Learn the Lingo

7 Terms

WYSIWYG ( "WI - ZEE - WIG" )

This acronym stands for "What You See Is What You Get." You use your webpage editor like a word processor such as Microsoft Word, instead of typing out the HTML. To bold a Headline, use a mouse to select it and a button in a row of tools to bold it. Your editor shows "Headline," while behind the scenes, the WYSIWYG editor stores it as "Headline" in HTML.

HTML

Another acronym, this one stands for Hyper Text Markup Language. All web pages have some of this code, which describes the content and layout of the page to your browser so it can properly draw the page for you to view.

Domain Name 


A domain is purchased to use for a period of time as your website’s address. Your web builder may purchase it for you, but we suggest owning it yourself. While .com is popular, there are many more suffixes available now and new suffixes are being planned. Most are inexpensive, say $10 a year, but some cost much more.

Hosting

Your website needs to be stored on a computer that is available to the Internet 24/7. You basically “rent” storage space on the host’s computer either month-to-month or annually. The host deals with redundancy, bandwidth and other technical issues and may specialize in hosting particular platforms. Super-cheap hosting may skimp on service so “buyer beware.”

Custom Code

A programmer uses a programming language like html (the “l” is for language) to create from scratch a website with custom functionality. Pros: You get exactly what you want. Cons: Customizing always costs more and if you lose the original programmer, it’s hard for a new guy to jump in.

Website Platform

To build websites quicker and more economically, standardized platforms have been created. Programmers from around the world write functionality programs to “plug in” to the main platform, growing the capabilities of what websites on that platform can do. Pros: Faster, cheaper than custom code with lots of support. Cons: If the exact plug-in you want doesn’t exist, you have to compromise or pay to customize that piece.

Content Management System

CMS simply means that text, graphics, etc., can be created and updated by a non-techie using a WYSIWYG sort of editor rather than hiring a programmer to make the changes. There are CMS platforms as well as custom-coded CMS. Some CMS platforms need specialized hosting, some are better supported than others, but many are solid solutions for business websites.

If there are other terms you’re unsure of, give us a call. Truly, there are no dumb questions, especially about websites, and you don’t need to be a web expert. That’s what we do. Let us help you focus on your expertise. Contact us today to get started.

Kate GingoldKate Gingold

I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.

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Full biography

I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.

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