5 Most Common Ways to Build a Website
5 Different Approaches To Creating a Website
It is important to state before we start that the creation of your website is just one of the steps in the web design process and it’s not the first one! So I would really recommend reviewing the web design process first to make sure you are adequately prepared for this stage. So many people jump straight in at this stage and waste a lot of their time because they have not completed the previous steps in the process so don’t say you weren’t warned. Now with that little rant over, lets look at your options for creating the website.
There are 5 main ways to create a website and although not all of them require knowledge of HTML and CSS it is definitely better if you have at least a basic understanding of them.
The 5 ways to create a website are.
- programme it yourself
- get a website template
- use a website builder
- utilise a CMS
- hire a web designer
Now that we know each of our website creation options, let’s explore each of them in more detail.
Programme it from scratch
If you already have good HTML and CSS skills or perhaps you are a web design or multimedia student in the process of learning HTML and CSS then this is a good option for you. Programming a website from scratch is also the most cost effective of the 5 options discussed in this article however it is also the most time consuming option.
To help with this approach there are a number of very good code editor programmes available online such as Komodo Edit, which is an excellent free code editor which you can use to make programming your own website a little easier.
Start with a template
If you really want to program the website yourself but need a little bit of a helping hand getting started then perhaps a website template is the way to go, just be sure to get a responsive template to ensure your website is as user friendly as possible. This is also a great option if your programming skills are better than your design skills as you can keep the templates design features and use your programming skills to edit the content to suit your website needs.
You can choose from an amazing 100 free responsive website templates here. So a website template is definitely a great idea, especially for new web designers, just be sure to customise it as, a bit like a stock photograph being used in a poster, it can appear stale and without character in it’s raw, template state.
Use a website builder
Website builders advertise themselves as the easiest and quickest method to create a website. Companies like SquareSpace, Wix and Weebly are the best options for this approach and they both offer a starter package where you can get online with a free sub-domain name and free hosting. Although on the surface it may seem like a good choice, in my opinion, this is not a good option.
Website builders always seem to result in very rigid web designs, the free domain name is not a full domain and they tend to overcharge you for a full domain name. You often need to upgrade to a paid account to get a custom domain too and the monthly or yearly pricing structure is usually quite expensive. Bandwidth restriction, custom ads and extra storage space are other things that often need to be paid to unlock. In summary, this wouldn’t be a choice I’d recommend.
Utilise a Content Management System
This would be my recommended option. CMS for short, content management systems are similar to, and often confused with, website builders. The difference being a CMS website design and structure is often created by a web designer first before being handed over to a client who only has access to a front end to make any required updates.
However, if you have learned some HTML and CSS, you can take charge and create the website design and structure yourself using systems like Blogger and WordPress. Which one of these is better is constantly being debated online with my personal preference being Blogger (read why).
Then there are eCommerce platforms like Shopify that act as a website builder, CMS and online store all in one. This is a great option if you are hoping to sell online and with Shopify you get a 14 day trial to test out the platform before you even have to consider moving to a paid plan.
Whichever you choose, there are many others available too, this is a great option which offers you templates to get started, widgets to drag and drop in while still having access to the HTML and CSS to make advanced or specific changes and tweaks.
Hire a web designer
If you don’t have the time to learn how to build a website or you need to have complex functions or a very specific look for your website and you have a budget, then you will want to outsource the work.
Be careful who you hire, though. A poorly developed website can cost you money, drive away customers, and hurt your reputation. Following a few basic steps will increase your odds of hiring a creative, technically savvy, and cost-effective design firm or freelancer.
Much of your choice of designers depends on whether you want to work locally with someone, or whether you are willing to work remotely with them over the phone. Here are some things to think and ask about when hiring a website designer. If you would like to hire a web designer then we can proudly recommend Opus Web Design.
5 Different Approaches To Creating a Website Reviewed by Opus Web Design on August 11, 2016 Rating: 5
5 Most Common Ways to Build a Website
Building a website requires some technical skills First of all, you have to understand how web hosting and web development work. People buy and build websites for many different reasons. Obviously, this reason usually defines the approach to the matter. If you want a personal blog don’t have to get into that many details as if you had to if you wanted to build a business website or an online marketplace.
Web development is a well-payed job, especially if you have fruitful experience and an impressive set of skills. This is because companies have budgets for this and are ready to hire experts to get good results fast. To get a tailored-made business website, you’d want to hire full stack developer who has been doing this for a living. In case you are not really looking for something made specifically for you, there are other options to choose from. Let’s go one by one now to take a better look at each of them.
Table of Contents
Using a Content Management System
Probably the most popular step to take when you need your one website is to use a content management system (CMS) – more steps at Forbes. Once you bought and hosted a domain, you can install WordPress, Joomla to build your website at ease. You don’t need to be a technical guru to do it! This option is a good choice if you need a small business website, a blog, or something else.
There are thousands of plugins you can buy or use for free to customize your website. You can add new features like sliders, galleries or extend the functionality of your website with these simple plugins. For example, you can have such a WordPress chat plugin on your website. Of course, not all of them are easy to use but at least it doesn’t require knowing a programming language to do things like that. If you need something really comprehensive with rich functionality and advanced efficiency, you might want to consider other options as well.
Using a Web Development Company
It’s obvious that successful companies that have a profitable business wouldn’t want to do something like this by themselves. It’s wiser to use a professional service provider for that. Eventually, this is faster and you get exactly what you requested. There are hundreds of companies all over the world offering all sorts of web development services. This is their business and they already have the team for it.
This option requires a certain budget. A team like that can produce a fully operational website for you in relatively short terms. Usually, the only thing you need to do this is a technical assignment. It’s basically a list of requirements you can share. Specify the features you want to get and functionally your website has to have. A professional web development team would be able to work with that. Once your technical assignment is clear, the development process begins.
Hiring Web Developers Yourself
Hiring a web development company is something that suits all companies. Some of them have their own designers and simply want to hire a web developer to finish the job. This is also ok because modern companies use newer hiring models and are able to provide you with missing tech experts. This is if you are using an IT staffing company that has offshore developers.
There are plenty of ways to hire designers and developers. It’s possible to build a website by hiring them by yourself. All you need is to know where to look for them. You can use Linkedin, freelance platforms, or other resources to connect with professionals. Still, you might end up wasting a lot of time on unqualified people or you’ll have trouble managing a few people at the same time.
Building a Website From Scratch Yourself
If you don’t want to spend one more penny than you actually have to, this option is definitely for you. Looking for a smart, something simple to start with? A lot of companies provide free or paid-for website builders. This means that after hosting a website you get access to an intuitive tool that helps you build your simple website. Additionally, you can use websites like Blogspot to host your website as well. You would get a subdomain but it is very simple and easy to do.
If you don’t mind getting into the basics of web development, you might want to consider learning the basics – HTML and CSS. This would give you an opportunity to build your website from scratch by yourself. You can start by having one page with simple CSS and layout and go on from there. There are plenty of online lessons and information on the web on what you need to start.
How to Choose the Right Approach
If you are not sure which option is the best for you, here’s a small conclusion. Figure out the key requirements you can think of and write them down. Go through each option again and figure out if it gets it covered. If you can’t do it yourself, this means you need a better technical background and your website is not as simple as you thought.
Most simple websites like blogs, personal websites, or some business websites don’t require a lot of customization so having a CMS would be the best option. If your website requires some and you are unsure if a CMS and its plugins will cover you, hire professionals. If you have a budget but want to get the best price/quality ratio, use an offshore IT staffing company. The last one will provide you with a team and management to build your website without spending a fortune.
https://www.onlinedesignteacher.com/2016/07/5-different-approaches-to-creating.html
https://www.computertechreviews.com/5-most-common-ways-to-build-a-website/