Website development is the process of building a website from scratch, turning an idea into reality. It requires creating a series of pages that users and search engine crawlers can ‘read’, using programming languages like HTML and CSS, as well as adding features like contact forms and e-commerce tools.
Doing this requires a series of steps requiring people with different skill sets, so it is common for websites to be built by a team of developers.
Who Does Website Development?
Website development can be done by anyone who has the skills and some knowledge on how to create web pages. There are many resources online which teach people how to make simple websites, there are also programs that can build entire websites for you without any coding. Using third-party software lets anyone with a computer and an internet connection make good-looking web pages quickly and easily.
Are Websites Easy to Make?
There is no site that takes hours to construct. Websites have been made on the fly since the Internet became popular but today it is much easier. Many websites are built using simple drag and drop tools, while others are made in databases that allow the user to enter the content without having to write any code.
Website Development: What to Expect
Every great website starts with a strategy, but it takes more than that to bring it to life.
Here are some of the steps involved in planning & launching a new web project from start to finish:
1. Strategy
How will your site succeed? Before you do anything else, write out some business goals for your site—and define what success will look like both short-term and long-term.
2. Design
Once you’ve defined your goals, it’s time to design a gorgeous website that matches them. At the very least, you’ll need to decide on:
- Your color palette
- The mood and “feeling” of your site
- The appropriate tone for copywriting
- A comfortable size for text Just takes a look at this brand identity guide from Creative Bloq, which will help break down these decisions into easy-to-digest information and examples you can use in creating your own brand guidelines!
3. Content
Now it’s time to turn all those beautiful design ideas into actual content! This part is critical, as it’s what people will actually read—and visitors won’t stay long on a site that doesn’t offer anything worth their time. Include:
- An About page
- Product/service descriptions
- Case studies/testimonials from happy customers
- Client lists e. Contact information And once your business is ready to start marketing its product or service, make sure you have the right tools and guides in place to help convert visitors into leads such as an email marketing plan, lead nurturing strategies, and conversion-rate optimization tips.
4. Functionality
As with any project, there are small details to remember when building your website too! You’ll need to decide:
- The technology for the job (WordPress? Ruby on Rails? Custom HTML?)
- A web hosting service that matches your needs c. Static vs. dynamic pages d. Payment gateways & other special features you may need
See whether any of these design trends could work for your site, and consider what kinds of content users will be searching for once they land on your page—and what value they’ll walk away with if you can answer their questions or solve their problems.
5. Testing
This is the part where professionals put all of the earlier parts into practice! Most organizations follow a testing process which includes:
- Unit testing, automation testing
- Functional testing, compatibility testing
- Performance tests
- Security tests
- Stress/load tests
- Usability testing In fact, here’s a complete guide to website testing that will help you understand the process!
6. Launch
Congratulations—you’re ready to launch your brand new website! While there are sure to be bugs and other issues that come up after going live, this is an opportunity for professionals and beginners alike to learn from their work and make improvements on the fly. Just remember: investments in proper web development never go out of style, so keeping up with best practices ensures future-proofing your site now & down the line.
Now you know exactly what it takes to build a successful website. Have fun getting started! (PS – we’d love it if you shared your thoughts with us on Twitter!)