That's a great question. If you've landed on this page, then you were obviously curious enough to look for the answer. The short answer is simple: a webinator is someone who builds websites. Now, to be truthful, this is a totally fictitious word - although I have submitted it to the OED. And, upon closer examination, it does make sense both in meaning and usage when we take the following into consideration: lookup -ator. Here are just some of the "ator" roles that are necessary in the work I do:
- administrator
- collaborator
- creator
- educator
- elevator
- illustrator
- innovator
- instigator
- investigator
- mediator
- moderator
- motivator
- orator
- prognosticator
- radiator
- translator
And, the word that encompasses them all - webinator
However, the term webinator was not my creation and it has a special meaning to me in addition to the simple answer provided above and that's where the backstory comes in...
My name is Jim Fontaine and I've been involved with computers, software, providing technology services, and building functional, beautiful, and successful websites for clients for more than 37 years. In that time I've been called many things: a creative spirit, courteous, easy-to-work-with, an expert in my field, a geek (which I've never referred to myself as), a guru, an innovator, an Internet Architect (my self-assigned title), knowledgeable, persistent, professional, responsive, and even, recently, a rockstar to name just a few.
Many of my clients have become personal friends and one in particular, Larry Sears, the owner of Benchmark Printing Services, is where the term webinator was born. In our e-mail exchanges, we often address each other by the nicknames we've invented for each other involving our respective businesses. I usually address my e-mails to Larry by calling him "BeePS" and he refers to me as "Web Guy" and I normally sign my e-mails to him simply -WG. At some point, he referred to me as the "Web n Ator" (which I mentally spell-checked into webinator, because, as a content creator it's a habit) and that's what ultimately led to the creation of WEBN8OR.
Web n Ator => webinator => WEBN8OR
So, there you have it. Creativity flows in, around, to, and from all those who are open to it! If you're looking for a new website or a redesign for your existing one, I'd love to talk to you. Let an Internet Architect who's also known as the WEBN8OR show you how your website can become a web presence and add so much more to your business success.
Sincerely,
Jim Fontaine, Internet Architect (aka the WEBN8OR)