| Word | Description |
A/B Split Test |
Test situation where email marketer creates two different campaigns and emails them out to a test group (10% of subscribers). The marketer than carefully tracks the results and sends the remainder of the list the email campaign that achieved the best performance. |
Above the Fold |
The part of the email message that is visible on the screen without scrolling. |
Acquisition Cost |
The cost to generate one lead. Determined by the total campaign expense divided by the total number of leads, subscribers, or conversions it created. |
Affiliate Marketing |
An advertising scheme in which a website directs web visitors to sponsors and is paid with a commission on the visitors’ purchases. |
Alert |
Brief email message that notifies subscribers of a special event – such as discounted rate or free shipping. |
Alt Tag |
Alternative text embedded in the HTML code that tells a browser to show specific text while a graphic is loading. Useful for search engine indexing, slow connections, and people that browse with the graphics disabled. Without the ALT tag, a PDA will default to HTML and will show images in codes and programming strings. |
API |
Enables two software programs to integrate and communicate with one another. |
ASP |
A third party provider offering computer-based applications and services, such as email marketing, to customers over a network. |
Auto Responder |
Program that allows users to automatically send pre-designed emails, either as a response to an email message or as a series of sent at pre-determined time intervals. |
Authentication |
Automated process that verifies sender’s identify. |
Bayesian Filter |
Spam filtering technique that looks past the subject lines into body of the email to identify character strings that are consistent in spam messages. |
Blacklist |
List of domains or IP addresses of suspected spammers that ISPs and other companies use to block incoming messages. |
Block |
Refusal by an ISP or mail server to forward the message onto the recipient. |
Bonded Sender |
A private email registration service that guarantees email delivery and whitelist service to its clients that follow stringent email practices. |
Bounce |
A message that is not delivered. See Hard Bounce and Soft Bounce. |
Bounce Message |
The message that is sent to the sender notifying him or her that a message was not delivered to its intended recipient. |
Bounce Rate |
Number of hard and soft bounces divided by the total number of sent emails. |
Broadcast |
The process of sending the same email campaign to a number of recipients at the same time. |
BSP |
A Business Service Provider that is similar to an ASP except it tailors software packages to its clients' needs and it offers related back-office business process outsourcing services, such as payroll or accounting. |
Bulk Folder |
The folder inside a mailbox that captures messages that the email client filtered or labeled as possible spam. |
Buzz Marketing |
Marketing strategy that depends on creating an exciting campaign and getting consumers and the media to talk about your brand. Similar to Word of Mouth marketing. |

