Designing and developing a website involves plenty of unfamiliar words and terms. While you don’t need to understand the nitty gritty, having a grasp on digital marketing terms is ideal for anyone embarking on a web design project. Here are the 15 most common digital marketing terms to know.

Alt Tag

An alt tag is also known as an alt attribute or alt description. Because search engines cannot interpret images, an alt tag is applied them, providing searchable text. When Google crawls a website, images with appropriately formatted alt tags contribute to the ways in which the site is indexed. Because of this, applying alt tags to images can positively impact search engine rankings. 

Backlink

A backlink connects one website to another. Search engines use these links to help decide how well a particular website will satisfy a query. The thought is that frequent links to a particular webpage indicate that the page is of value. Sites providing greater value achieve higher rankings in search results.   

Bounce Rate

It’s thought that if users visit a website but leave before taking action, they have not deemed that site to be of value. The digital marketing term “bounce rate,” describes this scenario. It’s the number of single-page visits to your website, as a percentage of all visits. It stands to reason that the lower the bounce rate, the more effective your website, making this one of the most common digital marketing terms to learn.

Call to Action

A call to action, or CTA, is part of a marketing campaign. It is a written directive that tells a user to take a specific action. In the context of digital marketing, CTAs almost always encourage users to click a link intended to move them through the sales process. A CTA might say something like “Register Now,” “Request Information,” or “Join our Mailing List.”

Conversion

Website conversion is the term used to describe a user taking an action that moves them through the sales process. Examples of a conversion include visiting a website and signing up for their email list, opening an email and clicking a link to a product, clicking a link to a product and adding it to your cart, and so on. 

CRO

Conversion Rate Optimization, or CRO, encompasses a variety of marketing tools and methods to increase the number of conversions on a website. CRO marketing tends to focus on ways to capture as many users as possible, at any step of the sales process. 

Content

Content is intended to engage users, and comes in many forms including social media posts, blogs, podcasts, and eBooks. It tends to be longer form and more frequently updated than typical marketing copy, as content aims to generate warm leads that could convert down the road. Not only does an effective content strategy play a role in SEO and CRO, but it serves to connect users to the brand. 

Domain Name

Simply put, a domain name is the string of text we use to access a website. For instance, www.HungryMedia.com. However, as we now live so much of our lives online, domain names have come to represent an online identity. It’s often the first impression visitors have of a company or a brand, and like so many of our other terms used in digital marketing, it can also have an impact on SEO. 

Favicon

This little icon is always noticed, but rarely considered. It’s the tiny icon next to the page name on a browser tab. It provides an easy visual representation of the website and brand, making it easy for a user to quickly navigate between browser tabs at a glance.

Landing Page

A landing page is often used in digital marketing. In basic terms it is a web page on which users “land” from another digital space. This space could be an email ad, social media post, list of search engine results, or any other online location. Landing pages are standalone pages created for a specific marketing campaign and encourage users to take a desired action such as clicking to learn more or providing contact information. 

Metadata

Website metadata is attached to every individual page included in a website and provides a page title and description. It offers important information to search engines about the purpose and content of each webpage, helping to determine whether the page is relevant to the searcher’s query. 

Meta Tag

Meta Tags are small snippets of text that describe the content contained within a web page. They don’t appear in the page, but rather in the source code. Search engines take information contained within meta tags into consideration when determining which websites to return in the results listing. 

MVP

The most basic version of a new product, sans any bells and whistles, is called the Minimum Viable Product, or MVP. MVPs are essentially steppingstones that help determine whether a viable idea will translate to a viable product. It allows developers to collect data, gain an understanding of users’ needs, and share important information with potential investors before investing a significant amount of time or money in more detailed development.

Responsive Design

Have you ever noticed that the same website looks different on your laptop than your phone? Responsive design allows a website to adapt to the size of the screen on which it’s displayed. This is a relatively new approach to web design, but it’s very important in today’s digital world. Mobile-first design strategy always includes responsive design, as do most UX design strategies. 

The Fold

The fold is among the digital marketing keywords taken from our pre-digital world. Picture a newspaper before it is unfolded by the reader. Everything visible on the top half of the front is literally located “above the fold.” This is a very desirable location for content and ads, as it provides maximum visibility. In the context of web design, the fold refers to the place at which a user must begin scrolling to see additional content. The location of the fold differs depending on the size of the screen on which the content is viewed, but the bottom line remains the same: the more important the content, the higher on the page it should be displayed.

Digital Marketing Made Easy with Hungry Media

You don’t have to be fluent in digital marketing terms to have a hand in creating an effective, aesthetically pleasing website. Hungry Media’s team of expert project managers, developers, and designers are the perfect partners whether you’re building a brand-new app, revamping a dated website, or anything in between. Contact us today to learn how we can help take your project to the next level. We can’t wait to meet you!

contributed by Melissa Lucas, senior staff writer

If you thought standard web design terms sound foreign, just wait until you hear some of the most common web developer terms! But don’t worry. The basic terminology of web development probably sounds like gibberish to most people.

Here, in our web development glossary we put some of the most common web development words into easily comprehendible terms. Be sure to check out the other posts in our Web Terminology 101 series: The Basics and Web Design Terms. These will help you glean an understanding of tech phrases which aren’t necessarily development-related but are certainly helpful to understand.  

Accessibility

This web programming term relates to making a website accessible for people with disabilities. At the very least, all websites should follow the website guidelines outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a bonus, complying with these guidelines can make it easier for any user to navigate your website, which leads to an improved user experience and a boost in search engine optimization. 

Content Management System (CMS)

A CMS is a software system used to organize, update, and maintain all that is contained within a website. This includes everything from menu items to images to blog posts. Content management systems simplify the publication process without requiring you to become a web developer.

Domain Name Server (DNS)

DNS servers connect a website’s URL to its IP address. And yes, we’ve just saddled you with more jargon-y web development terms. Here’s an analogy to help explain. 

Think about the internet like a library. Each individual public website is represented by an individual book on the library shelves. Similar to the way in which a Dewey Decimal Classification indicates the exact location of a specific book on those shelves, an IP address tells us exactly where a website can be found within the world wide web.

In this analogy, the DNS is akin to the library catalog. It is a directory which connects the title of a book (domain name or URL) to that Dewey Decimal code (IP address). When you type in a web address such as www.hungrymedia.com, your web browser connects to a DNS, which looks up the IP address associated with our domain name and communicates it back to the browser. The browser, now that it knows where to look, finds our website and displays its contents on your screen.  

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)

This is one of the most common coding acronyms around. Hypertext markup language is the type of code used to construct web pages and display content such as text, images, video, and links. Usually, HTML is used in conjunction with additional languages that allow the developer to add functionality to the website. 

Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)

This programming acronym indicates that a website is using the secure version of the protocol for sending data from a web browser to a website, and back again. It encrypts all of the communication between the two, meaning the information transmitted is less susceptible to being hacked than if the secure protocol were not in use. 

Plugin

Plugins are like apps for a website. In web developer terms, they are little pieces of software designed to perform a specific task or add a specific feature to a site. It’s safe to say that nearly any function you can dream of is available as a plugin. Free and paid options are available for everything from SEO, to photo carousel creation, to social media sharing buttons. 

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate

This is one of those coding abbreviations that has been around for as long as the internet. SSL is a standard security protocol which is required to establish encrypted communications between a website and a web browser. When a site has an SSL certificate, it can then include the “S” after HTTP in the web address (mentioned above). 

Coding

Coding is the process of translating the design of a website into specific website building terminology like HTML or CSS. You can view the source code for any website by right clicking anywhere on the page and selecting “view source.” 

Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)

AMP is a coding abbreviation that stands for accelerated mobile pages. This is a web standard, created by Google, with the intention of making mobile sites quicker to respond. By using a more rudimentary version of HTML, AMP enables pages with less data to load faster on mobile devises such as smart phones or tablets. Some regular web page code can’t be used for AMP, so there are limitations to the process. On the whole, though, this initiative has been widely beneficial for those on both the development and user ends of a mobile first strategy. 

Application Programming Interface (API)

An API is a software intermediary responsible for connecting one website to the database of another. For instance, an API is responsible for providing airline flight availability through a booking sight like Expedia. Expedia doesn’t store the availability and pricing for every airline, rather it uses an API to connect to each airline and return accurate information to customers when they request it. 

Bug

A bug is an error in website code which prevents a site from running the way it is intended. It’s impossible to test every single action available in a website or app, so sometimes bugs aren’t noticed during initial testing. Sometimes they are very obscure and only occur when a unique action is taken by a user. This is why it is very important that the steps taken prior to the error be recounted accurately. Otherwise, debugging will involve reviewing potentially thousands of lines of code until the error is found. 

Open Source

Open source is a web developer term that usually refers to software which is distributed with permission for developers to change its source code. This allows for easy manipulation of the way a website looks or functions, which in turn allows businesses to meet the needs of the end user without restrictions. WordPress is the most well-known open-source software on the market. 

Embed

Embedding means placing content – usually graphics or videos – directly on a web page rather than just linking to it. In this situation, users do not have to leave a page to consume additional content. As you can imagine, there are several benefits to embedding graphics or videos, namely increasing the time users spend on a page, building engagement, and hopefully improving return rates over time. 

Websites Made Easy with Hungry Media

When you’re building a website or app it’s helpful to have an understanding of basic web developer terms. But don’t let all of the jargon scare you away. Hungry Media’s project managers and developers work with businesses of all sizes and tech comfort levels. Whether you’re a startup in need of a brand-new app or an established business looking to revamp an old website, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today to learn how we can help take your app or website to the next level. We can’t wait to meet you!

contributed by Melissa Lucas, senior staff writer

Do you hear people use web design terms and feel like they are speaking a completely different language? If so, you’re not alone. Honestly, the digital world has come upon us so quickly that many of us simply need some time to catch up. That’s where our Website Terminology Series comes in!

Here, we’ll put some of the most common web design buzzwords into easily understandable terms. That way, when it’s time to talk tech, you won’t be left behind. Be sure to check out the first part of this series – Website Terminology 101: The Basics – which explains the meaning of some tech terms that aren’t necessarily web related, but are helpful to understand as you learn more about other web design vocabulary words. 

Web Design Jargon Explained

Use the following website design words list to help you decipher what, exactly, is meant by some of the most common web design terms and lingo.

What is a Sitemap?

A website map, or sitemap, provides information about the pages, media, and other files contained within a website as well as the relationships between them. Search engines use sitemaps to determine where to look for important information, which then helps them decide whether that information is what users are searching. 

While sitemaps aren’t 100% necessary, they definitely improve a search engine’s ability to quickly crawl and index websites, especially those which are particularly large or complex. 

What is Navigation?

In web design, effective navigation is a must. Basically, navigation is a collection of user interface components that help visitors move through a website in search of specific content and features. Most commonly, web navigation is found in the form of menus, text, links, and buttons.

What Does UX Stand For?

UX stands for user experience. But what is UX in terms of web design? UX design refers to a method of designing in which user experience is a top priority. This includes ensuring websites are functional, easy to navigate, load quickly, are pleasing to the eye, etc. Ultimately, UX describes a users’ perception of your site and their response after interacting with it.

What is Information Architecture?

Information architecture is focused on creating schemes and structures to organize website content in a way that helps users find information and complete tasks with ease. Effective information architecture includes labeling systems, navigation systems, and search systems, all of which are dependent on having a clear understanding of how visitors will naturally want to use your website. 

What Is a Website Wireframe?

A wireframe is a basic framework for website design. Wireframe designs are much like the blueprint of a building, which allow builders to easily visualize the location of important features such as plumbing or electrical elements and are devoid of any interior design elements. In this sense, a wireframe serves as a visual guide for building a website. This black and white outline tells the developer which elements to include, where they are located, and what functionality they must encompass. 

What Are Website Breadcrumbs?

Hansel and Gretel created a trail of breadcrumbs to help find their way back home, right? Website breadcrumbs are intended to help users accomplish the same goal – effectively backtrack without losing their way. Breadcrumbs in web design serve as a visual aid that indicates a user’s location within a site’s hierarchy and provide the option of moving back just a few steps, rather than starting over completely requiring use of the browsers back button. They are most often used when a site contains a large amount of information within a single, structured hierarchy. You often see this within large retail shopping sites where products are grouped into smaller and smaller categories. 

What Is a Webpage Header?

Website headers sit atop each page of a website and serve several purposes. First and foremost, they provide a sense of visual cohesion across all web pages included in a single site. But headers also include several key elements – logos, navigation menus, and page titles for starters. Finally, headers are the place users will look for ancillary features such as a search bar, shopping cart, login link, and notifications. 

What Is a Hamburger Menu?

A hamburger menu is the name given to the menu icon, usually found in the top corner of a webpage, that expands to reveal additional menu items. It is named so because the three horizontal lines resemble a hamburger patty between two buns. Originally developed for use on mobile sites, hamburger menus have been widely adopted for use on all screen sizes because they allow websites to offer the menu and navigation options users expect without cluttering the screen. 

What Does GUI Stand For?

GUI stands for graphical user interface and describes a visual way of interacting with a computer. It’s hard to remember a time when we typed commands which told our computers what to do, but this was the reality just a few decades ago. Graphical user interfaces simplified this task, making computers much easier for the everyday person to use. Instead of typing commands we click on icons, windows, or menus. These visual elements make up the graphical user interface. 

What Is a Style Guide? 

In web design, a style guide is a set of standards that includes instructions such as how and where a logo is used, how to choose the right font for any given text, what colors to include in each page, etc. The purpose of a style guide is to ensure uniformity across all web pages and platforms. 

What Does WYSIWYG Stand For?

What you see is what you get! WYSIWYG is one of the longest web design acronyms out there. A WYSIWYG HTML editor allows website content to be manipulated in a form that resembles its final appearance. For instance – instead of writing a bunch of code to determine the placement and aesthetic of a button on your website, a WYSIWYG editor allows you to actually choose the button you want and move it around your webpage until you find the perfect location. The end result is the same, but these types of editors (such as Squarespace) are much easier for non-developers to use. 

What Is Anchor Text?

Anchor text is the visible, clickable text of a link. While the link might be: www.hungrymedia.com/blog, anchor text can be utilized to make it part of a sentence. Perhaps we’d say: Check out our web development blog for the latest industry tips and tricks. 

Both hyperlinks will take you to the same page, but when you link anchor text, that text effectively describes the page to which you are sending users. When the anchor text and the link itself correlate, it is easier for search engines to determine that the linked page would be relevant to a searcher’s query. In the end, effective use of anchor text can improve SEO rankings.

What Is a Slider?

There’s no doubt that graphics and images are important to a website, but too much of a good thing can be detrimental to web design. A slider allows for the display of multiple images in a way that doesn’t create visual clutter on a webpage. When a slider is in use, you may see three or four images at a time but have the ability to easily scroll through many more. Some sliders may move on their own, while others require input from the user to scroll from one image to the next. 

What Is Mobile First Design?

Two of the most frequently used words in design these days are mobile and first. A mobile first strategy bases the functionality and aesthetic of a website on the needs of mobile users. From there, developers create versions of the same site for laptop or desktop users. 

This is different from traditional web design which assumed users were primarily viewing websites on desktop monitors. Sites would be designed for these users and then “condensed” for viewing on a mobile screen. In today’s market, starting small and adjusting larger is much more efficient (and cost effective) than trying to cram everything visible on a desktop computer into a single smartphone screen.  

Work with Hungry Media

When the time comes to build a website or app, it’s helpful to have an understanding of basic web design terms. But don’t let all of this web design lingo send your head spinning. Hungry Media’s team of project managers and designers works with a wide range of clients – from small companies whose CEOs are still using flip phones and aren’t familiar with any web page design terminology to large corporations whose IT departments can talk tech all day long. Contact us today to learn how we can help you build the website of your dreams. We can’t wait to meet you!

contributed by Melissa Lucas, senior staff writer

Sometimes it seems as though you need a PhD in website terminology to complete the most basic of online tasks, and as technology changes so does the web jargon we need to understand. Additionally, website terms usually refer to items contained in a virtual space as opposed to a physical structure which can be visualized and touched. Grasping the meaning of web terms and definitions can be difficult at times.  

This is why we’ve created our Website Terminology 101 Series. Over the coming weeks we’ll go over all of the web acronyms and web lingo you’ll need in order to talk websites. We’ll cover design, development, and digital marketing terms in later posts. Today, we’re simply touching on the basics. 

Here are the answers to common questions about basic website terminology.

Website Jargon Explained

What are the Types of Web Browsers?

Web browser terminology can be more intimidating than is necessary. A browser is simply the software designed to view websites. Today the most common browsers are Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer. 

What is an Algorithm?

In computer speak, an algorithm is a set of instructions that tells a machine what to do with certain inputs. Think of it like a recipe. Your inputs are flour, sugar, milk, and eggs. Whether you wind up with pancakes, cookies, or pasta depends on the recipe, as that’s where the measurements and instructions are contained. 

An algorithm tells Facebook what type of content to put in your feed. It generates a notification when it’s time to update your computer software. It zeroes out shipping costs when you reach the minimum order amount to do so. Almost every change you see within your web browser is due to an algorithm.

What is a Server, in Computer Terms?

A server is essentially a giant computer that contains all of the information needed for your website to function. This includes graphics and text as well as the structure of your site and the algorithms that tell it what to do and when to do it. 

In a very basic way you might compare a server to a bookcase holding a set of encyclopedias, where each website and all of the information needed to make it work is contained within one volume on one of the shelves. A different volume (i.e. website) can be stored on the same shelf but contain completely unrelated set information.

What is Web Hosting?

Web hosting terminology isn’t as complicated as it might seem. In our encyclopedia analogy, the host would be the owner of the bookcase, and you would pay them to keep your book on their shelf so others know where to find it. Translating to tech terms – you’re paying the owner of the server to host your website. 

What is Internet Bandwidth?

Bandwidth refers to the rate at which data can be transferred and is measured in bits or kilobits per second. Bandwidth can be compared to the capacity of a highway. The wider the road and the higher the speed limit, the faster vehicles can travel from Point A to Point B. Similarly, increasing bandwidth increases the speed at which data can travel online. 

What is Page Load Speed?

You page load speed is the time it takes (in seconds) to download and display an entire webpage in a browser. This term is also known as load time, and is a performance metric impacted by several factors including the speed of the server, bandwidth, design of the page, and complexity of the elements on the page.

What is a Website Cache?

Actually, the question should be “what is a cache?” (As opposed to a website cache.) A cache refers to the temporary storage space in a web browser. When you visit a website, your browser stores files needed to run that site in the cache. With the files already handy, there is less data to retrieve from the server the next time you visit the same page. 

What are Cookies?

On your computer, a cookie is a small text file that contains information about the websites you visit. This could be anything from login details, to the items in your online shopping cart, or simply the type of sites you tend to visit. Cookies help streamline the online experience. 

For example, cookies play a role in saving passwords so you stay logged into your accounts when you exit a browser. However, the use of cookies has privacy implications, which is why websites now have to ask permission to store them in users’ web browsers.

How Does a Computer Database Work?

A database is simply a storage and organization hub for data. The meaning of “database” in computer terms relates to the storage of all information needed for a website to function properly. It’s the long list of data that a computer will scan through when asked to provide a specific detail – such as how much those hot new shoes cost or how many calories are in the key lime pie at your favorite restaurant. 

What Does Pixel Mean?

Short for picture element, a pixel is the smallest unit in a graphic display or digital image. This isn’t website terminology, per se, but does play a role in the rendering of photos and videos on a website. Usually pixels are so small we can’t see them unless we look very closely. Images are referred to as pixilated when pixels are so large they’re easy to distinguish on screen. 

What is Display Resolution?

Display, or screen, resolution refers to the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal element of a screen. The higher the resolution, the more pixels in a given area, the clearer the picture. 

What does E-Commerce Mean?

E-commerce is short for electronic commerce. The industry definition of e-commerce relates to the buying and selling of goods and services online. Any website which exists for the purpose of selling goods or services is an e-commerce site.  

What is a Domain Name Used For?

Think about it like this. You purchase a house, and now you own this empty structure. You can tell your friends the street address of your new house right now, but you aren’t having them over to visit until you actually move in. Purchasing a domain name is like purchasing the house. It gives you a place to call your own. Turning that place into something people want to visit is totally different. 

A domain name is simply the address that tells people where to find your website. The website is everything contained within the address. 

What does URL Stand For?

URL stands for uniform resource locator. The meaning of URL in internet terms is simply directional. It is a combination of your domain name and the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). A URL tells the web browser to search for a domain name as opposed to any other web address. For instance, our domain is hungrymedia.com, and our URL is https://www.hungrymedia.com. 

While they don’t technically mean the same thing, someone asking “what’s your website,” actually means “what’s the URL for your website?”

Hungry Media Speaks the Language of Websites

If you find that deciphering web page terms and definitions is a full time job that you simply don’t want to take on, Hungry Media has your back. Let us deal with the website structure, terms, planning, and execution while you focus on what you do best – running your business. 

With years of experience in the web design and development world, we understand website terminology and know what it takes to make websites successful. Whether you’re looking to build something from scratch or simply want to optimize what you already have in place, we can take your website to the next level. Contact us today to learn about our unique approach and how we can help your business grow. We can’t wait to meet you! 

contributed by Melissa Lucas, senior staff writer