Glossary of Internet terms: Emarketeers

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Above the fold

The section of a web page that is visible without scrolling.

Ad space

The space on a web page available for advertisements.

Affiliate marketing

A system of revenue sharing between an affiliate merchant website which displays an ad or content designed to drive traffic to another site - the advertiser. The affiliate merchant will receive a fee either based on the amount of traffic generated from that ad or content or by the action the visitor carried out after clicking on an ad (e.g. purchasing an item or signing up for a service).

Affiliate network

An affiliate network is handled by a number of 3rd part suppliers who composed of a group of merchants and affiliates. Merchants join the network and affiliates join the network in order to advertise the merchant products in exchange of a commission from the merchant. Affiliate networks present some great advantages for the merchant and the affiliate. The merchant gets potential access to a wide networks of affiliates. The affiliate does not necessarily need to make a certain sale amount for one particular merchant but rather for the entire range of merchants before getting paid. The affiliate also puts more trust in a network rather than a merchants independent affiliate program. The merchants pay the overall commission to the network. The network then distributes the money to each affiliate who made the sale.

Algorithm

A mathematical rule - or in the case of the internet - a set of rules used by a search engine to rank a website within its database. Good search engine optimisation relies web authors understanding search engine algorithms well enough to modify their website content or programming to gain better rankings within search engine results pages (SERPs).

ALT text

HTML attribute that provides alternative text when non-textual elements, typically images, cannot be displayed.

Animated GIF

A graphic in the GIF89a file format that creates the effect of animation by rotating through a series of static images.

Architecture

Website architecture is an approach to the design and planning of websites which, like architecture itself involves technical, aesthetic and functional criteria usually displayed in a single or combination of documents. As in traditional architecture, the focus is on the user and user requirements. This requires particular attention to web content, web design, usability and information architecture. Given the competition on the World Wide Web, search engine optimisation issues should be considered when planning website's architecture.

ASP or Active Server Pages

An abbreviation for Active Server Pages, a Microsoft technology enabling web developers to build dynamic or database driven websites usually based on VBScript language.