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Once
you have the design, it's time to create a website.
On this page you can read about some of the technical
considerations in building a site.
The
basic 'language' a website is written in is called
HTML, short for HyperText Markup Language. There are
many other technologies used on the web as a supplement
to HTML. Knowing which of these to use and how to
apply them is the essence of good web development.
Speed
The
time it takes for your web pages to appear in the
browser is of critical importance. Statistics report
that the average web surfer will leave a site if they
don't see something interesting within 8 seconds.
Yet many sites, especially modern animated sites,
expect the user to wait much longer than that for
the site to load.
Database-Driven
Sites
If
you have a lot of information to put on the site,
or you want pages that can display different content
to different users, you will need to use a database
in conjunction with the website. These dynamic sites
require considerably more development time than ordinary
static sites, although with the advance of new technology
the difference is narrowing.
If
you have many documents (an online newspaper for example),
rather than create a whole web page for each one you
would have just one web page that would load each
document from the database as required. This is known as a Content Management System (CMS). It is a good setup for medium to large sites, the site requires more setting up, but is much easier to maintain.
e-Commerce
Sites
If
you want customers buying goods from your site, then
you want an e-commerce site. Here you have a site,
often database-driven, which accepts payments online
via credit card. There are many ways to accomplish
this, for example deciding whether to validate the
transaction online in real time, or as a batch afterwards.
Our Web
development services include:
- Site planning
and architecture
- User interface
design
- Graphics
production
- HTML, DHTML
and XHTML coding
- Flash and
animated multimedia development
- JavaScript
programming
- Database design and
programming (Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL and MS Access)
- Server-side
scripting (PERL, PHP and Adobe ColdFusion)
- Ecommerce
development and strategy
- Intelligent
search engine indexing and SEO
- Log file
analysis
- Managing website hosting
Develop
verb (t): to bring out the capabilities or possibilities of; bring to a more advanced or effective state.
The Development Process
A typical web site development
project proceeds in six phases:
- Research is the key to creating a successful online presence. During this phase, key decision
makers are interviewed. Scope of work, competition, market position, target audience and lines of business are discussed and the comprehensive
plan and marketing challenges are carefully reviewed.
- Strategy Development and Planning is essential to establishing emphasis, and goals for the project.
Basic site architecture is established, schedules and budgets are refined and essential resources are defined.
- Design Development is the process of exploring viable visual solutions compatible with the brand, the
goals of the project and the client. Through innovation and refinement a solution is developed and adapted to fit page variations within the
site.
- Implementation is the process of bringing full functionality to the established design and site
architecture. Visual elements are optimized and final text is established. The site is assembled with appropriate programming.
- Installation is complete when the Web site is fully functional and accessible on the Internet at the
address specified. Client is trained where necessary.
- Follow-up services are essential to drive web traffic to any new Web site. The new site is registered
with the major search engines and a baseline log file analysis is executed. Monitoring and maintenance are ongoing as needed.
Summary
The result of this process is a custom, communications instrument designed to give the exact impression desired and to accurately communicate
the client’s message for optimum effect. Our sites are designed to be flexible, scalable and easily updated. Complete files are stored
on duplicate records in separate locations.
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