Web Development
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Expert Web Developers
Web development services take a concept or a design and turn it into a functional website. It’s one thing to have a great new design for your new site. Now it has to be built. That’s the job of a web developer or a web development company.
Every Tom, Dick, and Harry who does websites calls themselves a web designer. But you don’t go to someone to just get a design. You expect a fully-developed, functioning website. Web development is a whole other skill set than designing and there is a great deal that goes into custom web development services.
At thirteen05 creative, we have staff specializing in web design and other staff that are experts at web development. It is very rare to find one person who is good at both design and website development services.
At thirteen05 creative, we are more than just a web development company. We have been designing AND developing websites since 2003. In that time we’ve worked with hundreds of companies of all sizes and in almost every industry imaginable.
Learn more about our web development services and the web development process we employ to deliver world-class web development solutions to our clients.
A Little Web Development History
When we started building websites in 2003, web development was a simple matter. Websites were built for a certain screen size – 800 x 600 was the standard for web development projects in those days. If you had a bigger screen, the website would have blank spaces on the side, or maybe some pretty texture.
Sites were created directly in HTML, the language of websites. There were no smartphones, no iPads, no mobile browsers. No tablets. In many respects, web development services were one-size-fits-all.
Available functions were limited. Security? What security? Online stores were in their infancy. Many things we take for granted were up in the air in those days. Your menu might be at the top, at either side, or in a circle in the middle for that matter.
At least we didn’t have those annoying pop-ups.
Over the years web development solutions have evolved and dramatically improved.
Web Development in 2024... and Beyond
Fast forward to the present. Many things have been settled in the last 20 years. Now there are best practices for web solutions, like a menu goes at the top or down the left side of a user’s screen. Amazon has settled most questions of how an online store should work.
Plus, there has been an explosion of different devices, screen sizes, browsers, and functionality. Web development is more capable and important now than it has ever been. Developing a web app or website is an essential part of modern business.
A website is now a complex part of an entire system. It has to look and work right on different devices and screen sizes – without spending an enormous amount of time coding individually for all the screen size variations.
Web development solutions have to be built so they will work on (within reason) older software and hardware as well. A web development project should be “future proofed” also – so it will continue to work and look right even as technology changes – as much as can be anticipated.
Who knew that the mobile app evolution would completely change the way we think about web development?
Web development is an impossible job without the right platforms, programs, and tools. It takes a lot of expertise to make a site look and work right 99+% of the time. At thirteen05 creative, we are a professional web development company that knows what it takes to deliver great results.
In the modern world, the number one platform to build websites that look and work right and will continue to do so, is WordPress. Our web development team has years of experience with this popular platform.
WordPress Web Development Services
The thirteen05 creative web development team builds all of our websites in WordPress. It is the most widely used platform for web development. Reportedly, some 43% of all websites in the world use it. Web development companies and developers of all skill levels use WordPress because of the massive advantages it offers.
There is a huge community of web developers who work on WordPress, not building websites, but maintaining and upgrading WordPress itself and developing and maintaining the tools used by web developers to build websites.
No matter what kind of website you want to build, WordPress has a large library of plugins that add functionality and make web development efficient and effective.
If your business is looking for custom eCommerce solutions, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. You use “WooCommerce” as millions of websites do, along with their many add-on plugins for increased functionality. There are also plugins that make it easy to manage your website’s search engine optimization efforts.
We are a web development company that uses WordPress plugins to enhance our development services and deliver quality results to our clients as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
Future Proofing Made Easy
Among the advantages of WordPress web development are that when technology changes, all you usually have to do to keep up is to upgrade to the latest version of WordPress and update your plugins.
Tens of thousands of web developers work feverishly to update their software (plug-ins) rapidly when things change. The large web development community that is committed to maintaining and updating WordPress makes this process a lot more manageable than you might imagine.
It’s not a perfect system, but it works amazingly well to keep websites working in today’s complex web development world. Of course, eventually, any website or technology becomes obsolete, but thanks to the extensive WordPress web development ecosystem, websites can work great for 5 or 6 years or more.
By then fashions change and your website usually looks old-fashioned. Even then you can often update the web design of a well-built WordPress site without having to redo the entire web development project.
When Web Development Becomes a Nightmare for the Site Owner
Now this is a system that works, but it is complex and there are many ways it can go wrong – will go wrong in the hands of an amateur website development company. Unfortunately many of these amateurs are developing websites for a living and calling themselves professionals.
The first place it can go wrong is, what does the customer want the website to do – EXACTLY? Often the customer doesn’t know enough about web development services and is surprised at what they get.
A skilled website development agency has to understand what the customer is asking for and ask the questions the customer would never think of because, after all, they are not web development professionals. The client is counting on us professionals to help them with that.
Hidden Nightmares
A website might look great and work well. A year later it might be so broken it needs to be re-done from scratch.
One way this happens is by the developer writing custom code rather than using plugins. Custom code is NOT part of the system described above. When technology changes, the website stops working well or breaks completely. Making changes to custom coded websites can also be an expensive proposition.
Using the wrong plugin can be just as bad. If the plugin developer goes out of business, it isn't getting any fixes or improvements and will stop working at some point. Or what if the developer gets hacked and your plugin has a virus? It has happened.
The WordPress organization has a system so web developers can check out plugins and be informed of issues. If they use it.
What's a Little Guy To Do?
It’s one thing if you are a large company with a lot of resources. The small business owner who probably has nobody but himself to manage his website, needs a web developer and a hosting company he can depend on.
Most people don’t realize the potential quicksand they are stepping in when they decide to get a new website developed. It isn’t like buying a toaster oven.
But there are some simple web development guidelines that will help keep you out of trouble.
1. Cheap doesn't work
You can say, okay, but I don't need a BMW, I just need a Toyota. Too often you get a 20 year-old Yugo (look it up) that doesn't run.
2. Don'e hire a one-man band
If you hire a website designer who also builds your website, that is two completely different skill sets. If he is that good at both of these technical skill sets, why is he so inexpensive? See point number one. It is safer to hire a web development agency that has skilled staff, who specialize in design, or development, and so on. It's not a guarantee in itself, it's true.
3. Define what you want as best you can
Then the prospective vendor should ask LOTs of questions. How can they give you an accurate web development proposal otherwise? They can't.
4. Check references and reviews
Look closely at examples of their work. Don't just go on the recommendation of one friend who likes the website he got. See "Hidden Nightmares" above.
If your website is important to your business, do what it takes to find a web development company you can trust. You won’t regret it.
The Web Development Process
After the contract is signed, and we go to design and develop your website, there is a lengthy and detailed process we go through with every web project.
Our approach to website development is highly interactive. As many checkpoints as possible are provided where the client can verify we are on the right track, to approve, reject, or request modification to some aspect.
Most of our web development projects include unlimited designs and revisions to the overall look and feel of the website, without additional charge.
A Marketing Company
All web development projects benefit from the fact that at thirteen05 creative we are first and foremost a marketing company. Every website is planned from the viewpoint of the strategy which it implements – what are the target markets, the marketing goals for the site, how can the company stand out from its competition, what appeals and calls to action will be effective, and so on. These sorts of questions are typical, and if you’re not thinking about them by the time the web development process begins, you might not get the website your business needs.
A website is a complex machine, including the smooth merging of various skills (art, programming, marketing) and technologies (programming languages, third-party software, server configurations, and much more). Add that to the fact our clients are busy people often with many other duties besides overseeing their website development. It is our job to make this as smooth and easy as possible for the client.
We have crafted and refined a process over more than twenty years of website development experience, to deal with these facts, to achieve our goal of creating awesome websites that win awards, delight our clients, and, most important of all, are effective at accomplishing the client’s marketing goals.
The following are the major parts of the web development process, in the order which they occur:
Research & Planning
The first phase of the web development project, research and planning, begins with interviewing the client and reviewing any documentation provided. This phase encompasses understanding strategy, functionality, technology, site structure, design, and establishment of project coordination.
It is accomplished in part while the proposal is being developed, in part by dialogue and study that takes place before, during, and after a kick-off conference. Developing modern web applications requires detailed research and planning.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Preservation
If there is an existing website and preserving existing web rankings is a part of the project, we need to have this information early in the web development process as it may affect design, site size, site structure, and more.
This portion of the website development will be conducted by our digital marketing department and results in instructions to the web design and development team which will be checked over by digital marketing late in the web development process to ensure they have been completed correctly.
Search engine optimization is a vital part of many modern websites. If you want people to find you online, SEO must be a priority.
Functionality
Many websites don't DO anything. We call them "brochure sites" because they are like an online brochure. But other websites/web applications can include all sorts of functionality such as online stores and membership websites. Of course, almost every website has at least one or more contact forms.
Highly functional websites may require large amounts of custom programming. If it can't be done by a plugin without modification it requires custom code. We try to minimize custom coding, to make the website less expensive for the client, faster to develop, and easier to "future proof."
With complex websites this phase may require development of a detailed scope of work and specifications, programming flow chart, and database structure design.
However, thanks to WordPress and the huge library of available plugins, this isn't often necessary, simplifying all the rest of the work and the future maintenance of the website.
Technology
Technology encompasses specification of the hosting software, Content Management Systems to be used (such as WordPress), as well as plug-ins or extensions. Many a business owner has purchased a website which looks and works great but is difficult and expensive to maintain because of a poor choice of technology. A technology can even become obsolete to a point where the website must be completely redone. Of course, with WordPress, this is not an issue.
Site Structure
For site structure, we often create a draft site map for the new site based on any existing site content and additional content or functionality specified. This will be a starting point. It is understood this may change some during the web development process. This site map will also provide a near-final version of the major site navigation (main menu and any key secondary navigation elements) for client review and approval.
Kick-Off Conference
The kick-off conference should take place as soon after the start of the web development project as possible. These days it is usually done by video conference (Zoom). It should involve all stakeholders on the client side and key project participants from thirteen05 creative. There are three major goals to a kick-off conference:
- Understanding on both teams who has what role and ensuring all contact info is shared as well as preferred methods of communication.
- Reviewing the web development process and expected timeline with the client and answering any questions.
- Reviewing any guidance on design preferences and functionality so we are sure we are starting off on the right foot. Any formal documents such as set branding guidelines would be provided to us by the client.
For design ideas, ahead of the kick-off, we will ask for examples of 3 to 5 websites the client likes and what specifically they like about them. This provides visual cues to what we should be aiming for in the design.
We will also study other similar websites for ideas, to look for what may be usual, cutting edge, or unacceptable. Depending on the project scope we may also make an initial list of interior page designs (in addition to the overall site design) that will be needed, again, for client approval.
This is also subject to some possible adjustment during the web development process. A major purpose of our kick-off conference is fully understanding design goals and preferences.
For project coordination, we will establish with the client for us, and with us for the client, who is doing what, how communication will occur, expected timelines, reporting schedules, and the like, as well as reviewing the major project milestones as specified in this document and ensuring they are understood and agreed upon.
With larger, more complex projects, a Scope of Work document may be produced in advance of the kick-off, reviewed, revised as needed, and signed off on as needed to memorialize as much detail as possible. Other points are addressed too, such as what content will be reused from an existing site.
Design
The next major step in the website development project is design. The web designer assigned to the project will use the example sites presented, study of competitors, similar websites, and any input from the kickoff conference.
Once the designer has completed a web design which passes our internal review, a presentation will be made to the client showing an overall mockup of the home page and explaining the reasoning behind the design.
One or more interior pages or alternate designs may be included. Clients will then be asked to provide feedback in the form of approval, rejection (in which case we start over), or requested changes. This process is repeated as many times as needed (for full custom design projects) until signed-off approval is achieved for the overall look and feel of the site.
This is vital as later changes to the overall look of the site may involve significant delay and expense as work has to be redone. We then develop mockups for each internal page type which we have determined needs its own design.
Each of these is also subject to client approval. Note that design approval at this point will be of the website look on a desktop computer. Mobile design is accomplished late in the site's development. Also during this phase major choices on the navigation will be made, these are still subject to some modification during development.
Website Development - "Alpha Build"
Some work building the website may begin even before home page design approval, where we feel it necessary for adequate presentation. However, in Alpha Build we will construct the website in bare bones form, perhaps only the home and one internal page, and with little of the site content.
If the website is being developed in WordPress or another CMS, this will now be implemented.
This will be the first point at which you will see a recognizable website. But this will only look right on a desktop computer and many elements will not yet be present.
Functionality
Plugins will be installed and configured at this time. In the case of a brochure site, this may be a short process. With highly functional sites, the bulk of the web development work may be done in this step. Note: Online store or catalog functionality will not be complete yet.
Some plugins really don't fall under this category. Contact forms and security plugins are completed later in the process.
Highly complex functionality has to be worked out in detail and thoroughly tested to make sure it works as desired under all circumstances. To give a common example, if a site allows memberships, can anyone sign up or does a site manager need to approve them?
Content
To this point the site is largely a skeleton. Now, all content will be needed, supplied by the client and filled in, all pages built and laid out. During this phase we will also work with the client for any information that is to be imported by spreadsheet, such as product catalogs.
Some projects include our supplying of written content, working with the client to make sure information is complete, correct, and has the right "voice" for the client. We also add in images. Some images must be supplied by the client, but we also provide stock photography where needed.
"Beta Build"
When all functionality is complete (except for store or catalog functionality), navigation is established, and most content is present, it is called a "Beta "Build." This is still only on desktop but the client's vision for the website can now be seen and operated on the site.
The website is built on our developmental server and the client has a link to check and monitor progress. This is a major step, typically the last chance to make major changes, and requires approval sign-off by the client.
Online Stores or Catalog Websites
For online stores, we will set up store items and integrate the store with your merchant services provider. Integration with other third-party software such as customer portals will also be accomplished. Test purchases will be possible but no actual purchases are done.
Mobile Responsiveness
Before we address appearance on mobile devices and tablets, the website must be essentially complete.
Different devices and screen sizes are addressed using Responsive Web Design (RWD) - the website adjusts automatically to accommodate the screen it is being displayed on. The development of "Media Queries" and RWD radically changed website development as one is no longer building a site to look right on only a certain computer but to look and work right on the vast majority of computers.
There is a tradeoff in that the website may not look exactly right on ALL screen sizes and devices. But 99% of the time it will look great.
Testing - "Gamma Build"
At this point, the client will be presented with a functional, responsive website for review and final adjustments as needed. This may also be the first point that clients will be able to see some things such as transitions, rollover effects, as well as how the website looks and operates on mobile devices.
Testing is an ongoing process from the point of first build. Once the site is nearing completion, a formal QA (Quality Assurance) process is carried out, concurrently with the client's final review. This includes manual and automated testing for appearance and functionality on a wide variety of devices, operating systems and screen sizes, checks for broken links, page load speed, mobile friendliness, etc.
This is called Gamma build and with client's okay to launch, is the final step before the completed website is launched.
LAUNCH!
Some items which cannot be completed until at or immediately following launch are now done. In most cases this includes "Basic SEO" (Search Engine Optimization). This is not full-scale SEO which is an ongoing monthly program that starts after launch.
This step verifies the website is properly constructed, has no errors preventing search engines from "crawling" the site or which might cause Google to give the site lower rankings. It includes setting up Google services (Analytics, Search Console, Google Ads if being run).
Launch includes setup of hosting if needed, and planning of launch timing and sequence to minimize or prevent disruption. We can provide hosting and maintenance services but this is optional.
At launch many items are also taken out of testing mode such as setting up the actual contact form emails. We can work with your IT provider to accomplish this smoothly if you have one. Website launch at thirteen05 creative is an “all hands on deck” process to avoid or rapidly mitigate problems and disruption to the client.
Some items which cannot be completed prior to launch, such as making payment functionality live, will be carried out during the launch process. Following launch some of our formal QA process is repeated to ensure all is well.
Warranty & Training
Websites carry a 30 or 60 day warranty. During that period any discovered errors will be fixed for free regardless of whether we are hosting and maintaining the website. Most websites include the submission of additional minor site edits during the warranty period.
Additionally, sometimes websites are launched missing some content or functionality that wasn't available yet, and this would also be completed during the warranty period.
Our websites are typically built in WordPress and clients can carry out many minor edits themselves. We provide training on how to do this as well as other items such as how to use our tech support system and how to access website contact forms in your site's backend (in addition to being emailed to you).
Training will occur following launch as well and can be accomplished at client’s convenience, by video conference and with a copy of the video supplied to the client. Any needed documentation will be provided as well. Additional training and documentation can be carried out.
We also monitor the site during this period for indications of problems.
And that's it.... a completed, beautiful website, to your specifications, that works right and will continue to do so with proper maintenance for years to come.
"Best website developer in Tampa"
- Kyle Grunz (Paul Pryor Bags)
Thirteen05 Creative: A Professional Web Development Company
Finding the right web development services can be difficult. If you don’t find a trustworthy web development company the entire development process can be difficult and a waste of your precious time and resources.
If you have any questions about our web development services, the process we use to develop websites, or want advice on the best path to take with your website, contact our skilled web development team. We are here to help your business succeed.
