Artificial intelligence (AI) apps are transforming how we build and work with WordPress. It seems like we’re inundated with new tools and use cases nearly every day. That’s either fun, scary, or both – depending on where you stand.

Our clients are also starting to grasp the implications of using AI. Or, they’re at least interested in what the technology can do for them and their website.

Once again, that’s a double-edged sword. It’s great that AI improves our efficiency and coding capabilities. Agencies and freelancers now have access to a valuable resource that can help take our businesses to new heights.

However, it may also lead to a shift in client expectations. They’re going to want more from us in less time. Oh, and they’ll also want it cheaper than before. It’s understandable, if not completely realistic.

So, how do we keep clients from asking for the moon at the speed of light (and for the price of a cup of coffee)? It’s all about process and communication.

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You’re Still the Expert

One might assume that AI is smarter than humans. Sure, it may be fast and answer questions with unwavering confidence. For some, this leads to a false belief that these apps can and should do everything for us without our input.

But AI isn’t a perfect fit for every task. And even in those areas where it excels, humans should still verify the results.

Using ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini on its own won’t solve every problem. Much depends on the person using these tools. A skilled developer will know what to ask for, as will a content writer or marketer.

When it comes to generating WordPress plugins, future maintenance is also a concern. As such, the ideas behind the software must have a solid foundation. The details matter.

Without human intervention, there is no way to guarantee accuracy, security, or even the appropriateness of the results. AI can perform the task, but shouldn’t be left to make all the important decisions.

This is why your expertise is still a necessary ingredient for success. These apps are most useful when we’re there to guide them.

There’s More Time To Get Things Right

In the right hands, AI speeds up the development process. What used to take days can now be done in an afternoon. There’s no question that the technology saves us time.

The question is: What should we do with this extra time? Do we want to rush to launch our project or step back and consider what else we can improve?

Building custom layouts and functionality has traditionally been an obstacle – particularly for small agencies and solopreneurs. We only have so much time to dedicate to a project, and those items typically have the highest priority. They also require a lot of trial and error. Bugs must be squashed, and adjustments are made as we go deeper into the process. It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole.

That often led to little extras being left behind. Worse yet, things like accessibility or performance were half-baked, rather than being fully thought out. Projects didn’t always reach their full potential.

AI affords us more time to consider those other important aspects. Instead of development headaches leading to a mad scramble, we can now take a more holistic approach to site building. We can test thoroughly and make improvements.

Theoretically, AI facilitates a faster turnaround time. It’s also an opportunity to ensure quality.

Project Outcomes Are Your Value Proposition

Some clients will undoubtedly expect you to lower your prices. They may even ask you about your use of AI and how it impacts cost. It sounds reasonable, but there’s a flaw in this logic.

Successful outcomes are your biggest value to clients. How you get there isn’t the point. It’s a debate we’ve had before in the WordPress ecosystem.

The advent of page builders led to similar questions. Since we’re no longer building layouts by hand, does that mean our design skills are worth less money?

That’s like asking a carpenter if they charge less because they use power tools instead of a screwdriver. Likewise, automation in other industries doesn’t necessarily lead to lower prices. New vehicle prices go up every year, despite the presence of robots on the assembly line. And better software doesn’t lead to discounts from your accountant.

One reason we invest in new technologies like AI is to produce better results. If anything, we should look to increase our profit margins, not lower them. This shouldn’t be a race to the bottom.

It’s a discussion worth having with clients who challenge your pricing model. Yes, anyone can use AI. But anyone can use a page builder or even an SEO plugin. That doesn’t guarantee results.

We can produce outcomes that are tailored to client needs. AI is but one tool we can use to get there. It’s no substitute for our skills and experience.

AI Means More Is Possible, Within Reason

AI opens a world of possibilities for WordPress agencies and our clients. It can also lead to imaginations running wild. That’s why setting realistic expectations is important.

It’s up to us to set the tone. We must consider how we talk about AI and any claims we make about its capabilities. Our messaging should reflect how this technology helps us better serve clients, while avoiding hyperbole about miracle cures for every challenge.

That’s hard to do in an ecosystem where others are pumping out big promises. Then again, it’s no different than other can’t-miss solutions from years past. As always, agencies and freelancers should be the voices of reason.

Doing so builds trust with clients. That’s still the cornerstone of a successful business, regardless of the technology we use.

The post Keeping Your WordPress Client Expectations Realistic in the AI Era appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

WordPress developers use AI for a wide range of tasks. We’re building custom plugins, troubleshooting code, and automating processes. It’s all good stuff!

Adopting this technology has significantly changed our role. It’s no longer about poring over each line of code. Now, we’re closer to a symphony conductor, orchestrating projects as a large language model (LLM) does the dirty work.

We can certainly appreciate the increase in productivity. Fewer moments spent knee-deep in documentation or support forums means more time to get things done.

This also makes it tempting to remove humans from the picture. Some agencies and development shops have cut staffing in favor of AI. It makes sense on a few levels. An AI tool is cheaper than an employee or freelancer. And the gains in efficiency mean one person can do the work of many.

But there’s a fine line between increasing output and relying too heavily on AI. Here’s why humans should still be a part of the process.

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Knowledgeable Humans Are Essential for Quality Assurance

There’s something to be said for a well-trained eye. A seasoned developer can envision how an app should work. Their experience helps them effectively structure projects and avoid common pitfalls. They understand the importance of performance and security.

On the other hand, AI models are great at generating code, but they don’t think like a human. They may use techniques that aren’t as efficient for a particular purpose. They can also misinterpret what we’re asking them to do. Like their human counterparts, AI tools aren’t perfect.

Even the most advanced coding tools can make mistakes. It could be as simple as a syntax error. However, they may also produce work that doesn’t account for edge cases or future maintenance.

That’s why a human should carefully review all AI output. Generated code should be tested with a mix of manual observation and automated tools. It’s no different than a senior-level developer keeping a watchful eye on what their team is producing.

Remember, automation isn’t an excuse to lower your standards. If anything, it provides an opportunity to squash bugs and refine functionality. Building with AI works best when done in tandem with a knowledgeable person.

Developers Can Shift Their Focus to the Bigger Picture

Solo developers and teams alike have traditionally struggled with the little things. Tight deadlines and shoestring budgets make it hard to get the details right. So often, it’s a race to the finish line, rather than a quest to create the best possible result.

The details are often what make a WordPress plugin or theme great. This happens when we go beyond software that merely works and focus on things like the user experience. AI gives us a chance to take a larger view of our projects.

We no longer have to write code by hand. That may bring a tear to your eye (or make you leap for joy). The bright side is that you now have time to create a comprehensive plan for each project. You can define how it looks, how it works, and how it will adapt to future needs. Even if you were doing these things before, you’ll have a chance to think bigger and better.

All of a sudden, deadlines are a little less important. You’re free to explore options and test them. Most of all, you can afford to make a mistake or two along the way. Rewriting a code snippet isn’t a disaster that puts you behind. Rather, it was just a failed experiment you encountered along the way.

The additional room for creativity could be a difference-maker. We can go from “we’ll get to it later” to “let’s get it right from the start” – that’s powerful for developers of all stripes.

People and AI Are Better Together

Every WordPress developer should be exploring AI and how it can benefit their workflow. We’re well beyond the point where it’s just a curiosity. The future of our industry depends on how we use and adapt to this technology.

The sad truth is that AI will continue to cause some businesses to reduce their staff. It seems like an unavoidable consequence.

We must be careful, though. To borrow from WordPress terminology, this doesn’t mean we should cut people out of the loop. Humans are still integral to building great software. As such, we shouldn’t cede everything to the machines quite yet.

Things like quality control and holistic thinking are too important – and it’s what we do best. We should use AI as a vehicle to put those traits into action. Doing so will put us on a path to greater efficiency and better outcomes.

The post Why Humans Should Still Be a Part of WordPress Development appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

I’ll admit it: I feel uncomfortable about mixing open-source software with proprietary platforms. There’s no technical reason for my hesitancy. We do it all the time with tools like Google Analytics or by connecting a form to our mailing list provider. But the idea seems cringey for an advocate of the open web.

So while connecting, say, WordPress to an AI model like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude will work, there are also concerns. What can these models access? How will they use my website’s data? Could a security leak put my site at risk? And what will it cost?

There’s also a thought that these models may be overkill for what I need. If I only want AI to help me change settings or analyze SEO, do I really want the entirety of what ChatGPT offers? It seems a bit wasteful.

That’s why I’m excited about the potential of open-source AI models – particularly ones that you can install locally. Such apps could be a solution to privacy and security concerns. They may also be more efficient than the electricity-hogging corporate models.

Let’s take a moment to dream about the possible benefits for agencies, freelancers, and website owners. I’m not a software engineer, so I can’t claim to know all the technical requirements. So, consider this a wish list. Even so, it’s still worth exploring.

A Cheaper Way To Integrate With AI

It’s no secret that serious AI integrations cost money. We pay the big players to access their APIs via credits or tokens. The more you use AI, the more you pay. It may be well worth the cost in some situations.

But like any use-based pricing system, things can get out of hand. For instance, what happens if you forget to set a spending limit? A spammer could flood your chatbot with requests, leading to an unseemly bill at the end of the month. A traffic spike could also lead to running out of tokens in short order.

A free-to-use open-source model could bring more cost certainty. Granted, much depends on the app’s size and resource usage. But the right one could make it easier to predict your AI spending. It might be a matter of upgrading your web hosting.

Open-source could do for AI what WordPress did for content management systems (CMS). Imagine spinning up an AI instance whenever you want. Hosts might even enable one-click installs.

Best of all, this scenario would help us avoid regular price increases. That’s key for those working on a tight budget.

An AI Model Trained on What You Need

The big AI apps are trained on massive amounts of data. It’s akin to swallowing the entire internet. You might feel a bit bloated in the aftermath.

These large language models (LLMs) are great for a multitude of uses. It can help your child with math homework, help you write a proposal, or generate out-of-this-world images. Very cool! And if you want your website to do all of these things, more power to you.

However, I suspect that’s beyond what most people will need. Maybe you want a model trained only on your product’s documentation so users can ask questions. Or you want to translate your content into another language. Smaller, open-source models might be a better fit for your niche.

This would also solve the problem of users tricking AI into doing undesirable things. A model that doesn’t have such capabilities could be a safer choice.

Again, this also plays into better performance and lower resource usage. The hope is for an AI app that doesn’t do all the things; rather, it focuses on the things you need.

Resources

Smart people are already working on various open-source AI models. It’s fair to say none have overtaken Claude or ChatGPT yet. But perhaps they don’t need to. After all, my hope is for leaner and more focused models.

We’re still in the early stages, but some interesting options have appeared. With that in mind, here are a few resources to help you find and experiment with current models:

• Lists of open-source artificial intelligence software (Wikipedia)
• LocalLLM – A subreddit full of info on local AI models.
• Ollama – A tool for connecting with open models that works with Linux, MacOS, and Windows.
• OpenClaw – A personal AI agent app that can be extended with skills and plugins.
• Open Source AI – The Open Source Initiative provides definitions, white papers, and other helpful information.

New models and variants are being released all the time. The links above will help you keep track of what’s new and interesting.

Is Open Source the Way to a Better AI?

It’s no secret that there are privacy and safety concerns with AI, not to mention the fear that this technology will replace humans at scale. While still a drop in the overall bucket, open-source models could be a ray of hope.

The idea of data ownership is appealing, as is AI that focuses on specific tasks. Done right, an open-source model could make AI more personal and less scary. These are goals worth exploring.

Time will tell whether one or more models will succeed. In the meantime, I think we owe it to ourselves to test and provide feedback. Together, we can push for AI that benefits everyone. That’s the open-source spirit!

The post The Potential of Local Open-Source AI Models appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Connecting and working with other web professionals is one of my favorite parts of this industry. Web designers are always willing to share what they know, and that benefits everyone. I can’t begin to measure how much I’ve learned thanks to this generous spirit.

There are also opportunities to build professional relationships. We hire each other for coding tasks, marketing, support, or even business consulting. It’s a way to expand our capabilities and boost revenue, not to mention the new products and services that were launched as a result of these relationships.

Like everything else in our industry, artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to impact these professional bonds. We’re experimenting with this technology, looking for ways to make us leaner and more productive. Perhaps we’re in the early stages. But it’s reasonable to assume that there will be a human cost to adopting AI.

Let’s look at the potential benefits and drawbacks of going all-in on AI and its impact on our relationships.

Greater Productivity and Expanded Capabilities

If there’s one thing we’ve discovered about AI, it’s the relative ease with which it writes code. It can spin up a new WordPress plugin (or a framework for one) within a few minutes. It can also troubleshoot a code snippet in the blink of an eye.

These tasks used to take hours, days, or weeks to complete. AI has saved me from countless searches of support forums and blog posts. In some cases, I might have broadcast my pain points on social media, hoping for a kind soul to offer advice.

These days, AI generally points me in the right direction. There are several positive aspects to this arrangement.

For one, I feel more self-sufficient when working with code. Perhaps that’s ironic, as the machine is writing the code for me. Still, there’s something to be said about not placing my burden on anyone else.

AI also improves my productivity and expands my capabilities. Those client requests that used to drive me crazy aren’t as stressful these days. It’s not always easy, but I’m still producing solutions faster than ever.

What’s the downside? An individual working this way might not have a big impact. The problem arises when we use AI for all the things at scale.

Web Developers Working in Silos

The cumulative effect of “doing it ourselves” with AI is less collaboration. For example, why would I send a task to a fellow freelancer if I can perform it with AI? I’m saving time and money.

Agencies that rely on contractors will do the same thing. They’ll have less incentive to outsource all or some of a project because AI is cheaper and easier. Never mind that it potentially adds more to an employee’s plate.

This will result in fewer gigs for some of us. There will be an economic impact, as we’ll lose some of the recurring revenue we depend on. It will also require a shift to building our own things, rather than building for others.

The other potential side effect is becoming more insulated from the community around us. We might find ourselves interacting more with bots than people (it’s already the case for me). We could be less likely to share what we’re doing or explore what others have done.

If we’re not careful, it might also lead to less in-person interaction. AI won’t make conferences and WordCamps irrelevant. However, some may feel less desire to learn from other humans. Again, why travel and sit through a session when AI will do whatever I want?

Sharing knowledge is such a big part of what web professionals do. Once we’re past the experimentation phase of AI, we might have fewer tips to share – not to mention fewer people willing to listen.

Let’s Keep the Human Element in Web Design

For all the amazing things AI can do, it shouldn’t replace what makes the web design industry so unique. We are a community of thinkers and doers. We’re at our best when working together.

Just think, the open-source movement wouldn’t be where it is today without collaboration. People built the foundation of this work. Technologies like AI can contribute, but only humans can be the thinking and breathing stewards of such projects.

I hope we don’t lose sight of what we’ve accomplished. In the rush to use AI for this and that, we shouldn’t leave our traditions behind. If anything, we should use technology to create more time for human interaction.

Less time working, more time getting together. That sounds like a better future to me!

The post How AI Could Change Collaboration for Web Designers & Developers appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

After more than 20 years, WordPress still provides a career path for freelancers and agencies. There are opportunities to build your niche while working with clients. For many, the open-source software is a growth engine.

It’s more than just business as usual, though. WordPress also boasts a global community of users and contributors. As such, agencies don’t have to operate in a vacuum. There’s an opportunity to connect with people and pay it forward.

Community engagement is a win-win situation. First, you’re helping others learn and use WordPress more effectively. There’s a great sense of satisfaction that comes with getting involved.

There are also benefits to your business. It puts your name out there and helps you build relationships. That could result in booking more clients. At the very least, you’ll create goodwill and establish a strong reputation.

Giving back is also easier than you think. Here are a few ways to say thanks to the WordPress community!

Join or Host a Local Meetup

If you want to impact the WordPress community at a grassroots level, Meetups are a great place to start. They’re local get-togethers that welcome people of all skill levels, including beginners.

These events open up a world of possibilities. You might have meetings dedicated to a specific subject, guest presentations, or group projects. It’s also an opportunity for attendees to help each other with site issues or plugin suggestions.

Agencies are uniquely positioned to help. Your team of experts can give talks and connect with your local community. That makes you a trusted resource – one that prospective clients will remember when it’s time for a new website or other project.

Finding a place to hold regularly scheduled meetings is challenging in some communities. So, hosting a meetup at your office or another space is a huge help.

Plus, not every city has a meetup. In that case, you might consider establishing one. It brings people together and builds enthusiasm for the WordPress project.

Being part of the meetup space requires a commitment. However, connecting with others one-on-one is worth the effort.

Set Aside Time To Contribute to WordPress

The WordPress project includes several teams tasked with building and maintaining the software. There are also teams dedicated to providing technical support, writing documentation, language translation, and reviewing themes/plugins.

Joining one or more teams is an opportunity to improve WordPress and its community. This could include anything from fixing bugs, building new features, or improving the user experience. That’s only scratching the surface of the potential impacts.

Contributions of all kinds are welcome – even if they don’t involve writing code. So, think about which team(s) interest you and fit your skillset. It’s also worth considering how much time you can dedicate to the project.

The Five for the Future program is a compelling option for agencies willing to commit 5% of their time to the project. Individuals are also welcome to join.

However, the type or number of contributions you make isn’t as important as your willingness to participate. One way to look at it is that every contribution helps someone. That makes a difference!

Build Free Plugins, Themes, or Educational Resources

There’s also a more traditional approach to paying it forward. Your agency is likely building custom plugins or themes for your projects. And teaching is a key part of working with clients. Why not level up and share what you know?

Once again, this benefits everyone. The community receives something useful. Meanwhile, you increase your visibility across the WordPress ecosystem. It’s a way to generate leads while doing good.

What you share and how you share it are up to you. It might be as simple as posting your GitHub repository link on social media. Or, you might opt to distribute your work via the official WordPress theme and plugin directories.

We should note that some responsibilities are involved with either approach. Plugins and themes must be maintained and supported. Community engagement is part of the deal. It’s also a good idea to keep sales pitches to a minimum if your goal is to give back.

Offering educational resources, such as online courses or tutorials, is also a possibility. Being a guide to users or developers will showcase your expertise. Do it well, and you’ll have loyal visitors returning to your site or YouTube channel.

Say Thanks to WordPress and Its Community

If your agency builds websites with WordPress, it benefits from the open-source software. It also stands to reason that you’ve benefited from the knowledge shared by community members. Every code snippet or piece of advice is valuable.

Giving back is simply the right thing to do. It says that you care about the project and the people surrounding it. Consider the potential boost to your business as good karma.

It’s also a chance to connect with other people and organizations. You never know what may come of these relationships. Friendships, business ventures, and side projects could be in store.

So, think about ways to give back and pick one that’s right for you. It will help you grow as a person and a web professional.

The post How WordPress Agencies Can Give Back to the Community appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Web development is an ever-evolving industry. That means we’re constantly adapting to what’s new, all while maintaining quality and efficiency. No sooner are we comfortable with something than it changes on us.

This applies to our workflow just as much as it does to other parts of our business. The way we build websites must align with modern best practices. The good news is that you don’t have to scrap your tried-and-true processes. Rather, it’s about adjusting to your project’s needs.

Your workflow should reflect the tasks you perform and the technologies you work with. It should also improve your productivity. For example, writing code by hand was once a common practice. However, it’s no longer realistic when tackling large website builds with custom functionality. There are tools and frameworks to help you increase your efficiency.

Everyone’s workflow is different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. There are some universal methods for identifying bottlenecks and making improvements, however.

With that in mind, here are our tips for streamlining your web development workflow.

Use Tools With the Integrations You Need

Modern web development often means using multiple third-party tools and services. We connect to social media APIs, track projects in productivity apps, and manage remote data sources.

For instance, we don’t just write code in an editor these days. We may first generate it via an AI model like Claude. Such code might be pushed to a remote Git repository.

Wrangling these different tools and sources manually isn’t easy. It could mean logging into multiple websites or downloading a collection of apps. There must be an easier way, right?

That’s why tools with built-in integrations are so valuable. VS Code is a prime example, as it can interface with your repositories and use AI for inline code editing. Everything you need is within a singular interface.

If you’re stuck working in multiple places, look for tools that bring them together. There will be a learning curve, and you’ll need to invest time setting things up. However, you’ll save time in the long run.

Be Consistent in How You Build Projects

There are so many tools and services available to developers. It may be tempting to dabble in several of them and experiment. For example, perhaps you want to try a different content management system (CMS) for a project. Or you may look for a WooCommerce alternative on your next e-commerce site.

Curiosity is a positive thing, but it can also wreak havoc on your workflow. These issues often creep up during the maintenance phase. What happens when something breaks, or you need to build a new feature? What if your chosen tool no longer exists? You may be left scrambling to find a solution.

Consistency is one way to prevent this type of scenario. Repeated use of plugins, themes, and hosting platforms creates familiarity. You’ll have a better understanding of how things work. That knowledge will serve you well when troubleshooting or making changes.

This approach also benefits your business. The expertise you gain can turn into a niche. From there, you’ll have the skills to replicate these processes for your clients. Plus, becoming an authority in a specific area has great value.

None of this means you shouldn’t try new things. But it’s better to conduct those experiments in low-stakes situations, like a local website. Learn as much as you can before using a tool or technology in a production environment.

Think About How You Work

The above ideas aren’t groundbreaking: Use better tools and create repeatable processes. They’re simple ways to level up.

However, pain points in your workflow aren’t always easy to identify. Sometimes, you might not realize how certain tasks or tools impact you. That’s when a decidedly low-tech approach can help.

Take a moment and think about how you work. List the tools you use and the steps you take to get things done, like launching a new site or updating software. Write it down on a piece of paper if you want go fully retro!

Merely seeing these items in front of you can help you identify what’s working and what’s not. For instance, you might notice an unnecessary step or a tool that has fallen behind the times. You might be surprised at what you find.

A better option may immediately come to mind. If not, at least you’ll know where to make changes. That’s the first step toward improvement.

Use Your Workflow To Work Smarter

It’s easy for developers to become overwhelmed with tasks. It’s especially relevant in a time when websites are more complex than ever.

As such, we need every advantage we can find. Our workflow provides a great starting point. We can improve it by removing inefficiencies and adopting tools that save us time. Things like automation, AI, and third-party integrations can help. Rethinking your strategies and processes also makes a positive impact.

Our work is often difficult, but a better workflow can simplify it and make life easier. Even better, these solutions are within our reach.

So, what are you waiting for? Invest a little time now to streamline your workflow and save a lot of time later.

The post Tips for Streamlining Your Web Development Workflow appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

Working solo is one of the benefits of being a freelance web designer. You don’t have a boss breathing down your neck or tracking every mouse click. That’s one reason why many of us choose this career path.

On the other hand, no one has your back when things go wrong. There are no team members to ensure that you’re treated fairly or paid for your work. Raise your hand if a client ever skipped town without paying their bill. Yes, we see you!

This also extends to mundane tasks, such as onboarding to your client’s workflow. For example, working with an agency client and being dropped in the middle of an unfamiliar website. You don’t always get the benefit of a guided tour on how everything works.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed, and remaining silent only exacerbates the situation. The result is more stress and less money in your bank account. That’s not what freelancing is supposed to be about.

The reality is that freelancers are mostly on their own when it comes to advocacy. Here are some tips for standing up for yourself when the going gets tough.

Be Clear About Your Policies From the Beginning

The best way to avoid being taken advantage of is by being assertive from the start of your client relationships. Setting the appropriate boundaries lets clients know what’s important to you. The desired result is a mutual understanding of what is expected.

What sorts of boundaries should you outline? You’ll find plenty of small (and not-so-small) items to communicate, including:

• Payment policies: This includes when and how you want to be paid for projects. Also, be transparent about any transaction or late fees that you charge.
• Lead time for project assets: Some clients have a habit of providing project assets the day before launch. One way to avoid such chaos is to communicate the amount of lead time you require. You may also want to note that the project could be delayed if materials aren’t delivered on time.
• Business hours: Do you enjoy working 24/7? No, we don’t either. Share your business hours with clients and only respond to messages during this time. Not everything is an emergency.
• Things that cost extra: Each project has a scope to stay within. Ensure that clients understand that items outside the scope will incur additional costs.
• Your responsibilities: Modern web projects often require working with third-party providers. Think web hosting, content delivery networks, and plugin developers. Inform clients of what you can and can’t do when there’s a problem.

These items can be placed in contracts or even “welcome” guides. Clear documentation can make a difference. The more clients know ahead of time, the better the chance they’ll work within your policies.

Speak up When Necessary

Even the most detailed contracts can’t cover every possible problem. The truth is that various issues can arise when working with clients.

Perhaps you don’t have the necessary resources to perform your job. Or you’re receiving conflicting instructions from stakeholders. You could also be asked to perform tasks outside of your expertise or service offerings.

Such situations can be uncomfortable and unproductive. However, the more timid among us may try to simply “get along” and move on. This is a recipe for disaster. You’ll eventually need to get things off your chest.

Why wait until then? Nip these issues in the bud by speaking up. Bring any concerns to your client’s attention. Explain what’s wrong and/or what you need. Offer them actionable advice to resolve the issue.

The mere act of sharing your feelings will benefit your mental health. You’ll feel like the world has been lifted off your shoulders. It also keeps your focus on the task at hand, rather than the stress and anxiety.

We’d like to believe that most clients will take your concerns seriously. We’re all human and don’t always realize the nature of what’s happening. Most will want to make things right.

If they don’t listen, it’s a sign they’re not the right fit. All information is helpful.

Freelancers Must Look Out for Themselves

Freelance web designers face a special set of challenges, and there’s no one to help us. If you’re not careful, you could find yourself in a series of bad client relationships. From there, it’s an uphill climb to keeping your sanity.

Seriously, it can take years to untangle yourself from such messes. Meanwhile, you’ll struggle to get by and miss out on better gigs.

That’s why self-advocacy is so important. We must set our own boundaries to prevent a rogue client from making life miserable. We must also maintain an open line of communication. That helps to prevent small problems from becoming big ones.

Sure, it sounds like a heavy burden. On the bright side, it’s all in our hands. The key is finding the courage and resolve to look out for ourselves.

The post How Freelance Designers & Developers Can Be Their Own Advocate appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

The tech industry is full of buzzwords and hype cycles. Many of us feel pressured to talk about and adopt whatever’s new and exciting. Artificial intelligence (AI) is yet another example of history repeating itself.

That’s not to say AI isn’t useful or won’t last. It is a bandwagon that everyone is jumping on, however. In some cases, we’re not sure why we’re doing so.

That logic can apply to our clients using WordPress. Imagine seeing mentions of AI virtually everywhere. Well, you don’t have to imagine because that’s our reality, too. Regardless, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out.

Clients will naturally ask us about AI and how to implement it on their website. So, what should we tell them? How do we help them understand the pros and cons? Here are some ideas to help them understand AI’s potential role inside WordPress.

The Most Important Question: What’s Your Goal?

AI inspires our curiosity and makes us wonder about what’s possible. Product makers understand this and continue to add AI-powered features. We’re seeing this with WordPress plugins and third-party integrations.

It’s no surprise that clients want in on the action. Yet, AI alone doesn’t make a product better or more useful. As such, it’s important to consider why AI is (or isn’t) the answer for a given situation.

So, when a client brings up the subject of AI, the question to ask is: What’s your goal? As in, why do they think AI will be beneficial? What do they hope to accomplish with it?

Most early implementations have focused on content generation – text and images. Using AI makes sense if writing text or finding stock photos is a part of your client’s workflow. The technology excels at generating featured images, blog post excerpts, and SEO content summaries.

There’s also the much-ballyhooed/dreaded AI-powered chatbot (it depends on whom you ask). These apps perform customer service tasks and respond to user questions. They may be a fit for clients who want 24/7 coverage without hiring a human.

Other use cases are popping up. However, you and your client should define a clear goal. From there, you can decide whether AI is the right tool for the job.

Identifying the Downsides of Using AI

We often hail new technologies as the answer to all our problems. There are still concerns about AI and the companies behind it, however.

With that in mind, our clients should be fully aware of the potential downsides of adding AI features to their website:

User Privacy Concerns

AI companies require data to continue training their models. For example, we know they scrape websites to gather useful information. Implementing an AI app on your website might have similar consequences.

Clients should be aware of the risks and how a given provider handles customer data. Will they use information from your chatbot to improve their product? What happens to your customer’s contact information? How can you be sure that your data is safe?

This is vital information for every organization, particularly for compliance with privacy laws such as GDPR. In the past, apps like Google Analytics sparked privacy concerns. AI should be scrutinized just as much.

The Potential Costs

Some AI providers offer a free tier of service with strict usage limits. It may work well for small websites. For everyone else, there’s a subscription model for connecting with the provider’s API.

Estimating your usage can be difficult. That could lead to a surprise bill at the end of the month.

Educate your clients on the provider’s pricing model. Be sure to point out what happens if they exceed their allotted API calls. Some providers may have a setting to prevent overages – encourage clients to enable it. It’s an opportunity to measure usage and determine if they need a bigger budget.

AI Gets It Wrong Sometimes

AI apps have been known to provide inaccurate answers. These tools have also been tricked into returning potentially dangerous or offensive information.

Perhaps this isn’t a big deal if your client uses AI within the WordPress admin area. They aren’t likely to ask the app to do something nefarious (well, a hacker could). But what about using AI on the front-end of the site?

Such incidents can be a public relations nightmare for large organizations, and even small ones can see a negative impact on their reputation.

This is a risk worth bringing to your clients’ attention. A provider should give assurances and proof that this can’t happen with their app. Find out what, if any, safeguards are in place.

Help Your Clients Make an Informed Decision on AI

The buzz surrounding AI is understandable, and clients are right to ask about it. Everyone wants to know what the technology can do for them.

As web developers, it’s our job to help our clients figure out if AI is right for their website. A rational discussion about the good and bad is part of the process.

The truth is that some use cases are better suited for AI than others. Much depends on what your client wants to accomplish and how much they’re willing to spend. The ultimate measure of its usefulness may be the return on investment.

It all comes down to the same factors as other tools and technologies. That’s good news, as it means we’re prepared for the challenge.

The post How To Help Your WordPress Clients Understand AI appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

The web may be an omnipresent part of our lives. However, it’s also more fragile than we’re willing to admit.

How fragile? Try to get things done when the likes of Amazon, Cloudflare, Akamai, or Microsoft have an outage. These behemoths can take out large swaths of the internet, including time-wasters like social media.

Web hosts can also run into problems, albeit on a smaller scale. Servers are bombarded with bot traffic and are always a target for hackers. A website can go down at any time.

Taken together, perhaps we should feel fortunate to get any work done at all. Still, outages put web designers in an awkward position. We’re stuck between a failed service provider and our clients.

What should we do? Here are a few tips for handling the inevitable service outages that plague the interwebs.

Something Went Wrong, Now What?

Perhaps you noticed a client’s website wasn’t loading during your morning routine. A downtime monitoring service might have pinged you. Or, maybe your client sent you a panicked message about it. Regardless, you’ve found yourself in a stressful situation.

The first thing you need (beyond a pot of coffee) is an answer. Look for clues regarding what’s happening and who’s responsible.

Sometimes, the answer is obvious. For example, a Cloudflare outage is often accompanied by an error page. Other issues aren’t so easy to diagnose.

When that happens, check the provider’s status page. That will provide details on any ongoing problems and often includes an archive of past issues. The caveat is that there can be a lag between when you notice an issue and when a provider acknowledges it.

What if a provider doesn’t have a status page? Some web hosts still don’t keep a public log of outages or maintenance. In that case, the best course of action is to contact their support staff.

Communicating With Your Clients

Effective client communication is crucial to running a successful web design business. It takes on even more importance when there’s a problem.

We often serve as the link between our clients and third-party service providers. In many cases, clients aren’t fully aware of what these providers do for their website. Thus, it’s up to us to fill them in.

Start by sharing what you know about the situation. Try to avoid technical jargon unless your client is comfortable with the terminology.

You’ll also want to make clients aware of who’s responsible for fixing it. Clients may assume we have some say in the process, but provider outages are beyond our control. That needs to be clear.

It’s also unlikely that you’ll have all the details. So, attempt to answer their questions with the information you have. Offer to contact technical support if necessary, but note that you may not receive an immediate response.

Unless the provider offers an estimate, it’s impossible to predict when the service will be back online. As such, avoid making a guess. It will only lead to disappointment if things don’t get resolved in time.

The better approach is to provide status updates as you receive them. This demonstrates your commitment to helping your clients and keeps them informed.

Is It Time To Change Providers?

Repeated issues, or a prolonged one, will lead clients to ask if it’s time for a change. The answer isn’t always easy, as much depends on the situation.

First, there’s a danger in rushing to judgment. An impatient client may call for a change after a few minutes of downtime. It might lead to a hurried migration that puts you in the same boat when the new place inevitably has problems.

You might empathize with your client’s feelings. Downtime can cost sales and conversions, while also hurting their reputation. However, jumping from service to service may increase their risk.

On the other hand, there may be times when the best option is to change. For example, a web host that has frequent problems will cost everyone time, undue stress, and money. There are only so many chances for a provider to prove itself worthy.

Patience is still advisable when making a switch. Identifying the right option requires research. Review historical data to see past incidents a provider had and how they responded.

Clients should also be aware of any risks involved. Downtime isn’t limited to a single provider. Plus, there could be technical hurdles when migrating elsewhere.

Remain Steady During Technical Difficulties

Try as we might, downtime is a part of life. Think of it this way: If the world’s biggest companies can’t prevent every issue, what chance do the rest of us have?

Our clients may not see it that way. However, communicating what we know can help them better understand these situations. This provides comfort and confidence that someone is looking out for them.

Good or not, you’ll have many opportunities to practice these skills. The web will continue to experience technical difficulties. Remaining calm and steady will help you and your clients get through it.

The post How Should Web Designers Deal With Service Outages? appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.

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