Targa Web Design

A responsive website is a website which has been designed to display and function correctly on a range of screen sizes and devices.

Whilst it may be possible for a desktop monitor and laptop to display the same layout of a web page, a smartphone is usually viewed in a vertical (or portrait orientation), and therefore typically requires a different layout of each web page.

Likewise, a tablet such as an iPad is likely to need a slightly different page layout when in portrait orientation compared to when viewed in a landscape orientation.

Besides different layouts for smartphones, a well designed responsive website is also likely to use smaller versions of images on mobile phones, to make web pages load more quickly by not having to download larger quantities of data over a mobile phone network.

Yes, provided that it has been designed correctly.

The term Responsive Website is often used, and this refers to websites which are designed to work on all screen sizes and devices, including mobile phones.

More information can be found in this article about mobile friendly websites.

There are many factors that it is almost impossible to say how long a website should take to build. For example:

Size, purpose and features:
How many pages will the website contain? Will it be used to promote your services or to sell products and handle secure online payments?

Will it require a CMS (content management system), or a searchable database of content. You might require a list of subscribers to be generated which will grow as more people fill out their details on your website?

Will you be providing your own website content and images, or will you be relying on the web designer to do source suitable images on your behalf?

Will you require your website to tap into your social media feeds such as Twitter, so it displays your latest or selected Tweets?

Average time period:
There are many other variables too, but websites for the average small to medium size business can typically take between 1 and 8 weeks to produce.

You can certainly find some web designers who will produce websites quickly and cheaply, but that's another story! Cheap websites often have many corners cut in order to speed up the process and keep costs down, but the results, performance and reliability can be poor, and many such website owners end up having their websites rebuilt. In the mean time it could be costing them money in lost businesses and brand reputation.

What about AI?:
You might have heard that websites can now be built using AI. That's true, but you need to anticipate the lack of control, styling, editorial input, the ability to update content, add or change images, and make it mobile friendly.

What if it goes wrong? Can it be fixed? Who will fix it? How much will that cost?

So bearing those points in mind, just be careful and do some research before diving in!

1: Introductory call:

• We can arrange a short phone or Zoom call to enable us to learn about you and your business, and what objectives you have for your new website.
• Phone and Zoom calls can be very effective, but there may be good reason to meet face to face.

2: Down to detail:

• We can discuss the details of what each page of your website needs to contain, as well as styling, colours, and other visual aspects of your website.
• If you have any content for your website, whether it be paragraphs of text describing your business and services, photos, logos, etc., you can send them over by email or via DropBox.

3: Content for your website:

• Your website needs to have relevant quality content for the benefit of your customers and also for success with the search engines.
• It is advisable to give serious thought to your website content, but we understand that not everyone has the time or feels comfortable producing website content.

4: The design stage:

• If you already have some ideas or can suggest some existing websites that you like the look of, that would be great.
• Maybe you would like us to put forward some suggestions. That's fine too.
• So before coding starts, we'll discuss some visual ideas with you, get your feedback, and then we can begin developing your new website.

5: Keeping an eye on things:

• You will be able to check in with us to see how your website is shaping up, and you will be given access to each page for your feedback and approval.
• Your new website will only go live when you give us the approval to do so, and we will work with you until you're happy with it.
• Of course there may be the need for us to meet a specific deadline that you have, and so we will work to a project plan to meet that deadline.

A tricky one to answer in general terms, but think of things from a customer's perspective...

What would a customer want or expect when they arrive on your website? Do they want to buy a product, find a service, research a subject, make comparisons, be educated or entertained?

Once you have a clear idea of why people would come to your website, then ask how easy it is for them to find what they're looking for. In fact do you actually have what they're looking for on your website?

What you want to avoid is making people leave your website due to a lack of quality content. The general feeling is that if a potential customer wants to find specific information, they'll find it. If they can't find it on your website, they'll go elsewhere to find it.

This article on creating content that your customers want could provide you with some useful ideas.

It is a legal requirement that any business which processes personal data must have a privacy policy.

If you are a website owner you will need to provide access to a copy of your privacy policy at the time you collect people's personal information.

If your website does not have a privacy policy page, speak with your web designer.

Even if your web designer insists that you do not need one, if you capture and process personal data it will be your responsibility to provide a privacy policy.

SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer

Having a valid SSL Certificate for your website will provide that level of security you need, and will allow your web address to use https instead of http

Cross site scripting, also known as XSS, refers to malicious activity carried out by unscrupulous visitors to a website adding JavaScript to form fields or search boxes.

This JavaScript can subsequently cause things to happen, usually with harmful intent.

Passwords and personal data can be stolen, computers can be hijacked, analytics may be gathered, and many other malicious actions could be carried out.