Reference
Plain-English web glossary
Every web term that makes owners’ eyes glaze over — explained in one or two plain sentences, no jargon. If we ever use one of these and don’t explain it, call us on it.
- Domain
- Your website's address that people type to find you, like yourshop.com. Think of it as the street address for your business online - you own it, and it points folks to your site.
- Hosting
- The space on the internet where your website's files actually live, so they're available day and night. It's like renting the lot your building sits on - without it, there's nowhere for your site to stand.
- HTTPS / SSL
- The lock icon by your web address that means information sent to your site is scrambled and safe from snoops. It's the difference between mailing a sealed envelope and a postcard anyone can read.
- SEO
- Short for search engine optimization - the work of helping your business show up when people search Google for what you offer. It's like making sure your shop is on the main road with a clear sign, not hidden down a back alley.
- Google Business Profile
- Your free listing on Google that shows your hours, phone, photos, map pin, and reviews when people search for you. It's the box that pops up on the right side of Google - keeping it accurate is one of the best ways to get found locally.
- Schema
- A bit of hidden labeling on your site that tells Google exactly what each piece of information is - your address, your hours, your prices. It's like putting clear labels on boxes so the search engine doesn't have to guess what's inside.
- CMS
- Short for content management system - the behind-the-scenes tool used to update your website's words and pictures without touching any code. It's like the dashboard of your car: you steer and adjust things without needing to know what's under the hood.
- Mobile-friendly
- A website that looks good and works easily on a phone, not just a computer. Since most people will find you on their phone, this is like making sure your front door fits everyone who walks up - not just a few.
- Bounce rate
- The share of visitors who land on your site and leave right away without clicking anything. A high number is like people peeking in your door and walking back out - usually a sign the page didn't quickly give them what they came for.
- Landing page
- A single focused page built to get one thing done, like booking a call or claiming an offer. It's the page someone 'lands' on from an ad or link, with no clutter to distract them from that one step.
- Sitemap
- A simple list of all the pages on your website that you hand to Google so it can find and read every one. Think of it as giving the search engine a table of contents instead of making it wander around.
- Analytics
- The reports that show how many people visit your site, where they came from, and what they look at. It's like a quiet headcount at the door, so you know what's working instead of guessing.
- Care plan
- An ongoing service that keeps your site updated, backed up, secure, and running smoothly after it's live. It's like regular oil changes for your website - small upkeep that prevents big, costly problems later.
- Backlink
- A link from another website that points to yours, like a local paper or directory mentioning your business. Each one acts like a word-of-mouth referral that tells Google other people trust you.
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