Just a little ditty to help the new designers and developers, fresh out of school and off to their bright future.

First let me start by saying – LEARN YOUR TRADE.

This doesn’t mean take a few classes and now you are an expert. I have come across so many of these people in the last 19 years I can spot them a mile away. I must thank you though. It keeps us quite busy fixing all the hack work we see out there.

Next, DO NOT TRY TO MAKE A MILLION off of one client!

Try helping the client grow and make them successful. This will only help your cause. This is a small industry…when you get a Bad Name.

Now this will upset alot of the overcharging, under delivering, high an mighty, untrustworthy agencies/vweb designers out there but, oh well. In the last week I have gotten no less then 4 phone calls asking me if $10,000 to $25,000 was too much for a Small Business Corporate Site. Ok, mind you this was a 15 page basic site that already had the content and images done. They wanted new designs and a cms added to the system, so they could edit the content. Maybe it should cost $2,500 to $5,000 tops. This is depending on the requirements.

I mentioned to them that they could use WordPress and have a custom theme and plugins (if needed)  built. shazaam! What a concept. Saved then $20,000.

Why not help the smaller businesses out and support our community instead of trying to get rich quick off of them. We are all in a pickle right now trying to provide for our families. There is such a thing as good Karma.

HELP YOUR CUSTOMERS!

By this I mean offer them more then what you promised. Give them as much support as they need…within reason. Referr customers to them and let them know you are doing this to help them be successful. A simple thing as putting a link from your site to theirs under a partner page shows you are commited to the realationship. Most customers really don’t understand what we do. EDUCATE THEM. Explain what you are doing and why. LISTEN to them.

DO THE RESEARCH.

Take a client on as if it was your business. Research their competitors. Find out what they are doing and what is working. The more you learn about the customers business the more knowledge you will have to compete with their competitors. Make a cold call to the competitor and have them sell you on their products or services. This will help you understand more from these phone calls then looking blindly at their site.

INTEGRITY.

Build lasting realationships with clients, vendors, partners and competitors. I have multiple agencies sending me work and vice versa. Some companies will specialize in certain services that you may know but they are the experts. This goes for you as well. Make sure you become an expert in your space. This takes time and many speed bumps along the way.

Just had to vent!

If any of this helps you grow as a professional I have made a difference. Thanks for taking the time to read.

Sincerely,

Layne