Introduction
Let’s face it—building and managing a website can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re bombarded with technical jargon that seems straight out of a coding manual. But understanding a few key terms can go a long way in helping you take control of your online presence. Whether you’re working with a developer or managing a website on your own, knowing the basics will make the process smoother and more manageable.
In this article, we’re breaking down some of the most important website-related terminology every business owner, with a website, should know. Consider this your jargon-free guide to making sense of the digital landscape. We will only touch on each of the subjects below but keep an eye for more in depth guides.
Key Terminology
- Domain
Your domain is your website’s address—like “www.yourbusiness.com”—which users type into their browser to find your site. It’s essentially your online identity, and securing a good domain name that reflects your brand is an important step in building your website. If your website were a physical store, your domain would be the street address. - Hosting
Web hosting is the service that makes your website available to people on the internet. To liken it to a real life, physical store, you could think of a shopping centre/mall as a the hosting provide and the unit you rent for your store as the space you rent to host your site. There are several types of hosting, from shared hosting, where your site shares a server with other websites (often the most affordable option), to VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting and dedicated hosting, which offer more space and resources for larger or more complex sites. - CMS (Content Management System)
A Content Management System, or CMS, is software that allows you to create, edit, and manage the content on your website without needing to know how to code. Think of it as the backbone of your website. One of the most popular CMS platforms is WordPress, which powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. A CMS makes it easy to add blog posts, update pages, and manage images—all from a simple interface. - Plugins
Plugins are add-ons that extend the functionality of your website, particularly for WordPress sites. They’re like apps for your website, allowing you to add features such as contact forms, SEO optimisation tools, security enhancements, and more—without needing to know how to code. For example, if you want to add an e-commerce store to your website, you could install a plugin like WooCommerce. - Themes
A theme in WordPress is like a template that controls how your website looks and feels. It defines your website’s layout, colour scheme, typography, and more. Choosing the right theme is important because it needs to align with your brand and be responsive, meaning it should work well on mobile devices as well as desktops. - Responsive Design
Speaking of mobile devices, responsive design is the approach to web design that ensures your site looks and functions well on any device—whether it’s a phone, tablet, or desktop. Given that more and more people browse the web on mobile, having a responsive website is critical for providing a positive user experience and ensuring that you’re not losing out on potential customers. - SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
SEO is all about making your website easier for search engines like Google to find and rank. Good SEO means that when someone searches for a product or service you offer, your website has a better chance of showing up in the results. It involves optimising your content with relevant keywords, improving the technical performance of your site, and making sure your site is user-friendly. Essentially, SEO helps your website get found by the right people. - SSL Certificate
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are what give you that little padlock icon next to your website’s URL in a browser. They ensure that the data passed between your website and its visitors is encrypted and secure. This is particularly important for websites that collect sensitive information, like customer details or payment information. An SSL certificate helps protect your users and builds trust in your brand. And these days, is a must have for any website if you want to provide your clients with not only a secure browsing experience but an uninterrupted one, as modern Browsers require websites utilise secure connections. - Analytics
Analytics tools like Google Analytics allow you to track who’s visiting your site, how they found you, and what they do once they’re there. This data is invaluable for understanding your audience and making informed decisions to improve your website’s performance. You can see which pages are popular, where your visitors are coming from, and even how long they stay on your site.
Conclusion
Understanding these website terms should give you more confidence when managing your website and working with designers or developers. It allows you to communicate your needs more effectively and make better decisions for you and your business.
If you’re interested in learning more about what’s happening behind the scenes—like the code that powers your website—stay tuned! In our next article, we’ll break down the different programming languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP, giving you a high level, broad understanding of the roles they play when building your website.
And remember—if any of this still feels a bit overwhelming, Ncodein is here to help. Whether you’re building your site from scratch or just need some guidance, we’re always ready to lend a hand.
