Free resource
WEBSITE
JARGON
EXPLAINED.
18 terms every small business owner hears when they’re getting a website built — and what they actually mean. No tech background required.
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18 terms · 7 min read
The glossary
01
Domain Name
Your web address — the thing people type in to find you. tynetype.co.uk is a domain name. You rent it annually from a registrar (like Namecheap or GoDaddy) for around £10–15 a year. Without one, your site has no address on the internet.
02
Web Hosting
Where your website’s files actually live. A hosting provider stores your code and images on their servers and delivers them to anyone who visits. Think of it like this: the domain name is the address on the sign — web hosting is the building itself.
03
HTML
HyperText Markup Language. The skeleton of every web page. HTML defines what’s on the page — headings, paragraphs, images, buttons. It doesn’t style anything: it just says “this is a heading”, “this is an image”, “this is a paragraph.”
04
CSS
Cascading Style Sheets. The paint and wallpaper. CSS takes the HTML structure and makes it look like something — colours, fonts, layout, spacing. Without CSS, every website would look like a plain text document.
05
JavaScript
The behaviour. If HTML is the skeleton and CSS is the appearance, JavaScript is the movement — dropdown menus, animations, form validation, anything interactive. Most small business sites need very little of it.
06
SSL / HTTPS
The padlock in your browser’s address bar. SSL encrypts the connection between your visitor and your site. Without it, browsers label your site “Not Secure” — which kills trust immediately and hurts your Google ranking. Every site I build includes SSL as standard.
07
SEO
Search Engine Optimisation. The practice of making your website visible to Google. Not magic — it’s about having the right words on the page, loading fast, being mobile-friendly, and earning mentions from other sites. Local SEO specifically targets searches like “plumber in Hexham.”
08
Netlify
A platform that hosts websites and delivers them to visitors globally — fast, secure, and without you needing to manage a server. It handles forms, SSL, and caching automatically. Free for most small sites, and what I use to host every project I build.
09
CMS
Content Management System. Software that lets you edit your website without touching code. WordPress is the most well-known. Useful if you need to post new content regularly, like a blog. For most small business sites, a CMS adds complexity you simply don’t need.
10
Responsive Design
A website that works properly on any screen size — phone, tablet, desktop. Not optional. Google ranks non-mobile-friendly sites lower, and most of your visitors are on their phones. Every site I build is designed mobile-first from day one.
11
Google Business Profile
Not technically part of your website — but closely related. It’s the listing that appears on Google Maps and in local search results. Setting it up is free, and for local businesses it’s arguably more important than the website itself for getting found nearby.
12
Google Analytics
Free software from Google that tracks who visits your website, where they came from, and what they did once they arrived. It shows you visitor numbers, which pages people read, how long they stay, and whether they found you via Google, social media, or a direct link. Essential for knowing whether your site is actually working.
13
Meta Description
The two-line summary that appears under your site title in Google search results. You won’t see it on your page — Google displays it in the results list. A well-written one tells people exactly why they should click your result before they even arrive. Often ignored, always worth getting right.
14
DNS
Domain Name System. The internet’s address book. When someone types your web address, DNS looks up which server it lives on and connects them. You’ll hear this when switching hosting — “you’ll need to update your DNS records.” Sounds technical, takes about five minutes.
15
Call to Action
Shortened to CTA. The button or line of text that tells a visitor what to do next — “Get a free quote”, “Book a call”, “Download the guide.” Every page should have one clear CTA. A site without one is like a shop with no till — people browse but can’t act.
16
Page Speed
How fast your website loads. Google uses this as an explicit ranking factor — slow sites appear lower in search results. It’s also just visitor experience: most mobile users abandon a page that takes more than 3 seconds to load. Good hosting, optimised images, and clean code all help.
17
Above the Fold
Borrowed from newspapers — the top half visible before folding. On a website, it’s everything visible before you scroll. It’s the most valuable screen real estate on any page. If visitors don’t immediately understand what you do and why they should care, most will leave without scrolling.
18
Landing Page
A single-purpose page built for one specific goal — usually to get a visitor to fill in a form, book a call, or make a purchase. Unlike a full website, a landing page removes distractions and focuses attention on one action. Often used for ad campaigns, promotions, or service launches.
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All 18 terms in a clean, printable PDF. Keep it to hand the next time someone quotes you for a website — or just when you want to know what on earth someone’s talking about.
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