Nü Regime Graphics

Do I need a web developer ? I hear that anybody can build a web site using the right program.
Well, like I said before, "A good program can help a bad designer make a bad design faster", so to answer the question...Yes twice.

Yes, you do need a web developer...and Yes, anybody can build a website, but not all websites are the same. Many companies offer online programs where you can make your own web page, never the less, it will be a generic real basic page where the program will allow you to choose a template and a background color. The only problem is that another million people are using the same template, so your site is just... another template site.

Now, most companies need more than that. Most websites need functions to be able to present their products, services and vision the right way. Plus, if you have a company with your unique identity, that identity should be represented in the layout of the website, and for this you need a good designer.

Not all designers are created equal!

A designer needs to be able to create an attractive layout, clean, well balanced, different, that stands out, but that's not all, the ball doesn't stop there. You also need functions. The structure to support the mechanisms needed for the site to work, For example: You might need an area for your clients to Login and communicate with you in real-time, or an intranet for your employees to share documents, have meetings and update information, or you might want to have some control, where you can write articles, etc... If this is the case, not even a good designer can help you. You need more that a designer, you need a developer. Now remember, not all designers are developers and not all developers are designers. Lets put it this way. A designer deals more with "how the site looks" and a developer deals more with "how the site functions", one is more art, the other is more code, and yes, their responsibilities overlap sometimes.

How to Hire a Good Web Developer

DEFINITION     

A Web Developer, strictly speaking, builds and maintains websites. However, a lot of people who create sites using a copy and paste program call themselves Web developers, so it's a confusing term. Developers are the people who use CODE to build the actual pages from scratch.  A Web developer's other responsibilities could include optimizing graphics for the Web and producing rich media such as Flash, streaming media, or online audio as well as integrating functions to the site.

• Can hand-code HTML , XHTML, CSS and other languages as needed. 
• Can optimize graphics and web pages so that they load quickly.
• Can handle cross-browser optimization — making sure the site looks good on different browsers .
• Can follow strict web standards as set by the World Wide Web Consortium .

ADVANCE SKILLS

• Handle JavaScript
• Handle a Professional Imaging Application.
Can code :
• Dynamic HTML (DHTML)
• Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
• CGI forms
• Can deploy dynamic Web technologies such as XSSI, JSP, ASP
• Can code PHP
• Can Handle SSI (server-side includes)

Senior developers manage the overall building of the site and assign junior developers specific areas to build.   

Junior:

• Can code a website at basic levels
• Has updated content on an existing website
  

Mid-level:

• Can develop and maintaining a commercial website
• Experience with naming conventions and setting up file structures (important for large sites)
• Can look at a visual design and tell what it will take to implement it
• Can tell at a glance how a page was put together or an entire site assembled
• Knows what functions a given line of code performs     

Senior:

• Can develop and maintaining large-scale commercial websites
• Experience as lead developer or project manager