It doesn’t matter how involved you are in the world of website development – you’ve likely heard of a dozen tools that can help you build stunning websites quickly. Shopify, WordPress, Squarespace, Wix… the list goes on.
This brings us to a big question: if the everyday person can create websites using these platforms, does anyone really need to hire a web developer anymore?
The answer is yes – professional web development services are as necessary as ever, but many SMB owners fail to recognize the true importance of web developers.
In today’s blog post, we’re diving into the web developer’s role and how it can impact the success of your own website. The latest DIY platforms may offer a plethora of built-in tools and themes, but you still need a pro web developer in your corner for a myriad of reasons.
First Things First: What is a Web Developer?
Before we start talking about the role of web developers in business success, we want you to understand what they are – beyond “people who know how to write code.”
A web developer specializes in maintaining and designing websites and web applications. Most developers possess a range of technical skills, including expertise in common programming languages (such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.), database management, and web development frameworks.
Using their precise skills and knowledge, full-stack web developers are responsible for designing, building, and optimizing website functionality and usability. More visibly, they work with business owners to custom-tailor visually appealing websites that match overarching brand aesthetics.
Many people are surprised to realize that a full-stack web developer doesn’t just work behind the scenes. They often need to collaborate and communicate effectively with store owners and other team members to make a website exactly what it needs to be. The best web developers spend hours (if not days) nailing down website design requirements, client needs, and many factors involved in project management.
The bottom line: the role of a web developer encompasses far more than simply writing code for websites. If you haven’t already, deciding to work with a web developer is a crucial step in shaping your online presence and digital success.
This brings us to the real meat of our blog post. Let’s explore a few of the key ways in which a web developer will support the success of your business.
✓ True Site Customization
There are a staggering 1.1 billion websites in the world, and although up to 82% are inactive, that still leaves hundreds of millions of sites to compete against. Even if you narrow that number down to sites specifically within your industry, the competition still numbers in the hundreds of thousands.
To put it simply, if you want to stand out, you need a website design that’s as original as your brand.
That’s one of the core issues with solely using standard website templates. Shopify and its peers might offer some nice-looking designs, but at the end of the day, they’re not going to give you the level of customization you need – visually or functionally.
One of the biggest ways a web developer will help your business succeed is by ensuring your website is fully tailored to meet your needs and preferences. That doesn’t just mean they create a unique theme – they also make your website unique through…
- One-of-a-kind layouts
- A custom domain
- Personalized product pages
- Careful widget placement
- Fun interactive elements
- Special checkout processes or filters
- Advanced search functionalities
- Integrated third-party services
It doesn’t matter if you’re running an eCommerce store or a basic company website – your website shouldn’t look like anyone else’s and should serve your distinctive goals. Without the help of a professional web developer, you’ll likely struggle to create web content that adequately suits your preferences, objectives, and customer demands.
✓ UX Optimization Through Data Analysis
Speaking of customer demands, you need to know what your customers want in order to tailor your website’s experience to their preferences. That means collecting lots of data, interpreting it, and making website alterations in accordance with your findings.
Who can help with that? You guessed it – a talented web developer.
By analyzing user behavior and feedback, a web developer can identify pain points, understand customer preferences, and make informed decisions when it comes to improving your website’s user experience (UX).
From website analytics tools to heatmaps and A/B testing, your web developer will have plenty of tricks up their sleeves to help you get to know users. Not only will this information allow you to customize your site to your users’ specific desires, but it will also help you…
- Understand how users interact with your products
- Optimize your conversion rates
- Personalize certain web pages based on user demographics
- Learn what kind of content your users like (and dislike)
- Prioritize user-friendly features across the website
Regardless of your industry, listening to and accommodating user feedback is a great way to boost your business’s success – especially when it comes to your website design. A full-stack web developer will help you gather data, interpret it, and put it to good use for an improved user interface.
✓ Ongoing Strategies for Conversions
Creating a beautiful website might seem easy thanks to today’s digital tools – but that doesn’t mean generating conversions is a walk in the park. When you’re building a website, you need to think about how it will encourage sales for years to come.
As we just mentioned, a web developer will help you tailor your website to meet user expectations, but that’s just the first step in facilitating strong conversion rates. Using a deep understanding of data and web technologies, your developer will also…
- Continuously monitor and improve your website’s speed
- Ensure you have a mobile-friendly website with a responsive design
- Help your website render properly on multiple devices
- Implement dynamic content and integrate graphics
- Optimize forms to make them enjoyable/simple for users
- Adding easy-to-use navigation menus
Additionally, most full-stack web developers will set up and integrate conversion tracking tools to help you stay on top of your sales – likely through Google Analytics. This will help you understand what’s contributing to conversions (and what’s not).
A professional web developer’s job isn’t just that of a website architect, but also that of a long-term strategist. The average business site’s conversion rate falls under 5% – if you want your own website to beat the odds, you need the help of a professional web developer.
✓ Security and Data Protection
There’s one last part of the web developer’s job we need to address: defending your website.
Security and data protection are of utmost importance for business websites, especially if they handle sensitive data such as customer data and financial transactions. Cyberattacks against small businesses have been on the rise in recent years, and without the help of a detail-oriented web developer, you’ll struggle to keep your business safe.
How does a web development team protect your eCommerce site? There are many ways, but some of the top website security methods include…
- Installing defenses against data breaches and hacking attempts
- Achieving data privacy compliance with federal regulations
- Implementing payment methods that meet PCI DSS compliance standards
- Safeguarding intellectual property (proprietary product designs, etc.).
Of course, these safety measures aren’t just for your benefit, but for that of your customers. Shoppers feel more comfortable shopping at an online store that has proper website security measures – and they’re unlikely to repeatedly support websites that have been hacked.
The truth is that web development platforms like WordPress don’t necessarily build safe websites. In fact, research back in 2020 found that up to 90% of hacked websites were backed by WordPress – so you can’t solely rely on your site’s platform to keep each web page secure.
Working with a full-stack developer to bolster your site’s defenses is the best way to decrease your risk, regardless of which eCommerce platform you’re using. When it comes to the safety of your business and customers, there’s no reason to cut corners with web development.
Find a Web Developer for Your Business – Today
Many web development platforms, like Shopify and WordPress, want you to believe you can create and maintain websites without the help of a professional. Although you might be able to do so in the early stages, as your business grows, you’ll eventually need to hire a web developer.
If you’re on the hunt for a trusted web developer for your site, let’s talk. The Design Staff team is highly experienced when it comes to various projects involving web design and development.
If you’re not convinced in regard to the value of professional web development, schedule a free consultation today. We’ll show you first-hand how our web designers and developers will support your business site, provide quality service, and perhaps make your life easier.
