Building a Modern Website

In the early days of the internet before modern browsers, search engines and social networks the creation of a website was a much simpler process.  With early versions of web technologies and lack of bandwidth website builders were limited in their ability to display pixel perfect designs and handle interactive functionality. 

This time has long since passed and we are now living in an age where building a website requires many different people working together, each using their expertise to produce the final result:

• Graphic Design -- The quality of the design is one of the easiest ways for a visitor to differentiate between a modern site and one that was created years ago.  Through the advancement technologies such as XHTML and CSS designers now have a much greater ability to bring even the most complicated of designs to the web.
• Development -- Once one was only required to know one or two languages to produce a website.  This has quickly changed and many modern websites run on at least 5 distinct languages and technologies including: XHTML, JavaScript, CSS, SQL and a server side language.
• Flash Development -- With the creation of Adobe Flash and Flex one can deliver much more interactive animations and rich internet applications (RIA) without requiring the user to download client side code.  
• Content Writing -- Although the English language hasn’t changed by leaps and bounds the structure and formatting of the content has.  Previously, with a more limited audience, one could more easily tailor the content.  Now technical writers must worry about image placement, information formatting and header length.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) -- A philosophical riddle says, "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"  Similarly if your website is never found on the internet, does it actually exist?  With the improvement of search engines sites must now conducting industry and target market research in order to modify the content and site structure to improve chances of being found.
• Photography -- With the increased multimedia and imagery on the internet displaying professional photos of your products and company will often require high quality images taken by a professional photographer.
• Video -- More recently with the adoption of high bandwidth to the home and office video streaming is becoming prevalent as a way to leave a lasting impression and highlight your products and services.

Although the changes have certainly added complexity and increased the number of people necessary to produce a successful website these advancements allow an improved presentation of information and more functionality increasing the overall effectiveness of your web presence.