Lost in Translation

Well, I’ve finally done it. After refusing to make that move for years, I’ve finally created flat rate packages for web design.

I had avoided this for for so long because I felt that frequently, fixed rate packages weren’t fair to both the client and the designer. The client could be paying for more time than is being worked, or the designer could end up doing more work than they are getting paid for.

I’ve also avoided pricing plans for years because, generally speaking, they often tend to be convoluted and confusing.

However, over the past decade, I’ve watched people flinch whether I quote $25 or $75 an hour. When people hear the hourly rate, they think “gosh that’s a lot”, not realizing how much they get with that.

And of course, these days people like packages that show them exactly what they get. People like being able to point at something and just say “give me that one”. (more…)

I, like many others in my field, see the term Web 2.0 and cringe. More so when used inappropriately. Then we hear and see people in our own field using it inappropriately, and groan and smack our foreheads.

This, like a lot of lingo, is often thrown around without a real understanding of what it is and what it means.

Let me put it like this: I’ve avoided jobs where I saw postings from people stating they want someone who understood Web 2.0. Or that they wanted a Web 2.0 website. Because I would have to ask them, “What do you mean by Web 2.0? What does Web 2.0 mean to you in this context?”. And they’ll decide that I’m the idiot here and clearly I don’t know anything. After all, EVERYONE knows what Web 2.0 is, right?

It is almost physically painful for me to hear someone to ask, “Do you know Web 2.0?”. (more…)

Although Steve Krug’s book Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability has been around for years, its not one all website owners are aware of. This is an outstanding book that doesn’t require technical know-how.

Who is this book for? EVERYONE involved in the creation of a website. That includes you website owners, project managers, and any of the other non-techies and non-artists who will be involved on the project. This information can save you a lot of headache and learning things the hard way. It will also save you arguing with your experienced web designer who already knows the principles this book covers. (more…)

This is part 3 in the series In Search of a Professional Web Designer.

Make sure you also check out Part 1 and Part 2.

Now that you’ve found a web designer, how do you get the most of your web designer and ensure that you get what you want and need? I’ve got 10 pointers for you.

(more…)

If you’re coming in later in the game, you may want to read Part 1 of the series.

Ok, so you’ve found a lot of potential web designers out there. Now how do you choose one?

THE THREE WEB JOB SPECIALTIES

It helps to understand that the web design field is like any other: there are specialists for each aspect of the website process. Just as there are doctors who are general practitioners, endocrinologists, surgeons of one specialty or another, pediatricians and so on, so it is in IT and the web field.

Bear in mind, just because someone can fix your computer doesn’t mean they know anything about web design. And vice versa. Also, just because someone is a programmer doesn’t mean they know anything about web languages either.

When it comes to web design, there are 3 types of designers: graphic artists, web designers, and web developers (programmers who handle the non-artsy stuff). There may be some individuals who do a bit of overlap between each, but I would go so far as to say there is no one who is 100% proficient in all areas (and if such a person exists, most people can’t afford them).

(more…)