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Web Development Overview

 

Website Development Overview

Website Development is our primary service and specialty. It can be very complicated and there is a great learning curve as you begin to discover the web from the Webmaster's side. We're here to help you every step of the way and take the burden off wherever we can, while empowering you with as much control over your website as you would like to have.

Our web development centers on the structuring of a website that fits your company and branding, fits your marketing goals, and fits your budget while addressing your target audience in terms they can quickly understand and digest to make an honest appraisal of you and connect to further your communication.

 

Essentially, to have a website you need:

  1. A Domain Name. This is the address of your website that appears in the address bar of the browser. Ours is TheDesignsmith.com as you can see in the address bar above. In effect, you rent the name from a Domain Registrar like Network Solutions or GoDaddy. There are many registrars and there is no considerable difference between them as far as acquiring a name, but their costs vary widely. GoDaddy charges roughly $15 for a .com name per year while Network Solutions charges around $45 for the same thing. We suggest you order your name from GoDaddy.
  2. A Hosting System. This is essentially the computer where the files of your website are stored. This computer must be able to read and execute your programmed files, and it should be solidly connected to a main artery of the internet. The system farm should have backups and redundencies as well as other creative protection to make sure that your website is always available to web surfers. Naturally, we offer a wonderful hosting system equipped to handle all your website needs.
  3. Hyper-Text Markup files. These files describe the look and content of your website to the browser which downloads and displays it to the surfers. HTM files can be built without programming, mixed with programming, or created by programming; but in the end it is the html that your visitors see drawn into their browser. Creating these files is what we do best by integrating beautiful graphics, cascading sytles and smart programming!

In order for us to build your website we need to know what it is going to say and do. We've found the easiest way for you to tell us is by creating a flowchart or outline that names each page and describes the content. We're good at presuming the details, so a general description is good enough for us to give you a reasonable estimate. We also realize that this task is a show-stopper for many, so we offer services to work with you to put it together - contact us or look here to find out more.

 

Primary Elements of a Website:

  1. The Template. We build websites for ease of updating and expansion by using templates that are broken up and inserted into each page of the site to assure consistency across the project. The template gives you the 'look and feel' of your website, the navigation, the head and foot, and much more that is a necessary part of each page.  We often design these templates ourselves but to save money for some clients we can also pick from the many pre-designed templates available around the web and integrate our programming and content into one of them.
  2. The Public Area. When someone types your website name into their browser address bar they see your homepage of your public area. The public area is simply not the private area and includes any part of the site that the public can reach through navigation from another public page or by clicking through from the results of a search engine like Google or Bing.
  3. The Administrative Area. Most websites are programmed to interact with a database and to administer the page content a site owner uses an interface . This interface is a set of pages referred to as the administraion area and it is not connected to the public area. For example, if your website has a shopping cart with lists of items the public can browse, the administrative area would be used to keep those items updated with the correct image, price, etc. Not all websites will have an administrative area.

See Also these Website Design & Development Pages:

 

Website Cost Estimator

We have provided a Free Website Cost Estimator which allows you to select from a list of common pages of a website to give us a clear idea of what you are looking for so you can get a quick idea what your website might cost. Keep in mind that we have a variety of ways to cut down costs by talking to you about what your real requirements are so this calculator is only a ballpark model and will probably estimate higher than your actual cost.

We consider ourselves very lucky to have hired Designsmith for our web project. Paul's work is excellent, fast and affordable. I am always impressed by the quick response time and the high quality work. We never approach a web or design project without thinking of Paul. Every project is done right, done quickly and on budget. What else is there?

David Schenck, Information Technology Director - District Attorney's Office, Baton Rouge Louisiana

Paul Miller was wonderful to work with on the redesign of our website. He was easy to work with, professional and completed our job in no time at all. Above all, he had the patience to slowly walk us through steps we didn't understand. He's great to work with, and we'll be repeat customers! Thanks again Paul!

Betsy Alexander, Owner / Broker - Coldwell Banker Betsy Alexander Realty

Paul was given pieces and parts of information and photographs over several months and he masterfully melded it all into the website that we had envisioned. I appreciated his patience, suggestions, light humor and guidance throughout the entire process. He mastered the project flow wonderfully, hit all of the deadlines and gave soft reminders of what would or should be addressed for upcoming milestones. Staying on time and on budget were very important factors. A pleasure to work with and superbly knowledgeable in his field, I would recommend Paul for your marketing, website and other IT projects.

Angel McGee, Marketing - Red Stick Armature

As a photographer and just starting a business, and not knowing anything about the web I contacted Paul and to this day im so glad i did. He has the knowledge and the skill to design the web the way you have in mind. He has worked with me dilligently in web support and making changes to the site from time to time. He made suggestions that i accepted in good faith that really made my site attractive and professional. Everything was done in a timely manner and finished as promised. I recommend him highly for your next web design or upgrade you won't be disappointed.

Kevin Freeman, Photographer - Unique Visions

The Designsmith did a website reconstruction for us adding a substantial amount of content and refining the overall look of the site. I was very impressed by the steady communication about options, styles, etc., and also with the suggestions made that were above and beyond what was required. The entire website is better organized and there is an excellent content manageability program I was able to use with ease immediately. We are very satisfied and look forward to continuing our relationship with The Designsmith!

Debra Credeur, Program Director - LA Dept of CRT / Atchafalaya Heritage Area

Paul Miller with The Designsmith is very easy to work with. He listed to what we wanted and guided us to the best design that would work for our business. Always prompt in answering questions, and the turnaround for our product was done in a fast, professional manner. Would highly recommend Mr. Paul Miller for your design needs.

Kay Legleu, Owner - Dubois Winery

I want to express my sincere gratitude for the exceptional work The Designsmith has done for LIPCA Insurance Agency during the past year. Based on that work, I enthusiastically recommend The Designsmith as an effective partner in the ever critical area of website design and development. Ultimately the look and feel of a website is the measure of a website designer, and the results speak for themselves! The Designsmith has performed exceptionally well and based on these results, LIPCA will continue to be a key partner in the future. Again, thank you for the results!

Allen Herring, IT Manager - LIPCA Insurance Angency

Paul did a terrific job developing and implementing our new firm website. We are all very pleased with the process and would recommend him highly for those in need of similar services.

Michael Robinson, Shareholder - Kantrow Spaht Weaver & Blitzer (APLC)

We hired Paul Miller to do an overhaul on our website. We are very pleased with the finished product--it's attractive, easy to navigate and the cost was well within budget. I enjoyed working with Paul - he's pleasant, patient and professional. I was especially impressed with how responsive he was and how quickly he took care of whatever I needed. Overall it was a great experience! I would use him again and I would recommend him to others.

Kelly Johannessen, Director of Communications - United Methodist Foundation of LA

I am very pleased with The Designsmith. Paul was able to figure out exactly what I needed. He met those needs with professionalism and care. Also, he was very easy to work with and made my project enjoyable.

Carl Barkemeyer, Owner - Carl Barkemeyer, Attorney at Law

Paul has built both of my websites. Being a designer myself I appreciate Paul's attention to detail.I will use him for years to come.

Jeb Barber, Owner - Makaira Landscape and Pools

This experience has been over the top. Your communication and patience with this process was impressive. Plus, your programing skills combined with your eye for design and background in writing, makes your one man show an incredible value. Thank you for your dedication to getting it right and all of the extras you have thrown in. Would do it again tomorrow. If anyone wants to call me about my experience, I will be happy to talk with them.

Richard Akin, MD, DDS - Oral Surgery

My name is Scott Lang - owner of Advanced Hurricane Solutions in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I had imagined a concept for our logo and thought it was fairly intricate and wasn't sure if it was right for our business, but was passionate about it. I had approached other logo designers and each mentioned it may be too intricate and were forcing us to go with a more simple concept. I had lost focus on the logo over time and had become discouraged and resorted to a more simple logo design and was about a day or 2 away from implementing it into our company until I discovered Paul & The DesignSmith. Paul asked me to send him what I imagined for our more intricate version of the logo and he came back with a great price and said his team could get it done. A few days later, he sent some rough pencil drafts of different versions, we chose one and through a couple of minor changes arrived at an incredible logo that exceeded our expectations. Paul, you were great to work with, very patient and precise in nailing our concept of our logo. The detail is amazing and I can't say enough how happy we are. Thanks for renewing my passion for this logo and now I know it is right for our company. This definitely gives me a new outlook on our business and am excited to start branding our company with it.

Scott Lang, Owner - Advanced Hurricane Solutions

Thank goodness for Paul and The Designsmith. We talked to other people and they wanted so much money while Paul offered a simple plan of action that is getting great results - and we can afford it! Thank you!!

Gwen Moore, Public Relations Director - St. James Place Retirement Community

Paul, Just wanted to thank you for providing us a reliable hosting service. Since moving from our previous provider we have experienced nothing but superb up time and responsive customer service. Thanks again and keep up the good work!

Bob Nelson, President - NSP Inc.