I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. From a design and development standpoint, my job might be done once a new website launches but is the website itself truly finished? Or is it just beginning? After switching to WordPress as my primary platform of choice a few years ago, I’d say it’s just beginning.
When I turn over the keys to a brand new site to a client, they have at their disposal a new place to share their vision & goals with potential clients and build conversations. Being able to edit anything and everything on the site means that every bit of information on the site can (in theory) be up-to-date.
But is it? Usually no. And I am no exception to that.
I think I blog an average of once every other month on this site. In the words of Charles Barkley, “That’s turrible.” I also have quite a few new websites that get launched on a monthly basis that fail to get included in the portfolio section of this site.
We often use being to busy as an excuse, but how long does it really take to keep things updated if you plan ahead? I need to make some time in my schedule to keep things fresh around here even if it’s just on a weekly basis. Heck, 20 measly minutes a week would probably help.
As for my website itself, I launched the current version in August of 2010. I’m already soooo ready to create a new version. I think there are a lot of things that could be toned down and even removed (I’m talking to YOU home page slider). I’m also realizing that there are probably three main things my potential clients care about, all of which can go into a blog format of some sort: Recent projects, client testimonials, and insight from me on launching the best website you could possibly dream of.
In other words, I think the actual blog portion of my site needs to become the site. It seems kind of backwards, but wouldn’t you rather see something I built last week instead of something I launched two years ago? Wouldn’t you prefer to read the most recent client testimonials just to be sure I haven’t gone totally Gary-Busey-crazy in the past few months?
Also, I’m wondering if I should remove all the “we” language from this site and speak in the first-person. At times, there is a “we” in Lift Development as I team up with other web designers & developers, but the company itself is owned by me.
So I guess this is my promise to you. I’m going to simplify things around here. I’m going to keep crafting my site the very same way that I encourage my clients to. I’m going to share new designs and websites. I’m going to do the occasional screencast tutorial or video interview. It’s going to be good.
And before I go, I need to give credit where credit is due. Some of you know that I’m the co-host of a live show/podcast for freelance web folks called Freelance Jam. This week our guest was web designer Sarah Bray (Go ahead and click – I won’t be offended if clicking this link means you hire her instead of me) and much of what I’ve just confessed in this post is a result (aka direct ripoff) of what she shared with us. She even launched a service for website owners that forces them to spend time with their website on a weekly basis for great rewards.
So, hello there website. I know it’s been a while, but while I preach update, update, update to my clients, I fail to do so myself. Let’s make this right. This is a relationship that will last.
About Dave Yankowiak
