Comments on: Keeping Up With The Web Design Joneses http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/ Web design and marketing tips, reviews and thoughts. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:51:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Drupal Fangirl http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/comment-page-1/#comment-56020 Drupal Fangirl Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:38:58 +0000 http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/#comment-56020 I think if you have an ongoing service relationship with your client, this is easier. Suggesting platform upgrades for usability purposes (if you can point out usability on their end or web visitors' end) also helps. You can also suggest moving from tables-based HTML to CSS for accessibility and SEO benefits. Is this to drum up new business (tapping into existing/past client base) or to keep your portfolio competitive? Perhaps dating designs in your portfolio, (with case study/problems the design solved at that time) can frame the situation, there's a difference between a nice design circa 2002 vs. a 2007 design. I think if you have an ongoing service relationship with your client, this is easier. Suggesting platform upgrades for usability purposes (if you can point out usability on their end or web visitors’ end) also helps. You can also suggest moving from tables-based HTML to CSS for accessibility and SEO benefits. Is this to drum up new business (tapping into existing/past client base) or to keep your portfolio competitive? Perhaps dating designs in your portfolio, (with case study/problems the design solved at that time) can frame the situation, there’s a difference between a nice design circa 2002 vs. a 2007 design.

]]> By: Char http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/comment-page-1/#comment-24681 Char Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:32:23 +0000 http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/#comment-24681 Katie - I think this is one of the biggest challenges for a solo web professional. Staying on top of the latest trends, learning new skills and maintaining the dinosaur sites - hand me a Tylenol or two also... Katie – I think this is one of the biggest challenges for a solo web professional. Staying on top of the latest trends, learning new skills and maintaining the dinosaur sites – hand me a Tylenol or two also…

]]> By: Katie http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/comment-page-1/#comment-24680 Katie Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:29:59 +0000 http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/#comment-24680 Arrghh. This topic gives me an Excedrin headache. You've got your clients who are happy to keep the same site for 10 years with no changes (so you don't want to link to THAT anymore in your online portfolio), and others want you to implement every new change or design they hear about as the months go by (gratis of course, since "I think my site should always be current and I don't feel that's expecting too much of you as my designer!") As design has become more sophisticated and the various technologies one needs to know expand endlessly, I wonder if it's time to move on to a different field. Thanks for opening this can up, Char. Even though I think I have participated in this conversation before and probably will again... give me a tylenol, please... Arrghh. This topic gives me an Excedrin headache.

You’ve got your clients who are happy to keep the same site for 10 years with no changes (so you don’t want to link to THAT anymore in your online portfolio), and others want you to implement every new change or design they hear about as the months go by (gratis of course, since “I think my site should always be current and I don’t feel that’s expecting too much of you as my designer!”)

As design has become more sophisticated and the various technologies one needs to know expand endlessly, I wonder if it’s time to move on to a different field.

Thanks for opening this can up, Char. Even though I think I have participated in this conversation before and probably will again… give me a tylenol, please…

]]> By: Aaron Weiche | Prime Blog http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/comment-page-1/#comment-22477 Aaron Weiche | Prime Blog Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:04:11 +0000 http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/#comment-22477 Thanks Char ... hopefully some of them like me/us for that. Blinking text! I love it (sarcasm running wild). Funky requests and what to do with them all boils down to the client relationship. Some clients value the experience and knowledge a good web guru brings (GREAT CLIENTS!) and they listen to the explanation, facts and theory and participate in the right route ... but then others are their own 'expert' on it and just want to see their ideas. :) Duh, they just read an article on About.com on great web design! (they did fail to notice it was written in May 2000) Thanks Char … hopefully some of them like me/us for that.

Blinking text! I love it (sarcasm running wild). Funky requests and what to do with them all boils down to the client relationship. Some clients value the experience and knowledge a good web guru brings (GREAT CLIENTS!) and they listen to the explanation, facts and theory and participate in the right route … but then others are their own ‘expert’ on it and just want to see their ideas. :)

Duh, they just read an article on About.com on great web design! (they did fail to notice it was written in May 2000)

]]> By: Brooke http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/comment-page-1/#comment-22449 Brooke Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:44:06 +0000 http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/#comment-22449 Wow! Aaron is really great about customer service! With all of the different jobs that I have it is hard to follow up. But I do so probably 2 times per year. Some of my past clients want an update and some do not. So like what Phil said, it's up to the client." Next question: If the client wants a feature that is out-of-date, I explain why it was/is used, why it is good and bad, my recommendation and then they choose. It is hard when they go with what they really want - but somehow we make it all work. Wow! Aaron is really great about customer service!

With all of the different jobs that I have it is hard to follow up. But I do so probably 2 times per year. Some of my past clients want an update and some do not. So like what Phil said, it’s up to the client.”

Next question: If the client wants a feature that is out-of-date, I explain why it was/is used, why it is good and bad, my recommendation and then they choose. It is hard when they go with what they really want – but somehow we make it all work.

]]> By: Char http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/comment-page-1/#comment-22440 Char Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:02:57 +0000 http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/#comment-22440 Aaron - thanks for starting this out. I had a feeling that your answers would be something along those lines - your clients are spoiled by your high level of customer service and excellence. I think 2 years is a good shelf life for a site, too. Phil - One of the biggest challenges as a designer (esp. a busy one) is keeping your own site up to date - something like the saying about the cobbler's children having no shoes? It's often hard to justify spending time on your own site when there is paying work to be done. But it does need to be done. And now what to do when a client asks for blinking text that is so yesterday? Do you try to talk them out of it or just do it? Aaron – thanks for starting this out. I had a feeling that your answers would be something along those lines – your clients are spoiled by your high level of customer service and excellence.

I think 2 years is a good shelf life for a site, too.

Phil – One of the biggest challenges as a designer (esp. a busy one) is keeping your own site up to date – something like the saying about the cobbler’s children having no shoes? It’s often hard to justify spending time on your own site when there is paying work to be done. But it does need to be done.

And now what to do when a client asks for blinking text that is so yesterday? Do you try to talk them out of it or just do it?

]]> By: Phil http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/comment-page-1/#comment-22334 Phil Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:14:25 +0000 http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/#comment-22334 Man am I fed up with the PR debate as well... who actually cares?! Sad thing is, I'm not a designer either, so I have limited ability to answer this too. When it comes to old designs, even if they aren't that old, I suppose it is up to the client to tell you that's what they think. While it is nice to be proud of one's own work, once you hand it over it is then the client's responsibility, and if they want improvements they pay for them. What is nice is that you can always keep your own site as up to date as you want. It is your flagship and the one that you are initially judged on, so I guess it should reflect whatever design side of you that you want. In my case, it is probably good that I'm not a designer! Man am I fed up with the PR debate as well… who actually cares?!

Sad thing is, I’m not a designer either, so I have limited ability to answer this too.

When it comes to old designs, even if they aren’t that old, I suppose it is up to the client to tell you that’s what they think. While it is nice to be proud of one’s own work, once you hand it over it is then the client’s responsibility, and if they want improvements they pay for them. What is nice is that you can always keep your own site as up to date as you want. It is your flagship and the one that you are initially judged on, so I guess it should reflect whatever design side of you that you want. In my case, it is probably good that I’m not a designer!

]]> By: Aaron Weiche | Prime Blog http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/comment-page-1/#comment-22318 Aaron Weiche | Prime Blog Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:17:03 +0000 http://essentialkeystrokes.com/keeping-up-with-the-web-design-joneses/#comment-22318 All good questions Char, but such a variety of ways to handle it. The big thing to me is every piece of work we put out has (and does) provide the chance to show what we can do. Good sites get us our next good client. In trying to strut our stuff every time out, I see it as good marketing and branding. Does this mean sometimes we exceed a budget? Yes. But it also means we have to push ourselves to find efficiency and minimize the ones we "learn" on, but it truly is like continuing education or R&D. I hope that makes sense. As far as looking back at the "that's so 8 months ago" designs, I try to revisit past sites and see if some subtle tweaks can be accomplished to uphold our level of work. I usually like to get at least 2 years of shelf life out of a layout/design before an overhaul. But then again, all situations are different. Functionality is different, you can always add, tweak and improve that as you track patterns, get user feedback or measure yourself against the competition. Ummmm ... I should have just posted on this. :) All good questions Char, but such a variety of ways to handle it. The big thing to me is every piece of work we put out has (and does) provide the chance to show what we can do. Good sites get us our next good client. In trying to strut our stuff every time out, I see it as good marketing and branding. Does this mean sometimes we exceed a budget? Yes. But it also means we have to push ourselves to find efficiency and minimize the ones we “learn” on, but it truly is like continuing education or R&D. I hope that makes sense.

As far as looking back at the “that’s so 8 months ago” designs, I try to revisit past sites and see if some subtle tweaks can be accomplished to uphold our level of work. I usually like to get at least 2 years of shelf life out of a layout/design before an overhaul. But then again, all situations are different. Functionality is different, you can always add, tweak and improve that as you track patterns, get user feedback or measure yourself against the competition.

Ummmm … I should have just posted on this. :)

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