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When you get a new website you may see web design and web development listed separately on the quote. While they may seem very similar it is important to understand the difference between the two, and why both are vital for the proper working of your website.
So what is the difference between web design and web development? The simple answer is that the design is purely how the website looks, and development is how the website works and is built. However, in practice it is rarely as simple as this, and the skills of the person creating your website are likely to be wide ranging, especially if your hire a freelancer or a small company. The size of the company is important as the role of designers and developers is largely dependent on the structure of the team. Larger companies will tend to have separate design and development teams, allowing designers to create the design of the website in a program like Photoshop, and then pass it onto the development team to build as a website. While someone working freelance will often do both the design and build of the website.
For example, here at WebBoss we have our design team, who work alongside the development team at WebBoss.io, and as we are all usually working within the one room, the teams work seamlessly together. Our teams have knowledge of both design and development, and this allows us to blend the features together to create a beautifully finished product.
Usually the designers will begin websites using Photoshop, this allows them to easily add or edit different elements that make up the whole design, such as colours, layouts, and fonts. Once the design has been signed off by the customer, the designer will start to implement the design for the website. As we use the proprietary WebBoss.io system the majority of the website build is complete, allowing the designers to add their design quickly. For freelancers using an open source platform such as WordPress, they will usually begin the process in the same way, but when it comes to the build of the website, they will need to have some development skills to get the design fully implemented, and may use a template to base the design upon as this makes the building of the website easier.
While the designers are busy doing what they do best, the developers will be involved in creating any extra functionality that is not already part of the system. Here at WebBoss, our developers also focus on improving and developing the WebBoss.io system with new features and modules. Freelance developers may find that they are developing some complex functionality for websites from scratch, or else researching, installing, and customising plugins to ensure the customer has the required functionality.
This is of course a generalisation, and so won't be true for all designers and developers, and will depend on a number of factors (such as level of functionality required, and what platform is being used for your website). For example, similar to many freelancers, our designers know the basic coding languages like HTML and CSS. Developers will be able to work with HTML and CSS as well, but will use other coding languages such as Javascript and PHP to create working features for the website. One of our developers even began his career as a designer before moving on to development, so many skills can be transferable.
At the end of the day the simplest way to know the difference is to ask yourself these questions:
Does it affect how the website works? If so, it's probably development.
Is it more about how the website looks? If so, it's probably design.
If you're still unsure and have a question about your website, we can direct your query to the correct team to find the answer you're looking for.
Cyber attacks happen every day and are probably more common than most people think. While many still have the image of a lonely hacker hunched over their computer fiercely typing to gain your information, for a while now everything has been run by automated programs, meaning that more people can be affected. Therefore internet security should be at the forefront of everyone's mind. With the increasing number of cyber-attacks and data breaches, it's important to take steps to protect your personal information and sensitive data. Here are a few tips for better internet security. Passwords One of the most important things you can do to secure your online presence is to use strong, unique passwords. Where possible you should avoid using the same password for multiple accounts, and make sure your passwords are difficult to guess. This is where a password manager can be useful so that you no longer need to remember the passwords for all your different accounts. There are a range of different password managers available (both free and paid for), so it's worth taking the time to find one that works well for you. Some of these will even create a random password for you to help increase the security of your account. If however, you would prefer to create a password yourself it should: be at least 8 characters long include uppercase letters include lowercase letters include numbers include symbols. Be email aware We have all been told many times to not click on links or attachments that we are unsure of when we receive an email. This is because it is still a very popular method for cyber criminals to obtain sensitive information. These links could look official but actually be part of a phishing scam to get your details, or an attachment in an email could easily be a virus (if you ever see an attachment with ".exe" DO NOT click on it, mark the email as spam and delete it). Therefore, ensure that the sender is legitimate and double-check the link before clicking on it (you can usually do this by hovering your mouse over the link, and it will show its destination either in a bubble above it or in the bottom corner of your screen). Additionally, be cautious of emails that request personal data or login credentials. Antivirus software Having antivirus software on your device is an essential step in protecting yourself against cyber threats. Antivirus software helps to detect and remove potentially harmful programs that can damage your device, steal your personal information, or compromise your online security. These programs can include viruses, spyware, malware, and ransomware. Without antivirus software, your device is vulnerable to attacks from these types of programs. By installing and regularly updating antivirus software, you can help prevent these threats and keep your device and personal information safe. Software Updates Another important consideration is to ensure that your software is kept up to date. This is because software updates often include security patches and fixes for vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers. Making sure to update your operating system, web browser, and other software regularly helps to ensure that you have the latest security updates. Multifactor Authentication Multifactor Authentication (MFA) or Two Factor Authentication (2FA) is a popular method of protecting your online accounts. It requires an additional form of authentication, beyond your login details, to confirm that it is you who is accessing the account. This additional authentication can be in the form of an email or text message with a code, or by using a third-party authentication app. Keep an eye out for this feature coming soon to your WebBoss website! Virtual Private Network While a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can sound a bit daunting for some, it is a great online security tool to have. VPNs work by encrypting your internet traffic, which makes it more difficult for h...
A well-designed and informative website can serve as a great marketing tool, but unfortunately, it's not enough to have a website; you need to ensure your potential customers can find it. SEO is the key to achieving higher visibility on search engines such as Google and is critical for online success. Here we will introduce the basics of SEO, explaining the importance of keywords, meta tags, and quality content in improving search engine rankings and attracting organic traffic. What is SEO? So let's start at the beginning: what is SEO? SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation and is the practice of ensuring you have certain elements on your website to improve its visibility on search engines. Ideally, when someone searches for a keyword or phrase related to your business, you want your website to appear at the top of the search results, preferably on the first page. SEO involves a range of strategies and techniques that help search engines understand your website's content. Keywords Keywords are the words and phrases users type into search engines to find information, products, or services. To get started with your keywords, follow these essential steps: 1. Keyword ResearchStart by researching relevant keywords for your business by considering what your potential customers might search for. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can help you identify popular keywords for your industry and can be a great starting point. 2. Target the Right KeywordsOnce you have a list of keywords, you will need to pick the ones that are most relevant to your business. Your focus should be on long-tail keywords (phrases with multiple words) as they are often less competitive and more specific to what your user is searching for. 3. Keyword PlacementNow that you have picked your keywords, you need to use these naturally throughout your website's content. This should include the main body text, as well as your page titles, headings, image alt text, and meta descriptions, which will all be crawled by bots to identify your content. 4. Avoid Keyword StuffingWhile it may be tempting to use a lot of keywords in an attempt to rank higher (known as keyword stuffing), this can actually lead to search engine penalties and lower-ranking pages. Keyword stuffing can create a poor user experience, so while keywords are important, don't overdo it. Creating Quality Content You may have heard the phrase "Content is King" when it comes to SEO, and while things may have moved forward a bit since this phrase was coined it is still true: quality content is the cornerstone of effective SEO. 1. Informative and RelevantYour content should address the needs and interests of your target audience. Try to write informative content, blog posts, and product descriptions that are relevant to your business. 2. High-Quality WritingEnsure that your content is well-written and free of spelling and grammatical errors. Use clear and concise language to convey your message. 3. Unique and OriginalWhile it may be useful to get a starting point using an AI content generator try to edit and adjust the content provided so that it fits your company branding and voice, showcasing your expertise that a bot is not going to understand. This also ensures that it won't be too similar to your competitors. 4. User-FriendlyYour content should be easy to read. Try structuring your content using bullet points and subheadings, as well as limiting your use of technical jargon which may alienate your audience. Finally, make sure to use multimedia elements like images, videos, and infographics to enhance the user experience. Optimising Meta Tags Meta tags are essential for SEO, providing search engines with important information about your website's content. There are two key meta tags you need to optimise: Title tags, and meta descriptions. 1. Title TagsThe title tag is the text that appears in the browser's title bar and as the clickable link in search engine results. In the Web...
miki boarer | 24th January 2024 | Blogging
We use the internet every day, it has become so ingrained in our daily routine that even our household appliances use it, but have you ever considered the environmental impact of your online activities? The increasing use of the internet has led to a surge in demand for web hosting, resulting in higher energy consumption and carbon emissions. This has an impact on our environment, and so to address this issue green web hosting has emerged as a sustainable alternative to conventional hosting services. At WebBoss, we take pride in hosting all our websites using 100% green renewable energy. Here are a few reasons why we believe it's important to do so. Energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction are major concerns for web hosting companies. Traditional web hosting relies heavily on energy-intensive data centres, which contribute significantly to carbon emissions. Internet usage causes around 3.7% of all carbon emissions, which is the same as air travel. Green web hosting providers prioritise renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power instead of using traditional methods such as coal for energy. By harnessing clean energy, these providers significantly reduce their carbon footprint, helping to combat climate change and promote a more sustainable digital infrastructure. Conserving natural resources is critical in the context of conventional web hosting. This is because the technology used in web hosting, such as servers and networking equipment, requires a significant amount of raw materials. In contrast, green web hosting companies prioritise recycling practices and use energy-efficient hardware. This reduces the demand for new resources and minimises the amount of electrical equipment going to waste. By adopting these practices, web hosting companies align with the principles of a circular economy, which emphasises efficient resource use and waste reduction. As consumers are becoming more aware of the ethical practices of the companies they use, they are voting with their wallets and putting their faith in companies that share their environmental values. At WebBoss, we have made a conscious decision to use green web hosting to demonstrate our commitment to corporate social responsibility and to attract like-minded environmentally conscious businesses and individuals. By choosing WebBoss as a green hosting provider, users can support our efforts to build a more sustainable internet without any additional costs. This way, they can align their online presence with their values. Rather than being the more expensive option, green web hosting can actually help businesses to save money. Energy-efficient data centres reduce their operational expenses, and these savings can be passed on to customers. Data centres can even sell the excess renewable energy back to the grid. Therefore, opting for a sustainable web hosting solution is not only environmentally friendly, but it can also be financially beneficial for businesses of all sizes. Governments worldwide are acknowledging the adverse impact of data centres on the environment, and consequently, they are implementing regulations to encourage the adoption of green practices. Selecting a green web hosting provider puts your business in a position to comply with existing and future environmental regulations, which may qualify you for incentives while demonstrating your commitment to sustainability. As we plan for our business, we should be mindful of the impact that our online activities have on the environment. One crucial step towards creating an eco-friendly and sustainable internet is to opt for green website hosting. By choosing green hosting, we can all play our part in creating a cleaner and greener future. At WebBoss, we are proud to offer green hosting as our default option at no additional cost. We started on this journey of environmental responsibility, and we invite you to join us as we continue to promote sustainable practices. If you ...
| 01st November 2023 | Blogging
The holiday season is fast approaching, and now is the perfect time to prepare your online shop for the festive rush. With consumers on the lookout for unique gifts, a well-prepared online store is essential to make sure you can make the most of this lucrative season. With this step-by-step guide, we'll help you get your online shop ready for Christmas! Once your shop is ready, we've even provided a few suggestions to help with your social media to attract visitors and boost sales. Step 1: Deck the Digital Halls Before you can even start promoting your online shop for Christmas, you have to make your website Christmas-ready. Here's what you can do: Update Your Website Design: This can be as simple as adding snow to your existing website design using the custom tag already available in the system, or changing more to suit your needs. Adding festive elements like Christmas banners, themed colours, and Christmas-themed product images. Remember to check your website's responsiveness for mobile devices (you can do this with the admin), so that you don't miss out on sales. Optimise for Speed: A slow website can deter potential customers. Optimise your site's loading speed to provide a seamless shopping experience. Step 2: Stock Up Now that your website is looking festive, it's time to style your Christmas inventory: Introduce Limited Editions: Everyone loves a limited edition product, especially at Christmas. Unique holiday-themed items can create a sense of urgency and excitement. For instance, a limited edition Christmas mug or ornament. Stock Up on Your Bestsellers: While limited editions are fun, your most popular products will most likely still be your bestsellers, so make sure you have enough in stock to meet the demand. Create Gift Sets: Make gift sets by bundling related products and offering them at a discounted price. For example, if you sell skincare products, create a "Winter Skincare Set" with moisturisers and lip balms. Step 3: Spread The Word Through Social Media Now your website and products are ready, let's get the word out about your Christmas offerings with social media. If you are stuck for ideas here are some examples: Teaser Posts: "It's the most wonderful time of the year! Watch this space for exclusive holiday deals and surprises." "Something magical is coming to [Your Shop Name] this Christmas! Stay tuned for a sneak peek. " Product Posts: Share high-quality images of your Christmas products with catchy captions like: "Get in the festive spirit with our stunning [Product Name]. Limited stock available!" Ask your customers for reviews and use their user-generated content (with permission) to show real customers enjoying your products. Promotional Posts: "Our Christmas Sale Starts Now! Enjoy [Percentage]% off on all Christmas-themed items until [End Date]. Use code: Xmas23 at checkout." "For only 24 hours our [insert bestseller] will be 25% off!" Countdown Posts: Create anticipation with countdown posts like, "Only 2 more days to order to guarantee delivery by Christmas! Have you finished your holiday shopping yet?" Post daily or weekly countdown updates with engaging graphics. Step 4: Spread the Cheer with Email Marketing Make the most of the Communicate feature and incorporate email marketing into your Christmas strategy: Send a Festive Newsletter: Highlight your holiday products, promotions, custom promo codes, and shipping deadlines. Include beautiful product images paired with content to create a call to action they can't refuse! Personalised Recommendations: Use customer data to suggest Christmas gifts based on their previous purchases or browsing history. Step 5: Customer Service and Support As you get busier this holiday season it is important to keep on top of your customer service, here are our tips: Provide Quick Responses: Respond promptly to customer inquiries, and consider creating an FAQ section or even implementin...