Wed 16 Apr 2008
13 Reasons Being A Web Designer F***ing Sucks in 2008
Posted by ShaunI loved being a web designer and developer. I love the thought process and the finished product, but there are so many other factors out-with a web designer’s control that make being a web designer in 2008, suck!
- Domain Name Registrars who for some reason don’t release domains
- Hosting companies that take your site down and don’t tell you until your client spots it
- Other web design companies you win clients from who make it a difficult transition
- 3rd Party IT people (who manage client internal PCs and email) who are as useful as a chocolate fire-guard
- Clients who think a CMS comes with free lifetime CMS training or telephone support
- Clients who don’t know how to cut and paste
- Clients who think it’s your responsibility to get them website sales… from this point on
- Clients that want a blog, but don’t want to write anything in it
- Clients that think their £500 job is the only website your 7 man team is working on
- Clients who don’t supply content in time, but still want the website launched on time
- Clients who don’t supply content
- Clients who think it’s your job to update their Joomla or Wordpress installation for life
- Internet Explorer! All f***ing versions! I can’t believe in 2008, we’re still dealing with this!
Bonus - Clients who provide website content in blue pen on A4 paper :
* edit this page proved to be very popular with visitors, so I thought I’d write another article actually explaining how to avoid such frustration.
Check out - 10 Reasons We Won’t Be Launching Your Website Today 
or…. Get Top 10 Google Rankings With Simple SEO
*Disclaimer - This post isn’t about one job we’ve done recently, it’s a collection of just some of the crap you’ve got to deal with as a web designer. As Julie from Netidme & Chatsure mentions in the comments, of course it’s about “managing client expectations better”, and perhaps today was just a “grumpy” day.
Thanks for visiting the Hobo Blog! Why not subscribe to our Feed for free internet marketing tips! We really welcome any feedback on our articles, so don't be scared to leave a comment either!
Hear hear.
14. Clients that don’t want to footer homepage link to you, but want/need links from your site and elsewhere - I only ask for one link.
15. Clients that think that their $1000 non revenue share SEO job entitles them to be the only website in their industry that you will SEO.
- actually, I don’t seek out to SEO competitors, nor have I SEO’ed any direct competitors as yet, and I have enough work to say no to some if they were direct. But for a $1k job, I don’t contractually agree to turn down thousands of potential revenue.
16. Clients who expect top listings to turn into windfall profits. Only so many people are actually searching for any popular phrase at any one time, and they may not be interested in your product.
Comment by Michael Brandon-SearchMasters — April 17, 2008 @ 1:48 am
17. Clients that change the carefully SEO’ed paragraphs on their pages, then complain when they no longer rank for the phrases.
18. Clients with gatekeepers - Advertising agencies/committees… that have to approve text and don’t grab the concept that you have to have the words on the page to get ranking happening.
19. Death by reports, that you can’t actually just do it. And that the reports don’t get properly actioned and so the rankings are not as they should be.
20. Clients that want pictures on their home page - flash etc. No words.
Comment by Michael Brandon-SearchMasters — April 17, 2008 @ 2:00 am
thats pretty amazing that there are still ppl who do not know whow to cut and paste
Comment by zwinky hacks — April 17, 2008 @ 8:36 am
21. Clients who call you up and complain that the site doesn’t work or looks weird. When you ask what browser they are using they say “Internet Explorer 4.0, what else is there?”.
Comment by Philip Norton — April 17, 2008 @ 8:52 am
Oh my God so true haha
Comment by Ollie — April 17, 2008 @ 9:02 am
[QUOTE]21. Clients who call you up and complain that the site doesn’t work or looks weird. When you ask what browser they are using they say “Internet Explorer 4.0, what else is there?”[/QUOTE]
here.. here
i totaly agree with all points listed above, including all comments.
the clients have to get it into there head that, although were commited in getting them the best results that we can, clients have to understand that there not the only priority, although some make it their job to become one at all times…
requesting crazy demands,
“can we move this?” or “can we change this?”
“emm no it gose live today”…..
its those little things that makes the job more and more a nightmare….
but on the other hand, i personaly prefer to be kept busy and not sitting about doing nothing….but somtimes they just take the p**h
Comment by Marty — April 17, 2008 @ 9:39 am
I couldn’t agree more!!!
Comment by Rodge — April 17, 2008 @ 10:58 am
9 .Clients that think their £500 job is the only website your 7 man team is working on
well if you offer people a service and sell it to them you have to follow it through no matter the costs customer should all be treated the same, lots of `web snobs` out there leaving clients sit waiting for 3-6 months , £500 is £500 ,those style of jobs should take` the skilled `days or less to sort out , the other way is dont offer those style of jobs just keep the 30k a client per month boasts .
ive used 3 web people in the past and its all the same taken on too much work and only till recently has someone come up with the goods - yes a £500 job ..and no i didnt think the 7 man team was working on it
Mmmm thats sounds a bit like me ,…lol
oh by the way my wordpress need updating …!!
“Clients who think it’s your job to update their Joomla or Wordpress installation for life “
Comment by van man — April 17, 2008 @ 12:05 pm
Comment by Shaun — April 17, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
hmm, just wondering how many of those I’m classed as being guilty of…
Maybe you need to:
a) manage your client expectations better - the old adage ‘underpromise, overdeliver’ springs to mind, or;
b) hitch the prices up & ditch the time wasters (in a nice way of course), or;
c) get more sleep & quit the grumpiness - us clients have our own problems to you know, so cut us some slack - come on, you love us really, don’t you?
right, see you next friday - we’re meeting up for lunch I believe - Michael says you’re paying…
Comment by Julie — April 17, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
Van-man now updated…
Comment by Alan — April 17, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
Thats like the 13 nails being driven into my brain.
The content problem is an on-going saga. I love it when people meet you and get all excited about getting a site. You give them a nice fancy template that gets them even more excited and finally you add in some of the content they sent over and they are almost quivering with excitement……then you wait nearly a year for the next batch of content that you finally realise it ain’t coming…..
Anti-climax pehaps?!!
Comment by Media Training — April 17, 2008 @ 2:49 pm
Comment by Shaun — April 17, 2008 @ 3:39 pm
Yeah? Bet you say that to all your clients!
Anyway, words can mean so little, it’s actions that truly count - i.e. the action of buying beer for a valued client
Comment by Julie — April 17, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
Comment by Shaun — April 17, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
indeed I do - that’s why I’ve made it a personal quest to get you to part with the pennies - consider it free therapy.
Comment by Julie — April 17, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
Julie - I will help you try and get at least a drink next Friday (but lets try and get Lunch from him)
Comment by Michael Bonnar — April 17, 2008 @ 4:14 pm
Thanks Michael, sounds like a plan!
Comment by Julie — April 17, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
Meh, cry me a river. You should listen to Julie’s suggestions and stop whining about the age-old issues that can be applied to just about any industry…
If you can’t take the heat…
Comment by Scott — April 17, 2008 @ 5:16 pm
23: Clients!
Comment by meme — April 17, 2008 @ 5:40 pm
@ Scott merely an observation….. but that’s perhaps why I am a seo now
Comment by Shaun — April 17, 2008 @ 5:42 pm
11.1 Clients that deliver content as a series of malformed documents in three formats over a period of several months while they are still in the process of revision.
Nice little rant post btw…
Comment by Vance — April 17, 2008 @ 8:30 pm
Hi there,
Nice article, true in every form.
I’ve written an article that looks like this one a while ago, you should check it out. Maybe make your list even bigger:
http://www.marcofolio.net/webdesign/15_nightmares_of_a_web_designer_or_developer.html
Keep on bloggin,,,
Comment by Marco — April 17, 2008 @ 8:50 pm
I have some great advice for you, Don’t fight, Bill. DFB
Comment by The Dude Dean — April 17, 2008 @ 9:55 pm
Wish web design and development was more smooth running. Not saying easier or quicker, but no matter what the toughness is; i wish the projects moved forward all the time without any hitches or bumps or hurdles or any of that nonsense.
Comment by lear — April 17, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
Comment by Shaun — April 17, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
Ok… so I have to say this… I know that no sane person should be using any form of IE (written from a Firefox browser)… but if the client ASKS for the site to work, and they find that it doesn’t work in a version of a browser that IS found out in the potential customer pool, than you must (however reluctantly) oblige and get it working in IE 4.0 or similar. Now if they ask you to make it work in Mosaic, refund their money and drop the client.
That’s just my opinion.
Comment by well... — April 18, 2008 @ 3:27 am
I don’t think a week passes that I don’t encounter every single one of these issues!
Comment by ben — April 18, 2008 @ 7:40 am
One to add to the great list - Clients that have an entire cms implemented for a newly designed website then the boss decides he doesn’t want the staff to update their areas…
Comment by Richard — April 18, 2008 @ 8:49 am
Which all goes to demonstrate just how difficult the implementation of a website is. Like one earlier comment, the clients should probably be charged more (or at least charged on a strict basis of services rendered for anything outside of the original quote’s scope)…either that, or clients need better tools so they can do it themselves (doesn’t necessarily mean we’re all out of business!).
Much experience has demonstrated to me that, while the technology is relatively simple, any website is a complex artifact that cannot be considered in isolation from the business context that it sits in. Developers need to recognise this if they want to improve the situation from that described above. A degree of education of the client is required to head off some of the dilemmas we face. A website is informed by many facets of the business and dealing with the complexities is a task that has more to do with core information management principles (usability not the least) than discussions around colours, the workings of menus, interaction etc.
Of course, the information management considerations are the most difficult of all - for both the client and the developer. That’s well demonstrated, I think, by the number of complaints around the supply of content from the client.
Comment by Brendon Wickham — April 18, 2008 @ 11:51 am
24. Clients who buy a CMS from me and pay not attention to the fact that there are many levels of help built in, from simple text popups to full Adobe Captivate movies, who then pay for a full day training exercise (great!) but at no time take any notes despite being repeatedly told to, then who don’t make one single update to their new site for six months, before finally getting on the phone for free help to ask me how to add in a poxy image on their home page because they have forgotton, have no notes to refer to and completely ignore all the in-built help again!!! [... and breeeeeeathe] That’s my tuppence worth.
Comment by Craigieboy — April 18, 2008 @ 12:04 pm
Comment by Shaun — April 18, 2008 @ 12:09 pm
in croatia there is more: clients who change their mind when half of the job has been already done, clients who don’t pay when the job is done, clients who think they are better designer than the designer and want the fish on their tuna-can smiling etc…
Comment by schpoe — April 18, 2008 @ 6:57 pm
Business is a two way street. It’s not just a matter of who hires you, it’s more about who you choose as a customer.
Comment by Tim Garner — April 19, 2008 @ 3:40 am
Fine, but I may just add some of my own Reasons why some web-designers suck:
1) They take over a website you started, you send them all the logins & passwords, and they think you’ve got a lifelong obligation to hold their hand through the upgrading process;
2) They don’t understand that clients very rarely do supply content;
3) They can’t write their own content - or even proof-read others’ content - because they can’t spell: they write things like [sic]:
“Client’s who provide website content in blue pen..”
4) They don’t like the job!
Comment by Steve — April 19, 2008 @ 11:46 am
13 Reasons Being A Web Designer F***ing Sucks in 2008 -…
I loved being a web designer and developer. I love the thought process and the finished product, but there are so many other factors out-with a web designer’s control that make being a web designer in 2008, suck!…
Trackback by Top Stumbles - Best of StumbleUpon — April 20, 2008 @ 1:56 am
STUMBLED!
I think I have had experience with alomost all of those.
VOTED for you at:
http://www.newsdots.com/industrynews/13-reasons-being-a-web-designer-fing-sucks-in-2008/
Comment by Geoserv — April 20, 2008 @ 2:01 am
Comment by Shaun — April 20, 2008 @ 4:48 am
This job is like another… clients are stupid ( not all)
Comment by Posicionamiento Valencia — April 20, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
true
you read my mind
and
IE really sucks
Comment by sumit — April 20, 2008 @ 5:06 pm
# Internet Explorer! All f***ing versions! I can’t believe in 2008, we’re still dealing with this!
Damn right, I hate IE SO MUCH, makes my life hell at work, I spend about 50% of my time making sites work in IE, conditional comments, css hacks.
Comment by Liam — April 20, 2008 @ 5:25 pm
“Hi. I need a website designed by next week. It’s for a restaurant called [insert name here]. The clients want it to look hip, professional, and classy.”
And in most cases, I typically wind up constructing designs off descriptions like these.
Comment by MRSA Claims — April 20, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
Hey Shaun and friends
Resistance is futile. Thats why they call it the SERVICE sector.
Say please and thank you.
Always be on time.
Always do what you say.
Always finish what you start.
Learn to love and embrace it all.
Comment by Derek — April 20, 2008 @ 7:57 pm
SO TRUE!!!
Comment by Slanj — April 20, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
Bang on the money, especially point 8. Can’t believe you get clients like that.
Comment by Scot McRae — April 21, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
Well alot of you webdesigners dont understand the “explaining session” you need to go through your client to make them understand your logic.
step 1. write out what you will and will not do.
step 2. do not show this to them unitl you sit down with them. tell them with a notepad and paper “what are your ideas for the site. then they explain. let them get rialed up with there idea that its twined on your finger.
step 3. talk priceing
step 4. create a fully dynamic website that only orgnises content make the theme easy to change CSS is best.
Step 5. spend a godly amount of time making a admining script that the public dosnt see for your client give them the login.
step 6. use Small words in the admin section with pictures nothing like CONTENT BOX FOR SECTION A: instead i like to create a relapsed area of the orignal site with AJAX overlays that let them edit the site is real time. therefor they are in charge of updateing it not you.
Step 7. implement a Framework Idea into the Site that remotely hooks into your site so you can remote update the code and charge after the service is done. make sure you tell them this i usually like to say “every time i find a security hole i will fix it automatically with a 50 dollar charge.
STEP 8. sit back, make money and RESELL your Scripts!
Comment by engineerisaac — April 23, 2008 @ 1:06 am
Ha ha ha ha,
So true. So very true. All of them.
Comment by Laiet — April 23, 2008 @ 1:17 am
Excellent stuff Shuan. I am in the process of resigning from a web design company and an SEO company. Can’t stand it anymore. Here’s some more:
14. A small web design contract dissapearing for a year then reappearing and wanting a complete re-design and re-development.
15. Clients that expect you to know their business inside out
16. Clients that assumed that you would write all their content about their business you know nothing about
17. Clients that moan about domain registration as if you were trying to rip them off
18. Clients that threaten you with legal action because of their own shortcomings
19. When a design has to be approved by 8 different people who all have different wants
20. When you are phoned up at a national conference by a managing director in front of the entire company and asked to explain why you haven’t finished the site when you are waiting for them.
Comment by Joe Splogs — April 24, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
I’ll add another: Clients who put you in charge of maintaining “everything on the site” but don’t oblige you when you ask them to notify you when they make changes to the site..
…and then complain about the site not validating (all thanks to the code they’ve added, thank you very much!) LOL!
Comment by Erika — April 28, 2008 @ 4:43 am
How about “my site is a funny colour” - hhmmm maybe thats something to do with the settings on the monitor you pleb!
Amazing list dude.
Comment by Bragger — April 30, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
Hahahahaha I love your lists! I’m subscribing!
Comment by Rafael Masoni — May 1, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
Comment by Shaun — May 3, 2008 @ 5:57 am
Agreed. I’ve gotten around most of these problems by just not signing clients that have a PITA kind of feel.
Comment by Denver Web Design — May 11, 2008 @ 7:33 pm