Deciding to become a Web designer
I attended a seminar held by well known website/internet marketing company that promoted building websites. My interest lied within the marketing of websites. Marketing was my past for 30 years. I purchased the package and read all the tutorials on:
1. how to SEO optimize
2. set up Pay Per Clicks
All the tools needed to market a website were available. I had a very strong contact with a big sports retail store in Myrtle Beach. At the meeting, I was introduced to the back door of a website. I was lost and realized that I needed to be able to build a website to market it. That is why I learned to build websites.
A Typical Day as a Web Designer
My day usually starts at 8:30, coffee in hand, in front of my computer. I always have 6 items on my "to do" list from the night before. My first priority is to put out any fires from the day before, such as making sure email addresses are functional or domain names are active and even confirm that all the websites we monitor daily are working without any missing links etc...
Next I go through my emails. For example, it is 10:28 right now and I'm filling out this form. I received this email from About.com. I realize how important and connected About.com is so this is allowing me to tell the world what I do. I belong to several forums mostly related to building website, marketing of websites, how to tune up computers etc.... I go through each forum and read the current posts and make comments when I feel I can contribute to the topic.
Usually this takes me to noon, when I have lunch.
I leave the afternoons to meeting with customers at their business or build website from my office. Today, we have several choices in building websites. We can be in our office and build remotely anywhere in the world.
About 3:30 I spend about an hour to an hour and half marketing my company. I may build an email campaign, set up a fax blitz or follow up with inquiries that are on my desk.
I usually have supper about 6:00PM with my family. We then either talk or watch a movie together. It is now about 9:00 and by this time my wife is ready for bed, but I just remembered I had to edit a video commercial for an account or I have to edit pictures that my customers will need tomorrow.
It is now about 10:30 and all left to do is my "to do" list for tomorrow. I always leave it to a maximum of 6 items. That way I never fail in completing my goals for the day.
That is my day in Heaven!
Advice
- Find a Niche. I use video as my niche. Putting video on a website is the wave of the future. Anyone can put pictures and text on a page, but a video to play "on demand" is an art.
- Go to school and if you are in school stay there. Get a degree!
- Belong to as many clubs that you can handle - there are so many available.
- Learn to listen to your customer. If a customer wants a "cute type" website, don't show them a "corporate style" website.
- Understand the difference of static versus dynamic websites and when to use them.
- Partner your talents with other artistic companies. You cannot do it all.
How did you get started as a Web Designer?
I joined an online school to learn HTML coding. I then approached my good friend, Rod Gainer, who owns a local Golf Club manufacturing business. He did not have a website, so we bartered building his website for a fantastic driver. That was my beginning of a long and great future.
What is your favorite part of being a Web designer?
I love the daily challenge to position a client's ideas on the internet. I love doing video shoots with a client. It's fun to see someone trying to be an actor. We all are actors! I love creating Websites, Email and Fax campaigns. We never repeat a day's work. God is good and I have been blessed.
How many hours a week do you typically work?
I average about 55 to 65 hours per week.
What areas of your career would you improve?
1. I would become a better coder, using HTML and PHP is vital and I wish I was better. Fortunately, we have a coder in house that is very talented.
2. Improve my advertising of our company.
3. Take courses to understand design trends better.
4. Take courses to do better video editing.
