Webmaster or Website Designer?

What is the 2018 title for someone who builds and maintains websites?

[cnvi]

Seems like its been a long time since this topic has been discussed here. I have a colleague who builds websites with Wordpress (but is not a developer/coder). She is wondering what is the best title for someone who builds and maintains websites but isn't specifically a coder or graphics designer. Obviously webmaster has been somewhat retired by recruiters and agencies. Thoughts on the best title for someone like this?

[graeme_p]

Its tricky. It depends on your audience.

Some people think web designer means the same as a web master

Some people think web developer is the same as web master or web designer. I have had people tell me that a web developer is NOT a coder, which is why I no longer describe myself as one (back end developer or good old fashioned programmer).

[graeme_p]

TO elaborate, there was a discussion on Reddit about this and a number people said:

1. (web) designer = graphic design/PSDs
2. web developer = does HTML/templates

There were also other opinions.

If dealing with small business wanting brochures sites I would go for designer - its a more familiar term as far as I can tell.

[robzilla]

Obviously webmaster has been somewhat retired by recruiters and agencies

If she needs a title to put on her resume in order to attract recruiters, but can't think of one, one might wonder if the skill set is specific enough that recruiters might actually be looking for it. Anything like web designer or developer would suggest a skill set beyond simply putting things together in a CMS, which is what I understand her experience to be limited to. The "beauty" of a CMS like WordPress is that, with a bit of perseverance, anyone can build a website, but there's no real title or category of jobs for that; it's just another skill you put on your resume (next to "Microsoft Office").

Perhaps something like Web Editor might work, as it doesn't necessarily suggest any technical or graphical proficiency.

Webmaster is a term I would reserve for a Jack-of-all-trades, someone who has a grasp on most things related to websites.

[cnvi]

Robzilla.. I agree 100% with you. But it's rare to see "webmaster" in job listings anymore. So many of us are jack-of-all-trades here. If your coding is limited to HTML and CSS, but you also have the proficiency of integrating most of the popular plugins, what job title is that in 2018? Website Integrator? Website Manager? curious what others are thinking on this topic.

[robzilla]

If your coding is limited to HTML and CSS, but you also have the proficiency of integrating most of the popular plugins, what job title is that in 2018? Website Integrator? Website Manager?

In that case, I'd say you're a Front End Developer.

[LifeinAsia]

Front End Developer

IANAR (I am not a recruiter), but to me that implies that you're actually developing (coding) something, with the expectation that you're proficient with JS, JQuery, and/or AJAX, as well as being comfortable moving data back and forth with JSON and/or XML.

"WordPress website builder" isn't very sexy, but it sounds the most accurate given her experience.

[keyplyr]

I've always liked "web designer" and think it covers most everything, without limiting any one aspect of web work.

When I'm coding, whatever language, I'm designing how that document will function.

[Marshall]

For 19 years I have always considered myself as a website designer as I primarily deal with the look (front end/built from scratch) first then concern myself with the technical end, i.e. shopping cart integration, online forms, etc. That said, I have always thought a web developer was more the back end, code from scratch person. As for webmaster, I see that as the person who takes care of a website, not necessarily a designer or developer, but the maintenance person.

What to call a person who builds websites via WordPress or other similar "cookie cutter" platforms is a good question. A person who builds plastic models from a kit is generally called a model builder, no different than one who builds models from scratch.though the skill levels are obviously miles apart. Using that analogy, your friend is a web designer, she just builds from a kit. To promote herself further than that would be terribly misleading. So LifeinAsia is probably on the mark with "WordPress website builder" though there probably is a more eloquent way to put it. "WordPress Website Producer?"

[ipco]

I agree with Marshall "a web developer was more the back end, code from scratch person. As for webmaster, I see that as the person who takes care of a website, not necessarily a designer or developer, but the maintenance person."

For the OP, I would suggest "Website Creator - specializing in WordPress"

[tangor]

When folks ask me, I tell 'em I'm a Web Wrangler. Some are actually impressed. :)

[keyplyr]

All these terms are basically meaningless. It's what you do that's important, not what you call yourself.

Having said that... I still like "web designer" :)

[alexkevin]

I thought a web designer is who handle front-end designing and web developer is who handle back-end developing

A web designer is who create designs with HTML and CSS
A web developer is who develop programs with PHP and Javascript

But it is my own assumption I don't the right answer!

[graeme_p]

Alexkvin, I thought so too, until I found a lot of people who call what we call a designer a developer. Designers do mockups in Photoshop (really common, although really the wrong tool for the job) and developers turn it into HTML, and someone else (website elves?) does the backend.

[thecoalman]

I'm the servervideophpmysqlphotohtmlJSducttape engineer. :P

[tangor]

That's two grades above me. Congrats!