Glossary

Sometimes we talk in techo mumbo jumbo.

Here is your guide to some of the technical terms we mention throughout our website.

.htaccess (Hypertext Access): A webserver configuration file that specifies site-specific settings such as directory and file access.
Actionscript: The programming language used by Adobe Flash.
Advergame: A game solely built to promote or advertise a specific brand, product or event, usually built with Adobe Flash and delivered online.
Animation: The impression of movement created by a sequence of images or illustrations.
Bandwidth: The maximum amount of information that can be transmitted in a specified time period.
Brand: A brand is a name or symbol that is commonly known to identify a company or its products and separate them from the competition.
Branding: The process of creating the identity of a business or product. (see Graphic Design)
CGI (Common Gateway Interface): A program that results in an action based on a users input.
CGI-BIN: The most common name of a directory on a web server where CGI programs are stored.
Computer Platform: The hardware architecture of a computer system.
Content Management System: A database driven, dynamic website that provides the site owner with an administration area where website content (image & text) can be created, updated and deleted. QMG provides customised CMS development.
Conversion Tracking: When a click on your site leads directly to user behaviours that you deem valuable. Eg: Purchase, sign up, page view or enquiry. With conversion tracking you record when and where these actions happen. Also known as "Goals" in Google Analytics.
cPanel (Control Panel): A web based control panel designed for the end user to manage their hosting account, email accounts, FTP accounts and much more.
Cross-Platform: Also known as Multi-Platform. A computer software or web application that runs on several computer platforms e.g. Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X.
Digital Marketing: Promoting brands, products and services using the Internet, mobile and other interactive channels. (see Email Marketing or SMS Marketing)
e-Commerce: The buying and selling of goods and services over the internet.
Email Marketing: A form of direct marketing that uses email as a means of communicating promotional messages to an audience. (see Email Marketing)
Email template: An email template presents your clients and/or potential clients with a professional, visually appealing email.
Fantastico De Luxe: The leading auto-installer for cPanel servers.
(Adobe) Flash: Adobe Flash is a technology that enables animation, interactive games and other engaging features to be embedded in web pages.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol): A method used to transfer files from one computer to another over the Internet.
FTP Access: A username and password that allows you to manage your website files yourself using FTP.
Google AdWords: Google AdWords is an advertising product of Google that offers pay-per-click (PPC) advertising - also called Seach Engine Marketing (SEO). AdWords campaigns can be distributed in a local, national, and international network.
Google Analytics: Google Analytics is a free service offered by Google that generates detailed statistics about the visitors to a website.
Graphic Design: Graphic elements and text to create visual communication. Graphic Design services include the creation of logos, corporate branding, stationery, business cards, email templates, posters, brochures, flyers and other print advertising.
Hosting: Hosting is the term used to define where domain names, emails, website files & images are stored on a server. This server is usually located inside a Data Centre connected to the "World Wide Web". QMG Hosting is an Australian Hosting & Domain name provider.
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): The language used to display web pages, rendered by the web browser.
Information Architecture: The process of developing the information structure of a website or multimedia application.
Interactive: Digital media that allows user interaction. Interactive services include Flash applications, CD-ROM and game development and online banner advertising.
Interface: The design, text and images that are displayed on screen that allows the user to interact with the system.
IP Address (Internet Protocol Address): A unique identifier for a point or host connection on an IP network. The role of the IP address has also been characterised as follows: "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is. A route indicates how to get there."
Metadata: Metadata is structured data which describes the characteristics of a resource. Website pages may contain meta information that describes the contents and other properties of your website.
Microsites: A microsite (or a minisite) is an off-shoot of the main website. It generally contains expanded information from a link on the main site and enables you to focus audience attention on particular initiatives.
Modules: A module is an individual feature within a larger application. Regarding the QMGcms there are modules such as the 'File Manager' that allows you to upload/edit/delete files on to your website.
Multimedia: Information that combines the use of more than one form of media, i.e. text, graphics and sound etc.
MySQL Database Support: An open source relational database management system.
News Ticker: A news ticker is a space on a website that displays news headlines or buzz words. These words or phrases are usually animated and run across the screen.
Organic Listings: Also known as 'natural' listings. Are non-sponsored result listings in a search engines. These appear due to the relevance of search terms. The optimisation of a website for organic search results is called Search Engine Optimistaiton (SEO).
Perl 5: A dynamic programming language used for server side applications.
PHP (PHP Hypertext Preprocessor): A server based programming language to produce dynamic content.
PHPMyAdmin: An open source tool written in PHP intended to handle the administration of MySQL. It can perform various tasks such as creating, modifying or deleting databases, tables, fields or rows; executing SQL statements; or managing users and permissions.
POP3 Email account (Post Office Protocol): The most common method for retrieving emails, limited to one mailbox per account.
PPC (pay per click): An online advertising module where advertisers pay their host only when their ad is clicked. This model is mostly used in banner advertising on websites and Search Engine Marketing (SEM).
Programming Language: A code or language used for programming software.
Raster Graphics: An image composed of pixels or a matrix of dots. Raster graphics do not resize well. Also referred to as bitmap images.
SSL (Secure Socket Layer): A protocol for secure passage of data. It uses public key encryption, including digital certificates and digital signatures, to pass data between someone using a website and the web server.
SEM (Search Engine Marketing): The use of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) in combination of paid search engine advertising for increased search engine results.
SEO (Search Engine Optimisations): Search Engine Optimisation is the use of various techniques to optimise a website's ranking in the search engines and thus attract more visitors.
SQL (Structured Query Language): A database language designed for managing data in relational database management systems.
Style Guide: A reference manual of set standards for design. (see Graphic Design)
Sub-domain: A prefix to a domain name that can be used within its own right. e.g. office.qmg.com.au is a subdomain of qmg.com.au.
Vector Graphics: As opposed to raster graphics, vector graphics are composed of groups of coloured lines. Vector-based illustrations can be scaled indefinitely without degrading the quality of the image
Version Tracking: Creates a 'history' of all changes and updates made to the content, allowing reversion back to previous versions.
Webalizer: An application that generates detailed reports, charts and graphs about website visitors.
WYSIWYG: Pronounced "wiz-ee-wig". Acronym for "What You See Is What You Get". A term used to describe an application that enables the user to see the end results while editing.

Glossary

Glossary

Sometimes we talk in techo mumbo jumbo.

QMG