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404 page
The page that appears when something has gone wrong. Usually because a subpage has been deleted, renamed, or moved. In the best-case scenario, you'll receive a friendly explanation and a clear way back...
More on page 404A / B Testing
A/B testing is a method in web design and SEO where two versions of a website or element (e.g., buttons, headings) are compared to see which performs better. Users will…
More about A/B testingAbove the Fold
Above the fold refers to the upper portion of a website that is visible without scrolling, inspired by the top of a folded newspaper. It is crucial in web design and SEO because it represents the first…
More about Above the FoldAccessibility
Accessibility in web design ensures that websites are usable for people with disabilities, e.g. through screen reader compatibility, contrast ratios and keyboard navigation…
More on accessibilityAJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML)
AJAX is a web design technique that enables asynchronous data transfer without reloading the entire page, for interactive applications such as dynamic forms or live searches. It combines…
More about AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML)Algorithm
In the context of SEO, an algorithm refers to the complex formulas that search engines like Google use to index, evaluate, and rank websites in search results. Important updates such as…
More about the algorithmalt Text
Alt text (alternative text) is a description for images in HTML that helps screen readers and is displayed when images fail. It's essential in web design and SEO for accessibility and ranking because…
More about Alt Textalt attribute
The alt attribute contains a text description for an image. It is read aloud when someone uses a screen reader and displayed when the image fails to load. Search engines use it to understand the image content…
More about the alt attributeAMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages)
AMP is an open-source framework from Google for fast, mobile-optimized websites that uses simplified HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to minimize loading times. In SEO, it prioritizes AMP pages on mobile devices…
More about AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages)Analytics
Analytics refers to tools like Google Analytics that collect and analyze data on website traffic, user behavior, and conversions. It's indispensable in SEO and web design for making optimizations…
More about AnalyticsAnchor Text
Anchor text is the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink that describes to users and search engines what the link points to. In SEO, it is crucial for backlink quality and ranking because it is relevant…
More about Anchor TextApache Webserver
The Apache HTTP Server (or simply Apache Web Server) is free, open-source software for serving websites and other content via the HTTP/HTTPS protocol. Developed by Apache Software…
More about Apache web serversAPI (Application Programming Interface)
An API is a set of rules and protocols that allow applications to communicate with each other, for example, to retrieve data from external services like Google Maps in web design. In hosting and SEO…
More about API (Application Programming Interface)Backend
The engine room of your website. Here you manage content, change settings, and create new pages. Not as pretty as the frontend your visitors see, but nothing happens without the backend. The…
More about backendBacklinks
A backlink is a link from another website that points to your own site, and has been one of the most important external ranking signals since the beginning of search engine optimization. Search engines…
More about backlinksBackup
A backup is a copy of your website that allows you to restore files and databases to a previous state if something goes wrong. A full backup saves the entire…
More about backupBackup Strategy
A backup strategy answers three questions: What is backed up, how often, and where. For websites, this means backing up files and the database together, because a database without the corresponding files is…
More on backup strategyBandwidth
Bandwidth refers to the data transfer rate of a server or network, measured in bits per second, which determines the amount of traffic a website can handle. In hosting, it is…
More about BandwidthAccessibility
Accessibility means that people with disabilities can use a website: with a screen reader, without a mouse, with enlarged font, or with color vision deficiencies. The technical criteria for this are…
More about accessibilityBlack Hat SEO
Black hat SEO encompasses manipulative techniques to improve search engine rankings, such as keyword stuffing or cloaking, which violate guidelines and can lead to penalties. Unlike white hat SEO…
More on Black Hat SEOBlog
A blog is a website or section that contains regularly updated posts in reverse chronological order, often on topics such as news or tutorials. In web design, it enables interactive…
More about the blogBootstrap
Bootstrap is a free, responsive CSS framework for web design that offers predefined components such as grids, buttons, and navigation to quickly create mobile-friendly sites. It supports…
More about BootstrapBoots
A bot (e.g., crawler or web bot) is an automated program that searches, indexes, or interacts with websites, like Google's Googlebot for SEO. In hosting, servers must handle bots to…
More about BotBounce Rate
The bounce rate is the percentage of visitors who leave a website after viewing only one page, without any further interaction. In SEO and analytics, it's an indicator of content quality and web design…
More about bounce rateBroken link
A broken link is a hyperlink that leads to a non-existent or inaccessible page, often displaying a 404 error. In SEO, it harms user experience and rankings because search engines penalize broken links…
More about Broken LinkBrowser Compatibility
Browser compatibility ensures that a website is displayed and functions consistently across different browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. In web design, this involves cross-browser testing and…
More about browser compatibilitycache
A cache is a temporary storage area that holds previously generated content from a website so that it doesn't have to be recalculated on the next request. On the first request for a page, the server generates…
More about cacheCall to Action (CTA)
The short text in a button or link that tells you what should happen next. For example, request a project, book an appointment, or start an SEO check. A good CTA is specific, action-oriented, and…
More about Call to Action (CTA)Canonical Day
The canonical tag is a line in the header of a page that tells search engines which URL should be considered authoritative. It solves a problem that almost every website has: the same content is available under multiple URLs…
More about Canonical TagCDN (Content Delivery Network)
A network of many servers worldwide. It stores parts of your website, such as images and scripts, in different locations. If someone accesses your site from far away, the data comes from the nearest server…
More about CDN (Content Delivery Network)CMS (Content Management System)
The system behind your website, allowing you to manage content yourself without touching any code. You log in, write text, upload images, click publish, and you're done. WordPress and…
More about CMS (Content Management System)Content Delivery Network
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of servers in many locations that holds copies of your static files. When someone visits your site, images, fonts, and scripts are retrieved from the nearest server…
More about Content Delivery NetworkContent Strategy
The underlying plan is what content you publish, where, and why. It's not about writing as much as possible, but about writing the right thing for the right target audience. A content strategy takes into account…
More on content strategyConversion
The moment a visitor takes a measurable action. Exactly what your website should achieve. For example, a contact request, an online appointment, a purchase in the shop, or a newsletter subscription…
More about conversionCore Web Vitals
Core Web Vitals are three metrics that Google uses to describe how fast and stable a website feels to real visitors. Unlike previous metrics, they aren't measured in a lab, but rather on…
More about Core Web Vitalscrawler
Automated programs from search engines, like little robots, roam the web. They visit your website, read content, follow links, and report everything back to Google, Bing, and others. This is how your…
More about Crawlercronjob
A cron job is a task that the server automatically executes at set times, for example, every night at 3 a.m. Typical uses include backups, sending newsletters, cleaning up old data, etc.
More about cron jobsDashboard
A dashboard is a central user interface in CMS or analytics tools that provides overviews of metrics such as traffic, performance, or content. In web design and SEO, it facilitates monitoring…
More about DashboardDatabase
A database is a structured collection of data used for websites, e.g., MySQL for content, users, or products. Essential in hosting for dynamic sites, and in web design and SEO for…
More about DatabaseDatabase Optimization
The database is the memory of your website. Every text, every setting, every comment is stored there. Over the years, it accumulates clutter that is read with every request. The usual…
More about database optimizationDDoS (Distributed Denial of Service)
DDoS is an attack in which a website is overwhelmed with massive traffic from many sources to make it inaccessible. In hosting, it requires protective measures such as firewalls; in SEO, it is detrimental…
More about DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service)Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated hosting means that you have an entire physical server exclusively at your disposal, without other customers sharing resources with you. Unlike shared hosting or a VPS, it runs…
More about Dedicated Hostingdeep link
A deep link is a hyperlink that leads directly to a subpage or specific content on a website, instead of the homepage. In SEO, it improves indexing and user experience; in web design…
More about Deep LinkDisavow tool
The Disavow Tool is a Google tool in Search Console that allows you to reject harmful backlinks to avoid penalties. It's crucial in SEO for link cleaning after…
More about Disavow ToolDivi
A visual page builder for WordPress. Instead of working with code, you build pages using drag-and-drop and see the result instantly. Divi comes with many ready-made modules and layouts…
More about DiviDomain Name System (DNS)
The internet's phone book. It translates readable addresses like www.your-website.de into IP addresses that computers understand. Without DNS, you'd have to remember strings of numbers for every website. If you want to register your domain…
More about DNS (Domain Name System)Domain
Your website's address on the internet, like your digital street address. For example, genloc-network.de. It consists of a name and a domain extension. People, search engines, and others can find you at this address…
More about the domaindomain authority
Domain Authority (DA) is a metric developed by the software company Moz, on a scale of 0 to 100, that assesses how well a domain can rank in search results. A machine learning model…
More about Domain AuthorityDuplicate Content
Duplicate content refers to identical or nearly identical content that is accessible under multiple URLs, either on the same domain or on different websites. Duplicate content often arises…
More about duplicate contentEAT (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
EAT is a Google SEO evaluation criterion that measures the quality of web content. It stands for Expertise (the author's specialist knowledge), Authoritativeness (the source's authority), and Trustworthiness…
More about EAT (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)E-commerce
E-commerce refers to electronic commerce, where products or services are bought and sold over the internet. In web design, it includes the creation of online shops with features such as…
More about e-commerceEEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
EEAT is an extension of the EAT concept in SEO that additionally considers the personal experience of the content creator. It helps search engines like Google determine relevance and…
More about EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)Email Marketing
Email marketing is a digital marketing strategy that uses emails to inform, advertise to, or retain customers, for example through newsletters, offers, or automated campaigns. In the SEO context…
More about email marketingE-Store
E-store is short for electronic store and refers to an online platform for selling goods or services. In web design, it focuses on user-friendly elements such as…
More about the e-storeReal-time search
Real-time search is a search function that integrates and displays current data such as social media posts, news, or updates in real time. It is useful for SEO with trending topics and requires hosting…
More about real-time searchEditor
An editor is a software tool for editing code, text, or content, such as HTML, CSS, or CMS content in web design. Well-known examples include Visual Studio Code or integrated editors in…
More about the editorElementor
Elementor is a page builder plugin for WordPress that enables drag-and-drop website design. It supports responsive designs, widgets for elements such as forms or galleries, and integrations…
More about ElementorEngagement rate
The engagement rate is the percentage of interactions (e.g., clicks, shares) relative to impressions or reach. It serves as a key metric in SEO and marketing to measure the effectiveness of…
More on engagement rateResponsiveness
Availability describes the state in which a website is online and accessible at all times, without outages or downtime. It is essential in hosting, as interruptions harm SEO rankings and negatively impact users…
More on accessibilityExit Pages
Exit pages are the last pages a user visits before leaving a website and are analyzed in analytics tools. In SEO, they help identify weaknesses in web design, e.g.,…
More about Exit PagesExternal Links
External links are hyperlinks that lead from a website to external domains and link to external content. In SEO, they are important for backlink building and authority, but they should lead to trustworthy websites…
More about External LinksEye-Tracking
Eye-tracking is a method that tracks users' eye movements on websites to analyze attention patterns. In web design, it optimizes UI/UX, for example through heatmaps, and supports SEO through…
More about eye trackingFail2Ban
Fail2Ban is free server security software that monitors log files and automatically bans IP addresses after repeated failed login attempts (e.g., SSH, Apache) to…
More about Fail2BanFailover operation
A security concept with at least two systems. If one server fails, a second one automatically takes over. The website remains online, and ideally, visitors don't notice anything. Failover is important for projects…
More about failover operationFavicon
A favicon (favorite icon) is a small icon that represents websites and is displayed in browser tabs, bookmarks, or address bars. In web design, it helps with brand identification and usability…
More about faviconsFeatured Snippet
A featured snippet is a highlighted section of a webpage that Google displays above the regular search results and that directly answers a search query. Google automatically selects a page…
More about the Featured SnippetFirewall
A firewall is a security system that filters data traffic to and from a website according to predefined rules and blocks malicious access before it can cause damage. For websites, it is particularly important for…
More about firewallsFlat Design
Flat design is a minimalist design style in web design that relies on simple shapes, flat colors, and clean typography, without shadows or gradients. It improves loading times and responsiveness; in…
More about flat designflexbox
Flexbox (Flexible Box Layout) is a CSS module for one-dimensional layout that flexibly arranges elements in rows or columns, ideal for responsive designs. In web design, it simplifies alignment and…
More about FlexboxFramework
A framework is a collection of libraries and tools for web development that provides structure for code, e.g., Bootstrap for CSS or React for JavaScript. In web design and hosting, it simplifies…
More about the frameworkFrontend
The visible part of your website, meaning what visitors see and use in their browser. This is where design, text, images, forms, and navigation all come together. Everything you change in the backend is reflected in the…
More about the frontendFTP (File Transfer Protocol)
FTP is a protocol for transferring files between computers over a network, for example, for uploading websites to servers. It's essential for file management in hosting, but insecure without it…
More about FTP (File Transfer Protocol)Funnel (Marketing Funnel)
The marketing funnel is a model of the customer journey that describes phases from awareness to loyalty to guide purchases. In SEO and web design, it optimizes content for each stage, e.g., top-level funnel (TOFU) with keywords…
More about Funnel (Marketing Funnel)GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)
GEO stands for Generative Engine Optimization and refers to the optimization of content for being quoted in responses from AI systems such as ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, or Gemini. While…
More about GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free tool that shows you how Google sees your website. Unlike analytics tools, it doesn't measure your visitors' behavior, but rather your visibility in…
More about Google Search ConsoleHosting
The place where your website technically resides. All files and databases are located on a server that is connected to the internet 24/7. Without hosting, your website is built, but…
More about hostinghreflang
The hreflang attribute is a technical tag in the HTML code that tells search engines which language or country version of a page belongs to which target group. Each language version of a website…
More about hreflangIndexing
Indexing means that Google has read, evaluated, and added a page to its database. Only then can it appear in search results. Being found and being indexed are…
More about indexingInternal linking
Internal links connect pages within the same website. They guide visitors and show search engines which pages belong together and which are important. Unlike backlinks, you have complete control over them…
More about internal linkingKeyword Research
The systematic search for terms that your target audience actually enters into search engines. These are often different words than the internal technical terms used within the company. Keyword research is the foundation for…
More on keyword researchKeyword cannibalization
Cannibalization occurs when multiple pages of the same website target the same search term and intent. Google then has to choose which page to display and often switches between them. Instead of…
More on keyword cannibalizationCharging time
Loading time is not a single value, but a chain of events. Between the click and the fully usable page, there is name resolution, server response, data transfer, rendering, and the execution of…
More on charging timeLanding Page
A single page with a clear purpose. It has one main goal, for example, to gather contacts, promote an event, or sell a product. Everything else takes a back seat. Usually, there is a reduced…
More about the landing pageLazy Loading
Lazy loading means that images, videos, and embedded content are only loaded when they come into view. The browser only retrieves what is actually visible when the page is being loaded.
More about lazy loadingLiteSpeed Server
A web server software that delivers content significantly faster than traditional Apache servers. Especially when used with WordPress, LiteSpeed ensures noticeably shorter loading times. Modern protocols and…
More about LiteSpeed ServerLocal SEO
Local SEO encompasses all measures that help a company become visible in regionally relevant searches. This includes queries like "internet agency Düsseldorf," but also anything else that Google considers location-based…
More about Local SEOmanaged hosting
With managed hosting, you're not just renting storage space, but also the support. The provider takes care of server maintenance, security updates, backups, and monitoring; you take care of your…
More about Managed HostingMeta Description
The short description that appears below the page title in search results. It explains in one or two sentences what the page is about and is intended to entice users to click. The meta description determines…
More about Meta DescriptionsMetaTitles
The meta title is the title that Google displays as a clickable heading in the search results. It appears in the header of the page and is not the same as the H1 heading, which visitors see on the page itself…
More about Meta TitleMonitoring
Monitoring is the ongoing, automated monitoring of a website or server, reporting outages, errors, and performance issues before visitors notice them. A monitoring system accesses the website…
More about monitoringNofollow link
A nofollow link is a hyperlink marked with the attribute "rel nofollow," signaling to search engines that the recommendation should not be treated like a normal link. Google…
More about nofollow linksOn-page optimization
All SEO measures that take place directly on your website. This includes a clean structure, meaningful internal linking, optimized headings and texts, specific meta data, images with alt text, and…
More about on-page optimizationOrganic traffic
Visits that come from organic search results, not from ads. Essentially, online foot traffic that finds your website because it's relevant, not because you paid for the click…
More about organic trafficPlugin
A WordPress extension that adds extra features to your website. For example, contact forms, online stores, image galleries, SEO tools, or security modules. Plugins are practical because you…
More about the pluginRankMath Pro
An SEO plugin for WordPress that helps you optimize your content for search engines. RankMath Pro assists you with titles and meta descriptions, shows you which keywords you're using and where, and helps with…
More about RankMath ProRedirect
Automatic redirection from an old address to a new one. This signals to browsers and search engines, "This page has moved, please go this way." This is important after relaunches or…
More about redirect (forwarding)Redirect 301
A 301 redirect tells browsers and search engines that an address has permanently moved. Unlike a 302 redirect, which only signals a temporary move, it transmits the established ranking…
More about Redirect 301Responsive design
A design approach that ensures your website looks great and remains usable on smartphones, tablets, and desktops. Content automatically adapts to the screen width. Text remains legible, buttons…
More about Responsive DesignRobots.txt
A small text file in your website's root directory. It tells search engine crawlers which areas they should crawl and which they shouldn't. Essentially, it's your house rules for automated visitors…
More about Robots.txtSAN storage (Storage Area Network)
A professional-grade storage system. Multiple hard drives and components work together to store data quickly and reliably. If one component fails, others take over. SAN systems are becoming increasingly common…
More about SAN storage (Storage Area Network)SERP
SERP stands for Search Engine Results Page, the page displaying search results. The term is often used as if it simply meant a list of blue links. That was once the case. Today, it's more like…
More about SERPsecurity breach
A security vulnerability is a flaw in software that allows someone to gain unauthorized access. In WordPress sites, most vulnerabilities don't originate in the core, which is generally considered robust…
More on the security vulnerabilitySitemap
A structured list of the most important pages of your website, usually in XML format. Search engines use the sitemap to find all of your content and better understand how your website is structured.
More about the sitemapSSL Certificate
A digital certificate that encrypts the connection between your browser and the server. You can recognize it in your browser by the padlock symbol next to the address. It ensures that form data, logins, and other information are transmitted securely.
More about SSL certificatesStaging environment
A staging environment is a complete copy of your website on a separate address, usually protected and blocked from search engines. Updates, new features, and redesigns are tested there before being rolled out.
More about the staging environmentstructured data
Structured data is machine-readable information embedded in the source code. It tells search engines not only that there is text on your page, but also what it means: This is…
More about Structured DataSearch intention
Search intent describes what someone actually wants to achieve with a search query. The same words can mean completely different things: Someone searching for hosting prices wants to compare, someone searching for hosting migration…
More about search intentTheme
The design framework of a WordPress website. It determines how pages look and are structured, which fonts, colors, and layouts are used. Content and technical aspects remain separate. A good…
More on this themeTraffic
Visits to your website, measured in terms of page views, sessions, or unique visitors. Traffic can come from search engines, ads, social media, backlinks, or direct visits…
More about trafficTTFB (Time to First Byte)
TTFB stands for Time to First Byte and measures the time between the browser's request and the first byte sent back by the server. This value doesn't describe how quickly your page loads…
More about TTFB (Time to First Byte)TYPO3
A content management system for large and complex websites. Particularly suitable when many editors are involved, multiple languages are used, or finely graduated rights and workflows are required…
More about TYPO3Uptime
Uptime refers to the percentage of time a website is accessible. Almost every hosting provider advertises with an impressive-looking figure. But when you convert it to downtime, it looks much more promising…
More about uptimeVPS Hosting
A VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a virtual server that allocates you dedicated resources such as CPU cores, RAM, and storage space on a physical server. Technically, they share…
More about VPS hostingWebP
WebP is an image format from Google that produces significantly smaller files than JPEG or PNG while maintaining the same visible quality. In practice, savings of 25 to 35 percent are common, especially for graphics with few…
More about WebPwebspace
Web space is the storage space that a hosting provider rents you on a server. This is where your website's files are stored: program code, images, videos, documents. The database containing your content is technically located…
More about web spaceWireframes
Schematic designs of your website without any graphic elements. Only boxes, lines, and placeholders show where navigation, content, images, and buttons will later be located. Wireframes clarify the structure and user flow before anything else is discussed…
More about wireframesWordpress
A very widespread content management system that powers a large proportion of all websites worldwide. Originally developed for blogs, it is now flexible enough for company websites, magazines, and much more…
More about WordPressWPML
A very popular plugin that lets you build multilingual WordPress websites. WPML ensures that pages, posts, menus, and taxonomies are cleanly manageable in multiple languages. You can…
More about WPMLFrequently asked Questions.
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