Anyone navigating the interwebs today would come across interesting terms that sound very familiar yet also entirely new. Buzzwords, as they’re often called, are a relatively new creation that’s going around in popular media sites. These terms and phrases are often composed of common words, combined with another word that adds the context. Sometimes, these words are even obscure forms of otherwise common words.
What are buzzwords really, and why is it important to know them?
Why Care About ‘Buzzwords’?
Almost everyone uses the Internet in some form. We use it to watch our favorite media, listen to our favorite songs, or even partake in online hobbies and communities. This usage of the internet lends itself to a culture, and within that culture, jargon is created. This jargon then takes the form of ‘buzzwords,’ a word with a specific meaning within a context. Many of our internet habits and actions would be directly related to these buzzwords. Thus making knowing what it is important to use the internet responsibly.
Below is a list of various buzzwords from different industries, yet all present on the Internet. To truly understand all the talk happening online, use this quick guide to help you familiarize yourself.
Content Creation
If you watch any professional YouTuber or follow any online personality long enough, you’re bound to hear the words ‘content’ or ‘content creation.’ What that means is producing materials for their audience to watch. But ‘content’ isn’t that just simple. They often hire professional videographers or a crew of producers to help them produce engaging online material that has a high chance of generating interest. Creating entertaining material for the internet has gone past simple funny home videos and has entered the realm of professional and intentional design.
Analytics
Another common word that’s often thrown nowadays is the word ‘analytics.’ By the word itself, it stems from ‘analyzing’ something. That something, in this situation, being data. Often, data taken from statistics of a product’s performance, be it an item that’s being sold, a marketing campaign, or even a video on YouTube.
Why is it important to know the term analytics? Part of many social media platforms’ terms and conditions is the right to your information, specifically information regarding your interests and activity. This then becomes ‘analytics’ for marketers to analyze for their ad campaigns.
Clickbait
This is a common term thrown around on the Internet, and it’s something you want to be familiar with. Typically, clickbait articles and videos are misleading and exaggerated. These content use sensationalized titles and visuals to attract Internet users into clicking, hence the term.
Usually, the goal of clickbait articles and videos is to generate revenue from clicks to their website. And while this isn’t totally harmful, you still have to be wary of fake news. If an article doesn’t seem credible, always check for sources and see if the website is a satire.
Freemium
Software is an interesting matter when it comes to “buying” a product. It’s both abstract and tangible, as we can see and interact with it, but it’s not exactly physical. This is where the freemium model comes into play. It allows users to use certain software (be it a desktop or smartphone app) for free but with limited access to its most useful features. To access its advanced features, you need to purchase them. Freemium is such a popular model that you have most likely used it before.
Influencers
With social media permeating our daily lives, it’s no surprise how products have created a new avenue to market, and that is through influencers. Vlogs, blogs, and other online platforms for content creators have become great places for brands and companies to reach the online market. And instead of just creating company marketing pages of their own, businesses are now partnering with online celebrities to promote their brands. This gives it a sense of authenticity that many consumers find more relatable than commercials with A-listers.
Engagement
Perhaps, the most important thing for many online personalities, companies, or anyone concerned with spreading the word of a product is engagement. Another buzzword in marketing and internet lingo is engagement, which involves the audience interacting with a performer or provider. Often, social media personalities rely on engagement to increase their statistics and rack up numbers for companies to find their brand marketable.
Advertising agents count engagement as the intended audience interacting with the marketing campaign of the product they’re featuring. As internet users, every post, or like, or comment we make related to a product or a personality counts as ‘engagement.’
Internet slang continues to evolve alongside technology. The way we continue to interact with and adapt to the Internet will help shape the way we speak online. Keeping ourselves updated on this modern jargon helps us in making better online decisions.