Decoding Marketing Lingo – A Simple Guide for Small Business Owners
Marketing can feel like learning a new language sometimes. CTR, SEO, ROI… what does it all mean?! Don’t worry—today I’m breaking down some common marketing terms so you can feel confident in conversations about growing your business.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
This is all about helping your website show up on Google when people search for businesses like yours.
CTR (Click-Through Rate)
This measures how many people click on your ad, email link, or social media post after seeing it. A higher CTR means your content is catching people’s attention.
CTA (Call to Action)
This is what you want people to do after seeing your content—like “Contact Us,” “Shop Now,” or “Sign Up.”
ROI (Return on Investment)
Basically, “Was it worth it?” It measures if the money you spent on marketing brought in more money in return.
KPI (Key Performance Indicator)
These are the numbers you track to see how your marketing is doing—like website visits, new followers, or sales.
Engagement
Likes, comments, shares—this is how much people are interacting with your posts.
Organic Reach
This is how many people see your content without you paying for ads.
Paid Ads
When you pay to show your ad on Google, Facebook, or Instagram.
Impressions
How many times your post or ad was shown on someone’s screen—whether they clicked or not.
Analytics
All the data and numbers that show how your marketing is performing so you can make smart decisions.
The takeaway?
You don’t have to know every single marketing term out there. But understanding the basics will help you feel more in control of your marketing and make better choices for your business.
