Is there a better time than now to be a site developer?
Depends on who you ask, to be honest.
In many cases, business is still booming for developers as budding companies flock to developers in need of a robust, “out of the box” web presence. This is especially true for those of us working in ecommerce or the SMB space where opportunities are aplenty.
However, developers building such sites are facing a very specific set of challenges in today’s competitive, crowded marketplace. Expectations of clients are changing rapidly, as are the requirements of what makes a site “optimized” today.
And so while the profession can indeed be lucrative and rewarding, it can be equally frustrating if you don’t know how to overcome such roadblocks.
To help relieve some stress, we’ve outlined some crucial tips to help you maintain your sanity and build better websites on behalf of your clients at the same time.
With that, let’s dive right in!
Mobile Optimization
Perhaps the most obvious challenge for devs today is the need to optimize their sites for mobile. In essence, it’s almost as if you’re creating two separate sites these days as web and mobile experiences are totally different for visitors.
This is true whether we’re talking anything from opt-in forms to something as simple as graphics and logos, by the way.
According to John Williams, founder of FlashMarks: “Mobile displays behave differently and, depending on the display, may treat graphics differently.” As such, paying special attention to compression, file size and resolution is a must-do for each and every graphic on-site.
In short, double-check that your mobile experience is on the up-and-up before delivering anything to a client. They’ll more than likely be expecting it, and likewise you should deliver a top-tier site regardless of the screen it’s being seen on.
Lack of Assets at Launch
There’s nothing more annoying than having to delay a site launch because a client won’t deliver, right?
So much of being a successful dev is about outlining your expectations. For example, branding creatives, content and other linkable assets (think: lead magnets) should ideally be squared away before you’re even part of the conversation.
The responsibility of the creation of such assets ultimately falls on your clients, so make that crystal clear. Similarly, the fine details of site performance (think: SEO) likewise shouldn’t be pinned on you unless that’s part of your development and maintenance routine.
Of course, you’re free to make changes and recommendations regarding these assets but they aren’t your sole responsibility.
Nitpicking Over the Price Tag
Launching and maintaining a site is arguably easier than ever, but that doesn’t mean it’s something that you should do at a total bargain.
It’s not uncommon for clients to have reservations over the price tag. That said, you’ll also see many devs totally undercharge because the way they price their services makes absolutely no sense.
While there is no “right” way to set up your business, different types of pricing structures such as time-based, fixed and value-based might make sense depending on what services you emphasize. For example, are you responsible for SEO and conversions? Are you going to be performing ongoing maintenance of the site?
So rarely are sites “one and done” affairs either way. As such, you should plan for upgrades and ongoing changes as part of your site packages to ensure clients are happy and your that properties perform to the best of their ability.
Let’s face it: despite how skilled you may be as a dev, the role isn’t always as easy as it seems on the surface. By knowing what to expect in terms of common challenges and how to face them head on, you’ll be able to keep your cool and become more efficient at the same time. Sounds like a win-win, doesn’t it?
