Just Enough Tech Knowledge to Sound Smart
Good news: You don't need to become a developer to be a great partner. But knowing a few basic terms will help you sound confident and answer questions on the spot.
Let's break down the essentials — no computer science degree required.
🌐 Domain — Your Address on the Internet
A domain is like your street address, but online. It's what people type to find you.
Examples:
- google.com
- amazon.com
- yourbusiness.com
How to explain it: "Your domain is your online address. It's what people type in their browser to find you."
Fun fact: Domains typically cost $10-20/year. If someone says their current web person is charging way more, that's a red flag.
☁️ Hosting — Where Your Website Lives
Hosting is like renting space for your website. Think of it as a folder in the cloud where all your website files are stored.
When someone visits your domain, the hosting server sends them your website. It's on 24/7 so people can always access your site.
How to explain it: "Hosting is where your website files live — like renting a storage unit in the cloud."
NWG hosting: Included in the website build and managed by Joe. Clients don't have to think about it.
🔒 SSL Certificate — The Padlock
You know the little padlock in your browser next to the URL? That's SSL.
It means:
- The connection between you and the website is encrypted (secure)
- Data like passwords and credit cards are protected
- Google trusts the site more (better for SEO)
How to explain it: "SSL is the padlock that tells visitors the site is secure. It's especially important if you take payments or have contact forms."
NWG: SSL is included with every website. No extra charge.
📈 SEO — Getting Found on Google
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It's the art and science of getting your website to show up when people search for things related to your business.
If someone searches "plumber in Houston" and your plumbing business shows up on page 1 — that's good SEO.
We have a whole article on this ("SEO Explained Like You're 5"), but the short version: More content + good code = better rankings.
💻 CMS vs Custom Code
A CMS (Content Management System) is software that helps manage website content. WordPress is the most famous one.
The difference:
| CMS (WordPress, Wix, Squarespace) | Custom Code (NWG's Approach) |
|---|---|
| Uses templates and plugins | Built from scratch |
| Can be bloated and slow | Lean and fast |
| Security vulnerabilities from plugins | More secure (no third-party plugins) |
| Limited to template capabilities | Can do anything you need |
Analogy: CMS is like buying clothes off the rack. Custom code is like having clothes tailored specifically for you.
🏪 The Digital Storefront Analogy
Here's a way to explain websites that clicks with business owners:
"Your website is your digital storefront. It's often the first impression people get of your business. Would you want your physical store to look outdated, take forever to open the door, and not show up on the map? That's what a bad website does to your online presence."
This helps non-tech people understand why websites matter without getting into technical details.
What Clients Actually Care About
Most business owners don't care about code or servers. Here's what they DO care about:
- Speed — Does the site load fast? (Slow sites lose visitors)
- Looking professional — Does it make their business look good?
- Being found — Can customers find them on Google?
- Working on phones — Most people browse on mobile now
- Easy to update — Can they (or Joe) make changes easily?
When you talk about NWG, focus on these outcomes rather than technical features.
Quick Glossary
Bookmark this for quick reference:
- Domain — Your web address (yourbusiness.com)
- Hosting — Where your site files live
- SSL — Security certificate (the padlock)
- SEO — Getting found on Google
- CMS — Software for managing content (WordPress, Wix)
- Mobile-responsive — Looks good on phones
- Analytics — Data about who visits your site
- Traffic — The number of people visiting your site
You're now tech-literate enough for any conversation. Up next: "Why Custom Code Beats Templates" — the deeper dive on why NWG's approach wins.