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Many of the tips posted on my blog are lessons learned the hard way.  I present them in an effort to help the entrepreneur and small business owner avoid the mistakes that we've learned along the way. Here's just one example.

The Difference Between a Web Designer and
a Web Developer

These two terms are often confused, and some people mistakenly use the terms interchangeably. But the two are actually very different. When you are looking for someone to create your website, it’s important to know the difference so that you can ask for – and find – someone who can do the job you need done.

A web designer is trained in the use of special software and a number of programming languages (HTML and JavaScript, for example) that allow him to create attractive, functional websites that present a message or a corporate image to the public. With a good web designer, you’ll get a website that’s appealing and easy to use, so your visitors will get the information they want, as well as the information you want them to have. Your website will present a corporate image that reflects well upon your business, your people, and your products and services.

But some businesses require more from their websites. In recent years, website owners have begun asking for websites that perform additional functions. E-commerce sites, for example require another level of expertise, as do websites that work with databases. Some websites require a login and password in order to protect sensitive information, while others provide interactive programs that give the user unique feedback, instant price quotes, or other complex calculations. The programs that run these websites are built by web developers, and there’s almost no limit to what a good web developer can create.

Many web designers are able to offer some of the functionality once limited to the realm of the developer.  By using commercial software programs, they can provide some of the more common functionality such as shopping carts or online payment systems. These software programs were created by web developers, then packaged for sale to web designers. Thus, you may find a web designer who can build your website with the functionality you want, without the expense of a custom built program.

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