Businesses of all sizes understand the importance of a solid online presence to reach new customers and stay connected to existing ones. But many small business owners must realise that they must invest in a web development professional to get a great website.
When you want a professional website for your business, you must leave this to a professional you can trust. However, as a small business owner, it helps to understand what a web developer is, what to expect from one, and what goes on during the web development process. This is needed to develop the best website that best represents your business and helps you accomplish your business goals.
What is a Web Developer?
Web developers work with other designers to ensure that they will meet the basics of web development and that the site functions well. They’re responsible for coding and programming a site’s functions, including creating web pages, adding text and images, handling page layout, fixing bugs and optimising how the site works on different devices or browsers. Web developers also need to know how to create secure websites that prevent their page visitors from worrying about hackers stealing any website data and information.
When you’re in the market for a web developer, you can find one that chooses to specialise in one area or one that can handle a range of web development services. Some developers are responsible for building client sites from start to finish, while others are focused on specific services and functions. Other types of developers are responsible for building mobile applications for a business website, which is prevalent in the eCommerce industry.
It’s essential to identify exactly what you need for your professional website to determine the kind of web developer that you need. This will help you meet your business goals and develop the website that best represents your professional interests and brand.
Why Web Development is Important
It is no secret that you must have an online presence for any modern business to succeed. A professional website showcasing your business’s brand and its products and services is one of the most basic building blocks for a strong online presence.
Web development is crucial because it ensures that your website is accessible to everyone who wants to visit it. It also ensures that your website loads quickly, is easy to navigate, and provides a positive user experience. All these factors are vital for keeping website visitors engaged with your site so that they will continue doing business with you.
Web development is also crucial for search engine optimisation (SEO). SEO is the process of ensuring that your website appears as high as possible in search engine results pages (SERPs) when people search for keywords related to your business. This is important because the higher your website ranks, the more likely people are to click on it and visit your site.
To enjoy the benefits of a professional website, you need to hire the best professional to build your business website.
Types of Developers
Of course, if you want to find the best developer to build your website for you, you must understand what you need for your business website. Here is a breakdown of some of the most basic types of developers that you can hire to develop your website. Each developer has their area of expertise, so one of the first things you should do is identify what you want out of your website and how you want it to function.
Front-end developers
These developers build the user interface and experience for websites and applications. They code the part of the site that visitors see and interact with. A front-end developer handles everything that you see when you visit a website.
This includes the layout, design, and responsiveness of the site. They also handle adding visuals, such as images and videos. In some cases, front-end developers also work with animation and interactivity. All these factors contribute to the overall user experience of a website or application.
Back-end developers
Back-end developers are responsible for building the server side of websites and applications. They code the part of the site visitors don’t see, which makes it function properly.
This includes databases, security, performance, scalability, and uptime (the amount of time a website is accessible). To create a functional website or application, back-end developers need to be able to work with front-end developers to ensure that everything works together seamlessly.
Full-stack developers
Full-stack developers are a combination of front-end and back-end developers. They have a working knowledge of front-end and back-end development, meaning they can build a website or application from start to finish.
This is the most comprehensive type of developer, but it is also the most challenging type of developer to find. Most developers specialise in either front-end or back-end development, so finding someone equally skilled in both can take time and effort.
However, a full-stack developer is the best choice if you want someone who can handle every aspect of your website or application.
What to Look for in a Developer
Now that you understand the different types of developers, it’s time to start looking for one that meets your needs. When you’re searching for a developer, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.
Relevant experience
The first thing you should look for in a developer is relevant experience. This means they should have experience building websites or applications similar to what you want.
For example, if you want a simple website for your small business, you don’t need to hire a full-stack developer. A front-end developer with experience building small business websites will be able to do everything that you need. The scale of your project is another thing you must pay attention to. For example, you don’t want to hire someone who only has experience in smaller projects for a full-blown eCommerce website and application project, as they may become overwhelmed and lead to issues with the project’s progress later on.
The best way to find the relevant experience is to look at a developer’s portfolio. This will give you a good idea of the types of projects they typically work on and their experience level.
Communication skills
Another essential thing to look for in a developer is good communication skills. This is important because you need to be able to communicate your vision for the project and what you want it to achieve.
If you can communicate with your developer effectively, it will be easier for them to understand what you want and build a website or application that meets your needs. Good communication also allows for a better working relationship, which is essential when working with someone on such an important project.
You can assess a developer’s communication skills by reading reviews from past clients and talking to them directly. If they’re hard to get ahold of or seem like they’re not interested in your project, it’s best to move on to someone else.
Flexibility
Another essential trait to look for in a developer is flexibility. This is important because things change, and you may need to adjust your website or application as the project progresses.
A flexible developer can make changes quickly and without issue, which will help keep the project on track. You can assess a developer’s flexibility by looking at their reviews and asking how they handle changes.
Technical skills
Of course, you must also ensure that the developer has the technical skills necessary to build your website or application. The specific skills that you need will depend on the type of project that you’re working on.
For example, if you’re looking for a front-end developer, they should have experience with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. If you’re looking for a back-end developer, they should have experience with server-side programming languages such as PHP, Ruby on Rails, or Python.
A full-stack developer should have a working knowledge of front-end and back-end development.
You can assess a developer’s technical skills by looking at their portfolio and reaching out to clients they’ve previously worked with. Suppose you have some knowledge about the technical aspects of web development. In that case, you can also ask them specific questions about the technologies they’re familiar with to get a better idea of their skills.
Price
Finally, you need to consider the cost of services when looking for a developer. You want to find someone who is affordable and will give you the best value for your money.
However, you also don’t want to sacrifice quality by hiring someone that prices their services too cheaply. Keep in mind that a professional that prices their services too cheaply is likely cutting corners in some areas of the development process, which allows them to price their services lower. This will lead to more costly issues with your website in the future, so avoid hiring the cheapest option just because they’re cheap.
The best way to find a good balance is to look at what is considered the average cost of services in your area to get an idea of how much to expect and compare different professionals’ rates to find one that meets your needs and fits your budget. Of course, the more in demand a professional developer is, the more you can expect to pay for their services. It’s all a matter of finding the right balance for your needs.
When you’re ready to start looking for a web developer, keep these things in mind to ensure that you find the best candidate for your project. With a bit of research, you should have no problem finding someone with the experience, skills, and personality you’re looking for.
Kickstarting Your Project With Your Web Developer
If this is your first time working with a web developer, you may find yourself at a loss for what needs to be done to get your project started. Fortunately, at its core, the web development process can be boiled down to a few key steps:
Hiring your web developer and conveying what you need them to do for your business
Your web developer will need some information from you to get started on your project. This includes what your business does, your target audience, what kind of website or application you’re looking for, and what features it should have.
It’s essential to be as clear and specific as possible when conveying this information to your developer. The more they know about what you want and need, the better they’ll be able to understand your vision for the project and turn it into a reality.
Your web developer will also need access to any existing content that you want to use on your website or application. This can include text, images, videos, and anything else you want to be included.
If you don’t have any existing content, your web developer can help you create some. This may include writing the text for your website or designing graphics and images.
Creating a prototype or wireframe
The next step is to create a prototype or wireframe for your project. This is a blueprint that will be used to guide the development process.
Your web developer will use your provided information to create a prototype that meets your needs and expectations. Once you’re happy with the prototype, they’ll begin working on developing the actual website or application according to the plan.
Testing and launching your website or application
Once the development process is complete, your web developer will test the website or application to ensure everything is working correctly.
They’ll also double-check that all the features and functionality you want are included. Once satisfied that everything is in working order, they’ll launch your website or application and make it live for the world to see.
Maintaining your website or application
After your website or application is up and running, your web developer’s job isn’t finished. One essential thing that you have to learn when it comes to your business website is that your website will always be an ongoing process.
It would be best if you planned to update your website with new content and features regularly. Your web developer can help you by adding new pages, posts, or other content to your website as needed. They can also help you troubleshoot any problems that may arise.
It’s also essential to keep your website or application secure. As new security threats emerge, your web developer can help you implement the latest security measures to protect your website from being hacked.
They can also help you recover from a hack if it does happen. Regular maintenance and updates are essential to keeping your website or application safe and secure.
A Good Web Developer Can Make or Break Your Business’s Success
When you find the right web development professional for your team, you’ll have someone who can take your business to the next level. They’ll be able to help you create a website or application that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations.
The most important thing is to ensure that you find a developer who you can trust and who has the skills and experience necessary to get the job done right. With a little effort and research, you should have no problem finding the perfect web development professional for your team.
