According to a study by Clutch.co, about two-thirds (64%) of small businesses have a website. The reason? Customers today expect to find information about their favorite brands online, find new products fast, and get quick online customer service.
If you want to keep up with the quickly evolving marketplace, you need a fast, functional, and professional website. That’s where website development comes in.
What is Website Development?
Website development is the work involved in designing and building websites. Web development can range from simple, one-page websites to dynamic sites with hundreds of pages. The goal of these websites is to provide consumers with information and generate traffic and leads for businesses.
There are loads of web development tools, web development companies, and freelance web developers that can assist businesses in launching professional websites. If you need a new website or want to revamp your existing website, you should compare your options.
Types of Websites for Businesses
The possibilities for website development are endless, as each website is unique to each individual business. Different businesses have different needs when it comes to the size, functionality, and content involved in their website.
Portfolio
Portfolio websites are typically simple sites with ten pages or fewer and are often used by freelancers and artists to draw attention to their work. They usually have a home page, an about page, a portfolio page, and a contact page. These websites can be created using a template or from a custom website design.
Landing Pages
Landing pages are single web pages where a business might send traffic in order to convert visitors into leads or customers. A landing page might also be part of a sales funnel, which is a multi-page “website” that encourages visitors to subscribe, sign up, buy a product, etc.
Service / Agency Website
When most people think of websites, they picture the standard service-based website that consists of multiple pages, including several service pages. These are used by local businesses, law firms, digital marketing agencies, SaaS companies, and others that require multiple pages to describe their services. Once a user learns more about the business, they are then directed to the Contact page where they can reach the business directly.
Blogs
Many service businesses have a blog as part of their website, but blogs can stand alone as well. Travel bloggers, lifestyle bloggers, technology bloggers, and other blogging professionals can publish articles and generate traffic. Then, that traffic generates revenue through display ads, affiliate products, infographics, consulting, and more.
Enterprise Website
Corporate enterprises often require large websites because they have several locations offering a wide range of services or products. These websites can be quite complex and require the assistance of a professional web developer. Investing in a professional website can make a huge difference when it comes to generating online revenue.
E-Commerce
E-commerce businesses sell products online directly through their website. These websites require product category pages, individual product pages, and online purchasing capabilities. Users should be able to add an item to their cart, enter their information, and confirm their purchase.
The Website Development Process
The website development process looks a bit different depending on the type of website you are building. For simple sites, you might start with a domain name and a template; for more complex sites, you might require a custom build.
The general website development process looks like this:
- Purchase a domain name (the URL of your website).
- Hire a website developer or choose your website building software.
- Acquire website hosting.
- Design your website or enable your website design template.
- Add your logo and business photos.
- Add content to your website.
- Add online purchasing capabilities, contact forms, and contact information (as needed).
This process might seem simple, but it can be quite daunting if you have limited website design experience. To truly have a website that is functional, user-friendly, and fits the look that you want, we recommend you seek out a trusted website developer.
Website Development Services
When you work with a website developer or web design agency, they are able to handle every step in the website development process for you. You likely will need to collaborate on design choices and the functionality you want, but the right developer will be able to bring your vision to life.
If you are looking to launch your business website or redesign your existing site, consider investing in web development services. From website hosting to design to mobile optimization, Hennessey Digital will make sure your website is ready to start generating traffic and leads for your business.
