Five Website Terms Everyone Should Know

Having a website is an investment for any business.Being familiar with some of the terminology surrounding websites is important to thriving in the online world.Five important website terms are:

  • Responsive Design
  • SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
  • Keywords
  • SSL Certificates
  • CMS (Content Management System)

RESPONSIVE DESIGN

A responsive website refers to one that looks good to the human eye no matter what type of device is being used to view the website (i.e., desktop computer, tablet, smart phone, etc.).The information should be easy to read and the formatting easy to navigate.

Additional resources:

8 Reasons to Have a Responsive Web Design (infographic)

3 Reasons Why Your Website Needs Responsive Design

Responsive Web Design Fundamentals (free e-course on the technical aspects of a responsive website)

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization is a rather critical component for a website.How a website is developed, including all of its individual webpages, will determine how well the search engines can navigate the information.If the key information is difficult for the search engine to find, it will not include your website in its list of search responses and they will give it a lower ranking.This can equate to potential customers lost simply because of how your website and subsequent pages are designed.How can one fix this problem?

Be sure to integrate keywords (more on these little guys in the next section), and be mindful of what words are placed in title tags and header tags.Title tags are the titles used for individual web pages, whereas header tags are used as a label to describe each new section of information on a webpage.Using pertinent keywords in the tags will help ensure that your webpage will be included in the search engine’s results list.The search engine will be able to find information easier and will give your website a higher ranking level.

Additional Resources:

SEO basics: 22 essentials you need for optimizing your site

Your SEO Checklist: 4 Steps to Optimizing Your Website

Keywords

Keywords are those particular little words or phrases that will ensure your website gets recognized.Think of keywords as your little helpers that are actively working to get the attention of the search engines.The important thing is to choose your keywords/phrases wisely and consistently.This means using the keywords on all of your web pages.Sprinkle those keywords all throughout your website content so those little guys can work their magic.

Additional Resources:

Using Keywords on Your Website

9 Places to Insert Keywords on Your Website

SSL Certificates

A necessary safety tool in the online world, the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is an encryption method that serves an important and vital purpose.First, it encrypts any sensitive data that is being sent from one computer to the next.For example, when a customer purchases a product or service online the credit card information is sent to the business’s computer in order to complete the purchase.This information needs to be encrypted along its journey so that no other computer can interpret the information except the intended recipient.Second, SSL can authenticate information so that the customer knows that they are sending information to your website only and not to any phony websites pretending to be your business—a true safeguard against identify theft.Third, it can boost your website’s ranking and build a customer’s trust and loyalty knowing that their personal information is being protected.

Additional Resources:

Everything You Need to Know About SSL Certificates

What is an SSL certificate and what is it used for?

Content Management System (CMS)

A content management system allows multiple users to update web content with ease.In fact, if the user can navigate a basic word processing program, they can utilize a CMS to add new web content and edit existing content (including photos, graphics, and videos) all within a friendly template format.The CMS also provides a central storage for the graphics, videos, and content that the user can choose from or they have the option to create their own.In addition to its simplicity of use, the CMS provides a means to create a consistent business brand that will extend throughout the entire website.

Additional Resources:

Five Business Benefits of Using a CMS

7 Benefits of Using a Content Management System