In today’s digital age, having a website is paramount for just about any business or individual looking to establish a presence online. A website can serve as a hub for information, a platform for eCommerce or a way to connect with others through social media.
However, creating and maintaining a website can seem like a really tough task for those who are new to the process and understandably don’t have the technical know-how. This guide aims to demystify website development and maintenance, providing a comprehensive overview of the steps involved. Later in the article, we’ll give tips on how to choose the right one from the many Sydney web developers around.
Step 1: Planning and Design
The first step in creating a website is to plan and design it. This covers determining the purpose of the website, identifying the target audience and deciding on the overall layout and functionality. It’s important to consider the user experience and to ensure that the website is easy to navigate for everyone.
Step 2: Development
The next step is to develop the website, and this involves coding the website using languages, such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript. It’s important to ensure that the website is responsive, meaning that it adjusts to the size of the user’s device, whether it’s a desktop computer, tablet or smartphone.
Step 3: Testing and Deployment
Once the website is developed, it’s important to test it to ensure that it functions as intended. This step involves checking for broken links, ensuring that the website is truly responsive and making sure that all forms and buttons work properly. Once the website is tested and any necessary changes are made, it can be deployed to a web server and made live.
Step 4: Maintenance
The final step is to maintain the website. This final step includes ensuring that the website is up-to-date, fixing any bugs and making any necessary updates to the design or functionality. It’s important to keep the website’s security measures updated all the time, as well as to monitor its performance and make any necessary optimisations.
Finding the Right Website Developer
There are several ways to find a suitable web developer for your project.
- Referrals – Ask friends, colleagues or other business owners for recommendations of web developers they have worked with in the past and were happy with.
- Online job platforms – Post a job listing on platforms, such as Upwork, Freelancer or Indeed to attract a pool of Sydney web developers to apply.
- Professional networks – Join professional groups or networks in your industry and ask for recommendations of web developers.
- Web developer communities – Look for web developer communities on platforms, such as Reddit, GitHub or Stack Overflow and ask for recommendations.
- Screening – Once you have a list of potential candidates, conduct phone screenings or interviews to determine their qualifications and if they would be a good fit for your project.
When looking for a web developer, it’s also important to consider their experience, skills and communication style. Lastly, you’ll need to see their portfolio to get a glimpse of how they work.
