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The Pirate Labs
Glossary

The ultimate list of web design and development, social media, and SEO/SEM terms that every digital marketer should know.

With the ever-growing list of digital marketing terms and acronyms, it sometimes feels as if we’re speaking in a whole other language. Therefore, we’ve put together a glossary with some of the most important terms to know. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned marketer, everyone could use a refresher from time to time!

The Glossary Index

  • Website Design and Development Terms

  • Social Media Terms

  • SEO/SEM Terms

Website Design and Development Terms

  • A permanent redirect that signals that the web page has been moved and transfers the visitor to a different URL that is the closest match.

  • An error that signals that the web page could not be found.

  • Website accessibility refers to the standard at which websites are usable for people with disabilities. The guidelines are outlined within the Americans with Disabilities Act.

  • A method of web development through which developers deploy each new feature as soon as it is completed. It speeds up the initial website launch.

  • An interface that allows different software programs to communicate, by making parts of the website code available to developers.

  • The server side of development that primarily focuses on the functionality of a website or application. The backend combines the server, the database, the operating system, and the software to run the website/application.

  • The software used to access the internet and display web pages.

  • An error that prevents a website from running properly.

  • A temporary storage space for data.

  • A back-end interface that makes it easier to create, edit and publish content on your website. Examples include Shopify and WordPress.

  • Small data files given from a website to a web server that records how a user interacts with a particular website.

  • The code used to designate the visual elements of a website.

  • The servers that control your domain name’s website and email settings.

  • The main URL of your website.

  • A small icon that appears in the title bar or browser tab when you visit a particular website.

  • A platform that combines tools and resources to help speed up the development process.

  • The client-focused side of development that determines what the user sees when interacting with a website or application.

  • Developers that work across the frontend, backend, and database layer of a website or application.

  • When a server allocates space for you to store and maintain your website files.

  • The programming language used to construct web pages and display text, images, videos, and links.

  • The secure protocol used to send data between a website and a web browser.

  • The process of structuring and organizing information on a website so that it is logical and easy to use.

  • A programming language used on the client-side of a website and embedded in the HTML. It is primarily used to add automation, animation, and interactivity to web pages.

  • Formal languages that developers use to build websites and applications.

  • Stores of pre-written code that developers can insert into their work to save time. For instance, the library jQuery is used with the language JavaScript.

  • The process of minimizing code in order to make the file smaller. This allows for a quicker load time.

  • An approach to website development that prioritizes the use of mobile devices.

  • When using the agile method of development, the MVP is the first version to be released. It includes the core features and functions of the product.

  • The elements of a website, such as the menu bar, that guide the visitor through the different pages of a website.

  • The software that communicates with the hardware in order to run applications on a device.

  • The length of time it takes to load content on a web page.

  • The unique layout of a web page.

  • A programming language used on the server side of a website. It can be used to send and receive cookies and encrypt data.

  • A third-party extension to a browser or CMS that adds new features and functions.

  • A programming language used on the server side of a website. It is typically used for core functionality and common programming tasks.

  • A type of website design that ensures that a website will display properly on different devices.

  • An outline of all the pages of a website.

  • A security protocol that ensures that all communication between a website and web browser is encrypted and secure.

  • The amount of data sent and received by visitors to a website.

  • The process of designing a website to build interfaces that focus on style and maximizing the user’s experience.

  • The process of developing and improving the quality of the interaction between the user and the interface. .

  • A visual guide of the website that excludes any design elements

Social Media Terms

  • A mathematical set of rules that automatically choose the order in which posts appear in your social media feed.

  • A method of interpreting data to find patterns and optimize your social media strategy.

  • The average amount of time it takes a brand to respond to a customer’s message.

  • A paid advertisement on Facebook that is designed to reach a specific target audience.

  • A customer who shares positive messages about the brand and encourages others to become customers through their personal social media channels.

  • A social media advertising metric that tells you the average amount you’re paying for each click on your ad.

  • A social media advertising metric that tells you the average amount you pay per 1,000 impressions.

  • The act of soliciting ideas, content, or services from a large group of people on a social media platform.

  • Web traffic coming from social media that is difficult to track, mainly due to shares through direct messages, email, or text messages.

  • Private messages sent to a user’s inbox on a social media platform.

  • When employees use their own social media presence to support and promote their company.

  • A social media metric that tells you how much your post is interacted with. Interactions include likes, comments, and shares.

  • The practice of targeting customers based on their geographic location.

  • A tag marked by the # symbol that connects your social media posts to other posts on the same subject and categorizes information.

  • A social media metric that tells you how many times your post has appeared in someone’s feed.

  • A social media user who has the ability to reach a targeted audience and create awareness about a brand or product.

  • Real-time delivery of content over a website, app, or social media platform.

  • A type of online advertising that shows paid content to users in a way that looks organic.

  • The technique of using a popular news story in order to boost sales and marketing.

  • A social media metric that tells you how many people have seen your post.

  • An online marketing and advertising technique that targets ads toward people who have previously visited your website or interacted with your page.

  • A method of tracking online conversations around keywords, phrases, events, your brand, your industry, and your competitors. It is typically done with a specialized software tool.

  • The process of monitoring and responding to your business’s mentions on social media. This can be done directly on the social media platform or with a specialized software tool.

  • A function on social media platforms that links users back to the profile of the featured person or business.

  • A subject, event, or hashtag that has had a sudden surge in popularity on social media platforms.

  • A person on the Internet who is known for creating controversy and disrupting online conversations.

  • Social media content that is created by consumers. Marketers typically use UGC in their social media campaigns in order to build loyalty and trust with their followers.

  • A term used to describe content that spreads exponentially on social media.

  • An online seminar or presentation on any live streaming platform that educates audiences on a particular topic.

SEO/SEM Terms

  • Text tags placed on images that provide search engines with a description of the photo.

  • The clickable text in a hyperlink to another web page.

  • A link on another website that leads to your website.

  • An umbrella term for all unethical SEO tactics that violate the search engine’s guidelines.

  • The term used to describe how search engines explore the web and keep track of all web pages.

  • Links on your website that direct the visitor to more specific pages on your site, not the main or home page.

  • Identical content on two different pages of a website. Google often penalizes websites for this.

  • A link pointing to a website from an external site.

  • A link that points to another page on the same website.

  • Words or phrases on your website that are used to trigger search results. In search engines such as Google, websites are ranked on the result page of a specific keyword.

  • The process of getting other websites to link to your website in order to improve search engine rankings.

  • Specific and longer keywords and search terms, often comprised of 3-5 words. These are used to target niche demographics.

  • A short description of the webpage in the header.

  • SEO efforts that take place off the website, such as link building.

  • SEO efforts that take place on the website, such as the use of keywords, improving site navigation, and using meta descriptions.

  • The free listings displayed in a search engine.

  • An advertising and marketing strategy through which you pay each time a user clicks through to your website.

  • The keywords typed into a search engine.

  • A small file on a website that tells search engine spiders which areas of your website are restricted for them.

  • Marketing/promoting your website in a search engine, including paying for a high spot in search engine result pages.

  • The process of optimizing your website to increase visibility in search engines.

  • The page that is displayed after typing something into the search bar in a search engine.

  • Keywords that are short and general. They usually consist of 1-2 words.

  • The end of a URL that is made up of keywords with dashes in between them.

  • A software created by a search engine that crawls the web to collect information on every web page in order for the search engine to rank and index them.

  • SEO practices that are in line with the search engine’s guidelines.

Learn More

  • Website Design & Development Terms
  • Social Media Terms
  • SEO/SEM Terms

For glossaries on Email Marketing and Ecommerce, head over to

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