Domain
A domain is the address of your website. It’s the name that people will use to find your website on the internet. For example, www.yourbusinessname.com is a domain name.
Platform
A website platform is like the engine that powers your website. It’s the technology that makes everything work, from how your site looks and feels to how you add and manage content. Think of it like the foundation of your website that everything else is built on. There are many different website platforms to choose from such as WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify. Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the right one for your business is important.
Hosting
Web hosting is the service that makes your website accessible on the internet. When you sign up for web hosting, you’re renting space on a server where your website files are stored. Your hosting provider is responsible for keeping your website up and running, and ensuring that it’s fast and secure. Think of it like renting a space to store your website online. Hosting is important because it ensures your website is available and accessible 24/7 to anyone in the world with an internet connection. Without hosting, your website wouldn’t be visible to anyone online. Looking for a hosting recommendation? Send me a DM and I’ll let you know the best providers and get you a discount!
SEO
You know when you type something into Google and a bunch of websites pop up? Well, SEO is all about making sure your website pops up at the top of that list! It stands for Search Engine Optimisation, which means doing things to your website to make it more visible to search engines like Google. Think of it like a game of hide-and-seek – you want your website to be found easily by people who are looking for what you offer. By using the right keywords, optimising your website’s structure, and creating great content, you can boost your SEO and show up higher in search results.
Page Structure
Website page structure is kind of like building a house. Just like a house has rooms with different purposes, a website has different pages that serve different functions. The home page is like the front door, welcoming visitors and giving them an idea of what your website is all about. The about page is like the living room, introducing visitors to you and your brand. The services or products page is like the kitchen, where visitors can see what you have to offer. And just like a house needs a strong foundation, your website needs a clear and organised structure to make it easy for visitors to navigate and find what they’re looking for.
It includes things like the header, footer, navigation bar, and content sections. Good page structure makes it easy for visitors to navigate your site and find what they’re looking for, whether it’s information about your business or products and services you offer. So, if you want to make sure your website is user-friendly and engaging, it’s important to pay attention to your page structure.
Maintenance
Think of your website like a car. You wouldn’t just drive it and never take it for a tune-up or oil change, right? The same goes for your website! Just like a car needs regular maintenance to keep running smoothly, your website needs regular maintenance to stay in top shape. This includes updating plugins, running security checks, and making sure everything is up-to-date and working properly. And just like a car, if you neglect your website’s maintenance, it can break down and leave you stranded on the side of the information superhighway!
SSL Certificate:
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, but what does that even mean? Basically, it’s a technology that encrypts data between your website and your visitors’ web browser.
When you have an SSL certificate, your website’s URL will start with “https” instead of “http”. That extra “s” means that any information exchanged between your website and your visitors is encrypted and kept safe from prying eyes.
So, if you want to keep your website secure (and who doesn’t?), make sure you have an SSL certificate installed. Your visitors will feel safe and secure, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your website is protected.
How do you know if you have one and if it’s installed correctly? Go to your website in a new browser tab – now in the address bar, check for the “s” (https instead of http) and look for a padlock in your browser window…. still confused? send me a DM and I’ll check for you.
Responsive Design:
Have you ever visited a website on your phone and had to constantly pinch and zoom to read the text? Annoying, right? Well, that’s where responsive design comes in!
Responsive design means that a website is designed to adjust and look great on any device – whether it’s a phone, tablet, or desktop computer. This way, you won’t have to struggle to read tiny text or scroll left and right just to see the entire page.
Think of responsive design like a magical shape-shifting website that can morph into the perfect size and shape for whatever device you’re using. It’s like having a personal website genie that always grants your wishes for easy navigation and a great user experience!
E-commerce:
E-commerce is short for electronic commerce. It simply means buying and selling products or services over the internet. E-commerce websites typically include a shopping cart, checkout process, and payment gateway integration.
So how do you know if you need an “e-commerce site”? If you want to sell things on your site, then you need e-commerce functionality.
