What the web words mean.

A reference for the vocabulary that shows up in any web project. If you heard one of these terms from us or anyone else and want to know what it actually means, it's here. Nothing in fine print, nothing in jargon. Ask us anything that isn't.

1. 01
   Admin Panel
   A control panel built into your site that lets you update content without touching code: edit a menu, change photos, add a promotion. Included in Tier 3.
2. 02
   Age Gate
   A verification screen that appears before a visitor can enter your site, requiring them to confirm they're of legal age. Required for certain business types (bars, dispensaries, tobacco retailers, and similar). Optional on any tier.
3. 03
   Analytics
   Data on who visits your site, where they came from, and what they do while they're there. Tier 2 includes a monthly traffic snapshot. Tier 3 includes a monthly analytics summary and quarterly SEO review.
4. 04
   Buyout
   A one-time payment to take the code out of our hosting and own it outright. Available from day one at a rate that decreases over time. Free after 24 consecutive months on a managed plan, account paid in full. Most clients who buy out hand the code to another developer or new agency; that's the typical path. Every buyout includes a 30-minute handoff call and a written guide so whoever picks up next can do so cleanly. To maintain the site yourself without a developer, you'd need either basic HTML skills or the owner admin panel included with Tier 3.
5. 05
   CMS (Content Management System)
   A control panel that lets non-technical owners update text, photos, and pages without touching code. The underlying system that powers the site's editable content.
6. 06
   Code Framework
   The underlying technical system your site is built on. Our builds use custom code, not a drag-and-drop website builder. That means no dependency on a third-party platform subscription to keep your site alive.
7. 07
   Domain
   Your web address: the part after “www.” You own it. We set it up and manage the settings, but it belongs to you regardless of what happens with the managed plan.
8. 08
   Email/SMS Capture
   A form or sign-up mechanism on your site that collects customer contact information you own. Not a third-party platform list. Your data, your CRM. Included in Tier 2 and 3.
9. 09
   Google Business Profile
   Your listing on Google Maps and Google Search: the card showing your hours, photos, directions, and reviews when someone searches for you. One of the most important assets for any business. We set it up or clean up what's already there.
10. 10
    Hosting
    The server space your site lives on so the internet can find it. We handle this on every tier.
11. 11
    Integration
    Connecting your website to a third-party service (a booking system, point-of-sale, payment processor, or CRM). Scope and cost vary by system. Discuss in the first conversation if you need one.
12. 12
    Local SEO
    The work that makes you findable when someone nearby searches for what you do. Includes setting up your Google Business Profile, adding schema markup, and keeping your business data accurate. Customers are 2.7× more likely to trust a business with a complete Google profile.Source · Google, 2024
13. 13
    Managed Website
    A website where the vendor handles hosting, security, updates, and maintenance on your behalf. You focus on your business; we handle the infrastructure.
14. 14
    POS Integration
    Connecting your website to a point-of-sale system (Square, Clover, Toast, Lightspeed, or similar) so menu items, prices, hours, or inventory stay in sync between your register and your site. Saves you from updating the same thing in two places. Scope and cost depend on which POS you use; we quote separately during the first call.
15. 15
    Privacy Policy + Terms of Service
    Legal pages required for any website that collects visitor data. The Privacy Policy explains what data you collect and how you use it. The Terms of Service sets the rules for using your site. We draft and include both in every build.
16. 16
    Responsive
    A site that adjusts automatically to any screen size (phone, tablet, or desktop). All our builds are mobile-first responsive.
17. 17
    Schema
    Code embedded in your site that tells Google specifically what your business is: address, hours, phone number, service area, and category. It helps you show up in map results and “near me” searches. 76% of “near me” searchers visit a related business within a day.Source · Google
18. 18
    SLA (Service-Level Agreement)
    The formal commitment for how fast we respond to and resolve issues. Our standard is replies within 48 hours on all tiers. Tier 3 includes a 2-business-day content update SLA.
19. 19
    SSL
    The security certificate that encrypts data between your site and your visitors. It's the padlock in the browser address bar. Required for Google trust signals and basic security. Included on every build.
20. 20
    24-Month Handoff
    After 24 consecutive months on a managed plan (paid in full), the code buyout fee is waived. The code transfers to you at no additional cost. Buyout is available at any point before that at a rate that decreases the longer you stay on the managed plan.