app
Popularized in the general lexicon by the iPhone, an app is simply an application that performs a specific function on your computer or handheld device. Apps run the gamut from Web browsers and games to specialized programs like digital recorders, online chat or music players.
astroturfing
Astroturfing is a fake grassroots campaign that seeks to create the impression of legitimate buzz or interest in a product, service or idea. Often this movement is motivated by a payment or gift to the writer of a post or comment or may be written under a pseudonym.
blog
A blog is an online journal that's updated on a regular basis with entries that appear in reverse chronological order. Blogs can be about any subject. They typically contain comments by other readers, links to other sites and permalinks.
campaign
An online campaign is a set of coordinated marketing messages, delivered at intervals, with a specific goal, such as raising funds for a cause or candidate or increasing sales of a product.
cause marketing
Cause marketing is a business relationship in which a for-profit and a nonprofit form a partnership that results in increased business for the for-profit and a financial return for the nonprofit.
civic media
Civic media is any form of communication that strengthens the social bonds within a community or creates a strong sense of civic engagement among its residents.
cloud computing
Cloud computing (also called "the cloud") refers to the growing phenomenon of users who can access their data from anywhere rather than being tied to a particular machine.
copyleft
A play on the word copyright, copyleft is the practice of using copyright law to remove restrictions on distributing copies and modified versions of a work for others and requiring that the same freedoms be preserved in modified versions
Creative Commons
Creative Commons is a not-for-profit organization and licensing system that offers creators the ability to fine-tune their copyright, spelling out the ways in which others may use their works.
crowdsourcing
Crowdsourcing refers to harnessing the skills and enthusiasm of those outside an organization who are prepared to volunteer their time contributing content or skills and solving problems.
CSR
CSR is short for corporate social responsibility, a concept whereby businesses and organizations perform a social good or take responsibility for the impact of their activities.
Digg
Digg is a popular social news site that lets people discover and share content from anywhere on the Web.
digital inclusion
Digital inclusion, or e-inclusion, is an effort to help people who are not online gain access with affordable hardware, software, tech support/information and broadband Internet service, so they can begin to use this technology to improve their lives.
digital story
A digital story is a short personal nonfiction narrative that is composed on a computer, often for publishing online or publishing to a DVD.
double bottom line
The double bottom line refers to a business's attention to both conventional profit and loss as well as to the social good
Drupal
Drupal is a free, open-source platform and content management system written in php.
ebooks
An ebook (or e-book) is an electronic version of a traditional printed book that can be downloaded from the Internet and read on your computer or handheld device.
embedding
The act of adding code to a website so that a video or photo can be displayed while it's being hosed at another site.
Facebook
Facebook is the most popular social networking site in the world, with more than 200 million members. Members' home page streams can now be seen in a wide range of applications and devices
fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries obtain better trading conditions and promote sustainability.
hosting
A blog, video or podcast needs a hosting service before it can appear online.
metadata
Metadata refers to information - including titles, descriptions, tags and captions - that describes a media item such as a video, photo or blog post
microblogging
Microblogging is the act of broadcasting short messages to other subscribers of a Web service
moblog
A moblog is a blog published directly to the Web from a phone or other mobile device.
public domain
A work enters the public domain when it is donated by its creator or when its copyright expires. A work in the public domain can be freely used in any way, including commercial uses.
public media
Public media refers to any form of media that increase civic engagement and enhance the public good.
search engine marketing
Search engine marketing (SEM) is a series of online tactics that, when combined with SEO, helps to attract customers, generate brand awareness and build trust
search engine optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of arranging your website to give it the best chance of appearing near the top of search engine rankings.
smart phone
A smart phone (or "smartphone") is a handheld device capable of advanced tasks beyond those of a standard mobile phone.
SMS
SMS stands for Short Message Service, a system that allows the exchange of short text-based messages between mobile devices.
social networking
Social networking is the act of socializing in an online community. A typical social network such as Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace or Bebo allows you to create a profile, add friends, communicate with other members and add your own media.
social news
Sometimes called social sites, social news sites encourage users to submit and vote on news stories or other links, thus determining which links are showcased.
streaming media
Unlike downloadable podcasts or video, streaming media refers to video or audio that can be watched or listened to online but not stored permanently
tag cloud
A tag cloud is a visual representation of the popularity of the tags or descriptions that people are using on a blog or website.
Web 2.0
Web 2.0 refers to the second generation of the Web, which enables people with no specialized technical knowledge to create their own websites to self-publish, create and upload audio and video files, share photos and information and complete a variety of other tasks.
webcasting
Webcasting refers to the ability to use the Web to deliver live or delayed versions of audio or video broadcasts.
webinar
Short for Web-based seminar, a webinar is a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the Web.
wi-fi
Wi-fi (or wifi) stands for wireless fidelity, a simple system allowing enabled devices to connect to the Internet within short range of any access point without cables or adaptors
widget
A widget, sometimes called a gadget, badge or applet, is a small block of content, typically displayed in a small box, with a specific purpose, such as providing weather forecasts or news, that is constantly updating itself (typically via RSS).
word-of-mouth marketing
Word-of-mouth marketing, sometimes called grassroots marketing or conversational marketing, is an umbrella term for dozens of techniques that can be used to engage and energize customers
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