As a leading web design company in Australia, we are often asked how websites work and about the different types of website management systems that are available. In this post we will shed some light on these topics, giving you a greater appreciation of your website.
What is a website?
A website is one or more pages that are stored on a server (large computer) and connected to the internet by the server. For a website to exist, you need to register a domain name (address of the site), set up web hosting (a place to store your website and related settings), and then create the website, of course. You can purchase domain names and hosting through many web design companies in Australia and if you contact us at GO Creative, we can sort this out for you.
How do you create a website?
Today, most websites consist of hundreds or even thousands of files which contain code known as HTML, along with a database where the website settings and content are stored. HTML code provides the structure of the website, as well as the pages, posts, images, videos, text and other content. The design (colours, fonts and layout) is controlled by a different type of code called CSS, whilst JavaScript is yet another type of code, and is generally used to control menus, animations and other effects.
There are many considerations when creating a website, such as the design, navigational structure, functionality on phones/tablets, search engines (like Google), scalability, and more. This is why website development should be left to professionals in all instances, otherwise it’s simply a waste of time and money.
Software options
There are a variety of software packages available to create websites, some of which allow you to create your website online (though generally this isn’t the ideal way to do it). Others allow you to download the software, installing it on a website hosting account, configuring it, setting up the design, the content and so on.
The latter option gives you much more control over the design and allows an endless number of customisations, which are perfect for businesses. The most popular website software (also known as a CMS or Content Management System) for businesses and bloggers is WordPress, but you can also use Joomla, Drupal, Magneto, OpenCart and CMS Made Simple, among countless others.
How long does it take to create a website?
This varies quite a lot. Some “cut price” website developers use pre-designed templates and have lots of limitations which means they can slap out a website in a matter of days. They’re usually cheap, but like everything in life, you get what you pay for. Any reputable website developer would take at least a couple of weeks to create a website, because there are so many tasks involved in creating a high quality website. For example, we have a standardised development process which includes more than 200 individual tasks, some of which take five minutes, while others can take several hours or even days.
How visitors find your website
Once you’ve created your website, people can access it by typing in the address directly into their browser, clicking on a link to your website from another site or email, or through search engines. Search engines such as Google, Yahoo or Bing, scour the internet for new websites, which is why your website appears in the search engine results pages.
Can we help with your website?
If you’re in the market for a professional web design company in Australia with a proven record for creating successful websites, call GO Creative on 07 3333 2932 or or get a free instant online quote.
