Website development is a relatively broad term that many of us use without fully understanding what it means. Since the birth of social media and the growth of online marketing, there are many companies around the globe claiming to specialise in this area. But what exactly does it mean, and how could it help your business?
Website (or web) development basically covers the work involved in creating an online site. The components involved in this process can range from developing a single, static page to advertise a company’s contact details or place, and could extend to the most complex, web-based internet applications and network services.
Since the commercialisation of the internet, this has been a growing industry that has allowed people to work remotely from all corners of the world. It has catered to a growing demand, with many businesses needing to outsource technical experts to help them get their website up and running.
Under this umbrella, you will find categories such as web engineering, web design, web content development and e-commerce. Ecommerce refers to the process of online shopping that many sites now use to sell the majority of their products. It is so successful, it has been predicted to give many high street stores extinct.
Among professionals, the term web development usually refers to the non-design aspects of building a website. The services are equally important, but they are usually offered separately – either by the same company by way of an in-house design expert or to be sought separately.
In recent times, the term has come to include writing mark-up and coding for sites, as well as the creation of content management systems (CMS). CMS allows non-technical people to make changes to their websites without possessing the same knowledge that a web developer might.
Depending on the size and scale of your company, you may already have a web development team in-house that deals with this aspect of your business. However, many companies tend to outsource this work as it comes with the benefit of being able to be performed remotely, saving on costs.
If you own a start-up or smaller organisation, you may be thinking about employing a single web developer to handle your project. They may work as part of a larger organisation, such as a digital marketing agency, so will be able to grow along with your company to accommodate your needs.
You will need to keep the cost of these services down to comply with your budget, so it is best to look for a web developer who can offer you a combination of value for money and skill. If you’re on a particularly tight budget, you should discuss this with them to find out what they can do to help you.
As well as a number of web development and design services, an agency may be able to help increase your brand’s visibility in other ways – by managing your social media platforms or helping you develop an effective online marketing strategy.
Not only are they technical experts, people who work in this kind of role with have in-depth knowledge of the modern consumer market, so will have a mind for online business. They should also have a creative eye, so will be able to help make your company advertising stand out against other competitors on the market.
You will find a number of digital marketing companies online who you can contact directly to help you enhance your online profile. Be sure to check out customer reviews to find out which ones are the best. You should also be able to view earlier examples of their completed work on their company website.