For the sake of saving money, business owners are sometimes tempted to choose a canned website, or rather websites that are built using free or purchased website templates. While most business owners are on the lookout for ways to save a buck, the upside of saving some money in the short-term can't compare to the many ways a business will benefit from a custom website created by a team of experienced web developers.
In particular, when you work with a web development company that has a team of knowledgeable programmers, the sky is the limit in terms of what it is that your business' website can be made to do for you.
The first in a two-part series, today's post will describe what it is that a programmer does, for anyone who doesn't eat, sleep and breathe this stuff, and how the skills that they possess have a crucial part to play in the creation of high-performing, custom websites.
What's a Programmer?
To put it simply, programmers write computer software. The terms 'programmers,' 'web developers' and 'coders' are often used interchangeably, but all describe someone who determines how the source code for a computer program is designed, written, tested and maintained. Say what?! A programmer can create software that produces or performs any specific behaviour or function.
Really, programming is what's at the heart of a custom website; if a business requires a website that's capable of performing a specific function, web developers use various programming languages to create custom software. The web developers also create a user-friendly interface so that anyone who doesn't read code can understand and interact with the software via point-and-click menus - in other words, the prettier, packaged up version of a website!
Why does a Programmer's Skill Set Matter for Your Business?
When it comes to building a website, there are several reasons anyone who owns a business should want a programmer's skills on their side. Check them out:
A Custom Design: Whereas you might only get to choose the colour scheme of a canned website, a web development company can create a site that is unique to your business, something that's vital for building your brand.
A Site that's Found in Search Engines: The way a website is coded will determine how search-engine friendly it is. If the whole point of owning a website is to generate more leads and sales for your business, it's pretty crucial for your site to be found in search engines like Google.
A Site that's Adaptable & Scalable: A programmer's skills allow them to create websites that can be adapted and scaled for future growth. For a business that doesn't currently have the budget
to build a website with all the pages, features and functions they'll need in the future, this is a major upside to working with developers. I don't know many businesses that aren't planning to grow and expand their operations down the road, so this should be a pretty important factor in your decision. Website templates just aren't as adaptable.
So there you have it, the nitty-gritty on what it is that web developers do and how their skills can be leveraged to benefit your business. Stay tuned for my next post where I'll be describing the many programming languages that Saltmedia's developers have mastered, and why it is that they matter for your business' online presence.
To learn about the ways your business can benefit from working with the dynamic team that is Saltmedia, please give us a call: (780) 539-SALT.
We live, work, and gather on traditional, unceded, and treaty territories of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples from coast to coast to coast. We’re committed to our collective responsibility to the original caretakers of this land and to listening, learning, and acting in ways that support reconciliation.
