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Web development is the task of developing a website for the Internet or intranet. Web development ranges from developing simple single static pages with plain text to complex web applications, e-business and social networking services. Some web developers design and maintain the database that backs the website. Others review and advise on technical feasibility, user experience, performance, capacity, and security as well as recommend solutions that meet business objectives and satisfy users’ needs .
For small and medium businesses, web development is an important way to reach new customers and promote their own brands. It not only opens up a whole new range of ideas, but it also allows you to make your business available to everyone, wherever they are. Website development is one of those things that’s pretty difficult to get a handle on if you don’t know where to look. It’s not like you can turn to Google and type “website development” into the search bar and get anything worthwhile back. That’s because there are more website development specialties out there than any one person could ever memorize, let alone keep up with.
Your website is your business card for the digital age
Your website is your business card for the digital age. In our highly connected world, your website is often the first (and sometimes only) thing a potential customer sees from you. That’s why it’s important to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward and that your website effectively communicates what you do and how you help people. It’s also critical that prospects are able to easily find out how they can connect with you and purchase your products or services. If you think you don’t really need a professional website, then think again. If a potential customer lands on your website, there should at least appear to be some form of expertise behind it.
It’s the first impression you make on potential customers, but more importantly it’s how you convert visitors into leads and customers. More than half of people who visit a website will end up following a link to another site. This means your website design and layout is crucial to invite visitors to stay on your site by using tools like social media integration or sign-up forms. But it doesn’t end there, you also have to build trust in front of your visitors, grab their attention and tell the right story about yourself and your company.
In this day and age, no business is an island. Which means there are more ‘competitors’ than ever before. It’s not enough to simply be good at what you do. When you need a professional website that doesn’t make you look try-hard and will help new clients find you, then perhaps it’s time to think about engaging a web designer.
Things to look out for when building a website: Engagement, Responsiveness, Content Strategy:
Building a website is straightforward, right? Just point, click and done. Well, not quite. The process of building a website is a complex one. There are many things that you need to get right in order for your website to function optimally: Engagement , Responsiveness , and Content Strategy . Oh, and there’s the small matter of having your search engine rankings climb too…
Web development isn’t just about creating a pretty website. It’s about creating an all around experience that engages, delights and converts your visitors. Here’s a few details you might want to keep in mind when creating a website:
- Engagement – User engagement is what’s required to increase the proliferation of your brand. A more engaged user visits your website more frequently, spends a greater amount of time on your site, and gives you valuable feedback. This information can be used to improve your website or other online channels, impacting the overall experience of customers in the longer term.
- Responsiveness – Responsive website design has become an important requirement for websites since the rising popularity of smartphones and mobile devices. Responsive site designs give the best ever user experience across all the devices by adapting to their screen size, resolution, etc.
Today’s web-savvy consumers tend to use their smartphones and tablets to search for goods and services, read business reviews, peruse travel articles, and even check out a prospective real estate investment on the go. For this reason, responsive website design is increasingly becoming a must-have for small businesses — no matter how large or small their companies are.
- Content Strategy – Good website content isn’t restricted to blog posts and the written word. In fact, multimedia content can do a lot more than just add flair to a great story. Content isn’t just limited to blog posts and the written word. Oftentimes, images, videos, and illustrations can help you convey your message much more effectively. Use of multimedia in an effective way is a creative endeavor best left up to an experienced designer. If done correctly, video and other multimedia assets are highly effective at delivering your message and value proposition to your audience. They can help you create a stronger connection with your customers. This connection can mean higher conversion rates, more leads, and more sales for you in the long run. If you’re wondering what to write for your website, the short answer is: everything. The more information and valuable resources you provide, the better. There’s a simple rule we tend to follow when it comes to content: more content is almost always better than less.
Conclusion:
As you work to grow your business or share your message with the world, it is important to think about your website as a whole and how each piece of content contributes to the overall success of your website. Thoughtfully plan out what you want people to take away from each experience they have with your website, whether they’re visiting it for the first time, are browsing through different pages, or are reading the blog post you published. By focusing on the big picture and planning each part of your website carefully you can improve the effectiveness and adoption rate of essential content—and hopefully create a better user experience in the process.
In the end, it’s about striking the balance between interesting visuals and text that’s easy to read and understand. Your website should make sense for your business and what you do. How you achieve that is up to you; just be sure you consider all of the above points when developing your site. The more time and effort you put in upfront to make your website effective, the more likely it is that people will find success with their own websites later down the road.