News
Tech Terms for the Technically Disinclined
August 30, 2012
Technically, you don’t have to be a tech head to keep up with the technology behind your website, online and mobile marketing and sales. But it does help to know a few terms. That way, when a professional peer says,
“I was building a prototype with a wireframe, and some scope creep told me it was a minimal viable product. He said I needed more agile project management and modular programming to regain my version control. So, I started scaling my content management system, vertically AND horizontally. UX, I mean ugh. What a project,”
You can say, “Nice try, you have no idea what you are talking about either.”
Entrepreneur does a nice job of defining the terms we just mentioned—and they are relevant for online publishers—because they have a lot to do with successful content and project management.
With a little preparation, you’ll be making informed decisions about website development and design, user experience, audience engagement, mobile applications, and flexibility and scalability; all features that help ensure greater readership and revenue generation through online content.
When you think about a CMS, don’t think of it just as
“A password-protected software system that provides tools to create and manage website content and doesn't require any knowledge of programming languages.”
Think of it as your central tool for disseminating a diverse cache of content in a timely and dynamic fashion. Not all Content Management Systems are created equal. Look for one that not only makes it easy for your least technically-minded staff member to edit and post content to your website, but also one that allows you to seamlessly manage workflow, post multimedia content, relate content and build audience engagement around social sharing, forums and directories.
Also, don’t be afraid to investigate a tech term you don’t understand. A small investment of time in learning new relevant terms could give you a little insight that goes a long way. In the tech world, sometimes you only need to know enough to recognize that you need help from someone who knows more. Don’t let the technicalities undermine your own expertise.