Essential Digital Marketing Terms Explained

Tap a term to see what it means.

Impressions

The number of times an ad or post was displayed on a user's screen, counted regardless of whether it was actually clicked.

CTR (Click-Through Rate)

The percentage of times an ad was actually clicked out of the total times it was shown β€” a gauge of how compelling the ad copy or image is.

CPC (Cost Per Click)

The amount an advertiser pays each time their ad is clicked.

CPA (Cost Per Action)

The average amount spent to generate one actual target action, such as a purchase or sign-up.

Reach

The number of unique users who saw an ad or piece of content, counting the same person only once even if they saw it multiple times.

A/B Testing

An experiment method that shows two or more versions at the same time to compare which performs better.

Retargeting

An advertising technique that shows ads again to users who previously visited a website, aiming to bring them back or drive a purchase.

The Numbers in Your Ad Report Now Make Sense

Running online ads fills your reports with unfamiliar metrics like impressions, CTR, and CPC. Understanding what these terms mean helps you accurately gauge ad performance and figure out what needs improvement.

Curious About Google Analytics Terms Too?

If analyzing your website's visitors interests you, it's worth also checking out a guide to Google Analytics terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I improve if my CTR is low?

Your ad creative or copy may not be compelling enough, or your targeting may be off β€” it's worth reviewing both your creative and your target settings together.

Why do retargeting ads seem to follow me everywhere?

A site you visited once is trying to re-engage you, showing related ads on other sites based on your browsing history.