Cache is the action of storing Web files for later reuse so that they can be easily accessed at a later date. When you are browsing the Internet, your Internet browser will store a HTML page code, graphics and multimedia elements in the cache. This way when you return to that particular Web page, the information doesn’t have to be downloaded all over again.

The cache is actually a form of high-speed memory. Your computer sets it aside to store frequently accessed data. The data can then be accessed directly from the hard drive, instead of the Internet server. Accessing the hard drive is a much faster process than accessing a server, so essentially the cache increases the time it takes to view frequently visited pages.

Keep in mind that the cache can build up over time and actually slow down your hard drive. It is advisable to clean out your cache from time to time.

With so many interesting web pages out there, it’s hard to keep track of sites that you want to revisit again and again. Using bookmarks can help you keep tabs on the sites you liked and want to look at in the future.

Your Internet Browser will have a tab at the top that says “Bookmarks” or “Favorites.” When you are on a website that you want to bookmark, you can select “Bookmark this page” (or a similar phrase) and your web browser will save the URL information for that site. [Read more...]

An online ad on a web page that links to another website or landing page. Banner ads are one of the first methods of advertising on the web. They have different costs depending on how much traffic and page views the website gets, and can cost up to $150,000 per month!

But don’t let that scare you; most don’t cost anything near that amount. Banner ads get their name because they are placed at the top or bottom of a web page, however, they can also be placed on the sides of the website content. [Read more...]

Blog is a shortened term for “weblog.” Both terms refer to a website where entries are made similar to a journal or diary. The entries are presented in reverse chronological order, with the newest entry on top.

Although blogs were originally used like a personal journal on everyday events, they have evolved into a multipurpose tool. There are blogs on every topic imaginable, from food to politics to celebrity gossip. Generally, blogs combine the text entries with images, links to other blogs and other related media. [Read more...]

One of the buttons on the top of a Web browser. It allows you to “go back” to the previous web page that you were browsing.

Depending on your web browser (i.e. Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, etc.), the Back Button is usually located in the upper left corner area of your screen. It may not necessarily be labeled, but is probably an arrow. Most likely next to it, is another arrow that points in the opposite direction, which is the forward button (which obviously does the opposite of the back button).

Some webpages may not allow you to use the back button for security reasons and the button may be grayed out. Examples may be banking sites or gaming sites. And some sites may warn you not to hit the back button on your browser and include a back button on their page to use instead.

On the other hand, the back button can be your friend if you need to look at something on the previous page, or simply want to go back But, be careful, because if you were filling out a form and then hit your back button, your changes won’t be saved!

So, while the back button can be useful, handy and convenient, use some caution before clicking it!

Acronyms for business-to-business or business-to-consumer activities. Many websites focus on business-to-business relationships and services (like wholesale suppliers), while others focus on providing services and products to consumers.

An example of a B2B is my VA business. I provide services to other business owners and WAHM’s to help their businesses succeed.

There are TONS of B2C sites out there, but here are a few of my faves:

• ClassyMommy.com
• What’s That Smell?
• Pinch My Salt
  

As you can see from the above examples, they are mom bloggers who offer a product, service or both.

An icon that represents you on message boards, chat rooms, IM programs, 3-D chat rooms and virtual worlds. Your avatar can be whatever you want it to be. There are graphic elements, animals, cartoons and pictures used as avatars on the Internet.

Earlier on Profitable Mommy Bloggers, Kelly introduced us to Gravatars, which is just one type of avatar. There are thousands of avatar web sites where you can make an avatar of your own and/or choose one of theirs. Twitter is a great example of the different types of avatars being used. There are personal photos, logos, icons, cartoons, etc.

If your blog has a specific brand, an image that sets it apart from others, you probably want to use that as your avatar, like IM Sweetie does here. When I see that cute little heart, I know whose website or blog that belongs too.

An avatar can be a great way to set yourself apart from the crowd, if you have one that is uniquely you. If you don’t have a brand yet, I highly suggest using your personal photo. I know some people don’t like pictures of themselves, but it really helps people identify with you, and they feel like they know you, which will hopefully bring them back to your blog over and over again.

After all, isn’t that our goal as mom bloggers; to get people to read our blogs and then come back? Using an avatar of yourself or your brand will help people recognize you and bring them back time and time again.

Autoresponders have become one of the most essential tools for Internet marketers, affiliate marketers and others who do a large amount of business on the web. Essentially, they are automatic e-mail response programs.

The autoresponder program will send pre-entered e-mail messages instantly to people who request information from a website, newsletter or online merchant. If you have e-mail and have ever joined a new website, social network, forum, or entered a contest on-line, you most likely received an e-mail from an autoresponder.

One of the most common uses for autoresponders is to create a learning course to inform and educate potential customers about the benefits of a business or product. Some on-line businesses I know that use autoresponders for this purpose are:

• Mom’s Talk Affiliate Network
• VA Networking
• Tech Based Marketing
• Web Traffic Basics

Autoresponders also allow Internet business people to effortlessly follow up with their clients from time to time.

So, for mom bloggers, you may want to consider using an autoresponder for your blog if you have a newsletter, a form for people to request info, if you are on online merchant, or if you have a learning course.

Our Autoresponder Recommendation: Aweber

Applet

An applet is a small program or application, which is usually written in Java, and runs on a Web browser. An applet powers some of the fancier features of Internet pages, such as animation. They download quickly and are used both online and offline. Applets can be scrolling text, buttons and such, but are also used for much larger things like games and word processors.

An applet can be embedded into a webpage and usually has several settings that will allow you to personalize it. For instance, if you insert an applet that will work as a menu, you can specify which options should be in the menu, and which pages should be loaded upon clicking on an option.

A great site to learn more about applets and how they work is Echo Echo.com. And, it’s a great site to visit if you’re new to the internet, blogging or just want to spruce up your internet savviness (that’s a word, right?).

Hi there Mommy Bloggers! Back again with another definition in our “A to Z Guide to the Internet”.

Adwords

Google’s advertising product and main source of revenue is Adwords. Adwords offers pay-per-click advertising for text and banner ads. When advertisers use Adwords to promote their product or service, their ads appear on any related website or blog that is using Adsense, or when a keyword is used in a search on Google, Adwords places your ad in the sidebar of the search results. Placement of the ad depends on how much paid for the ad.

Adwords advertisements are short, and consist of a title and two content lines. Advertisers pick keywords that relate to that their ad, and then bid on these keywords. They pay each time someone clicks on their ad. The advertisement will take the clicker to the merchant’s website.

Keywords cost more when they are more popular. If a lot of people are bidding on the word “blogging” the cost per click will be much higher. Depending on the keyword, a click may cost anywhere from $0.10 to several dollars.

In Our Opinion: As a mom blogger – Google Adwords is probably not the best way to drive traffic unless you have a sure way to monetize that traffic – so tread carefully!