How to build the ideal website development team structure

Building multiple websites, whether it’s to target different markets, launch new products or services, or improve user experience, is a significant undertaking for any company.

It requires the skills of many different people working together in order to create a cohesive, functioning whole. But what is the best way to structure your team in order to achieve this goal? How do you assemble the right people and put them in the right places so that your website can be created as efficiently as possible?

There are many different ways to structure a web development team, and there is no one perfect answer for everyone. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you create an effective team for your specific needs. In this article, we will discuss some of the most important factors to consider when building your team, and we will offer some advice on how to make the most of your resources. Let’s get started!

Key roles in a website development team

A typical web development team structure would typically consist of the following roles.

Project manager

Before anything else, building a website is a project, and just like any other project, it needs someone to handle overall site planning and coordination aspects.

Project managers (PMs) for web development teams should be familiar with the technical aspects of design and development. 

A web project manager will assign roles and responsibilities to each member based on their expertise. Not to mention they also ensure that each team member is completing the tasks assigned to them. 

Apart from managing people, a project manager will also set goals and objectives that help meet project deadlines. Lastly, a PM within a web development crew will resolve any issues to ensure the final product is as per requirements.

All these responsibilities make project management an important part of any website project.

Solution architect 

A solution architect, or site architect, creates a wireframe also known as the information architecture of a website according to the website’s purpose. Every website will have its architecture, and a solutions architect uses site architecture diagrams to represent the layout of the website’s pages.

The ultimate goal of adding a solution architect to web development is to ensure the website is user-friendly. 

The visualizers created by the architect of the website’s pages allow developers to understand what the result should look like.

Solution architects work closely with developers to communicate their visual design with them. Once there is a solid understanding between both roles the developers can get to work.

UI and UX designers

UI stands for user interface, and UX stands for user experience. Both of these design roles are equally important when creating a website as they both look to enhance the overall customer journey while on the site.

User interface designers (UI) create the visual elements that a user interacts with directly, such as buttons, menus, icons, etc. It’s their job to make sure that the visuals are aesthetically pleasing while still being easy to use. 

User experience designers (UX) focus on the overall flow of the website and how users interact with it. They work closely with UI designers as well as developers to develop a website that is both visually appealing and highly functional.

These roles are usually separate, but many times they can be combined into one job. Some companies prefer to have two people take on the roles of UI and UX together, while other companies might prefer a single person, called a UI/UX designer, who is responsible for both aspects.

Web designers

The difference between UI and UX designers and web designers is that web designers create the entire look of a website. They provide a visual representation of the brand and its purpose.

Web designers will take into account things such as colors, fonts, graphics, etc., to design an effective website for the end user. In addition to creating visuals for each page on the site, web designers also need to ensure that all of the visuals fit together to create a cohesive look.

Web designers work closely with the UI and UX designers to ensure that the visuals they create are aligned with the user experience.

Speak to us to find your ideal web design consultant

Web developers

Developers are the people who make the website come to life. They write the code that tells the browser how to display a page and make it interactive.

In a web development team, developers are divided into frontend developers and backend developers. Frontend developers work on the visible elements of a website such as buttons, menus, forms, and images. Backend developers focus on the technical specifications of a website such as databases, servers, and APIs.

It’s important to note that this division isn’t always so clear-cut. Sometimes developers will be required to work both on the frontend and backend of a website depending on the nature of the project.

Fullstack developers are a special type of developers who are comfortable working with both the frontend and backend of a website.

QA (quality assurance) engineers

Encouraging bugs and errors is a part of the website development process. However, how a team handles these bugs makes the project successful. 

QA engineers are involved with website development from the start to the very end of the process. They are responsible for testing the website, making sure it works as intended, and identifying any bugs that need to be fixed. 

The job of a QA engineer is to make sure the quality of the website is up to standard before it goes live. They will test out every single feature on the website and report any issues they find.

They are also responsible for creating detailed reports about the website’s usability and performance, making sure that any changes or enhancements are beneficial for the user.

A good QA engineer understands the various web phases and has the skills to notice any bad code that may negatively affect the end product. 

Content designers

Content designers are responsible for designing the structure of your website’s content. They understand how to create an information architecture that is easy to navigate, which is key for user experience and SEO purposes.

They are also able to help decide what web pages to include on your site, design visually appealing page layouts, select images and videos to go along with content, incorporate elements such as animations or interactive elements, and create other types of visuals to enhance the website’s content and user experience.

Content writers

Content writers are responsible for creating content that will appeal to a website’s target audience. They create text, videos, images, infographics, and more. 

Your website content, such as your homepage, product pages, FAQ pages, and blog posts, all need to be optimized for both search engine optimization (SEO) and user experience.

Content writers need to be able to write engaging copy that is optimized for search engine optimization (SEO) purposes. They should understand how various keywords can make an article rank higher in search engine results and apply those principles when creating content for a website. 

Content writers should have a good understanding of the target audience, their interests and preferences, and the goals of the website in order to create content that resonates with them. Without good content, your website is unlikely to attract visitors, keep visitors coming back to your website, or decide to purchase your products or services.

After your website development is complete

After your website is built, it’s important to have a team in place to maintain the website. This could include developers and content writers, with additional roles such as SEO experts or designers to ensure your website is kept up-to-date and secure.

Maintaining a website requires ongoing work, from making sure that all the links on the site are working properly to keeping the content fresh and relevant. It’s important to have a team in place that understands your website, its goals, and its users in order to make sure it remains successful over time.

Leveling up your website development team

If you’re building a complex website and have ambitions to grow it beyond a basic website, there are a few additional roles you should consider adding to your team.

Motion designers

Motion designers are responsible for creating animated visuals, such as explainer videos or infographic animations. They understand how to combine motion design with storytelling and have a good understanding of the motion design software used to create these visuals. 

These types of visuals can help bring your website to life and provide an engaging experience for your visitors. Motion designers also often collaborate with content writers to ensure they’re creating visuals that are in line with the website’s goals.

Data analysts

Data analysts are responsible for analyzing data and deriving insights from it. They will look at the data collected from your website, such as page views and user behavior, and use it to understand what’s working and what’s not.

Understanding user behavior is key for website success, so data analysts are essential for any web development project. They should have knowledge of data analysis tools such as Google Analytics and be able to interpret the data to make recommendations on how to improve the user experience and performance of your website.

Marketing specialists

Marketing specialists are responsible for developing and managing your website’s marketing strategy. They should have knowledge of various marketing channels, such as search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, content marketing, and social media campaigns, and be able to create a comprehensive strategy that will help increase website traffic and conversions. Without marketing specialists, your website may have difficulty reaching its target audience and achieving its goals.

Final thoughts

A web team should include people with diverse skillsets and experience but working together towards a common goal. By having a team dedicated to creating and maintaining a website, you can be sure that each element of the website is given its due attention and care.  This allows your team to create a website that meets all necessary requirements, is secure, and provides an enjoyable user experience.  By having the right people in place with the right skillsets, you can ensure that your website is successful in the long run