What is an interactive site? Development of interactive sites

An interactive site... most of modern websites belong to this very type of sites. What is an interactive site? What are the main advantages of interactive sites? How to make an interactive site?

When people hear the word combination “interactive site”, they often associate it with different flash effects that are activated depending on the location of the site visitor's mouse cursor. However, this stereotype is somewhat wrong.

As a matter of fact, an interactive site is a website whose content is formed “on the fly” and is based on the information that has been received from the site visitor and processed by the server. Thus, the notion “interactive” may refer to all websites that have message submit forms, online questionnaires and polls, registration forms, counters, online order forms and other similar elements.

For the realization of interactive features of websites special program codes are used. They are called server-side scripts. It is server-side scripts that process the information received from the site users and form the responding html page.

For the creation of server-side scripts special server web programming languages are used. They are: PHP, Perl, ASP.NET etc. A server-side script is executed on the side of the server: the visitor does not see the source program code of the executed script, he only receives the ready answer.

To create an interactive site means to create a site that can “communicate” with its visitors. A simple static site is available for the view only. If a visitors wants to contact the administration of the site or make an order, he has to call the phone number stated in the contact information, write an e-mail or send a fax.

At the same time, an interactive site allows to maintain the real-time contact between the administration and the visitors without any aids. Such tools as online consulting systems, online chats (systems intended for instant message exchange right on the site) and other similar tools help to maintain this contact.

Various interactive components may be used during the development of websites for business very effectively. An interactive site for business allows the site owners to receive additional income thanks to active attraction of clients. On the other hand, it provides the visitors will convenient and accessible service that undoubtedly distinguishes the company from its competitors.

An online shop is the most typical example of an interactive site for business. In an online shop the visitor can form his order himself by choosing required goods and stating the number of purchased items.

The so-called “shopping cart” allows to calculate the total cost of the order and form the account for the payment for the order using various payment methods. All these actions are performed real-time, and the user can change the names, characteristics (color, number) of the items he is going to buy himself.

Moreover, most of modern online shops allow their customers to track the current state of the order: accepted for processing, delivered to the store, delivered to the customer etc.

How to make an interactive site?

Development of interactive sites may include the following stages:

• determining of the goals and tasks of the interactive site;
• development of the concept of the interactive site;
• choice of methods for realization of interactive features of the site;
• development of the design layout of the site, template layout, program realization of interactive components, filling the site with content;
• usability testing of the site, check of the interactive components for correspondence with the set goals and tasks;
• placement of the site on the Web, further maintenance and development of the site.

Professional development of interactive site for business by web design studio WebStudio2U is a whole complex of services in the sphere of web design. It includes development of individual website design, realization of necessary interactive features of the site, filling the site with unique topical content, search engine optimization of the site for its promotion in the search engines.

You can order an interactive site for business in web design studio WebStudio2U right now!

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