Web Development for Small Businesses

Who’s Who in Web Development for Small Businesses?

Web development for small businesses is a general term that describes all the tasks in designing and building a website solution. Whether it’s a top website or a small business website developed. Overall, web development is broken into subcategories based on how users access the application. Website developers create websites that are accessed by a range of devices. A website developer will meet most needs of a small business owner.

Website developers are responsible for designing and building websites. They communicate with small business owners and staff to understand their needs and build a website to meet them. Like all software development, website development involves a multi-step approach to designing and building a product. The process begins when the website developer gathers the client’s initial requirements for the website. Next, the website developer moves to design, coding, testing, and implementation. Website developers guide clients through this process, responding to their feedback. Also, developers determine client needs, design site layout, code the content and style, conduct testing, and publish the website.

Other expertise web developers may have includes understanding content, such as creating attention-grabbing titles and content for websites and knowing the core benefits of blogging and structured, rich content.

Website Developer vs. Website Designer

The work of a website developer is divided into three roles: website designer, front-end developer, and back-end developer. The primary job of a website designer is to determine how a website will look. Designers choose colors, fonts, graphics, and layouts to create a website’s “feel.” They also plan intuitive pathways between different pages on the website. For example, a designer may place a “Contact Us” link at each web page’s top. Designers use tools like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to create custom designs. In this way, a website designer is like an architect. They determine the aesthetic of a building and plan the passages that lead between rooms and floors.

Once an initial plan has been created, the front-end and back-end developers decide how to implement the plan. They begin the coding process that allows the website to function. A website developer is like an engineer, filling an architect’s design plans with utility wires, vents, and plumbing. Front-end developers code what the client will see. They take the aesthetic from the website designers and turn it into code. Back-end developers code functions that make a website interactive but may not be immediately visible to the client.

Website development is a broad term encompassing designers and front-end/back-end developers. The line between website designers and front-end website developers can be blurry. Some website designers may also code their designs. The rule of thumb: while all website designers are website developers, not all website developers are website designers.

Web Languages used for Web Development for Small Businesses

Websites are created with several programming languages. The most basic languages are Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). HTML provides the web page structure, including text, headings, tables, lists, and multimedia elements. “Hypertext links,” or “hyperlinks,” are HTML codes that allow users to move between web pages on the website. They often appear in underlined blue text. The CSS code is used to style the content that HTML produces. This includes the overall presentation of the website, such as colors, layouts, and fonts. CSS can also be used to adapt the content to different screen sizes. These two languages are the minimum required to create a website.

Although fundamental, Web Development for Small Businesses only consists of HTML, and CSS is static. This means that they can’t change content to interact with users. The web pages created will be static. They can only deliver what has already been coded. Users can only click from one unchanging page to another on these static websites. HTML and CSS alone can’t allow more complex tasks, like interacting with other users. Web applications are called dynamic websites that can change page content in response to user input.

Web applications use additional code to generate HTML content responding to user inputs. This code may operate on the client’s browser (client-side script) or the server hosting the content (server-side script). Dynamically generated HTML content might display the current date and time or the user’s physical location. Authenticating a user login is another example of dynamically generated HTML. Once the user inputs their login information, a server-side script checks it against a database. If the username and password are authenticated, the user is logged in.

Dynamic Web Development for Small Businesses

Several languages can create dynamic Web Development for Small businesses ‘ content. Websites may use just one of these languages or a combination of several that operate simultaneously. Languages can be used to create client-side or server-side functions. JavaScript is a popular client-side scripting language that generates dynamic HTML content from the client’s web browser. It can enable animation, autocomplete form entries, and play audio and video. Although JavaScript is executed on the client side, it can interact with a server. When conducting an autocomplete function, client-side JavaScript communicates the letters of a partially typed word to a server. The server, in turn, sends back recommendations to the browser.

Server-side languages are generally more powerful for Web Development for Small Businesses than those found on the client side. They can perform more complex processes and use additional hardware attached to the server. Server-side languages are more secure than client-side scripts. That’s because they can manipulate content from a database without giving the client access to the database itself. This is useful for authentication, where user information is checked against a server-side database.

Many server-side languages, including Python, PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP), and Active Server Pages (ASP). These are used on many popular websites. Python is found on Google, YouTube, Yahoo, Reddit, and Instagram. Wikipedia, Facebook, and WordPress all use PHP. ASP can be found in Microsoft, MSN, and Godaddy. Each of these languages has pros and cons for their use. Choosing the correct terminology depends on a web developer’s assessment of the best choice for their client.

Custom Web Development for Small Businesses

Wix, Weebly, or Square Space offer shortcuts to website design. These website development kits allow users to add color and text to a pre-formatted design template. This cookie-cutter approach to web design may not always prove the best option for online marketing; hence, we offer custom e-commerce and web development for small businesses, where websites can compete once going live. Also, web development for Small Businesses requires choosing the perfect solution to succeed. Our CMS (Content Management System) allows websites to be custom-built and optimized for influential search ranking.

What to look for when it comes to web development for small businesses

Choosing the right web design agency for web development for small businesses requires careful thought. A website developer must deliver high-quality products that meet clients’ needs. That means good website developers understand their clients and how the industry works. Good developers also know the most appropriate tools for meeting those needs. They do this by listening to their clients and observing their business. A good web developer uses excellent communication skills to work with the client to deliver a quality product.

Good Developers

A good web developer understands how users find and engage on websites. They apply that knowledge to create a website that maximizes web traffic. Seasoned web developers will also help their clients with many web design tips and give the final product a wow effect.

Experienced web developers also understand SEO. For example, search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo! use algorithms to present search results in a hierarchical order. Good website developers understand how to take advantage of these algorithms. They make the client’s website appear higher in the search results. This is similar to companies putting the letters “AAA” before their name appears first in the phone book. For example, AAABlindCleaners.com, back in the day, appeared at the top of a phone book. But, today, businesses need online, social, email marketing & SEO to be competitive.

Technically Competent

Finally, good web development for small businesses requires technically competent web developers. They need the following skills:

• Coding and website maintenance skills.
• Knowledge of various web development tools and web technologies.
• Understand SEO and digital marketing, especially how keywords play a crucial role in SEO.
• Be able to create clean and efficient code.
• Be able to build websites that will attract customers.
• Securing and protecting sites.