Although there are many types of professionals that work with websites in their creation and software programming, the Department of Labor defines web designers as responsible for day-to-day site design and creation, while webmasters are responsible for all technical aspects of a Web site, including performance issues such as speed of access, and for approving the content of the site.  For the purposes of this article, we will discuss the job duties of a web designer.

Website design is comprised of many steps.  Depending on the employer and the designer's skills, typical duties may involve:

• Translating a client's marketing or informational content into a functional website.
• Mapping or outlining a website's structural content.
• Creating or editing images and graphics for website use.
• Determining all coding requirements for site creation including: e-commerce capability, forms and specialized scripts.
• Creating templates of approved website layout.
• Coding website using HTML, or GUI design software.
• Coordinating with programmers for specialized scripts.
• Creating verbal content for the website or using approved content from the client.
• Integrating verbal content with site design for final product.
• Posting completed site to internet server using FTP software.
• Making changes to the site directed by client.
• Submitting completed site to search engines.

Some web designers possess all the skills listed above, while others only possess a portion of them.

If you have the right technology background and can learn new software quickly, a career as a web designer can be very lucrative.  Web design skills are important in every industry now and they afford motivated people the chance to run their own business.