INTERNET TERMINOLOGY
Our Terminology Page provides a quick reference guide to some of the terms used in the industry. This page is not designed to replace detailed information and we encourage users to seek further information if they wish.
The Internet is a collection of 13 servers placed around the planet to hold lists of web sites. All web sites have to be listed with a search engine to be able to be found.
Search Engines hold a list of web site addresses. They are kept updated by either Google or Yahoo. These lists are independent of each other so a Google powered search engine may result in finding different listings from a Yahoo powered search engine.
URL Stands For Universal Resource Locator, which is the address that tells a web browser where to find a web page. For more information on urls use this link.
ISP Stands For Internet Service Provider. An ISP ensures that you can connect to the Internet from your computer. Each ISP have their own configuration settings. You can view and compare various ISP's in Australia here.
E-mail Accounts will need to be configured (set up) on your computer to be able to send and receive email. Most providers have a start up disk or downloadable file containing the settings needed for your email program to work. An ISP will give you at least one email account included with your internet access package.
Email Programs are used by your computer to send or receives email messages. Outlook is a well
Free Email Accounts differ to ISP email accounts. To have a free email account you do not need to own a computer. You just need to use one to access the internet and collect your mail. You can use public computers at library's and internet cafe's or a work computer. Some popular FREE email providers are;
Hotmail supplied by Microsoft or alternatively
Windows Live if you want access to Xbox and other content apart from E-mails.
Gmail supplied by Google
A Web Browser is a program that displays web pages on your computer. You are using a web browser to view this page now. There are several web browsers on the market and all are free. The main browsers can be downloaded from the following links
Firefox highly recommended by us.
Opera another leading independant browser
Safari originally a Mac only browser
Internet Explorer originally a PC only browser.
DOMAIN NAMES
A Domain Name is the internet equivilant to a registered trading name for a business. It does not have to be exactly the same as your business nname. A business can also own more than one domain name. A domain name has to be purchased from an authorized reseller. In Australia any business wishing to purchase a domain name must hold a current ABN or ACN number. A domain name is checked against a registry to ensure no two businesses have the same domain name. All requests are forwarded to the Australian Domain Name Administrator for approval.
Domain Name Registrations take between 1 to 2 days on average to be cofirmed by the Australian Domain Name Administrator. This site lists the 27 national tear 1 resellers in Australia. These resellers are the ONLY ones that can register a domain name, whether it is for business or private use.
Your Domain Name Registration is a legal document. It should be kept secure and the information checked by you when you receive it. YOU should be listed as the site owner, a practice we do on your behalf. Be aware that only the owner listed on the registration can move, redirect or make any changes to the web site.
Parking Domains is a term used to describe the status of a domain name. A parked domain is one that owned by a person or business but not currently being hosted on a web server.
Domain Forwarding is the term to describe the redirection of enquiries to a web page. If you move your site to a new hosting company, or have a web site built by a company different to the one who registered your domain name a redirection to takes place. This only lasts for the remainder of the current two year registration period. After which the search engines are updated with the current details.
Selling A Domain Name is possible in Australia. If you own a domain name that is currently parked or in use you can sell it to another company or person. After the sale a domain forwarding would need to be set up if you wanted to use the domain name.
SEARCH ENGINES
Search Engine Optimisation can only be undertaken when a web site is completed. SEO is undertaken to encourage a search engine to look at the site and record details about its contents. It is the results of this searching that determines a web site ranking.
Web Site Ranking is the purpose of web sites optimisation. The process is not an exact science and Designs of Distinction comply with a code of conduct when undertaking any SEO work. Positive results from correct SEO implementation can take several months to fully impact on a web site ranking.
Web Site Traffic is the term used to describe the number of visitors or hits a web site receives in a given time period. A calendar month is the most common time frame. The number of visitors a web site receives is the most important ranking tool used by search engines. Any site that does not list in the first three pages of a search result will generally receive little traffic.
Link Farms are typically run by businesses trying to promote your site higher up a search engines ranking system. These companies try to bolster a web site by attracting traffic to the site from other sites in their lists. Fees vary for this service. Both Google and Yahoo frown on the use of link farms. If your site is associated with a link farm it can be black listed and removed from the search engine database. If your site is black listed it is very difficult to recover from the potential damaging loss of traffic that will ultimatly ensue. Only by entering your specific URL into a brower will anyone be able to view your web site.
Finally any good web designer will be able to create a web site and correctly undertake SEO. If all is done according to Google and Yahoo's policies your site will rank well. The most important ranking system used by any search engine is the amount of traffic that visits the site. If the site is built to provide your clients with a reason to visit the site and is easy to navigate and use you will see a steady increase in traffic to your site, with a corresponding improvment in your sites ranking.
