Creating A Website in The Philippines: A Beginner’s Guide to Website Development

Creating A Beginner’s Guide to Website Development

 

Behind every successful online presence is a well-developed website. Website development provides a solid foundation to ensure the success of your brand online. That is why pursuing knowledge and enriching skills in website development can be a powerful asset for greater and more effective online visibility and SEO performance. 

 

Website development in the Philippines is a continuous and growing demand in the business world. Whether you’re a beginner or an SEO specialist willing to expand your understanding and cultivate the skillset, learning website development can be beneficial for both short and long-term search engine optimization. 

 

ALSO READ: Can SEO Really Help Your Business?

 

Without further ado, let us explore what every beginner should know about website development. 

 

I. What is Website Development?

 

Website development is a process of creating, building, maintaining, and managing a website or web pages for the Internet through programming technology. Web development constitutes several steps, including planning, designing, coding, testing, and maintaining the site, and is concerned with the overall technical aspect of a website’s structure. 

 

Additionally, web development encompasses all the technical tasks and strategic actions relevant to ensuring the website’s optimal speed, user experience, and performance—all of which are vital to the contribution of the success of online visibility. The responsibilities involved with web development ranges from writing plain text with an editor to complex web-based applications and other projects. 

 

ALSO READ: Embracing Tomorrow’s Technology: AI in Web Development

 

The Web Development Hierarchy

 

With myriads of tasks and actions that fall under website development, we must know the hierarchy of respective roles. Each hierarchy has its respective role that contributes to the overall development process of a website. The hierarchy in the website development discipline includes the following:

 

Client-Side (Front-End) Development

Front-end web development deals with the user interface and user experience of the website by focusing on its interactivity and appearance

 

Server-Side (Back-End) Development

Back-end web development focuses on managing server-side logic and databases to generate dynamic content and improve website functionality.

 

Data Management

Data management involves tasks such as handling, processing, retrieving, and storing data to secure communication between database and application.

 

DevOps and Security

Encompasses the deployment of tools for consistent application delivery and implementing effective security measures against website vulnerabilities

 

Web Development Scripting Languages – What to Know

 

5 WEB DEVELOPMENT SCRIPTING LANGUAGES TO LEARN

HTML (Hypertext markup language)

CSS (CASCADING STYLE SHEETS)

JAVASCRIPT

PYTHON

PHP (HYPERTEXT PROCESSOR)

 

Web development scripting languages serve as building blocks of any website, allowing developers to create a dynamic and interactive online experience for visitors. There are several popular web development languages to know, each with its strengths and purposes.

 

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)

 

HTML is the standard markup language and the basic framework for creating the structure and content of web pages. It provides the foundation for displaying images, texts, links, and other key elements found on a website. 

 

Although today, it is still possible to create a website via HTML, it will be in the form of a barebone and plain website without any functions that exist in most contemporary sites, unless enriched with JavaScript and CSS.

 

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

 

CSS is the language used for stylizing and controlling the presentation and layout of web pages. Developers utilize CSS as a scripting language to allow them to define colors, fonts, spacing, and the overall visual style of a website, describing how HTML elements or documents will appear and display on a screen. 

 

JavaScript

 

JavaScript is a versatile and among the most powerful programming languages that let developers create dynamic features and interactive elements for a website and manipulate a page’s content. It turns a simple and ordinary website into something more entertaining and enjoyable. Many developers also utilize this as a tool for creating browser games, managing a website’s back end, and creating web applications. 

 

Python 

 

A powerful general-purpose language, Python is an essential tool for web developers in creating various website components and web applications, as well as building backend or server-side applications through its rich libraries and frameworks. Additionally, Python proves handy in performing automated web development tasks, from deployment to testing and maintenance.

 

PHP (Hypertext Processor)

 

PHP is a server-side scripting language specifically designed for web development and is embedded in HTML, which makes it easier to mix dynamic and static content. PHP allows web developers to create dynamic and personalized content on web pages, such as database results, user-specific information, and more. 

 

Major Sections of A Website

 

the major sections of a website

header

navigation

hero section

content sections

sidebar

footer

 

A website is typically organized into distinct sections, each serving a specific purpose:

 

Header

Headers are often positioned at the top, encompassing the website logo, and navigation menu. It is the first thing your visitors will see when they land on your website’s page.

 

Navigation

The navigation section comprises links leading to different pages or sections of the website, facilitating easier user navigation and quick access to desired information.

 

Hero Section

The hero section features captivating visuals like images, and videos accompanied by a compelling headline or call to action. The hero section is often placed prominently at the top of the homepage. 

 

Content Sections

These sections are dedicated to presenting information, such as text, images, videos, or a combination of these, organized into different layouts, such as single columns, grids, or multiple columns.

 

Sidebar

A sidebar is an optional section that appears alongside the main content to display additional information, advertisements, or links.

 

Footer

A footer lies at the bottom section of a website. It contains copyright information, a contact form, and social media icons.

 

The Main Components of a Website 

 

A website consists of various components that work together to deliver content and functionality to users. Here are the main components to consider:

 

Domain Name

This is the unique address that users will enter in their web browsers to access your website.

 

Layout

Layout pertains to your website’s hierarchy and structure, where you decide which page is the landing and what pages you can access from there. 

 

Design

The design is the overall organization of your website, from the choice of font size, down to the colors you will employ, to the placement of the navigation bar and pictures you choose. The design of your website can dictate how users feel and how your web page will appeal aesthetically to the user.  

 

Functionality

A website’s functionality tells what users can do on the site. Anything that counts as interaction for the user remains a part of your website’s function, including all the things your visitors can click, whether they’re watching a video, reading information, or purchasing a product.

 

Content

Content encompasses anything that a visitor can see on your website, these include, texts, images, videos, and other media and downloadable files that can provide value and be relevant to users. 

 

Call-to-Action

Call-to-action (CTA) directs visitors and readers to elicit immediate responses or take specific actions in exchange for an incentive. CTA is a vital component of websites and should be incorporated to help visitors move through the conversion funnel. 

 

Hosting

Web hosting makes it possible for your website to be accessible on the internet. Hosting providers provide web hosting services with different plans and features. 

 

Website Development Versus Website Design

 

Website development and website design are distinct but interconnected aspects of creating a website. Web development focuses on the more technical aspects of building a website, including its structure and functionality, from landing page development to database management. 

 

Web design tackles the visual and aesthetic aspects, from choosing the best font to the user-friendly interface. However, both need programming knowledge and a degree of coding skills.

 

Paying for a website design in the Philippines is not the same or equal to developing a website. The same applies when you opt for a website developer; you don’t hire and expect them to do what the job of a website designer does.  

 

Website Development Versus Web Programming

 

Like in web design and web development, many are still confused about the difference between web development and web programming. While both are closely related, the distinction lies in the intended task of each. The web development role encompasses everything involved in building and maintaining a website, which includes designing and coding. 

 

Web programming, on the other hand, refers to the specific task of writing codes and scripting required to make a website function. Anything that concerns coding is part of web programming, while web programming falls under web development. 

 

II. How to Create a Website?

 

Creating a website may seem daunting and arduous. While that may hold true, knowing exactly the step-by-step process can help provide a more seamless creation experience, especially if you’re starting in the world of website development in the Philippines. Here are ways to help you create a website.

 

1. Planning Your Website

 

Identifying your target audience

 

When it comes to web development, creating a website requires you to identify first what type of audience your website will cater to. Are they young professionals, students, parents, corporate groups, or a specific demographic? Understanding your target audience is the first crucial step to tailor a website design, content, and functionality to meet their needs and align with their preferences. 

 

Set clear objectives for the website

 

Before you dive into the web development process, you must have clear goals or objectives for your website. Are you planning to create an e-commerce site? Perhaps a blog or a portfolio? Defining the purpose and scope of your website will help lay the foundation and direction of your design and development decisions, whether you’re working on your own, with a team, or with an outsourced web development specialist. 

 

2. Choosing the Right Platform

 

Know popular website builders

 

There are various website development platforms or website builders available, such as WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and more. Most often, these website platforms provide an easier way for you to build your website, especially if you lack the knowledge of coding a website, which will be a suitable choice for many starters wanting to skip learning how to program and want to jump on making a website quick and easy. 

 

Remember, it’s crucial to know the ins and outs of using these builders, taking note of their pros and cons to attend to your website’s needs and meet your development objectives. 

To save you some time, we have compiled here some of the best and most popular website builders for you to check out:

 

Wix

 

Wix

 

Wix is one of the most popular platforms suitable for beginners. Wix provides a simple, easy-to-use, code-free, fully-hosted platform with all the necessary tools to start a website for your business with an extensive collection of templates and apps. Wix offers different pricing plans. However, its free version displays prominent ads.

 

Webflow

 

Webflow

 

Webflow is known for its professional-grade capability to develop a functioning website with advanced customization by accessing your website’s code and content management with its built-in CMS, all with an uncomplicated learning curve for starting developers. While it demands some knowledge in CSS and HTML, Webflow provides full access and control to your website. Like Wix, Webflow offers different pricing plans and a limited free plan. 

 

Google Sites

 

Google Sites

 

Google Sites provides a 100% free and extremely simplified way of starting and setting up your website, providing ready-to-use templates. However, it falls short with its limited features and lack of integration, making it a choice for personal updates or a simple portfolio for job applications. 

 

WordPress

 

WordPress

 

One of the many champions and widely preferred choices in the realm of the website development industry, WordPress.com offers a free way to create a fully-hosted website, and its counterpart, WordPress.org, provides more advanced customization and total control over content management system, granted that you have the coding knowledge and are willing to pay for annual fees for a third-party hosting provider for web domain and hosting. WordPress is the best choice for all-in-one building a high-performing and optimized website.

 

Shopify

 

Shopify

 

Shopify is another excellent choice for building a comprehensive ecommerce website. With its robust, easy, and perfect blend of drag-and-drop and coding, Shopify is best suited for building and managing your online ecommerce store optimized for both desktop and mobile devices. 

 

ALSO READ: 12 Tips For Making Your Business’s Website Mobile-Friendly

 

Squarespace

 

Squarespace

 

Squarespace prides itself on delivering stylish designs and website visuals while enabling its users to use its built-in code-editing tool for advanced customization. Squarespace is a fine choice for developers and designers thanks to its intuitive visual editor and Developer Platform option for more advanced functionality, greater flexibility, and integration with external services.

 

3. Designing a Website

 

Why invest in a good website design?

 

Have you ever wondered why many local businesses and startups are investing in web design services in the Philippines

 

Good website design matters if you want to create a positive user experience and affects first impression. When users land on your website, they evaluate and assess its credibility and professionalism based on its design. A pleasing and well-designed website not only drives and attracts visitors. It also engages and retains them longer, which increases traffic and conversion rates.

 

A well-designed website should have a modern layout (following the latest web design trends), clean and clutter-free, well-organized content, and a balanced use of colors. Furthermore, a visually appealing website should help enhance usability while conveying the trustworthiness and expertise of a brand. 

 

Principles of a good website design

 

Simplicity 

Always keep your website design clean and uncluttered to help provide users with an easy way to navigate around. Avoid throwing too many unnecessary elements or information on a single page that can overwhelm users.

 

Consistency

Consistent designs ensure uniformity and cohesiveness throughout the website, from fonts to colors and layouts, for a more professional look and feel.

 

Use of White Space

White space can make or break a website’s design, utilizing it well effectively can create a breathing room and enhanced visual clarity, helping users focus on the content and break cluttered appearance.

 

High-Quality Engaging Visuals

A well-designed website always incorporates high-quality pictures, videos, and graphics relevant to the content and the brand’s message. 

 

Accessibility

Accessibility is all about making your website accessible to a wide range of users, including those with disabilities. You can improve this aspect by following accessibility guidelines, which you can read here

 

In addition to the overall aesthetics, having an intuitive navigation structure, readable content, and responsive design while aligning with the brand’s identity and goal are critical attributes in the overall design of your website. Remember that the principles above serve as guidelines and that every specific design choice can vary depending on your website’s purpose and audience.

 

4. Developing Your Website

 

To code or not to code?

 

There are three kinds of routes for you to take: coding from scratch or using a website builder of your choice. Learning HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, SQL, etc., can be taxing for many but a rewarding experience and journey. Coding from scratch gives you total control over all aspects of your website and a way to manage and handle the website on your own.

 

On the other hand, using a website builder offers immediate access to creating a website right off the bat without going through a lecture course on coding. It gives you a user-friendly option and an intuitive interface with pre-designed stylish templates and built-in features for a professional-looking website. However, these will limit your ability to customize and manage your website further down the road since this route is ideal for beginners or those who want to get their website up and running quickly. 

 

In addition to these routes, you can opt to pay for a website developer in the Philippines for a more tailored, high-performing, and well-optimized website to your needs. Whatever it may be, whether it’s an ecommerce or business website, hiring a web developer is a suitable long-term investment.

 

Using Scripting Languages Effectively

 

Should you opt to learn and use codes for creating your website, take note of the following:

 

Choose a suitable scripting language

Select the most appropriate scripting language based on your ability to learn it, the requirements of the project, and the strengths of each language to make better-informed decisions. 

 

Focus on code efficiency

Learn how to write codes efficiently and cleanly to optimize the performance of your website. Try to avoid redundancy or inputting unnecessary code by paying attention to loops, functions, and variables to minimize execution time. 

 

Document your code

As you progress, document your code or scripts, accompanied with clear explanations for algorithms and functions, since it will serve as crucial for future troubleshooting, collaboration, and maintenance.

 

Check for cross-browser compatibility

Consider testing your scripts on different browsers and devices to ensure cross-browser compatibility.

 

5. Testing Your Website

 

As you further advance through the development phase, testing is critical to provide your users with a smooth and user-free experience and pinpoint any issues or bugs before launching your website to the public. 

 

During the testing phase, focus on various aspects of your website, such as functionality, compatibility, usability, and performance. Ensure to test all the interactive elements, links, and navigation to see if they all work as intended. Additionally, you may want to monitor and analyze your website analytics to identify any areas for improvement.

 

6. Launching & Maintaining Your Website

 

How to launch your website

 

Once you have completed the development and testing of your process, it’s time to launch it to the world. Here are ways to help you launch your website properly:

 

Choose a hosting provider: To upload your website, you need to select a reliable hosting provider that suits best your website’s needs and your budget. Consider factors such as server reliability, bandwidth, storage space, and customer support. 

 

Register a domain name: As part of the web development process, choose a domain name that reflects your brand and is easy for other users and visitors to remember. Register your website’s domain name through a reputable domain registrar. 

 

Upload your website files: Connect to your hosting account and upload your website files using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or with the hosting provider’s file manager. 

 

Finish setting up your website: Configure the website by creating any necessary databases, installing any required plugins or extensions, and setting up email accounts. 

 

Perform a final check: Before launching your website, thoroughly test your website once more to ensure everything is working as intended and that there are no broken links or errors that will be displayed. 

 

Launch your website: Once you are confident that your website is working and ready, update your DNS setting to point your domain name to your hosting provider to make your website accessible to visitors. 

 

Tips for maintaining your website

 

Launching your website is not the final part of the web development process. Continuously maintaining is all part of the post-development phase to help your website remain secure and boost the number of returning traffic. 

 

Update your website’s content regularly: Updating your website’s content will keep your website fresh and relevant for new and upcoming visitors. Update via adding new blog posts, updating product or service information, and refreshing images and videos. 

 

Keep track of your website’s performance: Monitor your website’s performance by using website analytic tools. Pay attention to monitoring metrics, such as bounce rate, page load speed, and conversion rates, to identify what area needs further optimization. 

 

Perform regular backups: Backing up your website via backup solutions is a necessary plan and measure to protect your data while ensuring that you have a restore point for your website in case of any data loss scenario. 

 

Update security measures: Keeping your website secure with the latest security measures is part of the maintenance process and a responsibility. Update your CMS, plugins, and themes regularly to patch vulnerabilities. Additionally, use strong passwords and consider implementing additional security measures, such as SSL certificates and firewall protection.

 

Monitor user feedback: Always listen to your website visitors and customers. If you want to know what else to improve your website, and its user experience and address certain troubling issues, read through comments, reviews, and contact forms.

 

Conclusion:

 

Website development necessitates that you consider various aspects of the process, from determining the objective of having a website down to knowing how to upload and maintain a website. Creating a website is all about hard work, and there are no easy shortcuts to having a successful one that drives traffic, but through proper application of what you learned and paying close attention to the development phase. 

 

However, to ensure a high-quality website that meets your goals, consider opting for professional web development and web design services in the Philippines. Contact us today to discuss your website needs and let our experts bring your vision to life.