Archive for the ‘Business of Web Design’ Category

Want a job? Become a web professional!

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

web design jobs

A common question that is put to me by aspiring web designers is:

What are the job prospect looking forward, for web designers and web programmers?

Oftentimes, they will mention web templates and other tools/technology that speed up the process of web design, seeing them as potential roadblocks for the profession:

… if these tools keep getting better and making web design easier, who’s going to need web designers?

Let me first start by saying that web designers, programmers, market specialist and all other web professionals are going to become even MORE SOUGHT AFTER, over the next many years.

Why? Simple young nerdlings, everything is jumping onto the Web. Radio stations and newspapers are going bust, magazines and books are going digital … even TV is fragmenting, where video sites like Youtube have huge audiences that rival many traditional TV networks.

But wait, there’s more!

Besides traditional media business having to go online, just about every business (large and small) NEED to have a Web presence. Today, a business without a website is like a home without electricity.

So it’s pretty clear that business needs to be on the Web and so the Web is growing like crazy. But how about them pesky templates and blogs that make putting up a website easy? Well, let me ask you, do you know how to install a blog, set up a database? Do you know how to choose a good domain name, structure a website so that it is search engine friendly? Do you know how to add sound, video, contact forms, forums …. e-commerce systems to a site? Do you know how the design a custom theme for Wordpress or Drupal?

… Now, as a web professional you may know how to do some of these things, but what I can tell you with great certainty, is just about all non-web designers no nothing about how to do these things. That’s where a web professional comes in:

- installing that blog.
- customizing the theme.
- adding the forum.

… etc.

Anyway, don’t just take my opinion on this, the LA Times just wrote an article talking about how IT professionals are finding jobs easily.

Now the article doesn’t mention web designers or programmers specifically, but you can be sure they are a serious part of the mix. One thing the article does mention though, is that the more skills you have, the greater chance you will get a job and the more money you will make – something I’ve been pushing for years: web designers need to evolve into 21st century web designers and learn:

HTML, CSS
PHP
Javascript

.. Just knowing how to design won’t cut it anymore.

Stefan Mischook
www.killersites.com

Posted in Business of Web Design, General, Professional Web Design | No Comments »

The Future of Web Design as a Career?

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

question about web design

Hi,

Sometimes change makes people nervous. I got an email from someone recently, who’s been noticing some changes in the web design world and had some fears. Check it out:

I been noticing more ads on the TV and the internet about web site building kits and companies set up to build web sites through the use of templates and prearranged page layout formats to choose from. Since this is on the rise I was wondering in me learning to become a web developer, will this occupation be a dieing breed given all the self help web template sites that are popping up. What are some of the pros and cons of going with a web template based company or a guy who can do it all from scratch like yourself. Any thoughts appreciated.

Best Regards,
Rich

So let’s hit the major points:

… will this occupation be a dieing breed given all the self help web template sites that are popping up

Good question. Short answer: no. Couple of quick points:

  1. Many of those website building kits are very, very limited. Though they will satisfy some segment of the population, they only have a small place in the grand scheme of web design things.
  2. Web Templates should not be looked at as competition, instead you should look at them as tools … a way to rapidly produce websites. That said, you will find that many clients will not want to use templates for fear that their website will look like it was built with a template.

I would say that you should be open to using templates and designing from scratch. Some budgets will require templates where other clients will want to spend the extra money on original design work.

In the end, if you want to be competitive, you ought to expand you skills into things like PHP, Javascript and blogs.

Stefan Mischook
www.killersites.com

Posted in Business of Web Design, Professional Web Design, Web Design | 4 Comments »

Choosing a web career for people with disabilities.

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Hi,

A really interesting question was emailed to me recently by someone that I will call ‘Rick’. Her real name was Jenny, but she wanted to keep that private:

I’ve been trying to make a decision about my career path and I wondered if you could offer me any words of advice?

I have a disability that prevents me from working on-site and I will need to work from home as a freelancer. I’m trying to find out which of these server side technologies will make me more marketable from home as a freelancer …

… Rick goes on to mention a few of the popular web programming languages that he is considering:

  • PHP
  • Ruby
  • Java

The answer and the key points

If you want to work from home, by far and away PHP is your best choice because it is the most widely used language and it is the language that you see small business use more often than not. After PHP, I would give Ruby a go.

… Actually, why not learn both!

:)

Java and .NET are not great choices for stay-at-home freelancers because those technologies are more or less used by larger corporations that more likely than not, will want you to work on site.

Thanks for reading,

Stefan Mischook
www.killersites.com

Posted in Business of Web Design, Professional Web Design, Web Design | No Comments »

The Web 2.0 Web Designer

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Hi,

In the following video, I talk about the skill-sets that modern web designers need to know.

Let me know what you think. Oh yea, a high quality version of this video can be found in the killersites university.

Stefan Mischook
www.killersites.com

Posted in Business of Web Design, Real World Web Design, Web Design | 4 Comments »

Pull: The Power of the Semantic Web to Transform Your Business

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Hi,

In 1995 David Siegel wrote one of the most important books on web design Creating Killer Websites. He taught in the book, the future of how the Web should look.

Pull: The Power of the Semantic Web to Transform Your Business

… I still have a copy on my bookshelf after all these years.

David is about to release a new book that should also be a ‘killer’ – Pull: The Power of the Semantic Web to Transform Your Business

I’ve just started reading about Pull on David’s new site and I’m anxiously waiting to get my copy of the book. This time around, I’m not going to be late to the game.

From the Amazon editorial:

The first clear guide to the Semantic Web and its upcoming impact on the business world

Imagine that, in 1992, someone handed you a book about the future of something called the World Wide Web. This book claimed that through a piece of software called a “browser”, which accesses “web sites”, the world economy and our daily lives would change forever. Would you have believed even 10 percent of that book? Did you take advantage of the first Internet wave and get ahead of the curve?

Pull is the blueprint to the next disruptive wave. Some call it Web 3.0; others call it the semantic web. It’s a fundamental transition from pushing information to pulling, using a new way of thinking and collaborating online. Using the principles of this book, you will slash 5-20 percent off your bottom line, make your customers happier, accelerate your industry, and prepare your company for the twenty-first century. It isn’t going to be easy, and you don’t have any choice. By 2015, your company will be more agile and your processes more flexible than you ever thought possible.

The semantic web leads to possibilities straight from science fiction, such as buildings that can order their own supplies, eliminating the IRS, and lawyers finally making sense. But it also leads to major changes in every field, from shipping and retail distribution to health care and financial reporting.

Through clear examples, case studies, principles, and scenarios, business strategist David Siegel takes you on a tour of this new world. You’ll learn:

-Which industries are already ahead.
-Which industries are already dead.
-How to make the power shift from pushing to pulling information.
-How software, hardware, media, and marketing will all change.
-How to plan your own strategy for embracing the semantic web.

We are at the beginning of a new technology curve that will affect all areas of business. Right now, you have a choice. You can decide to start preparing for the exciting opportunities that lay ahead or you can leave this book on the shelf and get left in the dust like last time.

Stefan Mischook
www.killersites.com

Posted in Business of Web Design, Nerd Book Reviews | No Comments »

Smart Web Designers Play to their Strengths

Saturday, December 5th, 2009

question-mark-medium

Once in a while, I will step away from teaching raw web design and web programming and look at things from a broader, more strategic perspective. This is one example of that …

One of the biggest mistakes people often make, is trying to develop skills in areas that they suck in. For example, you maybe good at writing HTML and CSS code, yet you still have a terrible time at making your pages look good.

… Let’s face it, some people just don’t have that artistic/designers eye.

You can read more about in the web magazine

Stefan Mischook
www.killersites.com

Posted in Business of Web Design, Professional Web Design, Web Design | No Comments »

Professional Web Designer’s Roadmap

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

writing-man

Hi,

I wrote a quick article on what you should know (in terms of nerd skills) to be a professional web designer. From the article:

The skills of a professional web designer are constantly changing because the Web is constantly changing.

This fast-paced nature of the Web is considered good by some (because it opens up opportunity) while others hate it because you have to be ready to learn new web design skills regularly.

… Personally, I see it as an opportunity with a headache!

I’m not sure how pretentious it is to quote your own writing .. I’ll let you decide. Anyway, check it out:

The skills of a modern web designer.

Thanks for reading,

Stefan Mischook
www.killersites.com

Posted in Business of Web Design, Web Design | No Comments »

Web Design as a Small Business

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Hi,

Yet another blog post based on an email question … the email:

Hello Stefan,

I just got through watching your video on basic web design. Before I decide to purchase this beginning video I wanted to ask a few questions.

I am currently seeking alternate ways to generate income. I live in a small town type atmosphere and think maybe there is a future in business web site development. I have built a web site many moons ago using Front Page and it didn’t turn out half bad for not knowing exactly what I was doing.

My questions are:

#1. Is it possible to gain the knowledge to develop attractive beneficial web sites without obtaining a college degree in computer science?

#2. I realize that starting out with the beginner course is the starting point, but where will (or should) that lead?

#3. What is a typical cost for someone to hire a web designer? I don’t want to rake anyone over the coals but feel I should charge a fair affordable price.

#4.In the old days when all we had was dial-up, the key was to keep website design to a minimum so that the pages load faster and keeps the visitor’s interest (same goes for the number of pages). Is this logic still true or are visitors looking for “wow” when they visit a website?

Thanks and look forward to your response.

Chris

My answer:

I’m going to answer you in point form – check it out:

#1. Yes. The best designers and programmers I know have neither.

#2. Once you understand the basics, your decisions as to what your web-specialization should be will be much easier to make. That decision will be largely made based on what you like to do. For example, some people may choose to get into Flash based work while others may choose to get more into PHP.

#3. Cost varies considerably based on the experience and talent of the designer and on where you happen to live.

#4. Speed of the site is always important. But, since we are in the age of Youtube, you have a lot more latitude than what we had in the 1990’s.

That all said, the best place to start your career as a web designer, is to start by learning the basics of HTML and CSS.

I hope that answers your questions,

Stefan Mischook
www.killersites.com

Posted in Business of Web Design, Web Design | No Comments »

Paypal and Canadian Merchants

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009


Hi,

I’ve been using Paypal to process my credit card orders since 2001 and overall, it’s a pretty good service.

… In fact, I would argue that Paypal is essential for just about any e-commerce site since it is used by so many merchants and most importantly, just ordinary people.

Paypal’s main advantages are:

  • Easy to set up.
  • Can accept several types of electronic payments: credit card, e-checks and Paypal.
  • Since Paypal is so well known, it will put your clients at ease. You’d be surprised at how nervous people still are of buying products online!

(more…)

Posted in Business of Web Design, Real World Web Design | No Comments »

How to use Web Templates in Commercial Web Design

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

Hi,

I’ve been a advocate of website templates in commercial web design for years now, because it saves the designer a lot of time and in saves the clients a good chunk of cash.

… There are occasions where from-scratch custom design makes sense, but for most web design projects, templates are a great solution – especially with a little customization to make it look unique.

How to use Templates in the Web Design BUSINESS process?

I was recently asked by a web designer how I would show clients the templates that are out there? Do you send them to a template site (free or commercial) or do you do something else?

(more…)

Posted in Business of Web Design, Professional Web Design, Real World Web Design | 3 Comments »

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