Terms You Need to Know for Writing Website Content: A Glossary

Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content and has gained 600K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.

Updated 4.25.24

When you’re writing website content, you need to know the lingo.

Mainly so that you ‘ll be able to write each element. But also so that you can work with a client, web designer, or simply speak with your web host to get problems solved.

Use this glossary to get familiar with website terms.

A Glossary for Writing Website Content

Banner

An image that can be oriented horizontally or vertically. A website banner is usually used for advertising or as an opt-in device.

Blog Post

An entry on your blog, which appears in reverse chronological order.

Call to Action

The content that tells your reader what you want them to do or the next step you want them to take. 

Content

Text, images, or multimedia that make up your website’s reader experience.

Drop-Down List

Also called a drop-down menu, a pull-down list, or simply “the drop down,” a drop down list is a list of links that appears when you click on a button or a text selection.

Footer area

The bottom section of a web page, usually part of your template. The footer is included on every page of the site.

Footer navigation

A menu or set of links at the bottom of the page that includes some repeat navigation from the main menu along with lesser-read pages, such as your privacy policy.

Header

An image placed at the top of your website that includes your name, logo, and tagline. Your header may also include social media icons, a search function, and a donate button. A header is usually part of your website template and is placed on every page of your website.

Hover Box

Also called “mouseover,” a hover box is a design function. A reader floats her computer mouse over the text or image, which triggers a link or pop up.

Lead Magnet

An incentive – usually a free report or download – that website owners offer to readers in exchange for their email address. Most opt-in boxes or online newsletter sign ups offer a lead magnet.

Logo

An image that identifies your brand, unique in color, font, style, and symbol.

Main Navigation

A menu or set of links that take you to key sections in the website – those areas that most readers access first. The main navigation (or primary navigation) is placed either horizontally across the top of the page or vertically along either the left or right sides.

Pop Up Box

A window that appears (“pops up”) when the reader selects text or presses a special key.

Secondary Navigation

A menu or set of links that takes the reader to less-used or less important pages on the site.

Sidebar

An extra piece of copy set apart from the main body of the site content, often in a box or a separate column. 

Slider/Carousel

A rotating website banner, made up of running slides. The terms “slider” and “carousel” are often used interchangeably, but designers assure me that there are some technical and visual differences.

Social Media Links

Buttons, text, or icons placed in your site header, sidebar, and/or footer that link the reader to your social media sites.

Tagline

A brief, catchy phrase that summarizes a brand and used to identify it on a variety of communications. (Use this worksheet to create a tagline for your website or blog.)

Thumbnails

Reduced-sized images that work like an index.  

---

More Writing Tips for Writing Websites

3 Simple Tips for Writing Better Web Pages ...

How To Create a Lead Magnet: A Simple Writing Formula ...

12 Tips for Writing Website Content That’s Easy to Read ...

The 3 Types of Links Your Website Needs and How to Build Them ...

The 6 Pages You MUST Have on Your Writing Website  ...

Top 10 Tips for Writing Websites ...

30 Niche Site Ideas ...

A Glossary for Website Terms: Internet Acronyms ...

A Copywriting Glossary for Websites: 10 Basic Terms ...

Review: Website Hosting with SBI (Solo Build It) ...

3 Things You Need for Planning a Website (or Updating One) ...

Make a P-L-A-N for Your Website Content Writing ...

Writing Content For a Website: Write These 3 Pages First ...

The Top Online Copywriting Tip ...

Nonprofit website tip: how to get your website noticed (a primer) ...

10 Writing Tips for Your Website About Page ...

How to Write a FAQ Page ...

3 Tips for Writing Homepage Content: A Quick Tutorial ...

The 4-letter word your nonprofit website needs ...

More Website Writing Tips on our Pinterest board ...

Return from Terms for Writing Website Content to Nonprofit Copywriter home

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Powered by SBI! Learn more here.