Website Design & Development- Domain & Server
Web, App, Website, Types of Website, and Whom to Hire?
First of all, you must note that the difference between web and website; that is when somebody tells you about ‘web’ it will refer to anything that runs or is available on the internet, maybe a website or app or software, etc. unlike a website.
Now, let me define the difference between web design and web development, web design basically deals with the designing or graphics part while web development deals with hardcore development. However, if someone tells you that he is into web designing does not necessarily mean that he will do nothing related to development; but the development will be specific. This is because software and application development requires extensive methodologies that are better executed by developers/ agencies dedicated to development who can undertake such extensive projects. Whereas, a website project be it informational or e-commerce can be well-executed by a soft-developer.
A web designing or digital marketing agency may possess the necessary development skills but will not undertake an extensive development project owing to deviation from their focus area.
So, when you require a website you have to be sure about the features you need. You may need only an informational website or a website with an e-commerce feature or a website, especially for content-based marketing. In this case, you must approach a digital marketing agency that offers such small scale web development. This will help make the website target specific, SEO optimized, and audience ready.
If you require an application or informational or e-commerce website with an application in it (for example- Cab booking website or app, multi-level marketing website, website or app for accounting, etc.) I would recommend keeping the app-based site and informational or e-commerce site separate and approach a full-fledged web developer/ development agency for the app-based site and a marketing agency for the informational or e-commerce site.
You must note that the dedicated web or app developers/ development agencies are not the best in making a website target specific, SEO optimized, audience ready, or marketing specific.
The best companies hire all the three- first a dedicated developer for top class development, followed by a designer for the best graphics and cutting edge design, and then a marketing expert for the best audience level optimization.
Requirements for a Website
A. Domain
The first step is to get an appropriate domain. Domain can be .com, .org, .net, .biz, .org, .edu, .country_code such as .UK, .us, .in, .de e.t.c, for example, mageorange.com Though the server where your information resides can be reached by its IP address, a domain is the professional way and easier to remember.
Parts of a Domain:
a. URL: The entire website address along with all its components is known as the URL.
b. WWW: It stands for world wide web and indicates that the website is available on the internet in other words, any client i.e a device running a program i.e a browser can access or retrieve information from the website as it is hosted on a device or across a network of devices that serves its contents (server).
c. Transfer Protocol: http:// (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), https:// Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure tells the browser and the website about how the data must be transferred. https indicates that the data is transferred using special encryption and hence more secure.
d. TLD or Top Level Domain: It is the part of the domain to the right of the (.) dot viz. com, org, us, etc.
e. SLD or Second Level Domain: It is the part of the domain to the left of the (.) dot. In www.mageorange.com, “mageorange” is the SLD.
Sub-Domain
It is an optional extension of the original domain for example “store.mageorange.com”
*Directories: For example “mageorange.com/store/”
DNS or Domain Name System
It tells how a website can be translated into its IP address.
DNS or Domain Name Server
A DNS server takes a domain and resolves it into its IP address
IP Address/ Server IP
It is a string of numbers that identifies the server where the information to be retrieved is located.
Dedicated IP and Shared IP
An IP address may be shared between all the users (or simply websites) on a server. If you are on a shared server it means that you are sharing the IP address with other users. Another case of shared IP is when you have a dedicated IP address but have multiple websites installed on your server here you are sharing the IP with all the websites. If your server is on a shared IP then you may not be able to reach your server only with the IP address and the domain name will be essential. If you have shared your dedicated IP with all your websites, you will be able to reach your server simply with the IP address but not your websites.
Dedicated IP is not mandatory, it just helps build the reputation of a website and its outgoing services like email service. Besides, it may have a little boost in website speed as the domain may be resolved slightly faster by the DNS.
SSL Certificate
SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, is an encryption-based Internet security protocol. Without any SSL, all the information is transported in an open manner which can be trespassed or hacked. While using an SSL, the information is encrypted before it is transferred and is translated by the application which receives it. SSL is extremely important for security. Additionally, Google also prioritizes sites that use SSL, and hence these sites have a better position in search results. SSL can be single domain or multi-domain or wildcard (applies on the main domain and its sub-domains).
Types of SSL
a. Domain Validation: This SSL is the cheapest and requires only a domain validation. It induces https along with a padlock symbol (displayed in the browser address bar) but may not provide information regarding the organization.
b. Organization Validation: This type of SSL validates the organization behind the website requesting the certificate. It induces https along with a padlock and can provide information regarding the organization when clicked on the padlock symbol.
c. Extended Validation: Here the certifying authority performs a full background check on the organization behind the website. This type of certificate indicates the name of the organization along with the padlock symbol.
d. Self-Signed Certificate: It is the lowest type of SSL that can be generated on the server hosting the site. It is thus not signed by any certifying authority. It may not provide full-fledged security and is just better than having nothing.
B. Server or Hosting
A computer that serves data to other computers is called a server. In web hosting, a server is a computer that stores the website files and data and serves them to the client trying to access the data. The raw data including server files, designing and programming files (until and unless hacked) can only be accessed by a client who has direct access to the server.
Since it is not possible to devise a system (computer) which will run 24 X 7 X 365 on high speed, high bandwidth cutting edge internet without power and internet failure, we move to a hosting company.
The process of serving data is called hosting.
Types of Server/ Hosting
a. Shared Hosting: In this type of hosting, the server is shared between multiple users. Hence, the complicacy on one website will hamper the other website/ users. Such servers have strict limitations on resources (RAM, CPU) and processes (number of simultaneous processes, number of files, e.t.c.). This is the cheapest available type of hosting and is recommended only for an informational website or when the website is not of much importance to the business/ organization.
*In shared hosting the one user cannot access the files of another user as they are separated and divided by special application by the host.
b. VPS or Virtual Private Server: In this type of hosting a server is shared between a certain number of users with a specific amount of resources reserved to each user as specified. This is achieved with the help of specialized technology. It is recommended when the website is important to the business or is an advanced one.
c. Dedicated Server: As the name suggests, here one server is dedicated to a particular user/ client. These types of servers are very expensive.
d. Cloud Server: It actually refers to a network of connected servers with scalable resources that automatically synchronizes all the data and serves them from the readily available server so that if one server is down another fetches the information. This can be regarded as Real Cloud. It can be 2 Copy (1 active + 1 backup) or 3 Copy (2 active + 1 backup) or 4 Copy (3 active + 1 backup), e.t.c. This is also an expensive solution that costs a little less or the same as dedicated hosting. Though there may be a dedicated cloud, mostly, the technology used to separate the users is like that of a VPS.
e. Virtual Cloud/ Shared Cloud Server: In this type, the cloud server is shared between different users but certain resources like RAM and CPU may be dedicated and scalable depending on the host. It is the cheapest after shared hosting with better performance and resources. It can be opted by users who cannot afford a VPS.
f. 1 Copy Cloud: Until and unless the package details suggest something special this typically is like a VPS with easily scalable resources.
* resources are scalable in VPS, Dedicated and Cloud servers. But in VPS and dedicated servers, this requires manual upgrading by the host on request and hence involves a downtime; while in Cloud this is simple without any downtime.
E-Mail Server
An email server enables you to send and receive email via your domain name (for example yourname@yourdomain such as [email protected]). E-Mail Server can be run from your website server itself or can be purchased from 3rd parties like Google (Business E-Mail), Godaddy e.t.c.
If your website is on cheap hosting, you can opt for a 3rd Party email Service which will ensure that you do not miss any emails. Opting for a good email service with correct configurations will also ensure that the emails are not marked as spam.
Additional Services
CDN or Content Delivery Network: A CDN is a service that provides cached static files of a website from servers across the world. If you are targeting audience globally, this is an excellent option as it will ensure faster website loading across different regions. Many CDN providers also offer DDOS (distributed denial-of-service) protection. A DDOS attack is a type of cyber attack where illegitimate (robotic) traffic is sent to a website to create stress on the server and bandwidth. If your website is available and advertised globally, you are prone to DDOS attacks.
Load Balancer: If your website receives huge traffic, you may need to configure a load balancer. A load balancer switches traffic from one server to another during a spike. You can set up a network of dedicated servers and configure a load balancer for all incoming traffic. In cloud servers, a load balancer can be set up quickly as an optional service.
C. Website Development- An Overview
The main components of a website are database, programming language files, documents, and design files. The programming language decides how the output is to be processed; the design files determine the outlook and design, the documents stores the pages, and the database stores the data.
For example, as you are viewing this page, all the texts are fetched from the HTML documents on the server and displayed as programmed in the programming language (PHP) which decides the output (what to display, when to display?) and all the designs are according to the design files (CSS). If we were to show you how may products you have purchased or your registration details then these would have been fetched from the database (My SQL).
In Laymen’s terms a website may be developed in three ways:
a. With some simple programming, design, and HTML files that fetches information from the database. This is the cheapest and prone to hacking. All developers offering the cheapest solutions follow this strategy. This option is not at all recommended.
b. Using a Framework: A web development framework is a web development software with a set of strict rules as to how the programming language files, documents, and design files must be placed in the server. A stronger framework ensures more security. Examples are Laraval, ASP .NET, Codeigniter, Ruby on Rails, e.t.c. Developer using frameworks is a bit expensive.
c. Developing a Framework: Some companies may consider hiring a group of developers to develop and maintain their own framework and a website on top of it for better performance and security. This is the most expensive.
d. Using a CMS (Content Management System): A CMS is a web development software that allows web development without diving into programming. All CMS use their own framework. Examples are Drupal, Joomla, WordPress, Magento, e.t.c. Hackers may study the framework of these CMS to launch attacks on websites using them; this is readily countered by the CMS companies by providing updates and patches from time to time. A CMS does not require much programming but extensive knowledge experience on the CMS behavior and functions.
Using a good CMS with security software on top of it and regular updates, tweaks, and management is the best cost-effective, least time consuming performance-oriented solution. This strategy is even followed by some big companies.
Additional Features to Consider in a Website
Cache: A caching system can be configured on a website so that all the static files are preloaded from the server instead of being resolves and translated every time a visitor requests them.
Firewall: Using a firewall on the server as well as the website level can minimize malicious traffic and hack attempts.
Anti Spam: A spam guard can prevent unwanted logins, comments, and registrations.
Google Analytics: When this is configured on your website, you can get detailed insights on all your website traffic, location, source, and everything.
SEO: A SEO (search engine optimization) system can be configured on the website which will check all the pages for SEO tweaks, and generate files necessary for SEO from time to time.
Content-Based Marketing Optimizations:
Social Media Auto Posting: A social media auto posting feature can be configured on the website which can automatically post posts in all your social media accounts in a scheduled manner.
Email Newsletter: An email newsletter system can be configured on a website that can keep track of all email marketing campaigns including a record of opened and clicked emails.
COMMENTS
To summarize in easy terms, if you just need a simple informational website, you can go for shared hosting with website development on a good CMS. If your website is important to your organization, but you need a cost-effective solution, you can go for website development on a good CMS but it must be hosted on VPS or at least Shared Cloud hosting. Purchasing a domain name and configuring an SSL certificate is necessary in both cases. Other features can be chosen or upgraded according to the necessity.
If your website is to be targetted towards content development or marketing or traffic analysis, it is better to get your website developed by a good digital marketing agency/ company who provides website development as well; while if you need an application/ app or an application on top of your website you must approach a hardcore developer.
© 2020, Mage Orange Publication.
Copyright reserved with the respective authors, co-authors & contributors. All ‘Publishing Rights’ reserved with ‘Mage Orange Publication & Technologies.’
The above content is an ‘extract’ from the ‘Mage Orange Publishing & Digital Marketing Magazine 2020.’ Any part of this article cannot be published, reproduced, or copied in any form whatsoever, without the permission of the publisher.
