Web Design Terms Part 1: Terms Business Owners Should Know

If you want to communicate with your web designer, you’ve got to learn how to speak their language. Luckily, it won’t take you a full semester to speak in terms they understand. However, there are quite a few terms worth wrapping your arms around, which is why we are doing a 2-part post about web design terms business owners should know. Memorize these key web design terms and you will be on your way to more effective communication with your web designer.

HTML or HyperText Markup Language is the language of the world wide web. HTML is the messaging tool that allows your web designers to tell certain web elements what to do. HTML language has different tags that help tell the web browser what’s an image, what’s a video, and what’s a paragraph.

CSS or Cascading Style Sheets allows for web designers to create and maintain “visual rules” that determines the rendering of all the visual elements on a web page. This includes, shape, color, and position of the web elements.

JavaScript also allows for different interactions between web elements. The origins of JavaScript can be not-so-fondly remembered as those pop-up boxes requesting validation of phone numbers or codes. Now JavaScript can be used for more convenient practical means such as uploading content without having to refresh the entire page.

SaaS or Software as a Service refers to any service that provides a software platform--Microsoft Office, Photoshop, Adobe, Google Docs, etc. Saas is usually delivered through the cloud. 

A/B Testing is an experimentation method where two ideas intended for the same result are tested against each other to determine which option will achieve the better result. For example, you may A/B test two different home page images or calls to action to see which one performs better.

Responsive Design refers to a web page’s ability to adapt or “respond” when displayed on devices of various sizes. You will have most likely noticed this when you view your favorite website on a desktop versus your smartphone. The layout is likely different ad the visuals might be bigger or smaller.

Responsive design also refers to personalization and relevance, meaning a web page responds to the specific individual viewer and displays only what is relevant to them.

ARIA or Accessible Rich Internet Application speaks to the technology used to close the gap between a user’s needs and the web browser itself. ARIA technology includes UX design, as it focuses on user-friendly content, accessibility, and functionality.

Got all that? Good. If not, study up and we will see you next week for Part 2!

Ready to dive in with a team of creative, go-getting web designers, call K2 Sonoma County Web Design to see if we’re a good fit.

Web Design Issues You Need To Fix Immediately

Websites are likes maps to your brand. They help your customers and website visitors understand what they should know and where they should go to consume relevant information. But if your website is riddled with outdated information, poor graphics and (gasp!) stock photos, your visitors will sense that your brand is outdated and ingenuine. Whether you’re a new business ready to put some money into digital marketing, or you’ve had your business for years and your website looks that way, make sure all of these web design holes are patched up immediately.

Outdated Design - If you still have the same exact website you paid for back in 2005, your website is outdated. Honestly, if you have the same website graphics from two years ago, it’s outdated. Hire a professional web designer to consistently update your website with new information and up-to-date visuals that communicate to visitors that you’re still relevant.

Stock Images Everywhere - All those “happy families” and “perfectly stacked sandwiches” aren’t fooling people anymore--everyone can spot a stock image, and because of their overuse visitors are desensitized to them. In a sense, you would probably be better off not having any photos, although we don’t recommend it. Invest in professional photography for your brand, so you can be sure no one else on the planet has the same visual content as you. Those kind of details make a huge difference when customers are comparing your brand with competitors.

Unnecessary or Superfluous Design -  One of the key rules of design is, “Less is more.” Clean, uncluttered design is much more appealing to the eye--and when your customer’s eyes are happy, they’re more likely to buy your products. Cluttered design frustrates people and they will associate that frustration with your brand.

Unclear Site Path - Your homepage may be pretty, but if your visitors don’t understand where to go next, they will leave. Part of excellent website development involves designing a pathway for your visitors to follow on the site. Think of it as a road to different destinations that lead them to relevant information and other benefits they may not have known existed. A poor or absent pathway will be confusing and frustrating.   

Confusing or Unclear Links - Go ahead, be witty. Throw your wit and sense of humor all over the site, but don’t be funny in your links. This is the equivalent of making jokes on road signs. People don’t want to laugh when they’re lost. Keep things clear.

Outdated or Invisible Contact Info - Don’t make it difficult to find your physical location. Make sure all your information is visible on the website and available on different platforms outside of your website as well.

Have any of these issues with your website? Call our Sonoma County Web Designers to get your website back in shape. 

The Real Difference Between Web Designer and Web Developer

People often confuse web designers and web developers, which can result in some major problems if business owners ask for certain deliverables that don’t line up with the professional’s expertise. Before you put up a job posting for a web designer or web developer, know what you’re looking for so you attract the right professionals.

The Main Differences Between Web Designers and Web Developers

The Role of Web Designers - Web designers use graphic design to create the overall look for the website, landing page and other web elements. Their designs become functional with the help of coding. Web designers often also work as graphic designers for branding, printed pieces and other graphic marketing materials.

Web designers often work in advertising agencies and creative houses or as freelancers. They often work alongside developers and copywriters to produce full scale marketing collateral.

The Role of Web Developers 

 

Web developers are often able to do many of the tasks that web designers can do, but they can also do more on the technical side of things. However, web developers are able to build websites from scratch, working with codes like Javascript, CSS and HTML. Web developers can put web designer’s work into action on websites and other digital platforms.

Web developers are typically more analytically inclined than web designers, having backgrounds in computer science and programming.

How Web Design And Web Developers Work Together

 

Web developers and web designers are often confused because they frequently work on the same projects and, depending on the professional, can have different skills that cross into the other’s expertise (design, coding, SEO). To be fair, the job roles of web designer and web developer continue to blur as they both adopt different skills. You will often see web designers with developer skills and web developers with design skills. Many people in this profession call themselves web designer/developer. However, this only emphasizes the fact that employers should be clear about their needs and make sure to hire a professional with the specific skill set they are looking for.

Looking for a web designer or web developer in Sonoma County? Contact K2 for a free quote!