Website Development: What to Watch Out For
07 / 21
When developing a website, several critical factors determine whether you’re getting your money’s worth. Quality, features, pre-made platforms, hosting packages, user training, and meeting deadlines are some of the most important considerations to ensure your investment is worthwhile.
In today's digital age, a website is an essential tool for any business looking to grow and reach a larger audience. However, for those unfamiliar with the intricacies of web development, it can be challenging to understand exactly what you’re paying for.
This article is designed for individuals who want a high-quality website but don’t necessarily understand the technical jargon. By the end of this guide, you'll know what to expect, what questions to ask, and how to select the right partner to ensure your website runs smoothly and meets your business needs.
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Key Considerations for Website Development
- Quality: What Makes a Website Great?
The most crucial aspect of any website is its functionality. If a website doesn’t operate correctly, no amount of aesthetic design can compensate. Here are the essential qualities of a high-performing website:
- Reliability: The site must run smoothly without errors.
- Aesthetics: Colors, shapes, fonts, and layouts should be harmonious, creating an appealing and professional look.
- User-Friendliness: Navigation should be intuitive, allowing users to easily find the information they need with minimal effort. Users today expect streamlined experiences, so avoid designs that feel like a "maze."
- SEO Friendliness: A website optimized for search engines (like Google) will rank higher in search results, increasing its visibility. This requires adherence to SEO best practices such as keyword optimization, mobile responsiveness, and fast loading times.
- Personalization: Your website should meet your specific needs. Whether it's a contact form, booking system, or e-commerce functionality, ensure the site serves your business objectives.
- Features: The Building Blocks of a Website
The features you choose for your website significantly impact its functionality and future scalability. Here are some critical features to consider:
- Content Management System (CMS): A dynamic website includes a CMS, allowing users to easily update content (text, images, videos, etc.) without needing technical expertise. This is crucial for businesses that regularly update their websites.
- Responsive Design: A responsive website adapts to the user’s device, whether it’s a mobile phone, tablet, or desktop computer. This is essential in today’s mobile-first world, where users expect websites to display correctly on all devices.
- Scalability: Consider whether the website can accommodate new features in the future. Can it evolve as your business grows? Ensuring flexibility in design is crucial for long-term success.
- Pre-Made Platforms: What to Know About WordPress
WordPress is one of the most popular website platforms, powering over 64 million websites globally. While it offers significant benefits, it also comes with risks, particularly regarding security.
- Security Risks: WordPress is a favorite target for hackers due to its widespread use. While the platform itself is regularly updated to fix vulnerabilities, many third-party plugins—add-ons that enhance website functionality—can introduce security gaps. With over 40,000 plugins available, it’s essential to choose trusted and well-maintained ones.
- Hacking Statistics: In 2018, WordPress accounted for 90% of hacked websites. This statistic emphasizes the importance of securing your site and regularly updating plugins and themes to prevent vulnerabilities.
- Hosting Packages: The Foundation of Performance
Choosing the right hosting package is crucial to your website’s performance. Even the best-designed site can suffer from slow loading speeds, traffic limitations, or downtime if the hosting service isn't up to par.
- Loading Speed: A slow website frustrates users and can harm your search engine rankings. Ensure your hosting package provides enough resources for fast performance.
- Storage and Bandwidth: If your site exceeds its traffic or storage limits, visitors may experience issues such as inability to access the site or download files. Choose a package that offers adequate resources for your current needs and allows for future growth.
- Training: Learning to Manage Your Website
Once your website is live, you may want to manage it yourself, updating content or making minor adjustments. It's essential to be trained in how to use the CMS effectively.
- Developer Support: Ensure that your web developer is willing to train you in using the website’s management system. Ask how much time they will dedicate to this and whether they will be available for questions in the future.
- Adherence to Deadlines: Staying on Track
When commissioning a website, two key agreements are made: the timeline for completion and the cost. It’s vital that both parties honor these commitments to avoid project delays or budget overruns. If a developer consistently misses deadlines, it can strain the relationship and potentially lead to the termination of the agreement.
Ongoing Support: What to Expect
Support is one of the most critical factors in a successful website partnership. Before hiring a web development company, ask about the type of support they offer. Here’s what to look for:
- Availability: Will they be available to answer your questions or assist with problems promptly? Do they offer customer service beyond regular office hours?
- Transparency: When issues arise, are they honest about the cause and how they plan to resolve it? Good communication is key to a smooth, ongoing relationship.
- Feature Requests: It's important to note that adding new features to a website is not considered standard technical support and usually comes with additional costs. Just like upgrading a car with leather seats is an extra expense, website enhancements require time and resources that go beyond typical support services.
We hope this article has clarified what to consider before purchasing a website, the questions to ask to ensure your money is well spent, and some key technical terms to understand.
If you’re interested in a custom-built website that meets your unique business needs, runs smoothly, and is supported by a dedicated team, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear your ideas and help you bring them to life.
22 / 07 / 21
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