Digital Marketing Acronyms (and Dogs)

Do you have trouble keeping up with all the acronyms tossed around the digital marketing table?

Don't know your blended ROAS from your ESP?

Well, you're in luck. We've put together this glossary of acronyms you can use as a reference whenever you're at a loss.

Also, dogs. Because everything is better with dogs.

BOFU

Bottom of Funnel. Refers to the bottom of the "marketing funnel" where there are few leads more likely to convert into sales.

CPA

Cost Per Action (not to be confused with cost per acquisition). This is a metric and pricing model that refers to the cost of someone performing a desired action. 

CPM

Cost Per Mille. This metric is the cost of receiving 1,000 impressions for an advertisement.

CTA

Call To Action. Any prompt (usually written) that directs your audience to take a desired action.

CLV

Customer Lifetime Value. The net profit your can expect from a customer over their entire relationship with your brand.

SERP

Search Engine Results Page. The search engine results for a given query including organic and paid results.

TOFU

Top of Funnel. Refers to the top of the "marketing funnel" where there are many leads at the awareness stage few of which will turn into sales.

cpc

Cost Per Click. An advertising model in which advertisers pay publishers for every click that an ad receives.

CR

Conversion Rate. The percentage of your total audience that completes a desired action. 

CTR

Click Through Rate. The percentage of total impressions for an ad that result in clicks.

ROAS

Return on Advertising Spend. The revenue earned on advertising costs.

SMM

Social Media Marketing. The use of social media to market products and services.

VTC

View-through Conversion. An impression that results in a conversion even if the prospect doesn't click on the advertisement.

CPL

Cost Per Lead. Under this pricing model, advertisers pay for every prospect that shows explicit in interest in their offer.

CRO

Conversion Rate Optimization. A system and process whose aim is to improve the conversion rate of an advertising asset.

ESP

Emotional Selling Proposition. The emotional components that go into a prospect's decision to buy your product or service.

MER

Marketing Efficiency Ratio. The total revenue resulting from all marketing spend across all channels. 

SEM

Search Engine Marketing. Any marketing activity whose goal is to increase visibility on search engines.

SOV

Share of Voice. The exposure a brand gets among an audience compared to its competitors.

We have also published multiple courses & guides that have been taken by 1,000s and given hundreds of 5 stars reviews.

Does ChatGPT Work With Shopify?

“Does ChatGPT work with Shopify? Yes. Here’s what’s live today, why the integration changed, and how to get discovered in AI shopping results

How to Skyrocket Your eCommerce Email Open Rates: A 20+ Year Expert’s Guide

Your emails don’t mean much if nobody opens them. Learn how to boost your ecommerce email open rates from a proven expert.

Shopify Speed Optimization: 7 Strategies to Boost Conversions in 2026

Proven Shopify speed optimization strategies that drive real conversion lift in 2026. Fix INP, prune apps, upgrade themes, and measure with field data.

Should You Hire a DTC Ad Agency? What Really Happens in the First 90 Days

What to expect from a DTC ad agency: a realistic 90-day timeline, why MER beats ROAS, the 2026 attribution changes, and when hiring one is the wrong call.

How to Increase Average Order Value Without Killing Margin

Increase average order value without gutting margin: threshold math off your modal order, full-price bundles and post-purchase upsells for DTC.

Should Your eCommerce Brand Run ChatGPT Ads?

If you’re an ecommerce brand, you might be tempted to run ChatGPT Ads. But Should you? This guide offers some “for and against” advice.