Demystifying Web Development: A Guide for Business Owners.

In the landscape of digital business, certain technical terms often arise that may leave the average business owner feeling a bit lost. Having worked with numerous clients, I've compiled a quick list to give a head start for the next time the conversation turns to revamping your website.

DNS (Domain Name System)

‍Technical Insight: Computers communicate using IP addresses, not human-friendly names. DNS plays a crucial role by translating your domain name (e.g., www.yourbusiness.com) into the IP address, enabling users to access your website.

‍Example: Without DNS, users would need to recall and enter IP addresses instead of easily memorable domain names. This will usually live somewhere like GoDaddy, Google Domains, Etc. Your DNS settings will "point" to wherever your website is hosted.

Website Hosting

‍Technical Insight: Hosting provides server space to store your website files. This server delivers files to users' browsers when they visit your site, ensuring your website is available 24/7.

‍Example: When someone types your domain, the hosting server sends the requested webpage to their browser, allowing them to view your site. This can be done through your website builder platform like Webflow or the many others that exist.

Maintenance

‍Technical Insight: Regular maintenance involves updating software, plugins, and security protocols to keep your website functional, secure, and compatible with the latest technologies. Example: Regular updates prevent vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers, maintaining the security of your website. It could also just be hourly updates to your site for content, E-commerce items, etc.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

‍Technical Insight: SEO optimizes your website's structure, content, and HTML code to rank higher on search engines. This includes keyword optimization, meta tags, and creating quality content.

‍Example: Effective SEO practices enhance your website's visibility, increasing the likelihood of appearing in search results when users search for your products or services.

Translation: Google looks around at sites out there that seem relevant to the search that was entered, so if your site has similar words to the search, it might rank better.

Responsive Design

‍Technical Insight: Responsive design uses flexible layouts and images to adapt to different screen sizes, ensuring a seamless user experience across devices.

‍Example: Without responsive design, websites might appear distorted or difficult to navigate on mobile devices, resulting in a poor user experience.

Translation how does it look on your phone vs. your desktop? What if you drag that desktop window smaller - does it change the layout of the site?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)

‍Technical Insight: SSL encrypts data exchanged between a user's browser and your website, safeguarding sensitive information from potential eavesdroppers or hackers.

‍Example: When a user enters personal information, SSL ensures this data is encrypted during transmission, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. Translation: if you don't have an SSL in place on your site, you'll probably get an error when you access the site. If you do, you won't have an error and you'll probably see a little lock up top by your domain name.

CMS (Content Management System)

‍Technical Insight: A CMS allows non-technical users to manage website content efficiently, separating design from content creation and enabling easy updates without coding skills.

‍Example: With a CMS like Webflow , users can add new pages, update content, and manage media without relying on a developer, streamlining the content creation process.

E-commerce

‍ Technical Insight: E-commerce platforms facilitate online transactions by managing product listings, cart functionality, and payment processing securely.

‍Example: Platforms like Shopify provide a secure environment for handling customer transactions, ensuring payment information is encrypted and transactions are processed smoothly.

Understanding these technical aspects empowers business owners to make informed decisions. If you have further questions or need assistance in navigating the digital realm, contact us at Square Waves. We're here to make the digital world feel more friendly and make your business look awesome online.

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