Website Lingo: Learning A New Language
Whether this is your first website or revamping a previous one, some website terminology may not make sense when you first start — especially because different designers and developers use different terms. We’ve put together a resource guide to the lingo and language used in building a website so that you can know exactly what you (and your web designer) are referencing every step of the way.
What are the most common industry and technical terms?
In the world of web design, some unhelpful jargon terms make things more confusing than they need to be. Here are some standard terms you’ll come across when building your website.
Domain Names and Hosting
These two terms are often confused, but it is the first thing you need to tackle before even beginning to design your website. A domain name is the address of your website that people type into a browser’s URL bar to visit your site.
On the other hand, web hosting is a service that allows you to post your website on the internet and store your content. Some hosting and design platforms are built-in, like Squarespace and Webflow, while others have to be outsourced, like WordPress and Bluehost.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO refers to the words and phrases people enter into a search engine to find what they’re looking for. Using appropriate keywords improves a website or web page’s rankings in a search engine like Google or DuckDuckGo. Proper SEO maximizes a website’s visibility for potential visitors.
Plugins and Widgets
Plugins and widgets are third-party applications and software additions that you download to allow further website customization. WordPress is known for its heavy reliance on plugins to create a great site, while Squarespace and Webflow have many of these tools built into the software.
Plugins come in a lot of varieties, and some can help your blog posts rank higher, display videos, or customize your website’s fonts. Some examples of widgets are features like event countdowns and website visitor counters. (If you ask us, these should be a bare minimum standard for your website software, but we’re biased.)
These terms are just some of the basics to get you going.
Most website-building platforms have already created plugins and widgets to simplify the process for first-timers and DIYers.
However, if you want to create a truly custom website that will stand the test of time and won’t break when a plugin goes defunct, it’s best to hire a professional who understands the relationship between website design and development.
What are the key elements of a home page?
As you scroll down your home page from top to bottom, these are some key elements you will have included on your site. Some of these are standard, and some are extra. Either way, knowing what you’re referring to will make your website design process and maintenance much easier!
Main Navigation
Otherwise known as your primary navigation, navigation, website navigation, or “links at the top” if you’re not feeling fancy. The main navigation bar is located at the top of the web page and includes items like Home, About, Products, Services, Blog, Contact, and more.
When users click on those items, they will be directed to that page. If there are multiple pages under one of those items, web designers may use dropdown menus so users can navigate to a specific page without clicking through too many individual pages to find what they are looking for. This section may also include your logo or tagline.
Banner Section
Otherwise known as your hero banner, hero image, banner, or “big image or slideshow at the top” if you’re not feeling fancy. The banner section is just under the main navigation and sometimes lives “behind” your navigation in a nice visual way.
Typically, you have a full-width image in the banner section with a call to action button — click me so I can bring you more customers and revenue! A call to action helps encourage your website users to take the desired action, like buying your product or service or getting to know you a bit more.
Brand Statement
Otherwise known as your quick about statement, your elevator pitch, or “that text that describes what you do” if you’re not feeling fancy. The brand statement section can live in a variety of places on the site but is best served at the bottom of your home page if you have a lot of content or “above the fold” if you’ve got a great summary statement.
Your brand statement could be a narrative of your brand story or a direct pitch of the value of your services or product — you’ll know what serves your audience best. Your brand statement should be written in a way that engages your customers to connect with your business personally and provides the value that you will deliver to them as a result. (Pro Tip: Your brand strategist likely created this statement for you and now it just needs to be highlighted on your site.)
Content Section
Otherwise known as that block of whatever you wanted to display that fills a whole “section.” Content sections are the building blocks of your sites and can take many forms on your homepage. Usually, a content section can elaborate on your services or products or give a deeper history of your company or founder. With any content sections, be mindful of headings and subheadings. The body copy content is the meat of your web page to communicate your message and should include your optimal keywords.
Slider/Carousel Section
Otherwise known as that big slideshow or your case studies or your top-selling products. This left and right scroll of your content or a carousel can include images of your work, gallery, or even a preview of your social media posts in a visual way. These are a great opportunity to engage with your website visitor in an interactive way. Just don’t overdo it by making them click left or right a bunch of times to find what they need!
Blog Posts Summary
Otherwise known as blog excerpts, blog carousel, blog summary, or “recent posts” if you’re not feeling fancy. If you have an active blog on your site, you’ll want to include a summary section of visual thumbnails of your blog posts. You will also want to add a Blog link to your main navigation menu, so users don’t have to scroll toward the bottom of your page to find your incredible blog content!
Footer Area
Otherwise known as footer navigation or “that information at the bottom” if you’re not feeling fancy. The footer area is the bottom of your page and is usually global, meaning your footer stays the same across all pages on your site, not just your home page. It can include most of the same content as the main navigation bar and even more technically less relevant internal links.
If there is more content that you want to add, for example, Careers or Location and Contact information in detail, this is where you would add those items that are not included in your main navigation menu. (Pro Tip: A well-done informational footer will be the first stop a visitor goes to if they’re looking for something specific on your site, so make it count!)
Although these are just some of the most common elements of a website, you can explore more to customize your website and make it more you.
The most important thing to think about while designing your website is usability—make it easy for your customers to navigate and find what they are looking for quickly and easily. On average, most website users will leave if they can’t find what they’re looking for within about 10-20 seconds. The key to a successful website is an excellent visual web design that is user-friendly and stays on-brand with your business.
