Why web development is a great career choice.
Having a website for your company seems like common sense, yet almost half of small businesses in the United States do not. That glaring absence leads to untold missed opportunities from web searches and pre-purchase reviews.
Could anything be worse than missed opportunity?
As it turns out, that just might be the case, and the culprit is poor web design. As consumers increasingly rely on accessible, accurate information to help them shop, bad websites stand in the way of commerce. When key details are missing or hard to find, shoppers look elsewhere.
Research shows that 71% of in-store shoppers say that conducting research on their smartphones is an indispensable part of their shopping experience. One in four shoppers will avoid a particular store if they are not able to find the information they need online.
Bad websites abound.
They are too cluttered or missing critical information. The graphics seem off or the website performs poorly on a mobile device. These are the products of poorly trained web designers.
Chief among the priorities for a business’s online presence is a web designer who is properly educated. A good web designer can lay out an intuitive, user-friendly website that incorporates innovative features. Aside from tidy arrangement and easy-to-navigate browsing, websites must include certain features. Yet too often, these critical elements are nowhere to be found:
1. Mobile optimization – Since most customers will be searching for information on their mobile devices, it is critical that websites work well across all accessories.
2. Social media links – Aside from offering another online platform to learn about a business, social media has the ability to deliver regular notifications to consumers.
3. Contact information – When web surfers have a specific question that the website does not address, they need fast, easy ways to connect with the answer, or they will leave, often for good.
4. Photographs – Shoppers are turned-off by websites when they feel like they are reading an essay, and simple, tasteful photographs enhance a website’s visual appeal.
5. An “About” page – Someone who is considering making a purchase wants to know that they are doing so from an authentic, reputable retailer, and the “About” page is the venue to offer that narrative.
For some people, a website that includes all of these features is a no-brainer. Many go on to make this their profession. In fact, people who enter the web design enjoy being creative, but also have the technical skills necessary to express their imagination on a well-designed website.
A good eye for design, along with knowledge of the principles of web design, Web 2.0 skills and the language of computers – HTML, JavaScript or SQL – are important qualifications.
And what’s more, the pay can be very good for a career in web design and development , and will likely get better. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary was over $66,000 – not bad for someone who understands that the world now works on the web.
This article was sponsored by ECPI University Web Design and Development Program, offering a bachelor of science degree in Computer and Information Science that can be completed in 2.5 years.
To speak directly with an Admissions Representative at ECPI University Virginia Beach, please contact Scott Golden, Director of Admissions, to discuss degree and continuing education programs.
Scott can be reached at 757-517-3903 or VBAdmissions@ecpi.edu
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