Web Site Development

A First-class Approach Gets First-class Results

by Phil Hanson

Web Design & Development

Web site design and Web site development are two distinctly different parts of a two-stage process aimed at meeting the needs of 21st-century businesses. Where Web site design involves creating a platform and structure on and around which to build (first stage), Web site development is all about expansion and refinement over the long term (second stage).

Web Site Design

Before design and construction of your Web site begins, you must first have a registered domain. Then, you must define your Web site's purpose in order to determine what basic structure & layout to use.

Why are you building a Web site? What do you want it to accomplish? If you're only going to promote and sell a single item, a one-page site will probably suffice. If you intend to use your Web site to inform and educate, or to sell services or a range of products, then a multiple-page design is more appropriate. Keep in mind that designing a one-page selling site is less complex than designing a multiple-page resource site.

Things like page headers & footers and page formatting (colors, font styles and sizes) and layouts (placement and alignment of text and graphic elements) are basic, and common to both types of sites. The complexities arise with site navigation and linking strategies that tie core pages and supporting pages together.

There are some other things you need to provide in order for a designer to proceed with your Web site's design and construction. Your answers to questions regarding your "vision" of your Web site, and your expectations of it, determine a starting point. You also need to provide your Web site URL, FTP access information, graphics for each page on which you intend to use them, and sales copy and/or other text you want to use on your Web pages.

If you need—but don't have—text or graphics for your Web pages, advise your Web site designer, before work on your project begins, to avoid expensive delays.

For more information on Web site design, read my article "Clean and Simple" Converts Visitors into Paying Customers, then read more about the subject in my article A Professional Look Gets Professional Results. You can order Web site design services directly from the Perfect Text Order Desk.

Web Site Development

An ongoing process, Web site development builds on a Web site's basic design and seeks to improve Web site performance in various ways. However, development is more complex than just adding supporting pages and filling them with content.

A full-service Web developer must learn to wear many hats; elements of graphics design, programming, writing, editing, typesetting, search engine optimization, consulting, business coaching, market analysis, research, promotion, advertising and sales are all represented under the Web-developer umbrella. Where large and medium-sized Web development firms hire specialists in each category as full-time employees, many small companies and sole proprietors hire independent contractors, on a per job basis, to get the degree of specialization they need in order to achieve optimum results.

Because Web site development doesn't happen overnight, it requires a long-term commitment from the Web site's owner and from anyone who's involved in the development process. The Internet changes rapidly and constantly, and so do on-line business methods and tactics. Businesses that don't keep abreast of the changes can't hope to compete.

Research and learning make Web site refinement possible. Experimentation and testing results in the discovery of new methods, or in discovering new ways to use old methods, of doing business on the Internet. Web site development plays a major role in getting your on-line business rolling, and in keeping it rolling.

Full-service Web developers provide an array of diverse services to help commercial Web site owners take advantage of the latest trends in Internet technology and on-line business methodology. While it's not appropriate for Web developers to make business decisions for their clients, their failure to make suggestions and recommendations, and to implement authorized changes in a timely manner, indicates that they're shirking their responsibilities and obligations to their clients.

When I take on a Web site management and development project, I limit my personal participation to that which I do best; writing, editing, proofreading, research, formatting and page layouts. For the other skills needed for effective Web site development, I call upon professionals, who have the skills I lack, to provide them. The advantage to you is that you get the level of service big firms promise—tailored to your individual needs—at small-firm prices. It's a combination that's hard to beat.

Professional Web site development can help you meet the challenges all Internet businesses face. Are you ready for on-line success? If so, now is the time to get started! Don't wait for success to find you. Meet it head-on!

Copyright © 2004 – 2007 by Phil Hanson
All rights reserved.

 

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