If you have a gallery or a portfolio, this is also a chance to display it in a creative way. You can redesign and change anything on a website any time you want. Designing a professional website. Designing using pre-made website templates. The other side of ‘full control’ is that a webpage is your owned media. You don’t have to follow the ever-changing rules of social platforms, and while the platforms themselves come and go (remember MySpace?) your website can stay in business forever. Also, any Internet user can engage with your website without creating an account. Read more related content: Best website ideas for 2022
How to create an effective about us page 25 inspiring one-page website examples Facebook business page vs. website: what to choose Websites are the center of all marketing efforts. A website can be the first place where potential customers interact with you and learn about your business. It can also be where they land on last, to make a purchase, because they were redirected from an email, a Facebook ad or an Instagram post. Maybe they want to receive your emails, and that’s why they visit your site – to sign up. Someone driving by your facilities clicks the pin on Google Maps, which directs them to your website with pricing or menu. They might have typed your URL into their browser from a physical business card. Or, after watching your YouTube video they ‘clicked the link in the description below’ to get a coupon code for your new online course.
All your marketing efforts, no matter if your business is operating online or offline, should sprout from and lead to your own, stunning and informative webpage. Campaigns are also easier to manage when everything is interconnected and the common denominator is a website. So, having a website is a priority and the first step to success. (And not to toot our own horn too much, but has just launched an amazing Website Builder tool, so you can build, grow, and manage your business online using all the essential digital marketing tools from one account.) Now you know I hope these five simple reasons cleared your doubts about creating a professional website for your business. If you don’t have even a basic website you’re missing out on a massive opportunity to increase your good online reputation. The sooner you create one, the more customers will trust your brand. This is a simple and inexpensive way to increase your revenue, boost your company’s credibility and establish your place in the industry. If you’re no longer questioning the benefits of websites and want to make one for yourself, click the button below to learn more about our Free Website Builder.
Website development is a catch-all term for the work that goes into building a website. This includes everything from markup and coding to scripting, network configuration, and CMS development. While web development typically refers to web markup and coding, website development includes all related development tasks, such as client-side scripting, server-side scripting, server and network security configuration, eCommerce development, and content management system (CMS) development. Download Now: Free Intro Guide to HTML & CSS In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of web development, the process of creating a website, and additional resources for those who want to learn more about development — or become a developer themselves. Keep reading to dive into website development or use the chapter links to jump around the guide. Web Development Basics Types of Web Development The Web Development Process
Web Development Resources Why is web development important? The Internet isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s become a portal and primary method of research, connection, education, and entertainment in the world. As of 2021, there were 66 billion global Internet users — more than half the world’s population. Given the rapidly-increasing number of Internet users, it’s no surprise that web development is a rapidly expanding industry. Between now and 2030, the employment of web developers is expected to grow by 13%, much faster than most other technology careers. See why thousands of customers use CMS Hub to build an optimized website that integrates with their CRM data and full marketing suite. In the next section, we’ll tackle web development basics with answers to some common questions. Web Development Basics
What is a website? What is an IP address? What does HTTP mean? What is coding? What does front-end mean? What does back-end mean? What is a CMS? What is cybersecurity? Now that we've defined web development, let’s review some web development basics. What is a website? Websites are files stored on servers, which are computers that host (fancy term for “store files for”) websites. These servers are connected to a giant network called the Internet. Browsers are computer programs that load websites via your Internet connection, such as Google Chrome or Internet Explorer, while the computers used to access these websites are known as “clients”.
What is an IP address? To access a website, you need to know its Internet Protocol (IP) address. An IP address is a unique string of numbers. Each device has an IP address to distinguish itself from the billions of websites and devices connected via the Internet. The IP address for is 10124 You can find any website’s IP address by visiting a site like Site 24x7 or by using Command Prompt on Windows or Network Utility > Traceroute on MacBooks.Traceroute in Network Utility on Mac To find your device’s IP address, you can also type “what’s my IP address” into your search browser. While you can access a website using its IP address, most Internet users prefer to use domain names or by going through search engines. What does HTTP mean? HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) connects you and your website request to the remote server that houses all website data. It’s a set of rules (a protocol) that defines how messages should be sent over the Internet. It allows you to jump between site pages and websites.
When you type a website into your web browser or search for something through a search engine, HTTP provides a framework so that the client (computer) and server can speak the same language when they make requests and responses to each other over the Internet. It’s essentially the translator between you and the Internet — it reads your website request, reads the code sent back from the server, and translates it for you in the form of a website. What is coding? Coding refers to writing code for servers and applications using programming languages. They’re called “languages” because they include vocabulary and grammatical rules for communicating with computers. They also include special commands, abbreviations, and punctuation that can only be read by devices and programs. All software is written by at least one coding language, but languages vary based on platform, operating system, and style. All languages fall into one of two categories: front-end and back-end.
What does front-end mean? Front-end (or client-side) is the side of a website or software that you see and interact with as an Internet user. When website information is transferred from a server to a browser, front-end coding languages allow the website to function without having to continually “communicate” with the Internet. Front-end code allows users to interact with a website and play videos, expand or minimize images, highlight text, and more. Web developers who work on front-end coding work on client-side development. What does back-end mean? Back-end (or server-side) is the side that you don’t see when you use the Internet. It’s the digital infrastructure, and to non-developers, it looks like a bunch of numbers, letters, and symbols. There are more back-end coding languages than front-end languages. That’s because browsers — at the front-end — only understand HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but a server — at the back-end — can be configured to understand pretty much any language.
Eigen Website MakenWhat is a CMS? A content management system (CMS) is a web application or a series of programs used to create and manage web content. (Note: CMSs aren’t the same as site builders, like Squarespace or Wix.) See why thousands of customers use CMS Hub to build an optimized website that integrates with their CRM data and full marketing suite. While not required to build a website, using a CMS makes things easier. It provides the building blocks (like plugins and add-ons) and lets you create the structure with your code. CMSs are often used for e-commerce and blogging, but they’re useful for all types of websites. What is cybersecurity? There are always malicious actors looking to find vulnerabilities in websites to expose private information, steal data, and crash servers. Cybersecurity is the practice of securing data, networks, and computers from these threats.
The methods used by hackers are constantly evolving, as are the security measures taken to defend against them. Failing to understand how your site could be targeted could result in disaster. As a result, a basic understanding of cybersecurity best practices is critical for effective web development. You should also carry out security audits on a consistent basis. Next, let’s take a look at the types of web development a developer could specialize in. Types of Web Development Front-end Development Back-end Development Full Stack Development Website Development Desktop Development
Mobile Development Game Development Embedded Development Security Development Whether you’re looking to hire a web developer or become one, you should understand the different types of web development that developers can master. These different types of web development primarily refer to the different sectors of the profession in which web developers can work. Some of these distinctions overlap, and web developers will often master multiple types of web development. Front-end Development
Front-end developers work on the client- or user-facing side of websites, programs, and software — in other words, what users see. They design and develop the visual aspects, including the layout, navigation, graphics, and other aesthetics. The main job of these developers is to build interfaces that help users reach their goals, which is why they also often have a hand in the user experience aspect of their projects. Back-end Development If the front-end is what users see, the back-end is what they don’t. Back-end web developers work on the servers of websites, programs, and software to make sure everything works properly behind-the-scenes. These developers work with systems like servers, operating systems, APIs, and databases and manage the code for security, content, and site architecture. They collaborate with front-end developers to bring their products to users. Full Stack Development Full stack developers work in both the front-end and back-end sides of a website. They can create a website, application, or software program from start to finish. “Stack” refers to the different technologies that handle different functionalities on the same website, like the server, interface, etc.
Because full-stack developers require years in the field to build the necessary experience, this role is often sought after. Their all-around knowledge helps them optimize performance, catch issues before they occur, and help team members to understand different parts of a web service. Website Development Website developers can be front-end, back-end, or full-stack developers. However, these professionals specialize in building websites, as opposed to mobile applications, desktop software, or video games. Desktop Development Desktop developers specialize in building software applications that run locally on your device, rather than over the Internet in the web browser. Sometimes the skillset of these developers overlaps with that of web developers if an application can run both online and off.
Site Architecture Map Example Creating a physical map helps you see where you’re missing out on linking pages together, and keeps things organized. You should also keep your most important calls-to-action at the top of the page. This is where the most people see, so it’s a great place for a “shop now” button, a “contact us” tab, or a “learn more” button. Website Tools (AKA “Useful Stuff to Make Your Website Better”) Website tools are mentioned last because they can’t fix a broken website, but they can enhance an already good website. Here are a few of our favorite tools: Live Chat live-chat-widget Live chat is an essential part of a business website. Or at least, we like to think it is. We do offer it as a service, after all. 😊
But in all seriousness, live chat can help you provide excellent customer service, close customers who are on the edge and learn more about your target market. In fact, in this post, we detail how to use live chat to survey your customers so you can improve your marketing. You can also receive notifications when visitors arrive on your site even before a chat conversation! Conversio Cart Abandonment Recovery Cart Abandonment Recovery Email If we wrote “What makes a good eCommerce website”, Conversio would top our list. It automatically sends emails like the one above to try to recover abandoned carts. (Side Note: The advice in this article does apply to eCommerce sites as well. So if you have an online shop, rest assured you’re not wasting your time by reading this.)
Anyway, with 69% of people abandoning their carts on average, you’ll be taking full advantage of this tool. They also offer services like newsletter sending, product recommendations, and a stronger site search bar. MailChimp Email Opt-in Forms Have you ever seen an in line opt-in form like the one below, and wondered how to get one on your site? Free Bonus: Enter your email to get a free website redesign checklist, along with a PDF version of this post. Enter your email address SEND ME THE CHECKLIST Well, we use MailChimp and a premium MailChimp WordPress plugin to do it. Here’s a 60-second explainer video:
AddThis Social Sharing Buttons See the sharing buttons to the left of the screen? They’re from a plugin called AddThis. AddThis also has a few other features like a follow button and a related posts widget. Yoast SEO We talked about how SEO is important for a modern website. Yoast SEO makes on-page SEO super easy. It gives you a checklist to show you what you need to add/edit to optimize your page for the keyword you choose: Yoast SEO WordPress PluginW3 Total Cache Load speed is critical for SEO and usability. One of the ways to increase site load speed is with browser caching. W3 Total Cache makes caching super easy.
Here’s a guide to help you set it up. Google Analytics What’s free, easy to install, and highly beneficial? Google analytics. Google analytics can give you SO much insight on where your traffic is coming from, going, and stopping. And since it’s free, there’s no excuse not to use it. Here’s a guide to installing and using Google analytics. Real-time Visitor Monitoring: Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion We’ve come to the end of our journey. Give yourself a pat on the back. So what did we learn? Basically, your website is your business card. It’s the thing everyone – your customers, shareholders, friends, family, and cat – sees when they think of doing business with you.
By keeping your website looking sharp, you ensure everyone who visits it views you as trustworthy, professional, and worthy of doing business with. Plus, a strong website pulls in traffic through Google, gets links from authoritative sites, and is shared more often. We’re in 2020. A great website is no longer a “nice to have”. It’s an absolute must. Did you redesign or launch your site after reading this guide? Please share it with us in the comments below! And, as always, feel free to ask questions. In today’s digitally connected world, it’s not enough to just provide a service well—you also have to market. No matter what type of business you’re in, having a strong online presence can help increase the weight of your brand.
A strong online presence can grow your audience, engage existing customers and help you sell more easily. All of this begins with having a website that speaks to your business’s unique offerings and message. Creating a website can seem daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone! has hundreds of skilled independent professionals with extensive experience in web development that can partner with you in building your website. If you decide that building a website is something you want to do on your own, there are many tools at your disposal to make this process easier. This step-by-step guide will show you how to: Define your vision for your website Purchase a domain name Choose a hosting provider Pick a website builder Select a website theme Plan and produce page content
Add functionality for your business Start measuring key metrics Test for bugs and compatibility issues Adapt to keep up with customers Build your website with the world’s best Define your vision for your website Before you can dive into website building, you’ll need to do a little bit of homework. You’ll want to begin planning what you want your site to accomplish. Is your goal to drive more readers to your blog? Do you want visitors to make a purchase? Once users hit your site, what do you want them to do? Asking yourself these key questions will help you define your website’s purpose. From there, you’ll also need to consider the website’s function, design and content. Function
Here, you’ll decide the main objective of your website. Maybe you provide a service, like consulting, and want to encourage users to reach out via a contact form. Perhaps you plan to sell products in an online store and need an e-commerce platform that allows users to view specific product pages. Or maybe your objective is to educate and create readership. Take some time to think about how your website can best serve your business and keep this function in mind as you begin to build. For example, suppose you’re a photographer and need to showcase your skill set. In this case, the main function of your website would be to display your work. On the other hand, if you run a communications agency, the main objective of your website would be the specific services you provide (public relations, content development and marketing, etc.). Join the world's work marketplace Find Talent
Zelf Website MakenDesign It’s important to have an idea about what you want your website to look like. Perhaps you’re looking to create conversations by showing users a portfolio of work. In that case, you might want a grid-like layout with templates that are easily repeatable to showcase new work. You might decide on-brand colors, logos, and specific imagery that ties into the overall look you’re hoping to achieve. Whatever web design you choose, make sure it’s flexible enough to serve your function and simple enough to maintain. It should also align with your brand’s personality. Content What type of content will you need to live on your new website? Creating a quick sitemap of the pages that you’re hoping to create and what needs to be on each is a great way to get organized. You can easily do this in Google Sheets or Excel. Once you’ve chosen your pages (for example, “Home,” “Blog,” “Testimonials,” “Portfolio,” and “Contact”), decide what information you want to put on each page. If it needs to be created, make that a priority. If you already have content, start compiling it.
Browse Project Catalog for more web development services. Purchase a domain name Next, decide on a domain name for your website. A domain name is the address visitors use to find your website. For example, if your business is “Sydney’s Catering,” pick a custom domain that easily describes your business. You can choose your business name, but you’ll need to do a quick domain search to determine if the name is available. It’s best to compile a list of possible domains before running a search. Domain registrars are accredited companies designed to help you buy and register a domain name for your website. While there are many domain name registrars, a few are Domain.com, Bluehost and GoDaddy. To see if the domain you’re hoping to use is free, run a search on a domain name registrar site. If the name you want is available, great! If not, keep trying until you find one that’s not already taken. Once you find a domain name, the registrar usually makes it easy to purchase it online, giving you access to your domain in minutes. Domain names typically cost somewhere between $10 and $15 annually. However, there are free domain name options available, usually included as a special offer to new users by the registrars listed above. Looking to set up a Website but not sure how much money it will take? Try the Free Website Cost Calculator tool to estimate costs associated with setting up a website.
Choose a hosting provider Now that you have a domain name, it’s time to find a hosting company for your website. Choosing a hosting provider is important, especially if you plan on conducting business primarily through your website. Websites need storage space for files, images and content. Where is it stored? Web hosting provides a physical location for your website content. For this reason, it’s important to look for a hosting provider that offers enough bandwidth for the site traffic you anticipate receiving. If you plan on starting small, look for a plan with upgraded options that you can select at any time to boost your bandwidth. Security is also a concern when choosing a web host. If you want to keep your site secure and handle minimal updates on your own, select a hosting service that handles routine web maintenance and offers security features like an SSL certificate, which will ensure users are protected when accessing your business website. It’s important to research web hosting providers, as your website’s needs might be unique. When choosing a hosting provider, consider the amount of storage you need, the guaranteed uptime and budget.
While there are many web hosting companies, here are some popular hosting providers: HostGator: Easy, moderately priced and unmetered bandwidth with the option to use their website building tools Bluehost: Fast, reliable hosting solutions with advanced security add-on options GoDaddy: Offers a variety of hosting solutions for as low as $1 Hostinger: Fast and scalable hosting options starting at less than $2 a month DreamHost: Affordable, customizable hosting solutions Pick a website builder Now, you’re ready to select a website builder. There are many user-friendly platforms, so you’ll need to keep your function and website design concepts in mind when choosing a platform. Here are a few attributes to consider when selecting a website builder: Customization options: If you like to change your design often, you’ll need a website builder that is easy to change and customize. Finding a website builder with a lot of templates can help you redo the look and feel of your site without much overhaul. The good news is that you don’t have to know a thing about front-end development for different platforms—you can find a skilled web designer or web developer on a platform like .
Features: If you’re building a blog or portfolio site, make sure you find a website platform that offers easy-to-use portfolio and blog post options or widgets. If you’ll be adding videos to your website, find a web builder that makes it easy to add video code to your site. Lastly, if you want to sell products, pick a site that makes it easy to conduct online sales, like WooCommerce or Shopify. Usability: No matter your experience with website platforms, make sure you find a website builder that’s easy to use and update. Many builders offer free trials, so you can poke around and begin building, allowing you to find the most intuitive interface. SEO practices: Making a website is only half the battle—you also need to draw traffic to your site. It’s important to find a site that makes it easy to incorporate SEO tools, from meta descriptions and titles to keywords and tags. Price: Luckily, most website platforms are similarly priced or have free trial options, but remember to keep the monthly or yearly cost in mind when selecting a platform. Knowing the basics about website builders is a good start, but how do you choose one for your new website? Determine your goals. For example, if you’re a designer wanting to display your projects, choosing a website builder that is customizable might be your best option. On the other hand, if you run a jewelry business, you may want to look into a site with good e-commerce options and one-click shopping. Here’s a quick glance at popular website builders: Wix: Wix is a website builder designed for those who crave freedom. They offer a free website option with add-ons or other paid options. With the help of an automatic website creator, it’s much easier to use than other options. If you use Wix, you’ll need to take a more hands-on approach, though, as the platform is less structured than other options. Whether you’re into blogging, social media or design, Wix provides the perfect space to share your work.
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