A blog is (contraction of the term “Web log”) is an online newsfeed, journal, or commentary on a specific topic. It is common both for individuals to blog about their personal lives and experiences, but also companies that are knowledgeable in a specific field will blog about it online—setting the company up as a resource for that industry.
Most blogs include such things as photography, video capability, and podcasting. Typically, people can comment and reply to another’s blog with a question or feedback. Blogs tend to be a more current resource as people update them frequently, sometimes daily.
[permalink] A Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) can be what applies the style for a webpage written in HTML. When we build a website, we have a specific design/look in mind. A CSS allows us to apply that look sitewide, keeping a consistent feel throughout the entire site - but this way you don't have to try to figure out what color is used here or there, or what font this page is, etc. The CSS applies all of those details for you.
*Note: Our tools are set up in such a way that you are easily able to override the CSS as there is a need to.
[permalink]Customer Relationship Management software is one of the easiest ways to manage and maintain your customer base. CRMs are used to manage customer calls, emails, contact information and depending on how extensive the CRM, much more.
[permalink]Domain names provide easily understood names related to Internet resources, such as www.websitename.com. These names tend to be, and should be, easily remembered and easily recognized. The DNS then translates the domain name into the IP address (the actual location of the website).
[permalink]A Domain Name Server or system, commonly referred to as a DNS, is a server system that directs Internet connections and handles the routing of email. A DNS houses a database of Internet host names and their locations, or IP addresses. If you call up a website, you will use something like www.websitename.com (which is referred to as the hostname), which the DNS then translates into the IP address—the actual location of the website, for example, 207.77.188.166. Essentially, a DNS is like a phone book for the Web.
[permalink]Downloading means to receive data from one system or network (typically another system) to a local system.
[permalink]eCommerce is the equivalent to buying and selling online. eCommerce has steadily increased, replacing normal buying and selling, in shops and stores. There are many solutions, depending on the level of selling that needs to occur, from selling one product, to selling thousands. eCommerce can be business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-consumer (B2C), for example like Amazon.
[permalink]Many companies send out monthly newsletters or quarterly updates on how things are going…some send out weekly specials and coupons. Email blasts like this are considered email marketing or email campaigns. There are many rules that need to be followed in order to prevent spamming your customers—such as how and when you send it, what’s included in it, links, HTML, how many people you send it to, etc. There are several online email management tools that will allow you to compile a database of emails to send the email from, such as Vertical Response, Constant Contact, and MailChimp.
[permalink]Facebook is a free social networking website allowing individuals to have a personal profile about themselves, while having people and groups they are friends with. Users can send personal and public messages to friends and groups, upload videos and photos of themselves (like a personal photo album), join networks and much more. Facebook gives its users an opportunity to connect with people from around the world and stay in touch. If you or your company is not yet on Facebook, visit the Facebook website to easily  create a free profile.
[permalink]Flash is one of the most common tools used to add interactivity, animation, and rotating content to a website, but it is also used in video games, movies, etc. Currently, Flash is developed by Adobe Systems. ActionScript (the programming language used) is used to create the effects, such as interactions, buttons, motion, 3D effects, etc. You can find Flash on many Cirrus websites, in the headers and throughout the sites.
[permalink]Unless you have your own servers to host your website, you will need a hosting provider to “host” your website on their servers. There are two types of hosting providers:
- Full-service: a full-service company handles all hosting responsibilities. They will purchase your domain name, manage DNS information, perform maintenance, and other services. Often, these companies offer a high level of customer service.
- Self Service: a self-service hosting provider offers the server space and other hardware for you to use, but instead of managing the technical information for you, provides administrative tools through the internet to allow you to manage your website information yourself. In a way, besides maintaining the hardware, you are acting as the hosting provider.
[permalink]HyperText Markup Language, more commonly referred to as HTML, is the markup language used on Cirrus Websites. It is the most commonly used markup language on the web. HTML uses tags within brackets throughout a given site to allow for specific elements, such as line breaks, font stylizing, images, forms, headings, paragraphs. HTML can load CSS and JavaScript.
[permalink]The Internet is a world-wide system of interconnected computer networks. There are millions of users on the Web, with predictions that by 2013 more than one-third of the world’s population will be online. These computer networks use the standard Internet Protocol Suite and are linked by a broad array of electronic and optical networking technologies. The Internet supports email and the World Wide Web (www), giving users access to unlimited information and knowledge.
[permalink]An Intranet site uses the same basic concepts as a normal Internet website, the difference is that an Intranet site is typically internal—or accessible only to internal users. This means the site is accessible only on a specific network, and for others, it is just a private website that users can only access if they have the proper credentials. Often, companies use this for internal information, news, training programs, private websites—company wide information that is not meant to be viewed by the public.
[permalink]JavaScript is a scripting language that allows for advanced user interfaces and dynamic websites. It was designed to look similar to Java, though it is not Java, and is supposed to be easier to use. It has become the most widely used programming language.
[permalink]Learning Management Systems, also known as LMS, are software programs, often virtual or online, that allow for companies, schools and organizations to have their lessons, classes, seminars, sessions, etc. online in one location, accessible to everyone. These programs are manageable, so certain employees may be tasked with a certain test, while managing results and outcomes.
[permalink]A lightbox, typically used in photo galleries (though can be utilized elsewhere), allows for a website to have many images organized on a page as small thumbnails. Upon clicking on a thumbnail, the image is expanded to full size. Cirrus ABS utilizes lightbox technology throughout most of the websites it creates.
[permalink]LinkedIn is a free social networking website, however, this differs from other social networking sites-- it is business oriented and less about the “social” aspect. Users create a professional profile, listing their qualifications, abilities, job history, contact information and resumes. Users are searchable based on their credentials and can adjust their desired privacy accordingly. A contact network can be built up of connections. Connections can be colleagues, family, friends, or employers, with several degrees of connection available (first, second and third). A second or third degree colleague (someone a first degree is connected to, but you yourself are not directly connected to) allows for easy introduction and networking opportunity. If you or your company is not on LinkedIn yet, visit the LinkedIn website to easily create a free profile. 
[permalink]MySpace is a free social networking website allowing individuals to have a personal profile about themselves, while having people and groups they are friends with. Users can send personal and public messages to friends and groups, upload videos and photos of themselves (like a personal photo album), join networks and much more. Myspace gives its users an opportunity to connect with people from around the world and stay in touch. Myspace’s popularity has been largely eclipsed with the fast growing Facebook. 
[permalink]NetCentered Marketing is a Web-driven strategy for tying all your marketing efforts together and enabling the most thorough, the most accurate assessment of their effectiveness. It's our brainchild, too, the culmination of years spent helping hundreds of companies put the Internet to best use in achieving their marketing goals. Old marketing media and methodologies are dying. The Internet's taking their place. And the whole field of marketing is being revolutionized in the process.
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