Introduction to Web Page design

A website (also called an Internet site) is a group of HTML files connected by hypertext links and stored on a web server, i.e. a computer that hosts webpages and is permanently connected to the Internet.

Why Have a Website?

There are many motivations for having a website:

• Need for visibility: a well promoted website can be a good way for a company or organization to increase its visibility
• Improved reputation: with an institutional website or a mini publicity website, a company can expand its popularity with the public
• Data collection: the Internet is a fantastic opportunity for companies to collect client data and attract prospective clients
• Online sales: while initially wary, Internet users have now understood that the Internet is a great medium for buying certain consumer goods. For some companies, a website is a great marketing tool
• A user support service: more and more companies are using the Internet as a medium for providing before- and after-sales service. A website is an inexpensive way for a company to provide Internet users with the maximum amount of business and technical information.

Generally, we divide websites up into several different categories depending on their objective:

• Storefronts are websites whose main objective is to promote a company's brand image by showing examples of its products or services
• Catalog websites are sites whose goal is to present what a company is selling
• Information websites are sites that supply a particular type of information to a particular type of Internet user
• Commercial websites are sites that sell products directly to Internet users. Some of these sites allow buyers to pay online
• An institutional websites is a site that presents an organization and its values. This type of website generally describes the organization's activity and key figures and supplies clients and/or beneficiaries with necessary information
• Personal websites are sites set up by individuals and usually are dedicated to an individual's favorite leisure activity, topic or sport
• Community websites are sites that bring together users with a common interest
• Intranet websites are sites accessible within a business or office and are used to share professional information

What is Webmastering?

A webmaster is a person in charge of a website, i.e. the individual who designs a website and updates it.

The website's life is made up of two different facets, both of which can be broken down into specific phases:

• Creation, which corresponds to converting an idea into a website that is online, indexed and visited
• Operation, which corresponds to the daily management, evolution and updating of the site

The creation phase is a project in and of itself that is made up of many steps

The operation phase includes the following activities (among others):

• Promotion and indexing of the website in order to increase traffic

Therefore, setting up a website is a multidisciplinary activity that requires the participation of people with various skills. Depending on the organization, a webmaster may be more like a project manager than a one-man-band in charge of all jobs, from designing to indexing.

The term webmastering refers to all the tasks that must be performed for a website to operate properly.

Designing

Building a website does not only involve creating the webpages. It is a strategic and creative collective endeavor that must involve all stakeholders (employees, management, clients, etc.).