Do web programmers do the creative writing?

Question

I was wondering if writer creates the content of ideas for a web page. and then the programmers make the code. For example say I am building a page about a rock, would a come up with the decription and info on the rock or would a writer do it.

Answer 1

In some cases one person can do it all but
its usually many people. Either someone to do the copy (writing), someone to do the basic design/layout and then either someone designs and builds it with HTML code, or someone designs the visual appearance and a web programmer translates it into HTML, but usually the web designer isnt going to ever write the content (unless its their personal business's website or something for themselves)

Answer 2

I'm a freelance web designer, and my partner does the back-end code and functionality end of it(I basically make it look pretty)
We fully expect our clients to come up with content(writing). I put filler in to demo the look and feel of the site(usually text from the original Magna Carta) or in a pinch -like if the site is going live and the client is flakey- I'll write up something for them, but it really is the customer's responsibility to coome up with content.

I definitely need an idea from the client as to what kind of content they want on the site, as it helps determine the look and feel of the thing. For instance, I wouldn't use black & red on a site that talks adout gardening any more than I'd use pink and light blue for a heavy metal band's site.

I've only heard of one occasion where someone hired a writer -was actually an entire marketing firm- and they got paid an obscene amount of money to write the blurb for the front page of the site. The client(not one of mine) eventually realized they got ripped off, but not before blowing 20k.

If you're the web designer for ONE company, you'll likely be expected to come up with at least some of the content, or at least go and get it out of the right people.

Obviously if you're building your own site or collaborating with a bunch of people(like a club you're a member of) you'll also be on the spot as author.

Answer 3

For a small site, the content creator and the website author are often the same person. For a large website there are many people, each with certain tasks. Some will work on certain aspects of content creation such as writing and art. Some will work strictly on layout. Others will do the actual page authoring.

Answer 4

Good question !!! I have been a webpage designer for about 6 years now and let me give you some background. Usually, a web page project is composed of 2 groups. The "black suit" group and the "pony-tail" group. The "black suit" group is the one doing the background programming and database interaction of the site (i.e, perl, java script , C# j2ee etc.)On the other hand, the "pony-tail" group is the one responsible for the graphics, the contents and all the "nice things" that you see on your browser. Hope I have satisfied your question.