Most people with even limited computer know-how understand what a Web site is, but a Webmaster, or the current term describing the person who designs and oversees a company's Web site -- Web architect -- is something altogether different.

"Simply put, a Webmaster is someone usually employed by a company or organization who designs a Web site, making sure it is technically suitable, has artistic appeal and all the legal copyrights and clearances necessary to do business," explains Heather Widmayer, faculty member in the Multimedia & Web Design department at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

A good Webmaster is really a Web architect in that he or she merges skills of design and technology, according to Widmayer.

"When someone logs onto a Web site, they want it to be easy to use, with a high degree of interactivity," she says. "For a business, a successful Web site needs to be a positive reflection of what that company does."

In addition, according to Widmayer, a good Webmaster needs to be aware of a company's goals and growth strategies and be able to enhance the site to help realize those goals.

"A Webmaster with both front-end design talent (that is, how the Web site looks) and back-end expertise (how it operates), is extremely valuable," says Shawn Boeckman of The Art Institutes International Minnesota Web Design faculty. "There is a lot of career growth in the field, and the technologies can change on a daily basis."

However, he cautions a good Webmaster "will make judicious use of those developments, and not sacrifice the effectiveness of a site to show off the latest design trends."

So how to find a qualified Webmaster? According to Kelly O'Neill of The Art Institute of Seattle, contacting a local design school is a good place to start.