Understand the Lingo, Make Smarter Marketing Decisions
If you’ve ever sat in a meeting and thought, “What in the world does that mean?” — you’re not alone. Web development and digital marketing are filled with jargon that can leave even the savviest business owners scratching their heads. So we’re breaking down 10 common industry terms in simple, plain English — no tech dictionary required.
1. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Plain English: Making your website show up on Google when people search for what you offer.
Why it matters: The better your SEO, the more likely customers will find you instead of your competitors.
2. PPC (Pay-Per-Click)
Plain English: Ads you pay for only when someone clicks on them — like Google Ads.
Why it matters: It’s a fast way to get traffic to your website, especially if SEO takes time to kick in.
3. CMS (Content Management System)
Plain English: The tool you use to build and update your website without needing to code.
Why it matters: Platforms like WordPress or Shopify make it easy to manage your content without hiring a developer every time.
4. CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
Plain English: A system that helps you keep track of leads, customers, emails, sales, and follow-ups.
Why it matters: It keeps you organized and helps you turn more leads into paying customers.
5. Landing Page
Plain English: A single page designed to get someone to take one specific action — like sign up or buy.
Why it matters: It’s focused and designed to convert visitors into leads or customers.
6. Bounce Rate
Plain English: The percentage of people who visit your site and leave without doing anything.
Why it matters: A high bounce rate can mean your site isn’t engaging or the visitor didn’t find what they were looking for.
7. Responsive Design
Plain English: A website that works and looks great on phones, tablets, and desktops.
Why it matters: Most people visit your site on their phones — a bad mobile experience can cost you business.
8. Conversion Rate
Plain English: The percentage of visitors who take the action you want — like filling out a form or making a purchase.
Why it matters: Higher conversions mean more results from the same amount of traffic.
9. Retargeting
Plain English: Showing ads to people who visited your site but didn’t buy or sign up.
Why it matters: It brings back interested visitors and boosts your chances of converting them.
10. UX (User Experience)
Plain English: How easy and enjoyable it is for someone to use your website.
Why it matters: A smooth, frustration-free experience keeps people on your site longer and encourages them to take action.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to speak “tech” to grow your business online — but understanding these basic terms can help you make better marketing decisions and feel more confident in your strategy. Need help putting these into action? That’s what we’re here for.
