What is website development?
Website development, also known as web development, is a catch-all term that refers to the work that goes into building, creating, and maintaining a website. This includes markup, coding, scripting, network configuration, and CMS development. The term might also encompass, but not necessarily, all strategic actions needed for a web page to rank on search engine results.
Having said that, web development covers a broad application. It can refer to creating a single website page using a template from a website builder or developing a website with thousands of pages.
There are two main types of web development: front-end and back-end.
Front-end Development vs. Back-end Development
Think of a website as a house. On the one hand, you are choosing what paint to use on the walls and what type of carpet to lay on the floor. However, beneath all that, you also need to plan the layout of your pipes and wires that enable your utilities to function at their best. Similarly, a website has two levels: the front-end and the back-end.
Front-End Development
Front-End Development is a style of computer programming that focuses on creating the visual elements and features of the “client-side” of a website. Front-end development also requires developers to ensure that all elements added to the web page are fully functional. Front-end developers add interactive elements like navigation, buttons, graphics, animation, content organization, and images to enhance a website’s overall usability. In most cases, web developers use HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to make sure that the visual side of the website runs smoothly.
Front-end developers are required to have a good grasp of front-end programming languages, the ability to create and implement a responsive web design, and an understanding of tools used in front-end development, such as automation, APIs, frameworks, and content management systems.
Back-End Development
In contrast to front-end development, back-end development focuses on the elements of a website that users cannot see. Most back-end developers refer to this as the “server side.”
For example, you are running an e-Commerce website. Chances are you need an accessible place to store all of your users’ information once they create an account. This storage center is called a database. Some of the most widely used databases include Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL.
Apart from managing the database and the contents stored on it, a backend developer is also responsible for troubleshooting and debugging web applications to ensure that the front end retains its functionality.
Whereas front-end developers use HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to create web elements, back-end developers use Java, PHP, and Python.
Other Types of Web Development
Apart from front-end and back-end development, there are other types of website development that you can invest in to boost your business.
Full Stack Development
Full-stack development refers to any work done on the front-end and back-end of a website. To do so, full-stack developers often have the skill set to create a website, application, or software program from start to finish.
Full-stack developers are perhaps the most expensive people to hire to build your website. Having said that, their all-around knowledge and years in the field help them fully optimize a website’s performance and catch any issues before they occur.
Mobile App Development
Mobile application development, also known as mobile app development or mobile development, is the process of creating software applications that run on a mobile device. Mobile apps operate differently than websites, thus requiring a developer to have a separate set of skills and knowledge of specific programming languages.
While mobile apps are not really necessary for small and medium-sized businesses, having one can help brands build customer loyalty and monitor business relationships. Investing in app development can also boost promotional efforts and encourage online shopping.
Why is website development important?
The internet isn’t going anywhere—at least not in the near future. In fact, over 4.66 billion people use the internet for research, connection, education, and entertainment purposes, according to a report posted on Finances Online.
While it’s true that there has been a shift toward social media sites and mobile apps in recent years, websites are still an extremely vital part of any digital marketing strategy. These five reasons outline why investing in website development is key to building a successful online presence for your brand.
1. Sets a great first impression
When your audience visits your website, it gives them a first look into your business. Within seconds of hitting your landing page, your customer would likely already have formed an opinion on your business.
2. Helps your search engine optimization (SEO) strategy
The elements you put on your website can influence how search engine spiders crawl and index your site. Without great on-page SEO fundamentals, you will be fighting an uphill battle for visibility and ranking from the start.
Aside from influencing how your content is published, certain website elements can directly affect your SEO. Put simply, the coding you use to create and develop your website should be SEO-friendly.
The best way to ensure that your website is following proper practices and is visible on search engines is to partner with a web development company that also offers SEO services.
3. Sets an impression of customer service
People can easily judge how well you’ll likely treat them by looking at your website. If you don’t put any effort into making your website look polished, your audience would likely take it as a sign that you also won’t put any effort into helping them with their problems.
4. Builds trust with your customers
Let’s face it. Websites with poor or outdated look shady and seedy. If your website is poorly designed, customers are unlikely to trust your site and your brand.
On the other hand, a professional website will earn the trust of your audience and make them feel comfortable enough to check it out further.
5. Don’t fall behind
If you need a reason to invest in web development, here’s the biggest one: Your competitors are already doing it. If you want to remain a strong competitor in your market, you must invest in web development.
You want your website to stand out from the competition, and you can’t do that if your site looks outdated and low-quality. Without a well-designed website, you will lose leads to your competitors, which means you also lose the opportunity to boost your revenue.
Website Development Process
The process of creating a website isn’t a piece of cake. It also doesn’t happen in a single day. There’s no one answer to the development path as the process would largely depend on the type of website you want, the programming language to use, and the resources you have.
Below is a brief overview of the website development process.
Make a plan
Before you begin developing a website, it’s incredibly important to first connect with your teams to develop a plan. There are several questions you should consider during the first stage of the web development process, including:
- What is the goal of your website?
- Who is your target audience?
- What do you want your customers to do on your website?
- What type of website are you building? (Informational, blog, nonprofit, eCommerce)
- What type of content do you want to publish on your website?
- What is your budget?
Without a plan, you may see yourself reverting your progress once you hit a roadblock, thereby increasing the money you spend on the development of your website.
Create a wireframe
A wireframe refers to a blueprint that developers need to get a “vision” of what your website would look like and how it should function at the end of the development phase. Your wireframe doesn’t have to be an official document. You can even draw the idea on a whiteboard.
Create a sitemap
When you create a sitemap, you are giving your web developers the information they need to gain insight into your goals and expected deliverables. When creating a sitemap, you should aim to answer these questions:
- What pages do you want on your website?
- What content will those pages have?
- What categories will you have on your website?
- What is the hierarchy of pages on your website?
- How can you link one page to another?
- What pages and categories are essential to your website and UX?
Write your web code
When your developers have an idea of the functions and goals of your website, they can then begin writing the code for the front-end and back-end of your site, as well as for the different functionalities you need (i.e. web design and interactivity).
There are three common types of coding languages used to create websites.
HTML
HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the foundation of all websites. Having been in use since the 1990s, HTML is the bare minimum of what is needed to create a website. While it is possible to create a website only using HTML coding, you need CSS and Javascript to make it look attractive and fully functional.
CSS
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is used to add design elements to your website. In most cases, CSS is used to add typography, colors, and layouts to improve your web design and your website’s overall “look.”
JavaScript
Developed in the mid-90s, JavaScript mainly serves to add functionality to your website. For example, developers use JavaScript to add interactive elements such as buttons and navigational tools to enhance user experience. JavaScript is also used to automate tasks within certain pages.
Build your website’s back-end
Once you have your coding prepared, it is time for you to build the back-end of your website. As mentioned above, the back-end handles the storage and management of data that enable the functionality of the elements on the front-end. For example, the back-end of Instagram stores your photos and videos so that the front-end can allow other users to look at the media you’ve posted.
The back-end is made up of two key components—the database, which stores and processes data, and the server, which is responsible for “sending” information from the database to the client or user.
That being said, not all websites necessarily need a back-end to function. If your website is purely information and won’t require users to enter any data, you won’t need a back-end. However, if you have an online store for your small business, do consider developing your website’s back-end. Arguably, the back-end is far more important than the front-end for online stores.
Build your website’s front-end
The front-end is the most important part of your website as it contains what your visitors, customers, and potential clients see. It also depicts how they can use your website. The front-end uses a combination of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to reflect your vision and the things you included in your wireframe.
Acquire your domain name
At this point, you’re done building your website. All you have left to do before launching your site is acquire a domain name. Deciding on a domain name should not be done in haste. It is a valuable digital marketing tool that could make or break your business.
Having your custom domain name can immediately add credibility to your business. It also makes your company look professional. Using a generic web address does not inspire confidence in a customer and can easily lead you to get lost in cyberspace.
In addition to setting the right first impression, getting a domain name that is SEO-friendly and includes keywords can help increase your visibility on search engine results.
Launch your website
Once you’ve set up a domain name and linked it to your host, you are in the final stage: launching your website.
Having said that, there are a number of things you need to check before “flipping the switch” and publishing your website. These include testing your site for any bugs or glitches and planning how to optimize your website for SEO.
Jumpstart your road to success
The web development process can be very overwhelming, especially when you need time to run your business. This is where CreateVenue steps in.
We are a web development agency that offers a wide range of services to help you realize your website, optimize your content, and fulfill your business goals. Our team of experienced web designers, UX/UI specialists, web developers, SEO experts, and digital marketers aim only to deliver the best marketing and technology solutions to make sure that you achieve your company’s goals in the best way possible.
Our agency also prides itself on taking a client-centric approach. This type of approach allows us to create high-quality and user-friendly ecommerce websites, business websites, and blogs that fit your needs.
If you’re interested to learn more about our services and how we can help you boost your sales, partner with us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between web development and website design?
Web development refers to the work done behind the scenes that make a website work. On the other hand, web design specifically refers to the processes required to create the front-end of a website visually appealing.
What is the difference between web development and software development?
Web development focuses on creating web-based applications such as websites and mobile apps. Software development concentrates on creating software for operating systems, networks, or platforms.
What are the stages of website development?
There are seven main steps of web development: information gathering, planning, designing, content writing and assembly, coding, testing and launching, and maintenance of the site post-launch.
What are web development frameworks?
A web development framework (WDF) is a set of resources and tools used by software developers and web developers to build and support web applications, web services and websites.
What is the average web development cost?
The cost of developing a website often ranges from $1,000 to $300,000 or higher. The price would likely depend on the number of pages you want, the complexity of the design and development, the number of integrations, and many more. The type of website you want to be built will also affect the overall cost.
Can you create a free website?
Yes. There are plenty of free website builder software available online that let you build and manage your own website. Many applications such as Wix Website Builder allow users to create their websites with their drag-and-drop editor.
Why should you use a free website builder?
The first and most obvious advantage of using a website builder tool is that you can create a fully functional and visually appealing website even without any knowledge about coding and programming. A free website builder also gives you unlimited revisions of your web design as well as access to customer support.
In addition, most site builders come with ready-to-use website templates and themes that are responsive. Some also come with SEO tools to help you rank on search engine results.
How to choose a website builder?
When choosing which website builder to use, consider answering these questions:
- How much is your budget?
- What are your business needs and priorities?
- Is the website builder easy-to-use?
