Defining Common Digital Marketing Terms 

SEO - Search Engine Optimization

You must have asked yourself why some websites appear top among search results, while others only appear on the second or third page whenever you conduct a Google search (I can bet you use Google!).

Optimization simply means making the best use of something, or a resource. SEO makes your website more likable to search engines.

Well, what is a search engine? Simply the program you use to type your search words. Again, I bet you are using Google or Bing. And you used keywords. 

A keyword is simply a phrase or a word that websites optimized for SEO. 

SEO (Search Engine Optimization): SEO refers to the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). This is done through techniques such as keyword research, on-page optimization, and link building. The goal of SEO is to increase organic traffic to your website by improving the visibility of your website in search engine results.  

Onsite SEO Optimization versus Offsite Optimization 

Onsite optimization (on-page SEO)

This is a strategy you use on your site to make it more likable to search engines. Search engines will rank your site higher if it is likable. It is the natural rule for humans to rank higher those they like and rank lower those they dislike. The internet works like humans, somehow.

So you could optimize your site by having valuable, in-depth content, creating URLs that are SEO friendly, improving page load times, and having other internal links on the page to make visitors stay longer!

On the other hand, offsite optimization (off-page) is the strategy you do outside your website to make your website more likable to search engines. This basically involves having links in other places that direct people to your site. Link building is critical in driving traffic to your site. 

Social Media Marketing: Social media marketing refers to the process of using social media platforms to promote a product or service. This can include creating and sharing content, running paid ads, and engaging with users on social media.

Email Marketing: Email marketing is the process of using email to promote a product or service, build relationships with customers, and drive sales. This can include sending newsletters, promotional emails, and transactional emails.

PPC (Pay-Per-Click): PPC is an online advertising model in which advertisers pay a fee each time one of their ads is clicked. PPC is typically used to drive traffic to websites, and it can be an effective way to reach a specific audience.

Think of a billboard on a busy highway, and it is difficult to count the number of people who saw it, although people actually saw it. For PPC, we can count exactly how many people saw the ad online and clicked on it.

It is an effective way of accounting for your advertising expenditure and getting value for your money. 

CRO (Conversion Rate Optimization): CRO refers to the process of optimizing your website to increase the percentage of visitors who take a desired action, such as filling out a form or making a purchase. This is done through techniques such as A/B testing, heat maps, and user feedback.

CTA (Call-to-Action): A CTA is a button or link that prompts a user to take a specific action, such as signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase. CTAs are an important part of conversion optimization and are typically used to encourage users to take the next step in the sales process.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management): CRM refers to the practices, strategies, and technologies that companies use to manage and analyze customer interactions and data throughout the customer lifecycle. The goal of CRM is to improve customer relationships and drive business growth.

I am sure we can go on and on, but next time you see SEO, PPC, Keywords, etc., at least you will have an idea.

The goal here is to increase traffic to your website. With the hope that when people visit your website, they will show interest in the product or service you are offering, leading to a sale.

This, really, is the essence of digital marketing - increasing sales.