To help you to better understand e-marketing and e-business we have provided some terms and definitions: 

ADSL/DSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line/Digital Subscriber Line): a method for moving data at high speeds over regular phone lines. ADSL circuit is much faster than a regular phone connection.

Bandwidth: how much stuff you can send through a connection, measured in bits-per-second (bps).

Bounce: a term used for the act of not being able to deliver an email message as well as the email address that could not receive the email message.
Bps (Bits-Per-Second): rate of data transfer between computers or modems.

Broadband: a wide band of frequencies used to transmit information. Information is multiplexed and sent on many different frequencies or channels within the band, allowing more information to be transmitted at the same time.

Browser: An application that acts as an interface for processing code, allowing for viewing and interaction on Web Pages.

BUS: The architecture in which information flows between computer components and devices. Most of the internal system components, including the processor, memory, and storage devices, talk to each other over one or more "buses".

Byte: a set of bits that represent a single character. There are 8 bits in a byte.

Caching: Local storage of recently viewed web pages for faster retrieval of information. Browsers store the most recently viewed web pages on the user's hard drive. When the user requests to see the content (text or images) again, instead of retrieving it from the web, the browser will search for it in a local folder on the viewer's system called the cache. The result is faster page loads for the viewer. This process causes underreporting of the number of times a viewer actually saw a web page or ad.

Campaign: A series of operations to achieve a goal. The process associated with assembly, delivery and tracking of email messaging.
CD-R: Compact Disc Recordable. 

CD-ROM: Compact Disc Read Only Memory.

CD-RW (Compact Disc Re-Writable): CDs that can be written onto many times. Data can also be removed at any time but data written onto a CD-RW disc can only be read by CD-RW drive. Chipset: The chipset manages the system and its capabilities. All components communicate with the processor through the chipset - controlling all data transfer.
Click: a clickthrough is generated when a user clicks with their mouse on a hyperlink within the email message and is redirected to their browser (or email application) to view the link's corresponding web page. A clickthrough (CTR) is often stated as a percentage of clicks over received messages.
Client: a computer that accesses shared network resources provided by another computer (the server, hence client/server relationship).

Compress File: way of reducing a file or files sizes for Internet transport via e-mail. Usually in ZIP format.

Cookie: A value placed onto a user's hard drive, which can only be accessed by the author of the cookie. It allows for the communication of tracking or preference-related information, collected within the author's web site or domain.

CPC: Cost Per Click - A dollar amount associated with campaign budgeting as it relates to performance. The cost associated with each click generated.

CPM: Cost Per Thousand - A dollar amount associated with campaign budgeting as it relates to quantity of delivery or usage. Refers to units of one thousand. CPU (Central Processing Unit): The brain of the computer.

Creative: The content of an email message or sign up program web page. It includes items like, images, message copy, html code etc. Also referred to as Deliverables.

Credit and debit cards: VISA, MasterCard, American Express, INTERAC Direct Payment, Discover and JCB. 

Deliverables: The content of an email message or sign up program web page. It includes items like, images, message copy, html code etc. Also referred to as Creative.

Desktop Publishing: creating documents on your computer, such as web pages, flyers, posters, catalogues, newsletters and graphics.

Digital Certificate: An electronic method of establishing your identification when doing business or other transactions on the web. 

DNS (Domain Name System): System that locates a website via the site's numerical address.
Domain Name: Resource location identifier that corresponds with a unique IP address.

Double Opt-in: A user fills out a web-based subscription/registration form. They are then sent an initial activation message. To activate their subscription, the subscriber is required to click on a special link in the activation email. This ensures that the email address is validated and that the recipient agrees to receive communications. 

Download: load a file from a host, such as a website or another computer onto your own computer.

Downtime: the length of time that a website or network cannot be accessed.
DVD: Digital Versatile Disc.
Email: An electronic communication sent and received via a standard set of protocols.

Email Newsletter: A periodically published document or message, containing news and announcements on a subject. Email Newsletters are an excellent vehicle for communicating with small to large audiences. Also referred to as an eNewsletter.

Ethernet: common method of networking computers in a LAN.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Firewall: a computer security system used to restrict access to and from a network.

FireWire (or IEEE1394): a very high-speed serial bus for connecting devices to your personal computer at data tranfer speeds up to 400Mbps.
Flash: A Rich Media file format allowing for high animation and audio compression. Requires a plug-in for viewing.

Frequency: The number of times a unique recipient or user has viewed the same email message or web page.

GHz (GigaHertz): Measurement of internal processor speed.

GIF: Graphical Image Format - a graphical file format which supports static and animated images. GIF files are denoted by the extension .gif.
Gigabyte: Measurement of memory. 1GB = 1,024 Mb.
Gmail: A very popular Web portal and web-based email provider that is an extension of the widely popular search engine Google. Other major web-based email providers are Hotmail and Yahoo. 

GUI (Graphical User Interface): Allows you to control a computer through graphics and icons displayed on screen.

Hacker: a person who breaks through computer security systems. 

Hardware: physical items such as computers, printers, scanners and external modems.

HD: Hard Drive.

Hit: Occurs when a file request is made to a web server. Downloading a single web page may generate several hits, one for each graphic or text file that is transferred. Not to be confused with page views.

Host: usually a computer, which hosts other computers for a person or organization.

Hotmail: Microsoft's very popular Web portal and web-based email provider. Other major web-based email providers are Google's Gmail and Yahoo's mail service.

HTML: Hyper-Text Markup Language - An acronym for the language that converts raw ASCII text into formatted text, hyperlinks, forms and graphics for display in a browser.

HTTP: Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol - The set of rules for transferring text from a web server to a browser over the Internet. 

Hub: a device used to connect computers together.

Hyperlink: Text based HTML code that allows for navigation between two pieces of content with a viewer's browser or email application.

IE: Internet Explorer - Microsoft's web browser.

Impression: The delivery of an advertisement or a page of information to a viewer's browser. 

Internet: a vast collection of inter-connected worldwide networks. 

Intranet: a private network inside a company or organization that uses the same kinds of software that you would find on the public Internet, but only for its internal use.

IP Address: An identifier for a computer or device on a TCP/IP network.

ISP: Internet Service Provider. The company that provides a user with a physical connection to the Internet. 

IT: Information and Technology.

JPG: Joint Pictures Expert Group - a graphical file format. JPEG files are denoted by either a .jpeg or .jpg extension.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): JPEG is common format for image files.

KB (Kilobyte): Measurement of memory equal to 1,000 Bytes. 

Kbps (one thousand bits per second): The measure of data that can be transferred by a modem.

Keyword: A word or phrase or segment of a phrase used to identify content for search or classification purposes. 

LAN (Local Area Network): a computer limited to the immediate area, usually building or floor of a building.

Live Launch List: A list of email addresses that will receive the live delivery of an email message. Also referred to as the Target list.

Log File: A record of all the requests made to a web server over a given time period.

Macro: A set of characters (i.e. @@-first_name-@@), which act as a placeholder, indicating where personalized or dynamic content will be inserted.

MB (Megabyte): Measurement of memory. 1Mb= 1,000k.

Mbps: Million bits per second.

MHz (MegaHertz): Measurement of internal processor speed.

Microprocessor: an integrated circuit that accepts coded instructions for execution. 

Modem (MOdulator, DEModulator): a device that connects your computer to a phone line, enabling the computer to talk to other computers through the phone system. 

Motherboard: main piece of hardware inside a computer. Other parts can be added to it, such as sound cards, RAM, graphic cards, modems, etc.. The motherboard enables everything to work together. 

Multimedia: combination of text, graphics, sounds and video.

Newsletter: A periodically published document or message, containing news and announcements on a subject. Email Newsletters are an excellent vehicle for communicating with small to large audiences. Also referred to as an Email Newsletter or eNewsletter.

One to One Marketing: One-to-one marketing is a customer relationship management (CRM) strategy that emphasizes personalized, interactive communications with customers. This method of marketing is thought to foster a greater customer loyalty and provide a better return on marketing investment, both in the short term and throughout the lifetime of the relationship.

Online: computer that is connected to the Internet or network.

OS (Operating System): Program used to help run programs on a computer.

Page View: The delivery of a page of information to a viewer's browser. Also referred to as a page visit. 

PDA (Personal Digital Assistant): Hand held basic computer. 

Peripheral: any piece of equipment attached to the computer (e.g., disk drives, printers, CD-ROM).

Personal Area Network (PAN): the wireless connection of information technology devices within the range of an individual person, typically within 10 metres.

Personalization: The addition of specific recipient information to an email message. Use of this service requires a supporting database of recipient information. Placement can be anywhere within the body of the email message, one or multiple times, as well as in the Subject Line and To: line. Personalization would include items like a recipient's name in a greeting, an identification number, an address, a phone number or even their age etc.. Exact placement of each personalized field is indicated by the use of a macro.

Plug-in: A file containing data used to alter, enhance, or extend the operation of a parent application program.

Port: place where information goes into and out of a computer. For example, the serial port is where a modem would be connected.

POS Terminal: a "point-of-sale" terminal is hardware used to process card payments.

Preview List: A list of email addresses of the campaign preview/test recipients, who will receive the preview launch(es). Also referred to as the Test List.

Proxy Server: A server that acts as an intermediary between a client application, such as a web browser and a server. It intercepts all requests to the server to see if it can fulfill the requests itself. If not, it forwards the request to the server.
Publisher: An individual or organization owning or representing a list, newsletter or web property.

Queue: A sequence of stored data or programs waiting to be processed. As it applies to email, campaigns are stored in a mail queue and are delivered using a FIFO (first in - first out) method.

RAM (Random Access Memory): All memory accessible at any instant (randomly) by a microprocessor. This memory is erased when the power is switched off.

Reach: The number of unique viewers exposed to a campaign.

Retention Marketing: Marketing to existing clients/customers and prospects, with the goal of retaining their business while stimulating the marketer's sales. Opposite of Acquisition Marketing.

Rules: Used in Dynamic Content Delivery. A collection of 2 or more Statements. Rules are used to make real-time decisions on the composition of an outgoing email message. By applying a rule (or multiple rules) to a client-supplied database, we can change all or part of the content of each message in accordance with the recipient's database information. This is not to be confused with personalization.

SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface): Known as "scuzzy" it is a method of connecting devices to a computer, such as hard drives and CD-ROMs.

Search Engine: a program that searches a database of websites.

Seed List: A list of email addresses of individuals, who are part of the sender's organization, who will receive the live launch. These addresses are 'seeded' or added to the live launch list.

Server: A host computer that stores and serves data to sites, newsgroups, email recipients and can run processes that manage and manipulate data. Also referred to as a Web Server.

Serial Port: Part of a computer where you can connect devices, such as a mouse or modem.

Server: a computer, or a software package, that provides a specific kind of service to client software running on other computers

Shopping Cart: software that allows users to browse a website and add items to a shopping cart. The value is totalled up and all goods can be ordered at a checkout. .

Spam: Unsolicited email messaging sent to a recipient who did not request to receive the communication, or has requested to no longer receive communications from the sender.

Spammer: One who is responsible for sending Spam. In many cases, this may not actually be the sending party who provides the technology to send the mailing, but rather, the advertiser in the message.

Subscriber: An individual who has requested to be added to a specific newsletter or email list and has responded to a double opt-in activation process.

Target List: A list of email addresses that will receive the live delivery of an email message. Also referred to as the Live Launch List.

Targeting: In online advertising, the ability to serve messaging to the users most likely to be receptive to the message, based on their geographic, demographic, psychographic and behavioral characteristics.

Test List: A list of email addresses of the campaign preview/test recipients, who will receive the preview launch(es). Also referred to as the Preview List.
Unsubscribe: A mechanism enabling email recipients to remove themselves from a mailing list.

URL: Universal (or Uniform) Resource Locator - The unique internet address used to access a page or file.

USB (Universal Serial Bus): Port on a computer that allows USB devices to be added, such as scanners, Zip drives.

User: A human being end user of our services.
Verisign: VeriSign Inc operates intelligent infrastructure services that enable people and businesses to find, connect, secure, and transact, by providing encrypted communications when viewing web pages, logging into your account and downloading reports. VeriSign assess an organization's server facilities and business credentials ensuring they pass a series of stringent tests, in order to meet the requirements for the VeriSign Secured Site Seal.

Viewer: A human being who views a message. That is to say, who reads an email or visits a web page. Virus: file or program used to harm or destroy a computer system.

WAN (Wide Area Network): a network that covers an area larger than a single building or campus.

WAP (Wireless Application Protocol): enables access to advanced digital communications and the Internet over a mobile phone network.

Web Page: A collection of information on the Internet, addressed by a single URL.

Web Server: A host computer that stores and serves data to sites, newsgroups, email recipients and can run processes that manage and manipulate data. Also referred to as a Server.

Web Site: A collection of Web Pages, linked together by hyperlinks.

WWW (World Wide Web): all the resources and users on the Internet.

XML: Extensible Markup Language - An acronym for a meta-language, written in SGML that allows one to design a markup language, used to allow for the easy interchange of documents on the World Wide Web.

Yahoo: A very popular Web portal and web-based email provider. Other major web-based email providers are Microsoft's Hotmail and Google's Gmail services.

Zip File: A compression method for reducing a file's size and for bundling multiple files into one file. Zip files are denoted by the extension .zip