A Step-by-Step Guide to the Website Development Process

Introduction:

Websites are key to a professional working of a firm or an organization, small to large-scale enterprises aim to have an interactive website in order to communicate the business’s vision, mission, goals, and core values of the firm. Websites have been many organizations’ key to success where they did not put in large setups but implemented their plans rightly. They built credibility among their audience through appealing, fast loading, and rich-featured websites. If you are planning to develop a website for your work, you should understand the process to develop it. It will not only help you have a piece of good knowledge about it but will help save your resources smartly. This blog post will take into a deep insight into website development and clear every single doubt you might have on the subject.

Types of websites one can develop

When you visit any website developer or hire the team, the first question they ask is to what type of a website you want to develop, for this the organization must have a clear idea or a goal to what type of business they would involve themselves with and what is the idea the organization wants to spread with their website. Let’s understand those terms.

1. Static websites:

This type of website does not indulge in frequent changes in your webpages. If you wish to change anything in the content, you would need to make manual changes in the code and then send your pages to the server. The developers use script languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create Static websites. Such websites load faster than Dynamic websites in most cases and also require less budget and time in development.

2. Dynamic websites:

Websites of this nature embrace rapid changes through server-side implementation. Each time the webpage loads, it can generate unique pages. To implement this functionality, developers use server-side languages like PHP, Node.js, JSP, and ASP.NET, among others. The development of such websites is typically more expensive and time-consuming due to their increased efficiency compared to static websites. A key advantage of dynamic websites is their ability to accommodate content updates through Content Management Systems (CMS). It\’s crucial to evaluate your unique needs before choosing between the two options. If your primary goal is establishing an online presence and enhancing brand awareness, a static website may suffice. However, if you aim to engage users and generate leads, it is generally recommended to opt for a dynamic website.

Things you need in order to develop a website

Step 1: Domain name-

In order to build a website the first thing you need is to choose and protect and your domain name. The domain name pertains to a web name or address that helps a user identify and navigate through your website. A website is recognized by its domain name, it should be authenticated and private and must be chosen carefully. For a cohesive branding, ensure the domain name aligns with the company name. Use .in for domestic targeting and .com, .net, or .org for international presence.

Step 2: Web hosting and register domain-

After a domain name is decided, the company must aim to look for web hosting. Web hosting is a service that hosts and stores your website files and content on a secure server that is always up and running. There are many web hosting providers one may research and discover them online or can approach any IT company to recruit a bunch of them. They are available at affordable costs and protect your data and content.

Step 3: Set up the WordPress website-

After finalizing the domain name and web host services, setting up a WordPress website is beneficial. It offers numerous free designs and templates to enhance creativity and user appeal. It is easy to set up a WordPress, click on the site, choose a layout, install a theme, import design, add a logo, change website theme and color, add widgets, experiment with the layout and you are ready to go and browse your page.

Phases of website development

Phase 1: Plan

Initial research for a website
Assessing current website and social media pages
Reviewing current analytics, data, and trends
Examining the competitor websites
Identifying the purpose of the website, its objective, and target audience
Technical scope
Assembling the content page
Creating page outline for webpages
Creating site map and architecture

Phase 2: Design

Establishing visual hierarchy and placement of content
Laying out the home page using a responsive grid
Testing and revising the wireframes
Designing visual assets like buttons and calls to action
Producing illustrations and photography
Finalizing the design and visual assets

Phase 3: Development

Setting up the CMS (WordPress)
Building theme and page templates
Customize back-end
Adding links and functionality to content
Proofreading and editing the final content
Test performance of the website on different platforms
Tracking and correcting bugs
Conducting user testing
Optimizing and adjusting the content as needed

Technologies used to develop a website

You can plan the technology for developing your website’s Front End and back end as per your budget and requirement.

Front End

The Front End is the website you generally see and the back end technology makes it work for you from the servers. HTML is used to create the basic page structure, CSS for the visual appearance of the webpages. Here are some frameworks that can be used to create a Front End more efficiently:

1. Angular

Angular is led by Google, it is among the most used front-end frameworks for developing single-page and dynamic web pages. The framework converts HTML-documents into dynamic content.

2. Vue.js

Vue.js is another popular framework that incorporates the component-based model for creating webpages. Includes sized documents and HTML code that stands out from most of its contenders in the market.

3. React

It is launched and managed by Facebook, React is an open-source library used to create dynamic UIs. It is particularly utilized for incorporating dynamic HTML elements to the Front End of your webpages.

Back End

To back your website’s Front End workings with a database and provide the functionality it requires, this is what the back end does. Here are some technologies you can use to create the back end for your website:

1. PHP

PHP is among the world’s most reliable technologies that are used to create back end for web applications. PHP development services have been used to run some of the world’s most popular CMSs including WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, etc.

2. Java

Java is one of the world’s most commonly used programming languages that stands still in the list of topmost technologies to create Back Ends for your websites. It’s familiar and sustainable features make it a strong choice for many.

Plan your budget

Allocate a budget for website development to assist the different investment requirements of small and large-scale enterprises. To understand the amount of total spending on website development you need to consider a few factors into account.

Graphic designing for logos, banners, and other services
Web design services
Technologies used in the development
Content development like SEO activities
Testing and maintenance
Research and analytics tools

There may be some post-development charges the above factors are one of the many factors that an organization needs to keep in mind while developing a website.

Conclusion

The planned placement of content on websites holds great significance, as it greatly influences the user\’s satisfaction and perception of an organization. Effective content placement plays a vital role in conveying the organization\’s purpose and engaging users. In today\’s era of technological development, companies dedicate significant resources and leverage various tools and analytics to make their websites visually appealing and attract higher traffic and views. It is important for organizations to employ creative ideas in website design, ensuring that the website effectively communicates the organization\’s offerings. This serves as a key factor in capturing the attention of users and eventually attracting them to avail themselves of the organization\’s services.

Frequently Asked Questions!

“What are the first stages in the website creation process?

Many important phases are often included in the website-building process. It begins with collecting needs and planning, when the website\’s goals, target audience, and functionality are selected. The design, user interface, and graphic elements of the website are produced next. Following the review of the design, developers begin developing the website in computer languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. After the development is finished, the website is tested to discover and correct any problems. Finally, the website is launched, and continued repairs and changes are performed to make sure that it runs successfully.

“How long does it usually take to build a website?

The length of the website development process differs according to the website\’s difficulty, the number of features, and the responsiveness of all parties involved. A simple educational website can be completed in a few weeks, however, advanced projects with e-commerce capabilities or unique features can take several months. Before starting development, it is important to have a clear understanding of the project scope and period in order to manage expectations and confirm successful and on-time delivery.

“What are the most key components to consider throughout the website creation planning stage?

Defining the goals and goals of the website, identifying the target audience, and outlining the key features and functions are all important during the planning stage. Understanding industry trends and creating unique selling points can be helped by conducting market research and competitor evaluation. Setting a reasonable budget and schedule is also important. Additionally, decisions about the technological stack, content management system (CMS), and hosting environment are made during planning to make sure they line up with the project\’s goals.

“How can I make sure my website is easy to use and physically popular?

A website\’s design plays an important role in making it easy to use and look good. It is critical to design a clear, easy web page with easy-to-use navigation. The user experience is improved through uniform logo components and attractive images. The use of responsive design promises that the website adjusts to different devices and screen sizes, delivering a consistent experience on mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers. Collecting customer feedback throughout the design phase aids in finding areas for improvement, resulting in a website that satisfies user expectations.

“What happens once the website goes live? Do I require going on upkeep?

Following the launch of the website, it is critical to monitor its performance and user engagement. To keep the website up to date and secure, content, software, and security patches must be updated on a regular basis. Ongoing maintenance makes sure the website runs well and that any problems are fixed as soon as possible. Understanding user behavior and making decisions based on data for constant growth can be helped by monitoring online analytics. In addition, as your company matures and grows, periodic updates and enhancements may be important to satisfy changing requirements and stay ahead of the competition.

10 Reasons Why Free Hosting Is Bad for Your Website

Hosting

The internet is full of companies offering free web hosting and this “free” option is very alluring. Starting a website is easy, effortless and can be done free of charge with trusted sites like WordPress and Blogger but it comes with numerous shortcomings. No doubt, many bloggers have hit the mark starting from free web hosting for their website but why the successful bloggers aren’t using those free services provided by WordPress or any other free host? This is because every free option might not prove beneficial in the long run. Whether you are going to start blogging as a hobby or a first step of your business, it should not come at the cost of quality service. Many people have been lured into free hosting but there are certain reasons why it is considered unsuitable.

10 reasons to prove why free web hosting is bad for you:

1. Not at All Professional

When you are blogging, you will need to promote your website at some point to gain viewership. Free web hosting sites look unprofessional. When you don’t have a proper domain name, potential customers would find it quite difficult to take your website seriously going by the common phrase- “The First Impression is The Last Impression”. Also, you cannot create email accounts with your own domain name. This means you will have to use your email account which does not look professional.

2. Limited Design and Functionality With Free Web Hosting

Unlike a self-hosted site where you can choose from thousands of themes, free websites offer only a handful of poorly designed or some basic templates along with the limitation you can not use your own design from the web. Reputable web hosts typically have a back-end control panel or platform as a service that is loaded with features. Common features included in premium web hosting services include one-click installation of common scripts, email setup, database management, traffic analyzer and subdomain setup. Usually, these features aren’t offered by web hosts.

3. Security Vulnerability

Free web hosts generally offer little-to-no protection from cyber-attacks or intrusions. It is your responsibility to safeguard your site from such attacks by using safe and secure hosting services offered by renowned web hosting providers. If your site is hacked, it will be a lot more difficult to get it recovered because these companies give very limited access to your own files and data.

4. Losing Ownership Due to Free Web Hosting is Like a Nightmare

While you can add lots of great content to your website, giving in your maximum time and best of your skills, you never really own it. If you read Terms and Conditions of most free hosting providers, you will come to know that you don’t really own your website. Some free hosting providers have also been known to retain ownership of one’s content too. That is really disappointing for those professionals who might want to switch their content to their own website later.

5. Low Disk Storage

Free hosting providers usually give you very limited storage to store your data. This is because they host hundreds of websites sharing same server and disk space. When you reach that limit, you are often asked to pay for more storage.

6. Poor Customer Service with Free Web Hosting

First, you set up your site on your own with the help of very limited and poorly presented documentation then further you will be offered no help in most cases. If your site goes offline, you’ll want to approach the host for assistance. Unfortunately, free web hosts have poor customer service. You are pretty much on your own if you can not figure out something.

7. No Backups

Almost every reputable web host offers automatic backups. If somehow your content is lost, an editor accidentally deleted your file or it was compromised in a cyber-attack, you can rest assured knowing that the web host has kept a backup copy of your file. However, there is no concept of regular backup in case of free web hosting. They do not back up your data and you can do nothing to restore your data in case it gets lost.

8. Transferring Your Site is More Difficult

In case you started off with a free website and later you want to transfer your site to a new domain will future hassles such as downtime. Transferred content can contain glitches that are time-consuming to fix. You need to make sure if your redirects are working well that have been moved so that your RSS feed won’t lose subscribers. Free hosting services typically have restrictions on server accessibility. Sometimes while transferring, you may not be able to access all your file. Therefore, it’s better you start off your new website with a paid one.

9. Free Web Hosting is Unreliable

Free web hosting is notoriously unreliable. They don’t generally have a great reputation for speed, uptime, and availability. Apart from this, they also tend to shut down a lot. Free hosting is definitely not suitable for those who are looking to start even minor scale businesses, though, it is okay for those who just want to use it for testing purposes.

10. Too Much Downtime

This clearly implies the indication of a poor web host. It is probably caused due to server abuse by a particular individual. Their servers often go offline for maintenance due to hardware or simple neglect. Nobody wants to visit the site that is open half the time- no matter how great the content is! You can save yourself from a lot of problems by choosing a well-paid web host. Once you start working on a website, you’ll want to grow more. You will be saved from forced ads, security vulnerabilities, slow speeds with excellent customer service, thereby solving your problems. Buy a website from the outset and save yourself these hassles.

“What are the risks of using free website hosting?

“There are many chances to use free hosting, including limited resources, regular downtime, and slow loading times. Because free hosting services regularly host numerous websites on the same server, resource sharing might have a negative effect on your site\’s speed. Furthermore, free hosting providers may display marketing on your website, affecting user experience and professionalism. A lack of customer service and poor security measures might expose your site to cyber-attacks and dangers, putting your data and user information at risk.

“How does free hosting impact website performance and speed?

Free hosting typically provides limited server resources and bandwidth, resulting in slower website loading times. Shared resources among multiple websites hosted on the same server can lead to congestion and reduced performance. Slow loading times negatively affect user experience, leading to higher bounce rates and lower search engine rankings. With limited capacity to handle traffic spikes, free hosting may result in frequent downtime during peak periods, further justifying your site\’s credibility and reliability.

“Does free hosting affect website security?

“Free hosting may compromise website security due to the lack of robust security measures and support. Because free hosting services sometimes don\’t have complete safeguards, your site is subject to program and hacker attempts. The absence of regular backups can result in permanent data loss if any security breaches occur. Furthermore, some free hosting services may display intrusive ads or inject malicious code into websites, posing significant risks to both site owners and visitors

“How does free hosting impact website branding and professionalism?

“Free hosting providers may display their own ads on your website, disrupting your branding and professionalism. These ads can be irrelevant to your content and may drive away visitors. Customization options on free hosting are usually limited, preventing you from creating a unique and professional website. The name of your hosting provider may look in your site\’s domain name, which is uncomfortable and difficult for users to remember. Developing trust and confidence with your audience calls for a branded domain name and an ad-free website.

“How does free hosting stop the growth and flexibility of a website?

“The amount of storage, interaction, and other services available to your website on free hosting may be limited. These rules may affect your site\’s speed and capacity as it grows and receives more users. When traffic is better than the set limit, free hosting companies may impose traffic or visitor limits, developing your site to crash or become absent. In addition, free hosting lacks the functionality and flexibility needed to manage complicated tasks or e-commerce skills, limiting the potential for growth as well as expansion of your website.

website development