Clients ask me all the time: “So wait…what do web developers do?” You know we “build websites,” but what does that actually mean day-to-day?
And fair question, because when you’re running a small business, “web development” can sound like this mysterious, expensive thing that lives somewhere between “techy magic” and “that person who fixes your site when it breaks.”
The short version is that web developers create websites the same way a good contractor builds a house: with structure, tools, systems, and a lot of double-checking before anyone moves in.
Want to know the ins and outs of it all, so you can feel confident chatting with and hiring the right web developer? Keep reading!
If you become a web developer, you’ll usually specialize in front-end, back-end, or full-stack
When people talk about web development, they’re usually talking about three types of developers. They might sound fancy, but here’s what they really mean.
Front-end developers
Front-end web developers work on the part of your site that visitors actually see: the layout, fonts, buttons, forms, and colors. They use programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build the “face” of your site so it looks clean, loads fast, and works on every screen size.
Back-end developers
Back-end web development happens behind the scenes – in the “engine room.” These devs connect all the dots: databases, servers, payment systems, email signups, and anything that needs logic to function. They make sure your contact forms send messages where they’re supposed to, and your store doesn’t crash on launch day.
Full-stack developers
If front-end is décor and back-end is plumbing, a full-stack developer is the contractor handling both. They manage the design-facing stuff and the behind-the-scenes logic. Handy, right?
What developers typically deliver with every web development job
Every web development project looks a little different, and web developers may have their own set of deliverables, but this is likely what they’ll deliver when building a new site:
Site builds
This is the main event; putting your site together from the ground up (and putting all those skills we picked up in our computer science and web development degrees to good use!). Web developers build websites that match your brand and goals, not just templates and plug-ins.
Feature development
Need a new booking form? A custom calculator? An online store? That’s feature development: the process of adding functionality that makes your site do more things.
Integrations
Integrations connect your site to the tools you already use, like email platforms, CRMs, payment processors, and analytics. We use them to get your systems talking to each other automatically.
QA (Quality Assurance)
QA is our “double-check everything” stage. We test every button, every link, every web page, on every browser and device. This is where we catch the stuff users would notice: slow loads, weird spacing, or broken forms.
Performance optimization
Once everything works, we make it work faster. This means compressing images, caching pages, and trimming unnecessary code so your site doesn’t lag and annoy the heck out of your website visitors.
Web developers partner with designers, SEO pros & content folks
Web development isn’t a solo gig. Every strong site comes from a mix of design, content, and technical skill, and web developers tend to work closely with a few key teammates.
With web design pros
Web designers make your site look great. Developers make it function fantastically. The designer sends mockups, and I build them in code so what you saw in the design file actually happens in real life.
With SEO specialists
Search engine optimization specialists make sure your site is findable on Google. I help by structuring code properly, improving load times, and making sure the site can be crawled easily. SEO and development go hand-in-hand.
You might wanna check out “What Does an SEO Specialist Do All Day?” while you’re here.
With content writers
Writers and strategists handle words and images. My job is to make sure their copy fits perfectly into user interface layouts, and that images or videos don’t slow down your site.
Good communication skills make all of this run smoothly. If your designer, SEO, and dev aren’t in sync, your project can grind to a halt fast!
Typical tools web developers use
Every dev has their own toolbox, what we call our “tech stack.” Here’s a simple breakdown of what I use most for small business sites.
WordPress
WordPress is the platform I use most for small business sites. It gives me a solid base to build on as all the structure, pages, and settings are there, and I can customize everything with code or plug-ins.
Clients love it because once it’s built, they can easily log in and update their own content without breaking anything. It’s flexible enough for blogs, service sites, portfolios…pretty much anything that doesn’t need a massive custom system behind it.
WooCommerce
When a client needs to sell products online, I usually build in WooCommerce. It’s built specifically for eCommerce, so it takes care of all the tricky parts: checkout, inventory, shipping, payments. I handle the setup, design, and integrations to make it match the client’s brand, and then they can run it day to day without touching code.
JavaScript (and friends)
JavaScript adds movement, interaction, and logic, making sites feel alive. It’s one of the most universal web development tools, used everywhere from animations to apps.
Many devs also use multimedia publishing tools (like CMS editors or plug-ins) that make it easier for clients to edit content later without needing a coder on standby.
How a project moves: from idea to launch
Here’s what the typical web development process looks like when you work with us.
#1 Scoping
We start by defining goals, deliverables, and timelines. This is where I ask a million questions – it’s pretty much the blueprint phase that keeps everything clear.
#2 Staging
Once designs and copy are approved, I build your site on a private link (the “staging site”). It’s where you can click around and test before going public.
#3 Approvals
You review the staging version, send feedback, and we make tweaks. This step keeps surprises out of the launch day equation.
#4 Deploy
“Deploying” just means hitting the go-live button. Everything moves from staging to your real domain. I check again for broken links, speed, and SEO settings.
#5 Change requests
After launch, you might realize a few things you want to adjust. That’s normal. We handle those updates, often as part of an ongoing care plan.
Web developers work through these steps systematically so you don’t end up with broken forms or weird bugs haunting your shiny new site.
What developers need from you to move fast
Want your project to run smoothly? Here’s what helps us keep things on track.
Access
We’ll need logins for your hosting, domain registrar, email marketing tools, and anything else your website connects to. Without those, we can’t test or launch.
Assets
Send us your logos, brand colors, images, copy, and any specific fonts or style guides. A complete asset folder is like gold for developers, it saves us hours of digging through files or chasing you up.
Decisions
Fast feedback means faster progress. Whether it’s approving copy or choosing between two button colors, clear answers keep things moving along.
Basically, when you give us what we need early, we can create websites faster, and you launch sooner.
Let’s build something that works just how you need it to
So, I hope next time someone mentions “front-end development” or “back-end development,” you can now nod knowingly instead of panicking.
If your site’s due for an upgrade, or you’re tired of playing tech support between meetings, reach out. I’ll handle the nerdy bits, so you don’t have to!
