Sometimes I feel like Bill Murray in the film Groundhog Day, doomed to endlessly repeat the same day. I find myself having the same conversations with website owners over and over again and encountering the same frustrating stories.
I’ve been designing websites since 1994 and have worked with hundreds of website owners. The majority of these clients share a similar story. They are marketers, project managers, business owners, and IT specialists who have for one reason or another found themselves responsible for their organization’s website. They often have little or no experience with the web and so turn to an outside agency or freelancer for help.
Unfortunately, their experience of working with these contractors is often far from satisfactory. They’re made to feel stupid, are overwhelmed with technobabble, and are asked to make significant decisions about their web strategy with next to no information. By the time I meet them, they’re usually demoralized and cynical.
I wrote this book in an attempt to stop this cycle of failure. In many ways, it’s a continuation of the work I’ve been doing for some time.
I enable website owners to take control of their sites. I do this by helping them understand their role, the key ingredients of a successful website, and how to work effectively with web designers.
Initially, I did this solely on a one-to-one basis. As clients came to work with my web-design agency (Headscape), I attempted to guide them through the process, educating them on the way. But it didn’t take me long to realize that this approach had a limited reach.
In an attempt to reach a wider audience, I began blogging and podcasting on the subject. I quickly discovered that website owners weren’t the only people interested in my ideas. Web designers also started to listen to my show and read my blog. They were keen to help their clients gain a better understanding of running a successful website. As interest in the blog and podcast grew, it led to speaking engagements and finally to this book.
For me, this book is the culmination of my attempt to better equip website owners. It brings together my own thoughts and the advice of others much cleverer than myself.