For more than a decade, we’ve been designing websites for businesses of all kinds (and we’d like to say we’re pretty good at it!). Along the way, we’ve worked hand-in-hand with IT companies to help our clients maintain productive, secure, and efficient online operations. A question we often hear is, “Do I really need an IT company, too?” The answer is a resounding yes!
Website designers and IT professionals fulfill very different roles for business. Web designers are primarily marketers with technical expertise, focusing on creating websites that are user-friendly, visually appealing, and optimized for lead generation. In contrast, IT companies specialize in managing the backbone of your business’s technology—handling hardware, software, data management, and cybersecurity. Together, we collaborate to ensure your business has both a strong online presence and a secure, efficient digital infrastructure.
What do IT Companies do for Businesses?
We talked with our friend, Nick Lauve, Chief Information Officer at New Orleans IT firm Courant, to get all the details on how IT services impact businesses. According to Nick, the cornerstone of any IT Managed Service Provider (IT MSP) is providing unlimited remote and onsite support for all workstations, servers, networking equipment, and cloud-based systems. This ensures that your business’s essential technology infrastructure is continuously monitored and kept secure around the clock.
Outside of ensuring that your computers and systems are up and running, IT companies need to help protect your business from threats to your data. Nick said, “From my perspective, backup, disaster recovery, and cybersecurity are also essential and non-optional.” As our digital landscape continues to change, so will the needs of businesses, and therefore the services of your IT provider.
IT services may include:
- Data management and backups.
- Cloud computing and server maintenance
- Setting up secure networks and firewalls
- Troubleshooting and technical support
What do Web Designers do for Businesses?
Website design is our jam. We thrive on helping businesses build a digital presence designed for growth in today’s competitive, digital-first world. A great web designer puts themselves in the shoes of your customers, crafting a website that not only grabs attention but also meets their needs seamlessly.
That’s why web design goes beyond just coding expertise. A skilled web designer also has a deep understanding of marketing principles, user behavior, and compelling UX design. It’s this combination of technical skill and marketing savvy that makes your website a powerful tool for driving engagement and growth.
Wendy Dolan, President of Get Online NOLA said “Our goal as web designers is to create visually stunning and highly functional websites that help our customers achieve real business goals.” This blend of creative and technical skills is what makes our team shine!”
A great web designer will guide you through a comprehensive process when building your website. This process should include everything from customer research and user experience design to crafting engaging copy, creating visually appealing graphics, and finally coding and implementing the website. Each step is essential to ensure your site not only looks great but also functions seamlessly and serves your business goals.
Well-designed websites help your business:
- Attract and retain customers with intuitive and engaging landing pages.
- Build trust through professional, functional design.
- Convert visitors into leads or sales with strategic design elements.
Key Differences Between IT and Web Designers
Website designers and IT professionals have totally different skill sets. As Nick said, “While both a farmer and a chef play a role in getting food on your plate, you wouldn’t hire a chef to plow a field or a farmer to run a restaurant.”
IT professionals are the backbone of your business’s technology, troubleshooting a wide range of issues and implementing systems to prevent problems before they arise. Simply put, they support and maintain the systems that keep your daily operations running smoothly. Whether it’s getting your printer back online or helping you regain access to Outlook, your IT guy (or gal) is who you call when something goes wrong. Beyond day-to-day support, they proactively address larger challenges, such as safeguarding your business against cyber-attacks, preparing for natural disasters, and preventing hardware failures—all to ensure your business stays secure and operational.
Web developers are tech-savvy, but their role is entirely different from IT professionals. With a strong marketing mindset, web developers combine programming languages, graphic design, and an understanding of user behavior to create functional, engaging websites. However, their expertise should go beyond simply designing a visually appealing landing page.
As Get Online NOLA’s Marketing Manager, Allison Schmidt, puts it, “Your website designer should build your site with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in mind. This includes technical SEO, which is built into the website’s code, as well as SEO-friendly copywriting and on-page optimization. Without a solid SEO foundation, it will be nearly impossible for people to find your website online.” In other words, a great web developer doesn’t just create a beautiful site—they ensure it works effectively to drive traffic and grow your business.
Website Hosting vs Servers: What Do You Need for Your Business?
Website hosting and servers are often misunderstood—and we totally get why! While both involve digital storage, they serve different purposes and require distinct expertise.
Website hosting refers to the service and infrastructure that keep your business website accessible online. Think of it as the home where your website “lives,” allowing users to visit it anytime. Servers, on the other hand, are typically private and used to store the data and applications your business relies on daily. IT servers focus on securing business-critical information, ensuring smooth operations, and supporting your internal processes. While both are essential, web hosting is primarily tied to your online presence, whereas IT servers support your overall business infrastructure.
We offer hosting packages for our websites that are fast, reliable, and eco friendly. Plus, we’re here to make sure that your website is ready for your clients 24/7 with support from our team to make sure that you stay online. Alex Jagodzinski, Director of Digital Solutions & Client Engagement at Get Online NOLA says, “Secure website hosting can’t be underestimated in terms of your business’s success online. Not only is it part of keeping your website functional for your customers, it also protects their data while working with your business.”
IT companies like Courant manage private servers that store your business-critical data and applications, ensuring secure and smooth daily operations. By partnering with the right professionals for each, businesses can ensure both internal systems and public websites run seamlessly.
The Importance of Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is critical for protecting all your business assets. No part of a modern business is off-limits to cybercriminals, who can cause devastating harm if the proper protections aren’t in place! Without cybersecurity measures in place, hackers can:
- Take over/take down your website.
- Drain your bank account (there are so many ways they can do this – it is truly scary!)
- Impersonate you, your clients or your vendors to gain access to other business assets, open accounts, or make purchases in your name.
- Steal your information and either hold it for ransom or sell it to other cyber criminals. This can include your intellectual property, your client’s personal information, medical records… anything you can think of.
- …and so much more.
All of this is the scary reality of running a business in today’s digital world. According to the FBI cybercrime division, small businesses face constant attacks and are often the least prepared to detect, defend against, and recover from these threats. In fact, 37% of businesses hit by ransomware in 2021 had fewer than 100 employees* and 60% of small businesses who face cyber-attacks go out of business within six months*.
To defend your business you need a skilled IT company and secure web hosting. Nick Lauve tells us that a good IT company uses enterprise-level tools to protect businesses of all sizes, managing threats you may have never considered. The best providers handle much of this work behind the scenes, ensuring seamless protection without interrupting your daily operations.
Secure website hosting helps to protect both your business and your customers. Our secure web hosting protects the data that is being sent through your website (think credit card numbers, email addresses and more). The encrypted connection protects the confidentiality of the information being sent.
Your business needs both a well-designed website and a reliable IT partner to thrive. Web designers and IT professionals bring unique skills to the table, working together to create an online presence that is not only visually appealing but also secure and functional.
At Get Online NOLA, we specialize in designing beautiful, conversion-focused websites while collaborating with IT experts like Courant to ensure your digital assets are protected. From user-friendly designs and SEO to cybersecurity and disaster recovery, every element plays a role in building a strong, secure digital foundation for your business.
Reach out to our experts today:
Nick Lauve, Courant
Wendy Dolan, President, Get Online NOLA
Alex Jagodzinski, Director of Digital Solutions, Get Online NOLA
Allison Schmidt, Marketing Manager, Get Online NOLA