Website design and development
I thought it might be worth sharing the tools that changed the way I worked in 2012.
I use the word ‘tools’ because it allows me to include just about anything I use to get work done: software, hardware, products, services … whatever gets me through the day (and, too often, night).
Last year, there were three that rose to the top of the heap.
Some of you will know that I had a previous life as an actor. One of the most important lessons I learned is to “leave yourself alone”.
This refers to the principle of not letting your skills preparation getting in the way of delivering a natural performance. Don’t overthink things, trust your training and let it happen.
I see this as a balance between art and science, the same balancing act required in web design and development. For a recent project, I found this principle could also be applied to the way content itself is presented.
Wall Media provides management services to some very prominent Australians regarding speaking engagements of various kinds. Six years ago I inherited a design that looked good, was all Flash and had no real presence in SEO terms.
Title: Insites: The Book
Author: Keir Whitaker and Elliot Jay Stocks
Publisher: Viepwort Industries
Link: http://shop.viewportindustries.com/products/insites-the-book/
Why: Twenty interviews with 21 of “the most inspiring designers, developers, and businesspeople in the web and tech industries” in a very classy 256 full colour softcover boxed set.
I don’t mind having the occasional wrestling match with search engine optimisation and search marketing, but when a long term client said they had a vacation property on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula they wanted to promote with a website, I wasn’t initially enthusiastic.
That’s a tough market, with some unfair advantages built in for certain players – not including my client.
It was easy enough to build a site for The Cottage, but I knew I was also taking on a serious search challenge.
I occasionally get emails from people wanting advice on how to be successful in the web industry.
I’m no expert, mind you, but I’ve been through a fair bit myself and I’ve seen other people go through a lot more, good and bad.
I’m happy to pass on what I’ve learned.
Mostly, I reply personally and in private to these correspondents but sometimes one pops up that seems worth sharing. This is one.
I was this week voted on to the Committee of the Australian Web Industry Association (AWIA), as part of a process that will see the Web Industry Professionals Association (WIPA) unite with AWIA to form a single national industry body.
At the same AWIA AGM, outgoing Chair Miles Burke was made a life member, and I was invited to write a few words describing Miles’ contributions to the web industry in Australia.
Miles Burke is one of the people who defined how to join the words ‘web’ and ‘professional’.
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