If you’re a marketer, you may have experienced sitting through a meeting and not understanding half the things that are being said. Well, it’s not your fault entirely as these meetings usually come with a smouldering of acronyms. To stay on top of the game, you need to know some of these crucial acronyms and we know just where to start you off!
Breaking It Down
Since there are plenty, it’s best to divide them into three specific categories. These are network-specific acronyms, popular acronyms on social media, and acronyms used by social media marketers.
Network-specific Acronyms
• FB: Facebook
• IG: Instagram
• LI: LinkedIn
• TW: Twitter
• YT: YouTube
Popular Acronyms Used on Social Media
• AMA: Ask Me Anything
Often used on Reddit threads to ignite Q&A sessions.
• BAE: Before Anyone Else
A current favourite term of endearment for your significant other.
• DM: Direct Message
A function on Twitter and Instagram which allows you to send and receive private messages.
• ELI5: Explain Like I’m Five
Used when in need of a simple explanation of a complex topic.
• FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out
Afraid of missing out on an amazing experience.
• FTW: For The Win
To add excitement to the tail of a social post and it can be used sarcastically as well.
• ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
Used when filling someone in on the latest.
• IMO / IMHO: In My Opinion, In My Humble Opinion
To stress that it is only your opinion.
• IRL: In Real Life
To emphasize that you’re speaking about reality – not the digital world.
• IKR: I Know, Right?
Used in agreement with someone.
• JIC: Just In Case
Used when showing or advising for caution.
• LMK: Let Me Know
Signifying that you are awaiting a response.
• MCM: Man Crush Monday
Used on Mondays (beside a #) to publicly declare your man crush.
• MT: Modified Tweet To show that author’s words have been altered.
• NSFW: Not Safe For Work
Used to show that the content isn’t appropriate for work.
• OOTD: Outfit Of The Day
To show your outfit.
• RT: Retweet
To signify that the tweet has been re-shared.
• SMH: Shaking My Head
Something sounds so dumb that you’re lost for words.
• TL;DR: Too Long; Didn’t Read
Used when receiver hasn’t read the text but still wants to reply.
• TBH: To Be Honest
To emphasize an honest opinion.
• TBT: Throwback Thursday
Used on Thursdays, also next to a #, to show old photos.
• YOLO: You Only Live Once
Used when justifying something stupid or before taking a risk.
• YSK: You Should Know
Used to stress that the receiver should already know what the sender is talking about.
• WCW: Woman Crush Wednesday
Similar to MCM – except it’s on Wednesdays and for women.
Acronyms Used By Social Media Marketers
• AIDA: Attention, Interest, Desire, Action
A marketing model that is broken down to Attention through building awareness, Interest by encouraging users to join your team,
Desire via regular communication and engagement & Action by producing relevant content and CTAs.
• API: Application Programming Interface
This is technology that allows one backend system to connect to another such as Google Maps and the Uber app.
• CMGR: Community Manager
The person who builds relationships and engage with customers via social media.
• CMS: Content Management System
A core element in holding together content, e.g. WordPress.
• CPC, PPC: Cost Per Click, Pay Per Click
An advertising tool where each click on your website’s ads can make you money.
• CR: Conversion Rate
The amount of people who participate through views, engagement or purchase.
• CRO: Conversion Rate Optimization
The strategy used to enhance conversions.
• CTA: Call To Action
A tool used to induce a response from customers.
• CTR: Click-through Rate
A tool to measure the total number of people that click on a particular link.
• CX: Customer Experience
Every aspect of the customer’s experience in terms of their relationship with your company.
• ESP: Email Service Provider
Refers to an email service provider hosting email marketing services on their servers.
• KPI: Key Performance Indicator
A diverse business metric utilized to determine success. It varies based on organization and department.
• PV: Page Views
Refers to the total number of views your website or online content has garnered.
• GA: Google Analytics
This is Google’s web analytics which tracks and reports website traffic.
• ROI: Return On Investment
A way of measuring the effectiveness of your investments by dividing the benefit of the investment with the cost of the investment.
• RSS: Rich Site Summary a.k.a Really Simple Syndication
Used to broadcast content to their audience.
• RTD: Real-time Data
Data which is presented as it is received.
• SaaS: Software as a Service
This allows you to run an app on your web browser.
• SEM: Search Engine Marketing
An internet marketing technique that involves buying traffic via paid search listings to appear on sites such as Google.
• SEO: Search Engine Optimization
Used to build organic growth to your website or platform.
• SERP: Search Engine Results Page
The pages that display what was keyed in the search query.
• SM: Social Media
Anything that allows you to create and share content digitally via social networking.
• SMB: Small and Midsize Businesses
Small businesses have less than 100 employees while the latter has between 100 to 999 employees.
• SMP: Social Media Platform
This is anything that connects you to the social media world such as Facebook or Instagram.
• SMM: Social Media Marketing
Using social media to generate brand awareness, distinguish target audiences, locate and groom sales leads and forge relationships.
• SMO: Social Media Optimization
Refers to enhancing the existing marketing techniques on social media.
• SOV: Share of Voice
The measurement of how many mentions you receive on your brand alongside other brands within the industry.
• SoLoMo: Social, Local, Mobile
A merging trends of social media, location-based searches and mobile marketing to devices.
• SRP: Social Relationship Platform
A tool that allows businesses to manage their social media communication across varying department and devices.
• TOS: Terms of Service
Rules that needs to be followed when using a particular service.
• UGC: User-generated Content
Any content produced by the users of an online system.
• UI: User Interface
Refers to a user’s intention when using the service and catering your layout and services accordingly.
• URL: Uniform Resource Locator
The web address of a particular website or page.
• UV: Unique Views
Translates into the number of distinct views of your website or content.
• UX: User Experience
Points to a person’s total experience of using a service of product.
• WOM: Word of Mouth
Signify passing info from one to another.
