Do you know the difference between a web designer and a web developer? Better yet, did you think they were the same thing?  

Knowing the difference between the two will greatly help you when deciding what you need in the search for a new website. Let’s dive in! 

WEB DESIGNER:  

A web designer is a graphic artist who designs your website and focuses on the front end of your site. This means they are creating your layout, helping you determine your style and branding, and creating graphics. Your website designer is the creative brain behind your website and often times your brand.  

Finding a web designer who also specializes in branding is a bonus! You want these two to go hand in and hand. Your designer will help you determine what you want your brand to be and then have it come to life in your website and logo. Syncing these two positions allows your website and brand to remain cohesive throughout your platforms. 

WEB DEVELOPER:

A web developer is the genius who actually builds/develops the website! Web developers use a completely different skill set than web designers, who are more creative. Developers are methodical, logical, and systematic – all wonderful traits for this type of detailed work.  

These are the people who code your website, they are fluent in the coding languages such as HTML & CSS (yep – computers have a whole different language, actually they have several). Web development is such a big job that often times you have two developers – one for the programming of your site and another for the server-side. While developers are masters at creating the back end of your website, they probably aren’t the ones to go to for a beautifully curated website.  

Now that you know the difference, you’re probably wondering… which one do I need to hire?  

Well, you have several options! If the look of your site is the most important thing to you and your needs are rather simple on the back end – hire a web designer. He or she will design a gorgeous website (and hopefully help you with your branding needs too) on a done for you site, such as WordPress or my new favorite, Showit.   

If you have custom back end needs that a done for you site can’t easily provide – hire a website company! This company will build a website to your custom needs with a web developer(s) while simultaneously working with a web designer to get the front end looking on brand and beautiful!  

If you are curious where I fall between the two – Hi! I’m a boutique web DESIGNER! I work in design, branding, and social media growth for lifestyle brands and female entrepreneurs. Want to talk about creating a fabulous website of your very own? Shoot me an email! Let’s chat!