A |
Art file |
Before coding and optimizing the graphics for the Web, the website and/or its graphic elements are first designed in art files. Before we begin the programming and coding work of the website, we ask for your comments on the art files that will indicate the visual look of your website. After your final approval of the art files, we will proceed to the programming phase.
If your company has an existing logo and any graphics for our use, we may ask for these art files. Art files are typically in .ai, .eps, .tif, .psd, or .png format. |
B |
Backend Administration area |
A hidden secure area from your customers where you can login, review your website stats, view and edit user/customer accounts and adjust your Web site’s settings and dynamic content. A back-end interface can also be designed for easily updating and editing the content in your website by your staff that doesn’t have any HTML coding skills. |
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Brand |
Your company’s public identity that your consumers recognize and feel connected to. |
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Branding |
Branding is a process that is based on identifying your company’s unique message and mission and the demographics, consumer behavior and taste of your target audience.
Branding aims to create and highlight a unique identity and style for your company that differentiates and separates your company from your competition and leaves a memory mark in the consumer’s mindset.
The more the branding is based on the true value of your company’s products and services and real understanding of the needs and taste of your audience, the more likely it will establish consumer acceptance and loyalty. |
C |
Call to Action |
Call to Action is somewhat new terminology and refers to an information architecture and usability design that is SEO sensitive and conveys a highest possible action in the consumer visiting the website (visit/conversion rate). We often talk about "Call to Action" icons that guide visitors of the website to perceive the emphasized sections or information of the website, help them to navigate through all content and overall increase the rates for contacting and establishing a customer relationship. |
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CSS |
Cascading Style Sheets are used to place the formatting information of the website’s content and layout into one centralized file. With the use of CSS technology, the look of your website’s text, color and image content may be made to quick and easy to update by just adjusting one master file. The bigger the website your company has, the more robust and important proper CSS management is. |
D |
Database |
The use of a database allows information to be dynamically stored and retrieved for a customized experience. |
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Data-driven |
We call websites that utilize a database, data-driven websites. |
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Domain Name |
The .com/.net/.org based name which when associated with an IP address allows your website to be found on the World Wide Web. |
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dpi |
Resolution ("dots per inch") indicator for a JPG. You will come across the term "dpi" in association with buying stock photography. The dpi standard for the Web is 72 dpi. The dpi standard for print media is 300 dpi. |
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Dreamweaver |
An HTML program by Adobe. Used for custom coding a website. |
F |
Flash |
Interactive Web media, generally used for more image based websites. When you see images moving/animating on a website, it typically is Flash. "No Flash" or "a lot of Flash" is a question that should be determined based on the message your website wishes to convey, and type of audiences it aims to attract. |
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Flash Player plug-in |
A free software plug-in that needs to be installed on the user’s desktop for being able to view Flash media content in a website. According to Adobe, the maker of Flash software, about 98% of computers globally have a Flash Player plug-in installed on them. |
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Frontpage |
A simple HTML editing program often used by the general public. Microsoft Frontpage can be used by the client for editing text within an HTML coded website. Interaria doesn’t use Frontpage for website development purposes. |
G |
Getty Images |
A popular photo library used by professionals for buying rights-managed and royalty-free photos. Visit http://www.gettyimages.com |
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Graphics card |
Hardware installed in your computer that processes the viewable graphical elements on a Web page. A recent graphics card can process animated Flash content faster and more efficiently than an old computer with older graphics card. Therefore, the animation speed of any Flash animation slightly varies depending on the user’s computer hardware. |
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GIF |
An image file that contains less color information than a photo (JPEG). Due to this fact it is a suitable format for simple black and white graphics or graphics with only few colors. Due to less information in the file, a GIF file typically loads faster than a JPG. |
H |
HTML |
Hypertext Mark-up Language that is used to make a wide range of content on the Web viewable. On its own, HTML is not an interactive medium but its use is expanded by embedding Javascript or other dynamic scripts into an HTML page. HTML pages may access browser plug-ins such as the Flash Player Plug-in to bring them a greater level of interactivity. |
I |
IP address |
A number based address for your website. You receive this IP address with your Web host account. Your .com/.net/.org based domain name will be set to point to this address in order for your website to show up in WWW. |
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Istockphoto.com |
Royalty-free photo library where the price for photos start from $2. Photographers come from all over the world. Much recommended source for purchasing quality images without spending any extra. Visit http://www.istockphoto.com |
J |
JPEG or JPG |
Indicates that a file is an image, most likely a photo. |
K |
Keywords |
Keywords are the words most relevant to the subject matter of your website for which search engines such as Google index their search results. |
L |
Loading time |
The time it takes for your website to load up. Three factors that contribute to loading time are
- Kilobyte size of your Web pages
- Visitor’s Internet connection speed, and
- Your Web host’s server and connection speed
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M |
Meta-tags |
Meta-tags are added to your website for the use of visiting search engines robots (searchbots, Googlebots) so that they can index your website in their search results. |
R |
Resolution |
Different computer screens are set to different resolutions, making a website appear in some screens very large and on others more compact. This means that websites that are designed with a wide width, may look wonderful on more recent higher resolution computer screens but somewhat cropped in older computer screens. Likewise, a narrow website may visually come across as too narrow or tiny when viewed on a new higher resolution screen.
The decision for optimal pixel dimensions for a website is determined by several factors such as the overall visual goals and impact for the website, the nature of virtual lifestyle exclusiveness vs. informational democracy, the age of the target audience’s computer hardware and software and the audience’s ability and willingness to modify the computer’s resolution settings. The recommended resolution for a website typically varies between 780 pixels wide to 1260 pixels wide (allowing 20 pixel margin for a scroll bar if needed), but a greater variety exists for a purpose of virtual art media. |
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Rights managed |
Refers to a photo or other art file of which price depends on its intended use and time period for use. Rights managed photos are more expensive than royalty free photos but due to a higher price they more likely to be less used by your competition or reference groups. |
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Royalty free |
Refers to a photo or other art file that you can use freely upon its purchase. Royalty free stock photos are a cost-effective way to increase visual elements in your website. |
S |
SEO |
Search Engine Optimization is the process by which a website is optimized for certain keywords or keyword combinations in order for the website to receive a higher ranking in search results for these keywords. |
W |
Web Host |
A Web host is the company from which you purchase/rent your Web hosting account, the location where your website will physically reside. |
X |
XHTML |
Extensible HTML files split the content and the formatting/layout between the HTML files (for the content) and the CSS file for governing the websie’s formatting/layout. |
