Parts of a Website Explained: Website Design Terms

There are many parts that contribute to building a complete website. From headers to sticky menus, blog posts, footers and sliders, web designers tend to use a lot of lingo and terminology. While you may not need to know what it takes to build a website, understanding website design terms helps you comprehend the basic structure. Total Web Company takes the time to explain these terms so you can be more educated when discussing a new website design project for your business.

Homepage

The homepage is the opening page, used as your main website URL. Depending on your goals, a website can contain a lot of information or a little. Keep in mind, a user doesn’t always land on your homepage first. Therefore, every page of your site should be on brand and direct visitors to take action.

The homepage is meant to:

• Welcome visitors
• Make it clear what your business offers
• Guide visitors further into the website

Slider

Sliders are also known as a slideshow, image rotator or swipe, all of which refer to a changing content area with different images & text for visuals and information. These are used to display sales, call to action, showcase services and more.

Header

The header is the very first thing visitors see on the website and it is the same on every page. This area may include some of the following:

• Logo
• Navigation menu
• Tagline
• Phone number
• Address
• Search box
• Social Media
• Login link

Navigation Menu

This website design term is part of the header and includes the most important links that take visitors to other parts of your website.

Primary/Secondary Navigation

The primary menu includes your main links (Products, Services, Shop, Contact Us). These are your high-value pages that lead clients to the most important pages of your site.

The secondary menu includes links that may not be as important, which includes the Login, My Account, Employment, etc.

Keep in mind, the navigation menu can include primary and secondary navigation menus.

Landing Pages

These are created specifically for SEO, marketing and advertising. It is where a visitor will land after they click the link from Google and other search engines. They are designed with a specific goal and used to convert traffic to qualified leads.

Blogs

A blog post is an article or guide that covers a specific topic. They’re beneficial to websites, because they drive organic traffic to the website, bring in attention from a new audience and promote content for social media.

Sidebar

The sidebar area is used to display information that’s not pertinent to the page’s main content. This portion of your site can include newsletter opt in, call to action, links to popular pages or recent blogs, social media or more.

Call to Action

Also known as CTA, this is used to entice visitors to take action. It is one of the most important parts of the website, because it guides visitors to convert from traffic to a lead.

Footer

Opposite to your header, the footer is the consistent area at the bottom of every page of your website. This can contain copyright information, contact information, contact form, newsletter opt in and more.