What really is web dev?
As websites are outgrowing their old rigid frames and turning into versatile web applications instead, many people are confused as for what is the task of a web developer? Should they be looking for a designer instead?
Web developer is the broadest possible term which covers all areas that are involved in delivering the final product. If you need a website or any other related product then you should look for a developer.
Large projects need a whole team of developers ranging from garphic and user interface designer through back-end and front-end developers to content writers and SEO specialists.
As you might guess, as a developer I am not specialized on just one narrow field. Thus, I have an overlook and a grip on all the ongoing processes and am able to offer you a reliable service. Once you have contacted me, it will be a free-flowing, enjoyable process where you will know that you are in control. You really have to know what exactly you want, even if that might sound harsh.
In the next step I will create designs for you to choose from. Then I will build the actual website with a CMS and add all necessary code be it Javascript, CSS or PHP to make it After SEO-proofing and thorough testing the website will be ready for launch at the domain that you had already bought for this purpose. Well this is the process in brief. But let's look at each step at a time!
Well actually this is not necessarily step one as it can be done any time during the project. You need a domain name under which your website will be found. There are hundreds of domain name registrars and it is usually low cost unless you want something special. The purchased domain is not yours forever. You will need to renew it every year otherwise you will lose it.
You will need to come up with a name and check if it is available. In case it is already taken you will have to figure out something else. If you need help registering your domain, I will be more than happy to do that for you.
Choosing a web host really depends on what kind of website you want and how it is built. So you are definitely encouraged to consult me before signing a contract. In case you already have a webhost for your other websites and want to stick to them, it will usually be just fine. There are quite a few specialized hosting services: fine-tuned Wordpress hosting for WP sites. Hosting that provides a specific environment for NodeJs or cloud hosting...
Simple websites can be hosted with just about any company without giving much thought about it but as your website starts scaling up, certain aspects must be considred. So if it is just possible, don't tie yourself to any web hosting company just yet, well not before consulting me. No matter how good an offer you got - hang on just a bit.
Now we go to the part when the real work starts. I will ask you: describe me how you would like your website to look and feel. You can use just words but I am the happiest when you at least show me websites that you like. Some people even come with ready-made designs made by a graphic designer. This is the most straightforward situation as all I have to do is re-create the images pixel by pixel. Like a dream.
If you leave the design part for me I will create 3 images for you to choose from. You will be able to recommend changes which I will try to adapt and create a final design. All you have to do is be satisfied with the looks so that we can go ahead. By this time we have of course discussed the nature of your website and settled on a CMS, which is often Wordpress.
In this step your website will gradually come alive as I put the pieces together. I will be working hard on the back-side doing all the magic with a variety of programming languages. You will be given a development link where you will be able see the process. Your will be able to observe as your website gets its final shape, colours, starts to react to clicks and more...
This is the most time-consuming part of the whole job. Front-end (what runs in the browser) and back-end (what happens on the server) are syncronized. When, after numerous litres of coffee, thinking, trying, calculating and probably a few sleepness nights, it is all done a web designer sits back for a couple of hours just to go ahead still...
No website can go live without thorough testing. And I mean testing in every possible browser, device and screen size. Faults are guaranteed to come to light and more coding is to follow. After rounds of testing and fine-tuning your website will be ready for lunch. This usually is an easy step: all the files are copied from the development folder to the root of folder.
Next, all major search engines will be notified about the existence of your new website and requested to crawl it so that sooner or later it will start appearing in search results. It is much recommended to use a CDN - content deliver network. These companies act like secondary web hosts but with a bunch of servers around the world for speed and excellent security measures.
