2. Web Design Services
Web design is actually pretty similar to home design - good website designers can act as an architect, an engineer, a contractor, and a interior designer. Web development services are much more than basic site design or logo design- many of the services are “behind the scenes” programming techniques that don’t impact the look and design feel of a site. Most services fall into one of the following categories:
“Front-end” website development
When most people think of web development, this is what comes to mind. “On page” or front end development describes any design technique that impacts the look and feel of the site. This can include streamlining the tabs that link from page to page, designing graphics and logos, or even crafting text and web copy for the site. Anything that impacts the aesthetic elements of a site is termed “front end” development- the more skilled your designer, the better he or she will be at crafting the type site that appeals to your target customers.
“Back-end” website development (programming)
Back end development is the “behind the scenes” work: link building, site architecture, coding, information gatherings, and tracking functions are all termed “back end” web programming services. These techniques can be used in conjunction with an online marketing effort such as SEO (search engine optimization) a strategy that increases your site’s rankings on popular search engines such as Google and Yahoo. If you plan to sell products or make downloads available on your site, a good programmer or back-end developer is crucial.
The specific website development services you require will depend on your business and your existing website. Building a site from scratch is different than updating an existing one- the more complex or time consuming the project, the more the total cost will be.
Many designers also offer the following services:
Graphic design
Graphic design is a service offered by some web designers along with typical web design programming and development. Many web design companies have a certain graphic company they work with or recommend. If you’re a brand-new business owner, it can be helpful to have everything from logo design to site architecture done by the same company. However, you should realize that you can also hire a separate graphic designer or artist for work on custom logos, fonts, or designs that will be used on your site.
Web hosting provides a home, or location, for your site. Many web designers offer hosting services as part of a package or contract for design services. Make sure you know whether or not hosting services are included in your contract- you’ll need to seek hosting elsewhere before the site is launched. Most designers that do provide hosting will charge a monthly fee for the service.
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