Web Development
There are many uncertainties and variables to consider when you run a business, but something we can be certain of is that the internet is going nowhere. Having an online presence is vital no matter the size of your business, industry or where you operate from.
You may already have a website for your business that you want to improve, or you might be looking to set one up. Either way, it’s important to have a good grasp of the basics of web development, what’s involved and the type of professionals and tools that can help you.
The aim of this page is to help you understand:
- What is web development?
- What is the difference between web design and web development?
- What are the different types of web development?
- What are web development design principles?
- How can I develop a website for my business?
- What are the challenges in web development?
What is website development?
Simply put, website development is the process of building a website. It’s what goes on in both the front and back end of a website, i.e. the coding, scripting, network server, security configuration and development of your content management system.
There are many crossovers between web design and web development and the most well designed and functioning websites will focus on both fields in equal measure.
What is the difference between web design and web development?
The key difference between web design and web development is that web design focuses on the aesthetic elements of a site and how this facilitates user experience. Web development, on the other hand, is all about the functionality and technical aspects of a site that enables it to work.
What are common terms used in web development?
Before we go any further, we’ve covered some of the common jargon you’ll come across in the world of web development
- IP address:An internet protocol (IP) address is a unique set of numbers that is used to identify a device or website on the internet. It distinguishes a device or site among the billions of others on the web.
- HTTP: HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) connects a website request to a server that hosts all website data. In simple terms, HTTP works like a translator framework so that a computer and a server communicate in the same language when processing requests made over the internet.
- CMS:A content management system (CMS) is a program or application used to store, publish and manage web content.
What are the different types of web development?
There are three main types of web development:
- Front end web development
- Back end web development
- Full stack web development
What is front end web development?
Front end web development is the work involved on the user-facing side of a website or app, i.e. the visual elements of a site that users see. This could be menus, navigation bars, site layout and site graphics.
The role of a front end developer is to incorporate user interface design and user experience to create smooth site navigation for users.
What is back end web development?
Back end web development refers to the work that goes on behind the scenes of your site, or in other words, the things users can’t see. This includes things like databases, site structure and servers. The back end is really important, as it’s essentially made up of all the elements that enable a site to work.
What is full stack web development?
Full stack web development refers to work that covers both front and back end development. Full stack developers are highly sought after as they have extensive knowledge and skills to create a website from the ground up.
What are the basic web development design principles?
Web development covers a broad spectrum of things. Below is a checklist of common terms and design principles to be across:
- Navigation: Organising how information and media is structured on a website, e.g. having a top navigation bar with menus and sub-menus
- Layout: Layout (sometimes referred to as visual hierarchy), is the presentation of elements on your website that affect the way users perceive the importance of different parts of your site
- Grid structure:A grid structure is an invisible framework or layout that helps you place different elements on a page
- Load speed:Load speed refers to how fast your website and web content loads. Load speed has a direct impact on user experience and SEO
- Mobile-friendliness:This refers to how compatible a website is for mobile devices
How can I develop a website for my business?
There are few options available to you if you want to build a website for your business:
- Do it yourself using a web development or web design platform
- Outsource to a web developer or web development agency
- Hire an in-house developer
Get more detailed information on how to hire web developers.
Whichever option you choose, web development requires thorough planning and a clear idea of project goals and objectives.
What are the challenges in web development?
Some of the most common challenges small business face in web development include:
- Poor budget planning and allocation:Underestimating or overestimating the costs involved with a project.
- Initial costs:Having the funds to pay the first milestone (usually to secure the project)
- Requirements aren’t properly defined: Not outlining your goals and needs can knock your project down fast and create roadblocks for everyone involved.
- Project timelines: Not having a clear idea on how long a project will take or additional tasks/revisions cropping up.
- Scalability: You need to be clear on whether you plan to scale, and when. It can be much more difficult to scale later down the line when it wasn’t factored in initially.
Whether you need a simple website that works like an online brochure or an ecommerce store that automates your entire business, SavvySME can connect you with the right professionals.
Check out our guide on how to choose the rightweb developers anddesigners for your project. If you’ve decided to go down the do-it-yourself route, you can also browse the latest offers inweb development and design tools and packages. Whatever you do, it’s important to weigh up the options and consider the variables before making a decision.
Getting your website up and running is just one piece of the puzzle. Once your website is live, you need to make sure people can find it. If your site is well designed and your copy is effective, you should be generating sales and leads in no time. To do this you’ll need to focus on search engine optimisation (SEO),paid search advertising and otherdigital marketing channels.
