Top 7 Design to Code Conversion Services (2025 Edition)

Choosing the Right Partner for Design to Code Conversions

The transition from design to functional code is a critical step in modern web development. Whether you’re handing off a Photoshop (PSD), Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD file, the quality of your front-end markup or WordPress integration can make or break the project. At TheSiteSlinger.com, we’ve spent years in the trenches converting designs to pixel-perfect, responsive, production-ready code. That’s why we took the time to research and evaluate the top companies offering PSD to HTML, PSD to WordPress, and general design to code conversion services.

But this isn’t just another generic list. Below, we explain the methodology we used to vet each provider—and what you should look for when choosing a development partner for your next project.


What We Looked for in the Best PSD to HTML Companies

Not all code conversion services are created equal. Here’s what separated the top-tier providers from the rest:

Evaluation CriteriaWhy It Matters
Code Quality & SemanticsClean, W3C-valid, accessible HTML/CSS is non-negotiable.
ResponsivenessMobile-first development is the standard, not an add-on.
CMS IntegrationMany designs go straight into WordPress—accuracy is key.
Turnaround TimeFast delivery with consistent quality control.
CommunicationClear project intake and post-delivery support are essential.
Technology StackSupport for SCSS, Bootstrap, React, Tailwind, etc.
Real Client WorkWe prioritized teams with a track record of visible, verifiable work.
NDA & White LabelingCrucial for agencies and freelancers working with third parties.

Why These Services Still Matter in 2025

Despite the rise of page builders and no-code tools, PSD to HTML and PSD to WordPress services remain highly relevant. Agencies and brands still rely on custom-coded frontends for performance, SEO, and design accuracy. Automated tools simply can’t replicate handcrafted markup—especially when accessibility, Core Web Vitals, or complex integrations are at stake.

When you need design to code conversion that’s reliable, scalable, and doesn’t fall apart under pressure, these companies deliver.


How We Compiled This List

We evaluated dozens of companies using a mix of public data, client feedback, test projects, and our own professional experience. We paid close attention to:

  • Public code samples and live site case studies
  • Depth of services: from raw HTML to complex WordPress theming
  • Transparency around pricing, communication, and project process
  • Years in business and stability of the team
  • UX polish and responsiveness of their own websites (you’d be surprised…)

Only those that consistently performed across all areas made it into our list.


Use This List as a Starting Point

This is not a sponsored list, and we don’t rank companies based on payment. Consider it a curated set of options for agencies, startups, designers, and developers who want to delegate PSD to HTML or design to WordPress work without sacrificing quality or control.

Whether you’re outsourcing a one-off project or looking for a long-term partner, the companies we feature below have the skills and structure to deliver.

TheSiteSlinger

TheSiteSlinger - Design to Code Company

Specialists in PSD to HTML and Custom Design Implementation

TheSiteSlinger has carved a niche in the design-to-code market by offering streamlined, US-managed services with offshore execution. They focus on delivering hand-coded, cross-browser compatible HTML/CSS from PSDs and other design files, making them ideal for clients who need precision and reliability without compromising communication standards.

Key Strengths:

  • File Types Supported: PSD, Sketch, XD, Figma, InVision.
  • Tech Stack: HTML5, CSS3, Bootstrap, JavaScript, jQuery, WordPress.
  • Client Base: Agencies, startups, and product teams in the US and Europe.
  • Turnaround Time: 1–3 business days for basic HTML pages.
  • Quality Assurance: Multi-device and cross-browser testing.

Advantages:

  • Dedicated project managers based in the US.
  • Simple pricing structure and clear quoting process.
  • Excellent customer support for ongoing and repeat projects.

Their collaborative process and focus on quality assurance make TheSiteSlinger a great choice for clients seeking a trusted PSD to HTML partner with an emphasis on professionalism and responsive communication.

GetDevDone

GetDeDone - PSd to HTML Development Company

Reliable White-Label Development with a Design-to-Code Legacy

P2H Inc, known for its specialized GetDevDone brand, is a longstanding authority in design-to-code services. Founded in 2005 and operating globally, the company has served as a technical backbone for thousands of creative and digital agencies. With over 250 developers on staff and a reputation for consistent delivery, P2H excels at transforming static designs into robust, responsive front-end code.

Services Focused on Code Precision

  • Design-to-Code: PSD, Figma, XD, Sketch, and AI files converted into clean, W3C-compliant HTML5/CSS3 code.
  • Tech Stack Expertise: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Vue, Angular, WordPress, Drupal, and Shopify.
  • Service Focus: 60% Web Development, 20% E-Commerce, 10% Web Design.
  • Industries Served: eCommerce, advertising, business services, medical, education, non-profit, and government.

Client-Focused Development

The company’s workflow is structured, secure, and NDA-backed. P2H delivers pixel-perfect front-end code, optimized for performance and SEO. Their team is particularly well-suited for white-label partnerships, allowing agencies to scale client projects without adding overhead.

“They quickly understood our plan and took action immediately.” – Client testimonial

With a 5.0 Clutch rating and 76 reviews, P2H Inc is a trusted partner for agencies and enterprises that prioritize consistency, agility, and clean code.

HTML Pro

HTML Pro Design to Code Service

Design to Code for Complex Web Projects and CMS Integration

HTML Pro is a US-based web development agency that blends creativity with code integrity. With a focus on PSD to HTML and full-cycle design-to-code services, the team is known for supporting complex front-end builds and CMS implementations. Their wide service offering includes eCommerce and web application interfaces, with a strong base in HTML/CSS and mobile responsiveness.

Expertise in Multi-Platform Front-End Work

  • Primary Services: PSD to HTML, custom web development, WordPress theming, eCommerce integration.
  • Technical Range: HTML5/CSS3, Bootstrap, Shopify, Magento, and responsive frameworks.
  • Service Focus: 50% Web Dev, 30% E-Commerce, 20% Web Design.
  • Project Size: Minimum $10,000 engagements.
  • Hourly Rate: $50–$99/hr

Versatility with Business-Centric Delivery

HTML Pro stands out for their communication and proactive approach to quality control. They support agencies, brands, and startups looking for pixel-accurate conversions and full front-end delivery with CMS integration.

“Their commitment to doing their best and positive energy impressed us.” – Client testimonial

Backed by 26 Clutch reviews and a 4.9-star rating, HTML Pro is an excellent fit for larger design-to-code initiatives where technical polish and proactive service are essential.

Webenix Technologies Private Limited

Webenix - PSD to HTML Conversion

Scalable Design-to-Code and Software Outsourcing

Webenix Technologies is an India-based provider of web development and IT services with a growing reputation for responsive, scalable front-end coding. While their profile reflects broader outsourcing capabilities, their design-to-code conversions are delivered with attention to visual integrity and responsiveness.

Design Conversion and Full-Cycle Dev

  • Core Services: Web design and development, PSD to HTML, mobile-friendly interfaces.
  • Development Strength: HTML/CSS, responsive design frameworks, CMS customization.
  • Hourly Rate: $25–$49/hr
  • Minimum Engagement: $5,000
  • Team Size: 1000+ employees

Reliability and Client Communication

Despite having a newer Clutch presence, their internal teams bring experience across sectors including IT, business services, and eCommerce.

“We’re impressed with their depth of knowledge and their commitment.” – Client testimonial

Rated 4.7 on Clutch, Webenix offers a practical solution for agencies looking for offshore PSD to HTML support with strong scaling potential.

he, highly tailored support for PSD to HTML conversions in commerce-heavy environments.

CSSChopper

CSS Chopper

Established PSD to HTML Experts with Enterprise-Ready Code

CSSChopper is a long-established name in front-end development, widely known for their PSD to HTML conversions. They bring advanced technical maturity to every project — ensuring semantic markup, mobile responsiveness, and seamless integration into larger systems.

Why CSSChopper?

  • Services: PSD to HTML, Bootstrap integration, JavaScript development, custom CMS themes.
  • Development Standards: W3C-compliant code, retina-ready, cross-browser tested.
  • Industries: 75% eCommerce, 25% retail.
  • Engagements: $10,000+ minimum; $25–$49/hr rate.
  • Clutch Rating: 5.0 from 61 reviews

“I was impressed with their dedication to challenges and their technical accuracy.” – Client testimonial

Ideal for clients seeking refined markup and future-ready HTML conversions, CSSChopper remains one of the strongest players in this niche.

XHTMLCHOP

XHTML Chop PSD to HTML Service

Pixel-Perfect Design to Code with a Global Reach

XHTMLCHOP is a seasoned design-to-code vendor offering white-label front-end development services to agencies and brands worldwide. With a reputation built on precision, they provide hand-coded HTML/CSS from a wide range of design formats including PSD, Sketch, and Figma.

Key Offerings:

  • Primary Services: PSD to HTML, responsive HTML, email templates, CMS theming.
  • Supported Platforms: WordPress, Joomla, Magento, Shopify, WooCommerce.
  • Development Focus: Clean, W3C-validated code; SEO-ready structure; device-agnostic testing.
  • Pricing: Undisclosed hourly rates; starting at $1,000+ project minimum.
  • Team Size: 250–999 employees globally.

While the company does not publicly list pricing or detailed client testimonials, XHTMLCHOP is known in the industry for their long-standing reliability and NDA-compliant service delivery.

This vendor is particularly suitable for agencies seeking a dependable white-label HTML slicing partner for high-throughput or recurring work.

PSDtoHTMLNinja

PSD to HTML Ninja

Budget-Friendly Design to Code Solutions from a Nimble Team

PSDtoHTMLNinja offers lean, cost-effective PSD to HTML and Figma to HTML conversion services with fast turnaround times. Catering primarily to startups and SMBs, the company emphasizes affordability without compromising responsiveness or design accuracy.

Highlights:

  • Service Areas: PSD/Figma to HTML5/CSS3, landing pages, email templates.
  • Pricing Structure: <$25/hr with a $1,000 minimum project size.
  • Development Approach: Mobile-first coding, semantic markup, performance-focused delivery.
  • Clutch Rating: 4.7 with a growing reputation.
  • Testimonial Insight: “They were reactive and appeared to understand our needs well.”

Though smaller in team size and market visibility, PSDtoHTMLNinja serves as an agile choice for businesses needing fast and affordable design-to-code execution.

Flatworld Solutions

End-to-End Outsourcing Partner with Front-End Development Capability

Flatworld Solutions is a global outsourcing giant providing a spectrum of IT and business services, including front-end web development. While not solely focused on design-to-code, they offer PSD to HTML conversions as part of larger custom web projects and enterprise integrations.

What They Offer:

  • Core Capabilities: HTML slicing, UI development, software engineering, call center services.
  • Pricing: <$25/hr; flexible engagement based on project scope.
  • Industry Focus: Information technology, healthcare, eCommerce.
  • Team Size: 50–249
  • Headquarters: Edison, NJ
  • Established: 2002

Though lacking dedicated PSD to HTML branding, Flatworld is a viable choice for businesses seeking comprehensive digital execution — including design conversion, development, and support under one roof.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Development Partner

Design-to-code conversion isn’t just a technical step—it’s the bridge between creativity and functionality. When done right, it preserves your vision, optimizes performance, and sets the foundation for future scalability. The companies we’ve featured here prove that high-quality PSD to HTML and PSD to WordPress services still play a critical role in professional web development workflows.

If you’re a designer, agency, or product owner looking to reliably convert your design files into fast, responsive, and clean front-end code, TheSiteSlinger.com is built for that exact need. We’ve worked with teams of all sizes, handling everything from static HTML builds to fully responsive WordPress themes, all with a focus on accuracy and communication.

For projects that go beyond conversion—custom functionality, integrations, web apps, complex CMS setups—we recommend our partners at GetDevDone.com. Their team specializes in high-level engineering, including eCommerce, React, headless builds, and tailored enterprise development.

Not Sure Where to Start?

  • Already have a Figma, Sketch, or PSD file? Send it our way and we’ll take care of the code.
  • Need a broader solution involving backend development or eCommerce? Talk to GetDevDone.
  • Still exploring options? Use this list to test out a small project and compare outcomes—it’s the best way to find your fit.

Your design deserves better than a rushed or automated conversion. Whether you need a fast, pixel-perfect HTML handoff or a custom development team that can scale with you, now you know where to start.

Why PSD to HTML Conversion Tools Won’t Fully Replace Front-End Developers in the Near Future

developer-vs-builder-1

The field of web design and development has made significant strides in recent years, with frameworks like Bootstrap simplifying the process. Modern websites are now highly dynamic, responsive, and interactive.

Despite these advancements, the initial stages of website building remain unchanged from the early days of the Internet. The process still involves creating a design and converting it to HTML and CSS.

This workflow allows custom site creators to leverage the expertise of professionals in two different fields, resulting in a unique and visually appealing end product. JavaScript developers add interactivity to the client-facing part of the website, while back-end developers connect the site to a database for data manipulation.

But can we skip the design phase and jump straight into coding HTML and CSS?

The answer is no, and here’s why:

  1. Designers use graphic editors like Photoshop or Gimp to create unique and visually stunning designs. Without a visual representation of the webpage, it becomes challenging to assemble the elements correctly in HTML/CSS.
  2. Graphic editors allow designers to experiment with color combinations effortlessly. Trying different color codes in HTML and continuously reloading the page to see the changes is time-consuming and inefficient.
  3. Some visual effects, like lighting effects, cannot be achieved solely through HTML and CSS. Graphic software is necessary to create these effects.

Thus, a graphic editor is essential for creating mockups for complex and unique websites, with Photoshop being the preferred tool. While there are other tools available, such as Adobe XD or Figma, Photoshop remains the industry standard.

Once a design is created in a PSD file, there are three options for converting it to valid HTML and CSS: do it yourself, use a PSD to HTML converter, or hire professional markup developers.

Let’s review these options.

The Most Challenging Way: DIY PSD to HTML Conversion

developer-vs-builder-DIY

If you’ve ever purchased or downloaded a design and considered converting it to HTML and CSS yourself instead of using automated tools or hiring professionals, you’re embarking on the hardest path.

Without a background in front-end development, this process can be time-consuming. You’ll need to invest time in reading tutorials and practicing before you even start coding for your website.

Building the page is only part of the challenge; you’ll also need to thoroughly test it across different browsers, platforms, and screen resolutions to ensure responsiveness.

The bottom line: converting a Photoshop design into HTML manually is undeniably more trouble than it’s worth.

The Simplest Method: Use a PSD to HTML Converter

developer-vs-builder-converter

The market consistently adapts to the demands set by businesses. This is precisely what occurred in the realm of PSD to HTML conversion. Companies required quick markups, faster than most existing PSD to HTML conversion services could provide.

This led to the emergence of numerous PSD to HTML conversion software options. Here are a few examples:

It all appears almost flawless, doesn’t it? Just upload a design into a tool like one of these, click a button, and voila! Your HTML file is ready.

However, businesses soon realized that automatic PSD to HTML conversion using specialized software didn’t deliver the value they desired. The low cost and swift conversion time were overshadowed by significant drawbacks found in every commercial or open-source PSD to HTML converter. The following are the most apparent of these:

  • Converting PSD to HTML using an online tool can be a headache when it comes to making changes to the code. Instead of relying on online tools to convert your PSD to HTML, try using one of them and then open the resulting HTML file. If you have experience in development, you’ll be surprised at how messy the code looks. The elements on the page are fixed in position and have specific pixel dimensions instead of relative units.

    This means that even the smallest changes to the code can easily break it. When users scale the page, the elements may overlap or cover each other partially or completely. It’s one of the major drawbacks of using a PSD to HTML converter.

  • Google doesn’t favor code generated by PSD to HTML converters. Anyone familiar with digital marketing knows the importance of ranking high on search engine results pages. With hand-coded web pages, developers follow Google-friendly practices such as adding Alt tags to images with relevant keywords and optimizing meta tags for better visibility.

    However, when you convert a PSD file to HTML using a converter, these optimizations are NOT automatically applied. You’ll have to manually fix these issues if you know where to look. Otherwise, you might need to hire professionals, adding extra time and cost to the process.

  • Automated PSD to HTML converters can produce bloated code vulnerable to cyber attacks. Even the best software can generate incorrect and invalid code. Improperly closed tags, elements not allowed by the document type, and other errors can cause various problems:
    • Different browsers may render the invalid code differently, resulting in inconsistent page displays.
    • Hackers are attracted to websites with invalid code produced by PSD to HTML converters, as they can exploit vulnerabilities.
    • Bug-infested code from converter software can significantly impact your site’s speed and performance.

The Best Approach: Hire a Professional PSD to HTML Conversion Developer Instead of Relying on Automatic Converters

developer-vs-builder-professionals

As you can see, despite advancements in technology, PSD to HTML converter software is far from perfect. That’s why it’s worth considering working with a professional developer specializing in PSD to HTML conversion.

By partnering with an expert, you can expect clean, efficient code that renders perfectly on any device and ensures excellent search engine visibility. This approach also contributes to fast loading times and smooth performance, which no PSD to HTML converter can guarantee.

5 Hottest Web Development Trends in 2019

The hottest web development trends in 2019

We’re well into 2019 now, and the web development world is in many ways different from the 2018 edition. While all of the front-end technologies and practices that piqued people’s excitement in the last twelve months or so are still here, new trends are gradually cropping up. 

The key principle that all web developers, including the Site Slinger experts, strive to follow, though, remains unchanged. It’s the need to engage users and personalize their digital experience. We’ve prepared a rundown of the most notable web development trends in 2019 that focus on these goals exactly.

Progressive Web Apps Versus Responsive Websites: Meet the Winner

Progressive Web Apps

First, there were static websites with just HTML and not much else. Then came CSS, Javascript, and other technologies that made websites more dynamic and responsive. These days, however, responsiveness has transformed into a much broader notion.

Just a responsive website is no longer enough to meet the users’ growing demands in 2019. On certain devices, it may not look as attractive as you might expect. That limitation gave rise to an alternative solution: Progressive Web Apps (PWA).

A PWA is a website that perfectly adapts to the specifics of the device where it gets displayed: screen resolution and size, browser, and hardware features. As a result, it’s almost impossible to notice any differences between a PWA and a native app.

Here are the key benefits that PWAs give web developers and users: 

  • Since they can access the device’s hardware, you can use PWAs offline. 
  • They’re fast, even on outdated or poor-quality devices with a weak signal. 
  • They’re a step up in security compared with responsive websites 
  • They are cost-effective and less time-consuming to create. 

Your main takeaway? Lower bounce and higher conversion rates. 

“How may I help  you?” — AI and Chatbots

Artificial Intelligence

According to a recent report from Gartner, 37% of organizations have implemented Artificial Intelligence in various forms, and this trend is going to continue in the foreseeable future.

Almost every business website uses a live chat as a permanent point of connection with consumers. Now, this feature has become more sophisticated. No more need to hire a human support agent waiting for a customer to text a question at 3 a.m. 

Just get a chatbot made and keep it running day and night. Thanks to the breakthrough in Natural Language Processing, chatbots no longer resemble mechanically speaking toys. They’re now able to answer typical questions from the Q&A page in a much more meaningful way and even solve simple issues that users may encounter. 

So, expect chatbot development to remain in high demand in 2019 and years to come.

Push Notifications: Everywhere, Anywhere 

Email newsletters are still a popular way to inform consumers of new services or update them on company news. However, they are slowly but steadily being replaced by push notifications. 

In the past, these unobtrusive messages used to be limited to mobile devices. In 2019, an increasing number of website owners regard push notifications as a more valuable tool to stay in touch with their users. 

Which is better: the inbox drowned in hundreds of newsletters or a tiny notification icon on the toolbar? We would choose the latter. You can add the push notification feature to a website by subscribing to a service like PushWoosh. WordPress website owners can also take advantage of various dedicated plugins like PushEngage

The Site Slinger has implemented thousands of WordPress projects over the years. We are providers of all the services related to this most popular CMS in the world, including theming, customizing existing or building custom plugins from scratch.

No More Coding! Use Blocks

Blocks

New versions of content management systems provide more powerful features to their users than ever before. Know nothing about CSS rules or HTML tags? It’s OK. You can still put together a sleek web page just like a professional web designer does (well, almost). 

Simply take ready-made blocks or modules and mix them together. The website module building is only expected to grow in popularity in 2019 and beyond. That’s particularly true for WordPress users, who can use Gutenberg to “make adding rich content to WordPress simple and enjoyable.” 

Smooth Website Navigation: Motion UI

Websites with visually appealing and simple navigation elements are likely to hold users’ attention for a longer span. When they know where to go and find surfing a website enjoyable, they will keep returning to it. 

Creating smooth and straightforward navigation by using CSS animations/transitions is a trend that shows no signs of stopping in 2019. Motion UI is one of the best web development libraries for that purpose, flexible and customizable.

The Site Slinger web developers are skilled in creating dynamic and modern-looking interfaces by using a range of cutting-edge tools and libraries. 

Concluding Thoughts 

There’s no doubt: the web development industry is going to keep on flourishing. Websites and web apps are going to be faster, more secure, interactive, and AI-wise. Whatever modern technologies you select for your website, the top-of-the-line developers from The Site Slinger are always at your service.

Happy Holidays from The Site Slinger!

The team at The Site Slinger would like to thank you for all your support in 2015! Have a rocking winter holiday and a prosperous New Year!!

Happy-Holidays

Hey guys! The team at The Site Slinger would like to thank you for all your support in 2015! We’ve achieved many goals this year and we plan on making 2016 even more awesome for everyone: our great team, our amazing clients, and our lovely friends!

From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to wish all of you a fantastic 2016, and we certainly hope to continue working together for many more years to come.

As always, if you need swift, professional coding, you can leave it to us. Enjoy your last-minute holiday shopping and precious time spent with your families and friends. We’ll be working through the holiday season. Our office will be closed only for the New Year’s Day celebration on December 31 and January 1, and we’ll be back in full swing on Monday, January 4.

Our Special Gift for You

To add to the excitement of this magical time of year, we’re happy to offer a sweet $75 discount on ALL coding projects. Simply mention the following promo code in your project notes:

TSSNYPARTY

However, you’ll need to hurry! This offer ends on January 3.

Have a rocking winter holiday and a prosperous New Year!!

Sincerely,
The Site Slinger team

Download Yours Now: Free Email Template! (PSD + HTML)

It’s Valentine’s Day and because we [HEART] our customers and blog readers we’re giving away a free email template in a fully editable PSD format, available for download for your personal or commercial use. Edit away and have your mobile-optimized template coded and ready for your next email campaign. Perfect for advertising your next event!

Download a Free PSD Email Template!

It’s Valentine’s Day and because we [HEART] our customers and blog readers we’re giving away a free email template in a fully editable PSD format, available for download for your personal or commercial use. Edit away and have your mobile-optimized template coded and ready to go for your next email campaign.

Perfect for advertising your next event.

SXSW 2014, anyone? Whether you are in marketing, event planning, or just need to send out a modern email to your mailing list, we’ve got you covered with this free email template – created for marketing and promoting events. We’ve designed a great looking email ready for viewing on all major devices and email clients, whether iOS, Outlook, or Gmail.

Mobile-optimized.

This email template was designed with mobile in mind. As of now, more than half of emails are opened on mobile devices! It’s imperative your email reaches your audience when it’s convenient for them to view and act on it… without compromising the desktop aesthetics. We’ve put great effort into ensuring the CTA button is thumb-clickable, the text is legible, and the imagery makes an impact, all within a minimalist and modern layout.

We hope you’ll enjoy editing and using this freebie email template, shared as a fully editable PSD and provided with example markup – we’ve included the HTML for a variation of this template so you can see how this might translate to code. If you need your completed PSD email design converted to code, we can help!

Download

What’s Included:

  • Fully editable Photoshop file (PSD)
  • Example HTML markup of a variation we made
  • Image comp (JPG)

DOWNLOAD HERE

Preview

Free Email Template Preview

Placeholder image used in design is shared under Creative Commons. Source: Unsplash.

 

How to Create Awesome Landing Pages

The landing page is perhaps the second most important page on any website (besides the Checkout page, of course!). This is where casual lurkers turn into prospects and actionable leads. Building landing pages is part science, part art. In this blog post, we’ll tell you everything you needed to know about making landing pages that soak up leads like a sponge.

The landing page is perhaps the second most important page on any website (besides the Checkout page, of course!). This is where casual lurkers turn into prospects and actionable leads. Think of it as the wide mouth of a sales funnel, the part where you get to introduce your products and services to a hungry audience.

Building landing pages is part science, part art. In this blog post, we’ll tell you everything you needed to know about making landing pages that soak up leads like a sponge.

What is a Landing Page?

A landing page is just that – a page where a visitor lands.

That’s not very helpful, is it?

To be more precise, any page built specifically to capture visitor information and communicate a specific message is called a landing page, and is used by just about every online marketer. This leaves out your blog posts, home page and product listings, which are basically content pages. A product page with a big shiny ‘Buy Now’ button? That’s not necessarily a landing page, either.

Almost every landing page will have a form of some sorts. This can be a simple “Hey, we’re launching soon. Let us know your email and we’ll drop you a line when we’re live” form, or an in-depth form with over a dozen fields.

But enough talk. Let’s see what a landing page actually looks like:

As you can see, both these pages have a form. In fact, that’s the primary focus of the two pages – to get the visitor to give up some contact information.

This is exactly what a landing page is: a tight, controlled environment designed to capture leads.

Where Can You Use Landing Pages?

Landing pages can be used anyplace where you want to turn general user interest into something more concrete – an email or a telephone number. Mostly, they are used for:

  • Under Construction Pages: Your website may be under construction, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have stray visitors stopping by for a minute or two. Stick an email capture form and you can turn those stray visitors into prospects and customers.
  • Coming Soon Pages: Launching a new product or service? Why not add a lead capture form to turn casual interest into actionable leads?
  • Targeting an Audience: This is where you’re most likely to see landing pages in the wild. Suppose you’re starting a new ad campaign. Since you are a very savvy marketer, you want to make sure that every visitor who lands on your site leaves behind something – preferably an email address/phone number – so you can pitch him your products later. To do this, you can ad a lead capture form to the page, turning your marketing pitch into a landing page.

You can check out some landing pages yourself. Just type in a lucrative keyword like “online MBA”, “credit check”, or “online car loan” into Google, click on the sponsored results at the top, and note the kind of pages you see. More than likely, they’ll be sales pitches with a lead capture form built-in – that is, landing pages.

Or you can do the easy part and check out the inspiration gallery below.

Inspiring Examples

How to Build a Killer Landing Page

Creating landing pages can be hard – not rocket-science-brain-surgery hard, but fairly difficult. This is because every landing page must accommodate two very divergent schools of web design:

  • Conversion Centric Design: The objective here is to maximize conversion rate. Brand colors, overall site design, etc. can all take a walk. If it doesn’t help get more leads, it gets tossed out the window.
  • User Centric Design: This is the type of design you’re likely familiar with where users come first. You design to keep users happy and make your brand as appealing as possible. Conversion rates will be the last thing on your mind.

This doesn’t have to be an either-or situation. It’s perfectly possible to create high conversion landing pages that don’t look like one of those scammy “make $1M in 2 hours” sales letters, as we will learn below.

UI and UX for Landing Pages

People don’t read online. That’s a fact backed by solid research. Most of us scan a webpage from left to right, stop when we see something interesting, and move on. This is something you can use to your advantage when designing landing pages.

  • Grab the visitors with a BIG BOLD HEADLINE.
  • Your website visitors will scan the page from left to right. Make sure that you organize your information in the same way: all benefits and features of whatever you’re offering go on the left, the sign-up form goes on the right.
  • Don’t overcomplicate the page with too many bold shapes. Keep it simple – the visitor’s attention should be focused on the offer, not the graphics. Follow the guidelines in our list of pro tips for web design.
  • Keep as much information as possible ‘above the fold’.
  • Take out the top navigation menu, perhaps. Don’t give click-happy visitors a reason to leave the landing page.
  • On that note, remove all external links from the page. Now is not the time to go on a Wikipedia quoting spree.
  • Stick the necessary pages – About, Contact, Prices, etc. – at the very bottom. Again, these provide visitors a way to leave the site. You may have to include them because of ad network guidelines, but that doesn’t mean you have to make them prominent.
  • The lead capture form should dominate the right side of the screen.
  • Include a big sign up/submit button below the lead capture form.
  • Everything should “flow” naturally towards the lead capture form. It isn’t cheating if you stick a giant arrow pointing to the submit button.

Based on this, let’s take a look at the world’s ugliest sign up form:

Granted, it won’t win any web designing awards, but it should give you an idea of the barebones structure of any landing page.

Choosing Colors for Your Landing Page

Believe it or not, colors can actually affect your conversion rate. Some colors make you doze off, others literally scream “CLICK ME!”

Follow these guidelines when choosing colors for your landing page:

  • Use contrasting colors; it makes your copy easier to read. If in doubt, remember that you can never go wrong with black text on white background.
  • Pick up the basics of color theory. As per this theory, some colors trigger specific psychological reactions. Red, for instance, makes you pumped up (hence the idiom, “seeing red”), while black stands for luxury and sophistication. Yellow makes you perky because you associate it with the sun, while blue is a soothing color because it reminds you of lapping ocean waves and a clear sky.
  • Use a bold, contrasting color for the sign-up/submit button (arguably the most important element of a landing page). Orange seems to work exceptionally well in this role.
For more ideas and inspiration on using color, check out our list of 35 best web design resources.

Writing Copy for Landing Pages

A stunning landing page with poor copy is like a machine gun that shoots only blanks. Writing copy, of course, is an art (just ask Donald Draper), but there are a few guidelines you must follow in all your landing pages:

  • Write, then rewrite. The first time, you’re writing to put your own thoughts to paper. The second time, you’re refining it for the actual audience. Or, as Stephen King puts it: “Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open.”
  • Keep it Short: Chop off any words that aren’t absolutely necessary.
  • Keep it Simple: This isn’t the place to bring out the thesaurus. Keep your copy simple and easy to understand.
  • Spend a lot of time refining the call to action (CTA). This is the first thing visitors will see on the landing page; make sure that it keeps them glued to their seats.
  • Create several alternative CTAs for testing purposes (see testing section below).
  • CTAs should be short – anything over 15 words goes straight into the trash can.
  • Use active voice. “Do it!” is far more effective than “This should be done!”
  • Humor is always good. Just make sure not to overdo it.
  • Headlines that begin with “How to…” can be very persuasive.
  • “Free”, “Secret”, “Quick”, “Discover”, “Fast”, “Proven”, “Results”, “Guarantee” are among the most persuasive words in your arsenal; use them judiciously.
  • Headlines that are also questions work great. This also gives you a chance to provide the answer in the benefits section.
  • Appeal to the readers emotions.
  • Magazine covers are a great way to learn how to write short, crisp copy. Us, People, and Cosmopolitan have this practically down to a science.
  • Follow the copywriting conventions and voice of your industry; landing page copy for enterprise CRM customers shouldn’t read like copy for a video game manufacturer.

Best Practices for Landing Page Design

Now that you know how to work the UI/UX, copy and colors, let’s consider some more best practices for landing pages:

  • People are hesitant to give away their private data for free. Give away stuff – an eBook, a phone consultation, a whitepaper, a discount code – to make them feel that they’re getting something in return.
  • Minimize “page leaks” – that is, links leading to other parts of the site, or worse, an external page.
  • Your call to action (CTA) should grab all eyeballs. Make sure that it is big, bold, and occupies major screen real estate above the fold.
  • Directional cues can be used to control how visitors read through the page. Arrows work great in this role, though you can also be more subtle by including a figure looking or pointing towards your target element (usually the lead capture form).
  • The submit button should tell the visitor what he stands to gain by clicking that button. Make sure it says something like “Get Free eBook” or “Get Free Phone Consultation” instead of a generic “Submit”.
  • Videos work great. Just make sure not to host them publicly on YouTube – your visitors will most likely leak away as soon as the cat videos load up.
  • Don’t do too many things on the landing page. Focus entirely on getting the visitor to submit user data.
  • List out major benefits of your offer. If you’re giving away a free eBook, for instance, include the top three things the visitor stands to gain from the book.
  • Testimonials from customers work great as social proof.
  • If you’ve got some major press, add an “As seen in” or “Featured in” section along with publication logos below the benefits.
  • Three words: ‘Always Be Testing’ (see below).
  • Use bullet points whenever possible.
  • Add a phone number along with working hours.
  • Include a link to your privacy policy or a disclaimer directly above or below the ‘Submit’ button (which you’ve hopefully changed to something more attractive). This reassures users that you aren’t just going to use their private data for nefarious purposes.
  • Responsive landing page designs can be efficient, but difficult to pull off perfectly. Small screens demand a unique approach to landing page design. If resources permit, skip responsive design and create separate pages for different screen sizes. If you’re unsure what responsive design is, check out this post.

Testing Your Landing Page

You can follow all the above landing page design guidelines and still struggle with poor conversions. This is why you need to keep testing landing pages until you arrive at something satisfactory.

Testing refers to split or A/B testing. In split testing, two different versions of a web page are shown to different users. The page that converts better is used for the final design (or further testing). It’s a lot like taste-testing; different combinations of ‘flavors’ are combined and a roomful of judges (i.e. your users) is asked the flavor that works the best.

There are many variations in testing which are beyond the scope of this tutorial. For the purpose of designing landing pages, you only need to know the following:

  • Create multiple versions of the same landing page, each with minor variations.
  • Create landing page ‘recipes’ with different ‘ingredients’. Say, one ‘recipe’ includes a long CTA with short copy, another with short CTA and long copy, and yet another with a video and sign-up form.
  • Keep on making changes until you come to see an agreeable conversion rate.
  • Small changes can often lead to big rewards. Changing something as simple as submit button color can increase conversions dramatically. Check out how 37Signals improved its conversions dramatically by making little changes.
  • Before you launch, make sure that your landing page is working perfectly. Use Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) for user testing, for example, or UserTesting.com.

The Site Slinger code example

Coding Your Landing Page Design

You now know the secrets to creating a great looking, high converting landing page. It’s now time to go live with your very own custom coded landing page. This isn’t something everyone is looking to take on by themselves (see our 10 reasons for not coding your own HTML). So, let The Site Slinger help turn that amazing landing page design to code! With our PSD to HTML, PSD to Responsive, and PSD to Bootstrap services, you can create pixel perfect pages in no time. Be sure to try us out for that awesome landing page you just learned to create!

If you have an idea for an app but are unsure where to start, try our tutorial on how to create a web app.

Bootstrap 3 Released!

The long awaited update to the premier responsive framework has arrived! On August 19th, the folks behind Twitter Bootstrap took the latest version out of beta and announced the release of Bootstrap 3, coinciding with the two-year anniversary of the original release. Here’s a few things about the release worth calling out.

Twitter-Bootstrap-Logo

The long awaited update to the premier responsive framework has arrived! On August 19th, the folks behind Twitter Bootstrap took the latest version out of beta and announced the release of Bootstrap 3, coinciding with the two-year anniversary of the original release.

Here at The Site Slinger, we’ve received many inquiries about Bootstrap 3 and have been waiting to get our hands on the latest, stable version. We’re excited to code up more responsive websites using the new Bootstrap, with all of its great improvements! Submit your PSD to Bootstrap 3 project today!

Here’s a few updates in the release worth calling out

  • Mobile first and always responsive! Nearly everything has been redesigned and rebuilt to start from your handheld devices and scale up. With Bootstrap 3 we’ve gone deep on responsive and mobile first—it’s built in and no longer requires a separate stylesheet. That’s great for most folks, but not everyone needs or wants an adaptive web site or application. To help, we’ve added some documentation and an example that disables the adaptive or responsive features with some extra CSS. Check out the Disabling responsiveness section or head right to the non-responsive example to learn more.
  • Better box model by default. Everything in Bootstrap gets box-sizing: border-box, making for easier sizing options and an enhanced grid system.
  • Super-powered grid system. With four tiers of grid classes—phones, tablets, desktops, and large desktops—you can do some super crazy awesome layouts.
  • New Glyphicons icon font! While they were gone for a while, we’ve since restored the Glyphicons to the main repo. In 2.x, they were images, but now they’re in font format and include 40 new glyphs.
  • Overhauled navbar. It’s now always responsive and comes with some super handy and re-arrangable subcomponents.
  • Modals are way more responsive. We’ve overhauled the modal code to make it way more responsive on mobile devices
  • Dropped Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 3.6 support. For Internet Explorer 8, you’ll need to include Respond.js for all the media queries to work correctly. You can read more about browser support in the docs.
Source: Official Bootstrap Blog 

You can read the official Bootstrap blog post about the release, complete with a celebratory Montell Jordan – “This is How We Do It” music video — AWESOME!

In case you’re wondering what the heck Bootstrap even is…

Twitter Bootstrap was created by a couple of guys at Twitter to maintain consistency across many internal tools. In public form, it’s a free, yet powerful framework for front-end development of websites and web applications. It uses HTML and CSS-based layout templates for typography, and interface components like forms, buttons and navigation elements. The key is that it’s a highly flexible framework built for the new era of responsive web design. Learn more about our PSD to Bootstrap conversion process here.

bs-docs-bootstrap-features

Have questions or a design ready for us to review? Submit your Bootstrap 3 projects today!

What is a PSD? The First Step to Web Design

As the top service for PSD to HTML on the Web, we throw around the term ‘PSD’ quite a bit. We’ve answered the question ‘What is PSD to HTML?‘ and provided a list of definitions of common web development terms, but now we break it down even further.

As the top service for PSD to HTML on the Web, we throw around the term ‘PSD’ quite a bit. We’ve answered the question ‘What is PSD to HTML?‘ and provided a list of definitions of common web development terms, but now we break it down even further.

What is a PSD?

Simply put, a PSD is a Photoshop design file. Technically, it stands for Photoshop Document, which is a proprietary file type from Adobe. Adobe’s Photoshop is the software most widely used for web design and works best for the design-to-code process.

PSD files are typically opened and edited with Adobe Photoshop, but can be opened with Adobe Photoshop Elements, and even certain non-Adobe products such as Corel’s PaintShop Pro and GIMP. However, programs other than Photoshop will not be able to fully edit or even read the complex layers utilized in many PSD files. Other advanced features within a PSD design may not be properly recognized, either. We highly recommend working with Photoshop from the beginning to ensure it will be universally accessible by designers and developers who may be involved with your project.

If you’re interested in a free program to simply view PSD files as flat images (no layers), Apple’s QuickTime, which includes Picture Viewer, will do the trick, but you can’t use the program to edit a PSD file. It is purely for viewing PSD files as images.

How Can I Create a Website with a PSD?

PSD files can be “sliced” and turned into HTML code by a proficient web developer. PSD to HTML services, such as The Site Slinger, specialize in just this. We take the PSD files and hand back HTML/CSS markup that’s ready for implementation as a live site.

Sometimes other file types are used by designers. While we may be able to work with PNG, IDD, or AI file types, we highly recommend PSD files. Working form other file types can require the added step of converting designs to a PSD file.

A “good” PSD is layered, and well organized using folders and layer comps to show different pages and states. Be sure to design all animation states, and button states (click, hover, off). Read more of our web design tips and check out the other resources below. In the end, we take your design and turn it into code, producing a website that matches your design pixel-perfect.

PSD File Structure

Technical Stuff

The PSD file type supports all image modes (Bitmap, Grayscale, Duotone, Indexed Color, RGB, CMYK, Lab, and Multichannel), which is part of the reason it is so widely used. It also supports clipping paths, channels, transparency information, and multi-level layers while other formats merely present ‘flat’ images.

The PSD file type preserves a design as layered images which is extremely useful for future editing (and re-editing) of different parts of a design. Each layer can be worked on individually, without affecting the rest of the elements in a design. You can also use a feature called ‘layer comps‘ to present variations of the same design. Photoshop can convert PSD files to other formats, such as PNG, JPG etc… so you can export a design for a wide variety of uses, like web graphics.

It’s also interesting to note that Photoshop files sometimes have the extension .PSB, which stands for “Photoshop Big”. According to Adobe, “The Large Document Format (PSB) supports documents up to 300,000 pixels in any dimension. All Photoshop features, such as layers, effects, and filters, are supported. You can save high dynamic range, 32‑bits-per-channel images as PSB files. Currently, if you save a document in PSB format, it can be opened only in Photoshop CS or later.”

You can read tons more about Adobe Photoshop File Formats Specification, if you want to delve further into the technical aspects of the PSD file type.

And here are some helpful tips and tricks on how to slice a PSD file efficiently if you want to try your hand.

Alternatives to PSD in Website Design

Sketch

Sketch is a vector-based design tool that is gaining popularity among web designers. It is available only on macOS and is designed specifically for web and app design. Sketch offers a range of features that make it easier to make responsive designs and then convert those into pixel-perfect HTML markups.

Pros:

  • Sketch is designed specifically for web and app design, so it offers features that are tailored to these types of projects.
  • Sketch’s vector-based design allows for easy scaling of images without loss of quality.
  • It offers a large library of plugins and add-ons that can streamline the design process.

Cons:

  • Sketch is only available on macOS, which can limit its accessibility to some designers.
  • It does not have the same level of support as Photoshop, so finding resources and tutorials may be more difficult.
  • Sketch has a steeper learning curve than some other design tools, which may make it less suitable for beginners.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD is a vector-based design tool that is available for both macOS and Windows. It is designed specifically for web and app design and allows designers to create wireframes, prototypes, and finished designs all in the same tool.

Pros:

  • Adobe XD is available on both macOS and Windows, making it more accessible to designers.
  • It allows for easy sharing and collaboration with other designers and developers.
  • Adobe XD’s vector-based design allows for easy scaling of images without loss of quality.

Cons:

  • It has a steeper learning curve than some other design tools, which may make it less suitable for beginners.
  • Some users report performance issues with larger design files.
  • It has fewer features and capabilities than Adobe Photoshop, which may limit its usefulness for some projects.

Figma

Figma is a web-based design tool that allows designers to create, share, and collaborate on designs in real-time. It is specifically designed for web and app design and offers a range of features that make it easier to design for responsive web design and UI design.

Pros:

  • Figma is a web-based tool, so it is accessible from any computer with an internet connection.
  • It offers a range of collaboration and sharing features that make it easy to work with other designers and developers.
  • Figma’s vector-based design allows for easy scaling of images without loss of quality.

Cons:

  • Figma requires an internet connection to use, which can be limiting for some designers.
  • It has a steeper learning curve than some other design tools, which may make it less suitable for beginners.
  • It has fewer features and capabilities than Adobe Photoshop, which may limit its usefulness for some projects.


 

Searching for a super fast PSD to HTML conversion service? You are in the right place. The Site Slinger experts will turn your design into a stunning, responsive, pixel-perfect HTML template in just a few hours. 

Get in touch with us, tell us about your project, and get delivered a perfectly coded template whenever you need it. 


 

Resources

Read further for tips and how-to’s for web design.

This is How to Launch Your First Web App

Building your own web application is a complicated, challenging and exciting process. It requires mastering a number of skills, from design to development. Fortunately, with the tools available today, starting a website is both easy and fun. Let’s take a look at how to launch a web app.

If you work on the web, you know that the launch of a new web application is a complicated, challenging and exciting process. Every day we see new projects come to life during the first steps in the development process, when you turn your photoshop comps into live HTML code. Getting the application into a workable (and marketable) product from there requires mastering a number of skills.

Let’s take a look at how to launch a web app, website or what-ever-you-are-building.

How to Launch a Web App

Website UI and Design

The days of blinking scrolls and clumsy tiled backgrounds are (thankfully) well past us. Spoiled by design-centric startups like Airbnb and Fab.com, users have come not just to expect, but demand good design. Design is also one of the quickest ways to set yourself apart from your competitors. It is, after all, the first thing users see on your site.

Thankfully, good design isn’t terribly expensive. You can even create simple webpage mockups by yourself if you follow some basic design principles, such as:

1. Sketching: Before you create a single pixel in Photoshop, spend some time sketching the basic vision of your web app on paper. This doesn’t have to be terribly complicated; you can draw out anything you want as long as it has some design coherence. This sketch should serve as a very rough map of what your final design might look like. Don’t be afraid to create several sketches until you reach a more concrete vision.

2. Wireframing: A wireframe represents an ‘X-Ray’ of your website. This is a rough schematic diagram showing the various components on any page. This wireframe can be as simple as a sheet of paper with different boxes denoting Header, Navigation Menu, Content and Footer. Ideally, wireframing and sketching should be done together. You can do this by hand, or use a tool like Photoshop.

3. Creating a Mockup: The third step is to create a mockup of your final design using the sketches and wireframing as a guide. Mockups can be created in Photoshop, or you can use design tools like Mockingbird or Balsamiq to create designs quickly. The mockup will reflect your final design, so take some time to flesh it out completely before moving on to the next step. There are a few things to keep in mind when creating a mockup:

  • Adopt a Theme: “Theme” is a very broad term that describes your website’s overall ‘mood’ or ‘feel’. Fab.com, is urbane and modern with a hint of hipster flourish, while Apple.com is clean and minimalist with a distinctly hi-tech vibe. Before you create a mockup, think about your site’s overall theme. Ask yourself: what do I want my users to feel when they visit this site?
  • Use Color Appropriately: Color can liven up a dull page, make an element stand out and even help you sell more. Color trends keep on changing every year. While web 2.0 was all about brash frivolity, startups are using more muted colors today. Here’s a quick recap of the dominant color trends in the past year, and what to expect in the near future.
    Color also has an effect on how users respond to your web app. Different colors trigger different responses. Bright yellow, for instance, draws viewers’ attention to a particular element. Orange, on the other hand, is great for call-to-action buttons (such as ‘Add to Cart’). Here’s good chart explaining different colors and how to use them effectively in your web app.
  • Keep Up with Trends: Web design trends change faster than the fashion in Paris. If you surf a lot, you can spot these trends as new startups push the boundaries of what is considered ‘good’ web design. Infinite scrolling and fixed headers, for instance, are among the latest new trends. You can find more specific trends for 2013 on Hongkiat.com.
  • Keep an Eye on Performance: While you’re bringing your grand design vision to life, also keep an eye on performance. Large pictures and heavy graphic use can bring down the performance, frustrating customers and even costing you a few positions in search engine rankings. It’s a good practice to keep file sizes as small as possible, and limit the amount of images you use on your web app.

Now that you’re on your way to finishing your web design, let’s look at another crucial usability component: UX.

UX | How to Launch a Web App

UX – User Experience

User Experience or UX refers to how people interact with your web app. This is a very broad field that covers everything from usability to conversion rates. As you can imagine, UX requires years of expertise and experience to master. You can hire a UX consultant like Theresa Neil, or tinker around on your own by following some basic UX principles:

1. K.I.S.S.: When it comes to UX, you can’t go too wrong following Apple’s UX dictum – Keep it Simple Stupid! Don’t use two elements where one can suffice, limit the number of choices for the customer, and ensure that your app can be used by even the most tech illiterate of users.

2. Big Words ≠ Big Returns: It’s common for new startups to wax poetic about the features and benefits of their web app, all at the expense of the customer. Keep the text on your web site as limited as possible (except on the blog, about-us page, etc.). Wherever possible, communicate through pictures and videos instead of text.

3. Focus on Numbers: The great thing about UX is that you get access to a ton of data to base your decisions on. Analytics tools like Google Analytics and KISSMetrics can help you track how little changes affect the overall user experience. A startup that focuses on performance metrics will almost always outperform one that adopts a ‘see what sticks’ approach.

4. Get Feedback: Getting subjective feedback on your web app is as important as focusing on performance data. Websites like UserTesting.com can give you a great overview of how visitors use your sites and what you can do to improve the overall user experience.

5. UX is an Ongoing Process: There is never a time when you can’t focus on UX. UX is a constant, endless process. You should constantly try to improve the user experience, no matter how great your conversion rates are, or how happy the users may seem.

Testing

Testing is the process of measuring the effectiveness of your web app. This is where the rubber meets the road. It’s a hard, gritty process that most startups fail to master. Essentially, it involves creating multiple variations of the same page and measuring their performance against each other. This is a purely statistical exercise and can be done by anyone by following a few simple tips:

1. A/B Testing: A/B testing, also called ‘split testing’, is used to measure the performance of two variants (labeled A and B) of the same page. Different versions of a page are shown to different users randomly. You can then calculate how each page performed viz-a-viz the other, and select the right page accordingly.

2. Small Changes Can Equal Big Rewards: You don’t always have to make sweeping changes to see dramatic improvements in conversion rates. Sometimes, the simplest of changes such as using different colored buttons and links can equal big rewards. Try out these simple changes before overhauling the existing design completely, and be open to learning from the mistakes of others.

Universal Accessibility

Have you ever tried to use one of your favorite websites on a smartphone or tablet and found the experience completely disappointing? In this ‘Age of Many Screens’, it is important to optimize not just for desktops and laptops, but also smartphones and tablets. Basically, everyone, regardless of screen size or device type, should be able to access your web app.

One way to go about this is by using ‘Responsive Design’. A web app with responsive design automatically changes to fit different screen types. It can expand to fill all the space on a 27” monitor, and squeeze down to fit on a 4” smartphone screen without any loss in usability. The Site Slinger specializes in creating responsive designs that look great on any screen.

While you’re creating responsive designs for your web app, also make sure that you create corresponding designs for your email marketing campaigns. The Site Slinger can code responsive email templates, as well.

Responsive Web Design

Development

Development is where all the planning and design finally pays off and your vision comes to life. It is often the hardest step in the entire app creation process, depending on who you ask. If you have prior coding experience, development can be a relatively straightforward experience, especially for simple web apps. Otherwise, you should be prepared to pay through your nose for a top notch custom developer to take your design live.

Hiring developers is an expensive process wrought with trial and error. Quality freelancers are not only expensive, but also extremely hard to find. You should expect to go through a number of developers before you find someone who fits your requirements.

An easier (and cheaper) alternative is to hire a PSD to HTML service like The Site Slinger. The Site Slinger specializes in turning PSD design files into actual live sites. We have years of experience working with startups and takes care of all the frontend development work so you can focus on what’s really important – sales, traffic and customers.

The Site Slinger converts designs into code for companies, including startups like WPEngine, Capital Factory, OwnLocal, and more. Our PSD to HTML team hand-codes a full Photoshop design into HTML5, CSS3 and all basic JavaScript animations, which is perfect for an app prototype or marketing site. We also have an amazing custom development team ready for all of your WordPress or web development requests. It’s a far smoother process than hiring (and firing) dozens of overpriced freelancers.

Conclusion

Building your first web app isn’t easy. You will have to do everything from creating the mockups to optimizing for better conversion rates. With a little help, however, you can go from prototype to live in a few short weeks and set your web app dreams in motion.

Resources

Web Design and UI

1. Smashing Magazine
2. Hongkiat
3. Introduction to Typography
4. Niice Design Search Engine
5. Designer News
6. MockingBird
7. Basic Wireframing
8. Advanced Wireframing with Keynote
9. Creating Your First Mockup
10. UI Design Resources
11. Planning Your Website with Sketches
12. 16 Tips for a Better Website
13. Startup Tips from Pro Designers

UX

1. How to do UX
2. Six UX Mistakes to Avoid
3. A Project Guide to UX Design
4. Don’t Make Me Think: A Commonsense approach to Usability
5. 52 Weeks of UX Design

Testing

1. Ultimate Guide to A/B Testing
2. TechRadar Guide to Testing Your Website
3. Introduction to Web App Testing
4. Getting Started with Conversion Rate Optimization

Universal Accessibility

1. A Book Apart: Responsive Web Design
2. Responsive Web Design: What is it and How to Use it
3. 30 Useful Responsive Web Design Examples

Useful Terms for PSD to HTML Services

We know how important effective communication is for our clients on any web development project. So, we’re offering up this handy ‘glossary of terms’ that you will find helpful for your next PSD to HTML project, or if you’re just beginning to learn about the design-to-code process.

We know how important effective communication is for our clients on any web development project. So, we’re offering up this handy ‘glossary of terms’ that you will find helpful for your next PSD to HTML project, or if you’re just beginning to learn about the design-to-code process. This list of web development definitions is especially helpful for creatives and designers who are migrating from print to the web space.

PSD to HTML Definitions

  • PSD to HTML – PSD to HTML is the process of taking Photoshop design files (“PSDs”) and coding them into HTML. Each PSD design file is hand-coded by a front-end developer. No code generators or automation here, pure hand-coded HTML and CSS goodness!
  • PSD – A Photoshop design file. Technically, it stands for Photoshop Document. Photoshop is the tool most widely used for web design and development and works best the design-to-code process. A “good” PSD is layered, well organized using folders, as well as layer comps to show different pages and states.
  • HTML – HyperText Markup Language. This is a simple way to refer to HTML5, CSS, and  JavaScript, the basic languges of the Web. This is the code that makes your design function as  website. Read more about HTML5 on our blog post.
  • Design to code – This is the general term for converting the visuals (design files) into code (HTML). Technically, not all design to code involves PSD files, and other filetypes like PNG and Adobe Illustrator’s AI filetype are acceptable in some cases.
  • Email template – This is the theme for a reusable email employed by businesses with an email marketing campaign. We take designs for email templates and code them, just as with a website.
  • Bootstrap  – Bootstrap refers to the Twitter Bootstrap framework, a responsive front-end development framework that is sleek and powerful. Especially useful for application development teams, it allows you to design and code in a consistent and reliable manner based on a grid which adapts to a user’s screen size, such as smartphones. It’s one of our favorites. Read more about it on the official page.
  • Responsive – The feature of being adaptable to various screen sizes, usually at least 3 breakpoints: desktop, tablet, and mobile device. Recommended widths for responsive websites are 1024px, 768px, and 320px, respectively. We break it down in further detail in this post. While Bootstrap is a favorite, we also work with Foundation, 960gs, and others.
  • WordPress – The most popular, and arguably most powerful, content management system (CMS). With SEO friendly URL management and easy page templating, WordPress is a great choice as a platform for your website.
  • jQuery – The most widely used front-end JavaScript library used to implement animation and functions such as dropdowns, tooltips, sliders, lightboxes and more.
  • Pixel perfect – The highest standard for execution of the PSD to HTML process.We aim to have our deliverables match, down to the pixel, your designs as you presented them.
  • Pop-up modals – A ‘page’ that pops up or otherwise animates into the screen upon completion of a certain action, like a button click.
  • Long page – In line with modern web design trends, we often see long pages with aim to put as much information into a page as possible, usually in the form of horizontal sections. These can be considered as two pages for coding purposes.
  • Slice – Basically, this means cutting up your Photoshop design into pieces, which are then put in order by HTML and styled/positioned by CSS. Read more about slicing on our blog post.
  • NDA – Non-disclosure agreement. We abide by NDA as a standard practice and guarantee that information about you or your project will not be made public. As this is our default policy, there’s no need to sign an explicit NDA, though we are happy to do so if you feel this is absolutely necessary. Your privacy is key, so we offer our products as white-label.
  • White-label – We produce the code for your organization, but do not brand or otherwise sign our markup in any way.
  • Markup – This is the code that we present back to you once we’ve converted your PSD files. ‘Markup’ refers to the finished product in the PSD to HTML process.
  • W3C – Shorthand for The World Wide Web Consortium. This is the international community that develops open standards to ensure the quality and growth of the Web. Our code complies with the standards established by this organization, which can reviewed here. They also offer a markup validation service.

If there’s anything else you need clarified, please let us know. We’re happy to add to this list to make the PSD to HTML process easier!