Lately I’ve spend a lot of thought about working freelance developing websites. Just today Andy Budd came with a post hitting it right on the nail: [Bad Project Warning Signs](http://www.andybudd.com/archives/2005/05/10_ bad_project_warning_signs/index.php) I’m not that long in the freelance business but I have come across a few clients. And I’m already thinking about coming with my working terms explaining exactly what is what. To avoid the exact scenarios Andy describes.
It has happened that I made websites fully semantic with clean code neat layout just to have the client use Frontpage to update it. To me that just sounds like someone that wants to stitch its own wound instead of paying a doctor to do it. A lot of non tech people really have no idea what it takes to create good websites. I blame the WYIWYG(Frontpage, Dreamweaver) applications for giving people the illusion that making websites is no biggy. You don’t know how many small ‘design firms’ I have seen offering their services with their own website made in Frontpage and colors scheme that would make one blind.
I know for the matter of fact that lots of business, law and economy related colleges here in the Netherlands require from their students to deliver a basic website done with Frontpage or Dreamweaver. So when they are graduated and working somewhere you can expect them to be ‘making’ websites for the company.
It’s hard sometimes to explain to a client why exactly certain things aren’t possible, like putting lots of photos on each page, having the same design as that company but with their color and that no you really can’t use Frontpage to update the website without messing up everything.
A good idea would be to come with like a ’101 things you should know about websites’ for business owners. And all freelancers and webdesign companies should have that on their website/contact page.
There are TV shows about doctors, ER emergencies, FBI, CSI, and what all not. Thanks to those we know everything about doing a thorax, reading someone’s right and investigating a crime scene. I think it’s time for a show about web-designers/web-developers this way people will see what the real work is.
