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Glossary

AdSense

Google's content marketing network program. Website owners gain an income stream by allowing Google to put relevant AdWords (see ‘AdWords' and ‘Contextual Advertising') onto their site, generating income.

 AdWords

Google's PPC Marketing programme launched in the UK in September 2002.

 Banner Ads

One of the original forms of online advertising. It has declined in popularity with the rise of PPC Marketing which generally offers far better targeting and hence cost effectiveness.

Bid Management Software

Computer program/s used to help automate the bidding process for keywords.

Confirmation Page

Usually the ‘end page' after a browser has successfully interacted with a website. I.e. when a sale has completed or a form has been submitted. Useful for PPC Marketing purposes.

Contextual Advertising

Sponsored links that appear next to related non-search-engine-generated content, such as news articles. (See ‘AdSense').

Conversion Rate

A ratio calculation expressed as a percentage which contrasts website visitors to purchase made.

Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)

The average cost per acquisition. This is calculated by dividing total click costs by the number of conversions.

Cost Per Click (CPC)

See ‘Pay Per Click (PPC) Marketing'.

Cost Per Lead (CPL)

Similar to ‘Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)' (see separate entry) but for websites whose business model is not based on online sales.

Destination URL

The website address which the PPC Marketing advert is hyperlinked to. Also known as the ‘landing page'.

Display URL

The website address which is shown in the PPC Marketing advert.

Impression

When an online advert is viewed on a browsers PC. This forms the basis of banner advertising and lacks the targeting afforded by PPC Marketing.

Keyword/s

The word/s a browser inputs into a search engine. Also know as "search terms".

Landing Page

The designated page on a website which relates to a hyperlink. Also known as ‘destination URL'.

Minimum Bid Price

The starting bid price.

MIVA

Formerly known as ‘espotting', one of the leading providers of PPC Marketing in the UK and Europe.

Natural Search Results

The list of websites shown by a search engine that are not as a result of a payment. (These appear on the left-hand side in Google). Also known as "organic", "natural" or "algorithmic" search results.

Online Advertising

An all encompassing term that describes all marketing initiatives made using the internet. This includes PPC Marketing and banner ads.

Online Marketing

See ‘Online Advertising'.

Optimal Rank

The position you would like your keywords to maintain or the position at which you receive the highest return on investment.

Organic Search Results

The list of websites found when using a search engine such as Google. This is complied on an automated basis by the search engine's algorithmic spiders. Also sometimes known as "natural" or "algorithm" search results.

Paid Inclusion

A facility offered by some search engines whereby a website is listed as part of the organic results.

Paid Placement

See ‘PPC Marketing'.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Marketing

The dominant form of online marketing accounting for half of all UK internet advertising spend (2005). As it is search engine, ‘keyword' based, it is highly targeted. An advertiser incurs a fee when an interested browser clicks on the placed advert. Bidding for keywords follows the model of a Vickrey second price auction, involving the submission of sealed bids. In Google, click-through-rates are also taken into account when determining bid price. Also known as ‘Cost Per Click' Marketing.

Return On Advertising Spend (ROAS)

A ratio which contrasts advertising spend with expenditure.

Return On Investment (ROI)

A generic ratio sometimes applied to PPC Marketing campaigns. See ‘Return On Advertising Spend (ROAS)'.

Search Engine

A website directory, such as Google or Yahoo.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

The promotion of a website via a search engine.

Search Engine Spiders

The automated internet searching ‘robots' used by search engines such as Google or Yahoo.

Search Term/Phrase

See ‘keyword'.

Sponsored Link

 The heading under which ‘PPC Marketing' adverts often appear on a website.

Tracking Code

A html string inserted into a website, usually the website so you may track visitors and conversions on your website.

Yahoo! Search Marketing

Yahoo's PPC Marketing programme formerly known as ‘Overture'.