Website Development
Website development is the process of creating new websites, or rejuvenating existing ones. Web development is a broad discipline. Regardless of a website’s size, complexity or the technology used to build it, the web development process will involves three distinct elements; website design, coding and content generation.
Website Design
The role of a web designer is to create the ‘form’ of a website and ensure that its appearance is both distinctive and aesthetically pleasing. Effective website design relies on a clear understanding of the principles of visual design – most web designers have graphic design training and/or experience. In many cases the designer will sketch ideas out on paper, or create the designs use a graphics package, rather working in the environment of a functional website. A web designer requires knowledge of the limitations imposed by current website technologies, but it is the role of a website coder to implement the design and realise the designer’s vision.
Website Coding
The website coding process converts the design ideas into a fully functional website. A website coder had to make important decisions about the most appropriate technologies and techniques to use during the website development process. The functionality required from the website will usually determine whether a static site or a dynamic, database driven site is developed. Even for a simple brochure sites, there are numerous ways in which the design could be realised – flash, layers, tables, CSS ‘table fee’ layout – each of which has different implications for the website’s usability, accessibility and performance.
Content Generation
The process of content generation, also known as website copywriting, is perhaps the most neglected area of website development. Effective website copy is quite different from that required for a paper publication – messages need to clear and concise, sentences and paragraphs shorter, and pages well differentiated and product-focussed. The text of a website should be newly written by a website copywriting expert, capable of balancing the ‘selling’ and search engine optimisation requirements of the site’s content. All to often, copy (and product images) are lifted from an existing brochure, thereby missing a major opportunity to enhance a website’s performance.
Website Development
A comprehensive web development package should provide not only these three core elements i.e. website design, coding and copywriting, but also offer the associated services - domain name selection and registration, hosting, accessibility and usability testing – which may be required along the route from embryonic ideas to fully fledged website. If you find a web developer who provides all these and, furthermore, communicates in a language you can understand, there is one final question that you must ask, “Will the website you commission be search engine optimisation compliant?”
