extension abbreviation of a JPEG image file. JPEG stands for Joint Photographic... Learn More >
- jpgjpg is the file extension abbreviation of a JPEG image file. JPEG stands for Joint Photographic... Learn More >
k
- Keyword TargetingKeyword targeting is the process of targeting marketing activities at specific sets of useful... Learn More >
- Kik MessengerKik Messenger is an instant messaging platform that is sometimes referred to as a social network.
- KISSAn acronym standing for Keep It Simple Stupid. KISS is a sort of pseudo-ethos that advocates for... Learn More >
l
- Landing PageThe page where a person enters a website (ie the page they "land on"). In online advertising,... Learn More >
- Last ClickSometimes referred to as Last Touch, this is the most common type of attribution for conversions... Learn More >
- LeadA potential customer, or a way to get in touch with a potential customer (eg email address,... Learn More >
- Lead GenerationLead generation (or Lead Gen) is the gathering of potential customers' contact information and... Learn More >
- LIOriginally contributed by Eun Rockwell. Last updated May 2023. LinkedIn is a social network... Learn More >
- Lifetime ValueLTV (often called Customer Lifetime Value or CLTV) is an attempt at predicting the amount of... Learn More >
- LikesA "Like" is a social media term, meaning when a user clicks a button to show they like or... Learn More >
- LinkedInOriginally contributed by Eun Rockwell. Last updated May 2023. LinkedIn is a social network... Learn More >
- LinkedIn NewsletterLinkedIn's built in email marketing platform. There are a lot of suprisingly good ones on there... Learn More >
- Live RoomsA way of broadcasting live on Instagram with up to three guests. The 'host' starts an Instagram... Learn More >
- Local InfluencerAn influencer whose followers are concentrated in one geographic area.
- LTVLTV (often called Customer Lifetime Value or CLTV) is an attempt at predicting the amount of... Learn More >
m
- MAUA metric that social networks use to describe how many people are using their site. The point of... Learn More >
- Messenger RoomsFacebooks version of Zoom. A large scale video messaging service.
- Meta TagA tag that is used to define what something online is about. While there is still an HTML meta... Learn More >
- MetricsMetrics are measurable statistics that are used in digital marketing to improve performance such... Learn More >
- Micro-InfluencerAn influential person on social media with less than 10,000 followers. Often thought to be more... Learn More >
- ModeratedModeration is the act of reviewing comments or forum posts to ensure they don’t breach rules set... Learn More >
- ModeratorSomeone who reads comments or posts on a website and decides whether or not that content is... Learn More >
- Modified TweetA modified tweet (or MT) is a form of retweet on Twitter, in which changes have been made (often... Learn More >
- Monthly Active UsersA metric that social networks use to describe how many people are using their site. The point of... Learn More >
- MTA modified tweet (or MT) is a form of retweet on Twitter, in which changes have been made (often... Learn More >
- Multi-Touch AttributionSometimes referred to as multi-channel attribution, this is a way of attributing conversions... Learn More >
n
- Native AdvertisingNative Ads are ads that are intended not to look like ads. For example, they could be an... Learn More >
- Nested CommentsWhen a reply to a comment is slightly indented or hidden under the comment it is replying to (so... Learn More >
- NetiquetteEtiquette on the internet.
- NFTA unique identifier for a digital good. NFTs utilise blockchain technology to make it possible... Learn More >
- NicheA specific or specialised interest or section of the population. Websites are often spoken about... Learn More >
- Non-Exclusive YouTube VideoA video where an influencer promotes a bunch of different brands at once. This type of... Learn More >
- Non-Fungible TokenA unique identifier for a digital good. NFTs utilise blockchain technology to make it possible... Learn More >
o
- Organic TrafficOrganic traffic means website traffic that is not paid for - ie users finding your site through... Learn More >
- Owned MediaOwned Media refers to advertising using channels an advertiser controls. This includes your own... Learn More >
p
- Paid SocialTraffic which comes to a website from advertising on social networks. This term usually only... Learn More >
- PhishingPhishing is a type of scam through digital communication in order to obtain personal information... Learn More >
- PinThe word for a post on Pinterest.
- PinnerSomeone who posts on Pinterest.
- PinterestPinterest is a social network that focuses on collecting images and ideas for inspiration from... Learn More >
- PlatformA platform is a generic term that means a computer/server which does something. An Ad Platform... Learn More >
- PostPost is a generic term for anything you put on social media or a blog. It can also be used as a... Learn More >
- Post-ModerationIn this case, post means "after", so Post-Moderation means moderating comments after they have... Learn More >
- PRPublic Relations (or PR) is the process by which a company tries to manage its image or... Learn More >
- Pre-ModerationWhen all comments or posts on a site are checked by moderators when they are submitted, and only... Learn More >
- PronounsPronouns are the terms a person would like to be referred to by (eg he/him, she/her, they/them... Learn More >
- Public RelationsPublic Relations (or PR) is the process by which a company tries to manage its image or... Learn More >
q
- QTA quote tweet is a term on Twitter for when you retweet the URL to a tweet and add a comment.... Learn More >
- QuoraFounded in 2009, Quora is a social network based around knowledge. Users of the site may post... Learn More >
- Quote TweetA quote tweet is a term on Twitter for when you retweet the URL to a tweet and add a comment.... Learn More >
r
- ReachReach is a metric (most commonly used in social media) referring to the number of users who saw... Learn More >
- RedditLaunched in 2005, Reddit is one of the top ten largest social networks in the world. Reddit is... Learn More >
- RedditorSomeone who uses the website Reddit (as a registered user).
- Reddit TalkReddit's version of Clubhouse. A voice chat function that can be opened in a sub.
- Reels RemixInstagram's version of TikTok Duets. You can record a reel that is a response to someone else's... Learn More >
- RegramInstagram's version of reposting or sharing.
- RepinThe equivalent of a share on Pinterest - when you pin something to your profile/board which... Learn More >
- RetweetRT stands for 'retweet' in social media. A retweet on Twitter is when a user posts something... Learn More >
- RevueRevue was launched in 2015 and bought by Twitter in 2021, which then shut it down in January... Learn More >
- RTRT stands for 'retweet' in social media. A retweet on Twitter is when a user posts something... Learn More >
s
- SaaSA business model where users are charged a subscription fee for using software as opposed to a... Learn More >
- SentimentA feeling of opinion on something. Sentiment analysis is often used wherever there are comments... Learn More >
- ShareSharing is a term mostly used in social media that is a softer way to talk about posting... Learn More >
- SlackAn instant messenger tool used by companies. Sometimes referred to as a Social Network.
- SMSocial Media refers to websites entirely made up of user-generated content, in which users can... Learn More >
- SMMSocial Media Marketing (or SMM) is the blanket term for any type of marketing using social... Learn More >
- SMOSocial Media Optimisation (or SMO) refers to any activity which is aimed at improving results... Learn More >
- SnapchatThe central concept is Snapchat is that messages shared are only temporary. All messages delete... Learn More >
- Snapchat MemoriesA place on Snapchat where users of the platform can save snaps for later. Memories are only... Learn More >
- Social ListeningThe process of monitoring social channels for people talking about your brand or things related... Learn More >
- Social MediaSocial Media refers to websites entirely made up of user-generated content, in which users can... Learn More >
- Social Media MarketingSocial Media Marketing (or SMM) is the blanket term for any type of marketing using social... Learn More >
- Social Media OptimisationSocial Media Optimisation (or SMO) refers to any activity which is aimed at improving results... Learn More >
- Social Media Scheduler What is a Social Media Scheduler? A Social Media Scheduler is a tool used to plan social... Learn More >
- Social Media SuspensionWhen someone is banned from social media. Social media suspensions usually have a specific... Learn More >
- Social ProofA way of expressing that people like/agree with an action, often by using usage stats. For... Learn More >
- Software as a ServiceA business model where users are charged a subscription fee for using software as opposed to a... Learn More >
- SoLoMoShort for Social, Local, Mobile, SoLoMo is a marketing mindset that seeks to integrate three... Learn More >
- SPSP stands for Sponsored Post and means a social media post has been paid for by an advertiser.... Learn More >
- Sponsored PostSP stands for Sponsored Post and means a social media post has been paid for by an advertiser.... Learn More >
- Sprout SocialA popular and powerful social media management tool that allows users to manage their social... Learn More >
- StatusbrewStatusbrew is a social media scheduling tool. We highly recommend it - read more about why here > Learn More >
- SteemitA blockchain based social network that pays users for their content using the STEEM cryptocurrency.
- SubscriberThis is the name for a person or group of people who have voluntarily decided to become notified... Learn More >
- SubtweetA tweet that refers to someone without mentioning them directly (often as a way to mock... Learn More >
- Super FollowA service from Twitter where people can Super Follow an account. Super Following an account... Learn More >
- SWOTAn acronym standing for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats. SWOT is used to start... Learn More >
t
- TelegramA secure messaging app that lets you set messages to delete themselves (like Snapchat).... Learn More >
- Third-Party CookiesCookies that are dropped onto a person's computer when visiting a website that are not from the... Learn More >
- ThumbnailA small picture (often auto-generated from a larger version of the picture) that goes alongside... Learn More >
- TikTokA high concept social network, where users can post 15 seconds videos with a song or audio clip... Learn More >
- TikTok PromoteA way to pay to show posts on TikTok to more users. As with Facebook Boost, there are almost... Learn More >
- TikTok PulseInfluencers with over 100,000 followers can enrol in TikTok Pulse for an ad rev share of... Learn More >
- TikTok ResumesA way to apply for jobs through TikTok using a short video CV.
- TimelineA timeline in social media refers to a type of feed where all posts are listed in reverse... Learn More >
- Tip JarA way to pay content creators. This functionality is implemented in different ways on different... Learn More >
- ToFuIn digital marketing, ToFu means "Top of Funnel" and refers to the first real contact someone... Learn More >
- Top of FunnelIn digital marketing, ToFu means "Top of Funnel" and refers to the first real contact someone... Learn More >
- Tracking LinksA hyperlink that is designed to be easily trackable, often by adding UTM parameters, or else by... Learn More >
- TrafficTraffic in online advertising is a catch-all term for visitors to a site (the online equivalent... Learn More >
- Trigger WarningA “trigger warning” (often abbreviated to TW) is a notice at the start of a piece of content... Learn More >
- TripAdvisorAn online travel company that features user-generated content (which is why it is sometimes... Learn More >
- TumblrTumblr is a multimedia social network owned by Automattic (who bought it from Verizon). Founded... Learn More >
- Tumblr BlazeA way to pay to boost posts on Tumblr to random users (with no ability to target ads... Learn More >
- TWA “trigger warning” (often abbreviated to TW) is a notice at the start of a piece of content... Learn More >
- TweetA tweet is a post on Twitter. They are limited to 140 characters, with the intention being that... Learn More >
- TweetDeckA social media scheduling tool.
- TwitchA streaming social network type service, where users film themselves playing video games and... Learn More >
- TwitterWhat is Twitter? Twitter is a social media platform that is based around conversation topics... Learn More >
- Twitter BlueA subscription version of Twitter which has extra features such as an Undo button.
- Twitter CirclesTwitter Circles is a feature from Twitter where people can build a list of 'trusted friends' and... Learn More >
- Twitter Engagement RateTwitter Engagement Rate is the number of times a tweet was loaded into someone's feed, divided... Learn More >
- Twitter FleetsLaunched in late 2020 but turned off in August 2021, Fleets were Twitter's version of the... Learn More >
- Twitter Media StudioTwitter's built-in social media management platform.
- Twitter SpacesTwitter Spaces is a live audio space that users can launch to talk to other people. It was... Learn More >
u
- UGCUGC (or User Generated Content) means any content generated by the users of a site as opposed to... Learn More >
- Uniform Resource LocatorThe web address of a website or webpage. For example, the address of this website is... Learn More >
- Unique Selling PointAn acronym standing for Unique Selling Point. This is a concept based around how a... Learn More >
- UnmoderatedModeration is the act of reviewing comments or forum posts to ensure they don't breach rules set... Learn More >
- UnsubscribeWhen someone unsubscribes from something, it means they have decided they no longer want to... Learn More >
- Unsubscribe RateIn email marketing, the unsubscribe rate means the percentage of your users who are choosing to... Learn More >
- URLThe web address of a website or webpage. For example, the address of this website is... Learn More >
- User Generated ContentUGC (or User Generated Content) means any content generated by the users of a site as opposed to... Learn More >
- USPAn acronym standing for Unique Selling Point. This is a concept based around how a... Learn More >
v
- Verified BadgeA verified badge is a way that Twitter identifies accounts as being owned by who says owns... Learn More >
- ViralA piece of content that is shared a lot by individuals (without payment) in a short period of... Learn More >
- Viral MarketingViral Marketing is where someone creates content so interesting that people share it widely for... Learn More >
- VlogA video blog.
- VloggerA video blogger.
w
- WeChatA Chinese social media platform, that includes a payment platform. It is so popular than many... Learn More >
- WhatsAppA secure instant messenger owned by Facebook. Groups can be made within WhatsApp to communicate... Learn More >
y
- YammerMicrosoft's answer to Twitter & Slack. Generally used internally on companies intranet for staff... Learn More >
- YouTubeYouTube is a video network owned by Google. It runs the most VOD ads of any video network, and... Learn More >
- YouTuberA user of the website YouTube as a creator - by uploading/managing videos, creating videos, or... Learn More >
- YTYouTube is a video network owned by Google. It runs the most VOD ads of any video network, and... Learn More >
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