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Essential Social Media Terms
Taylor Tunnison • Sep 09, 2021

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram have revolutionized the way we communicate. They allow diverse audiences to connect with others, share their opinions, and participate in trending global conversations. Businesses large and small also benefit from social media, especially when establishing and promoting their respective brands. As with any new technology, these platforms come with their own unique jargon which may confuse those unfamiliar with the field. Whether you’re a novice marketer or seasoned business owner, understanding important social media terms is essential to leveraging these innovative tools successfully. The following are some of the most crucial analytics and definitions we use to inform our social media decisions.

Impressions

When content is published via social media channels, some users will see it and others won’t. There’s simply no way around this fact given the sheer magnitude of major platforms. With this in mind, we come to impressions, which refers to the number of times content is displayed in users’ feeds, regardless of clicks, comments, or reactions. Impressions don’t guarantee reach, engagement, or clickthrough rates. In fact, users may not even see the content in question when scrolling past, and the same individual can be counted multiple times on the same post. While this metric is useful to acknowledge, it doesn’t really carry much weight, especially when compared to reach, engagement, and clickthrough rate.

Reach

Content published on various social media platforms will generally be displayed to large numbers of people. Unique individuals who actually see and notice it are indicated by a post’s reach. Reach is often confused with impressions, especially to laypeople, but it’s truly a much more useful piece of data. While they both measure how often content is potentially seen, reach helps marketers recognize just how impactful their posts’ subject matter is within a certain timeframe. For instance, a photo may garner hundreds of impressions, but if audiences don’t care to view it, read the caption, or engage with it in any way, it’s lack of reach will meaningfully reflect this indifference. Improve your content’s reach by posting regularly at the right times of day, and be sure to include appropriate hashtags.

Engagement

One of the most significant social media metrics is known as engagement. This describes the number of times users are inspired to give feedback, whether in the form of a like, share, comment, or reaction. Because engagement directly measures user participation, social media managers can use it to gauge precisely how effective their messaging is. Higher engagement rates signal quality, compelling content which stands out from the overwhelming quantity of boring background nonsense. Engagement is ultimately influenced by reach and impressions, though neither absolutely guarantees action. Boost user engagement by asking questions, offering giveaways, and appealing to audiences’ opinions and emotions.

Clickthrough Rate

For many businesses, the main goal of social media is driving website traffic. Clickthrough rate (CTR) measures exactly what the name implies: the number of times consumers leave the channel via an external link. This is critical because it allows organizations to track return based on time and resources invested in each individual platform. Marketing teams can then determine where their efforts are best spent, and adjust their campaigns accordingly. Reach and engagement heavily factor into CTR, as the more popular and relatable the content, the more likely it is to influence users to desire additional substance. Increase CTR by delivering invaluable information, enticing audiences to download free resources, or offering exclusive rewards on your website.



The digital marketing landscape presents organizations with countless challenges and opportunities. Those who don’t take advantage of the powerful tools at their disposal risk falling behind their competition. Technical terms like impressions, reach, and engagement may mean many things to different people and across different platforms, but a basic understanding is essential to making the most of your social media efforts. If you have any questions about such terminology, or are looking for help with your own social media marketing, we’d love to get in touch or schedule a meeting to fit your schedule.

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