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.

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.

Every website experiences a lifecycle. Their look, functionality, and compatibility will eventually become outdated – even with routine maintenance.

Websites built with WordPress are no exception. Backwards compatibility is indeed a hallmark of the WordPress core software. However, themes and plugins can still fall behind. Their functionality may no longer be up to snuff. They could become abandoned by their author and no longer see updates. Or, they may struggle with responsive design and accessibility.

Redesigning an older website has been the go-to method for modernization. This allows us to start from near scratch and fix any shortcomings. But what if that’s not in your client’s budget? What if the site isn’t quite old enough?

A “website rehab” may be the best option in this case. It’s not a full-on redesign, but it provides an opportunity to make measurable improvements.

I’ve added these mini-projects to my service offerings. The results have been positive so far. Keep reading to learn what’s involved and how a website rehab benefits everyone.

How To Identify Potential Candidates

The first step of the process is to determine which clients are a fit for a website rehab. To find out, review your portfolio and consider the following criteria:

• Age of the website: The older the website, the more likely it is to need some attention. Even websites built within the last two or three years could be a candidate.
• Compliance requirements: Laws related to privacy and accessibility are being introduced and enforced in many locales. They also evolve as requirements change. Websites that must adhere to strict guidelines are always candidates for rehab.
• PHP version: Is your client’s website stuck on an older version of PHP? Upgrading is also an opportunity to reassess the site’s overall health.
• Plugins and themes: Sites running old or abandoned plugins or themes are behind the times. They are due for a refresh.
• Website niche: Technology and best practices move quickly. Websites that specialize in e-commerce, memberships, and public service (aka government) can benefit from some fine-tuning.

Put simply, any website of a certain age is worth considering for a website rehab. There is always room for improvement.

However, a website that has too many shortcomings is probably better suited for a traditional redesign. The key is to determine the amount of work required to bring the site to modern standards. Small changes aren’t always enough.

The Anatomy of a WordPress Website Rehab

So, what does a website rehab entail? Much depends on the details of what needs improvement. For example, it sometimes requires swapping an old plugin for a new one. Or it might involve refactoring some incompatible code snippets.

We can also look at a real-world use case. I’ve focused my efforts on client websites that were using an outdated theme framework incompatible with PHP 8.

These sites were typically built in the 2010s and haven’t seen many new features since then. The WordPress core and plugins were maintained, but the theme was past its useful life. Plugins that required newer versions of PHP couldn’t be used.

My version of a website rehab includes the following:

• Replicating the current look with a new theme: A website rehab is more about improving what’s there rather than a drastic change. As such, I replicate the client’s current design in a new starter theme that’s actively maintained and compatible with the latest versions of PHP. The Block Editor makes it easy to replicate custom layouts, and I can often copy CSS from the existing site.
• Improvements to performance and accessibility: Older websites tend to fall short of performance and accessibility best practices. A modern theme can help in both areas. I also audit the site’s color contrast ratios, keyboard navigation, and font legibility.
• Identify and replace abandoned plugins: An abandoned plugin is a security risk. It also degrades the site’s user experience. I implement a suitable replacement when necessary.
• Improve the mobile experience: Responsive design, specifically CSS, has come a long way in the past decade. The new theme provides a great starting point for improving mobile compatibility.

So, how long does it take? I’ve adopted some tools and processes that limit the amount of manual labor involved. In most cases, the job can be done within a week or two.

Create a workflow that helps you complete tasks efficiently and lowers costs. It’s a win for you and your clients.

Small Improvements That Make a Big Difference

It’s fair to wonder if you’re better off waiting for your client to approve a redesign project down the road. Or you might sell them on a redesign instead of the more incremental changes outlined above.

Beyond budgetary concerns, there are reasons why a website rehab is a net positive. First, it keeps you in contact with your client between major project cycles. It demonstrates that you are thinking of their best interests and is an opportunity to share your expertise. That bodes well for the future of your relationship. You’re also boosting your revenue in the process.

The other big benefit is that, when it’s time for a redesign, your client’s website will be in better shape. Addressing issues now means less-intensive technical work later. It allows you to focus on other aspects, such as design and content strategy.

As for your clients, they have a website that works and performs better. It saves them money and extends the life of their site. They can also take advantage of new features without worrying about compatibility.

All things considered, a website rehab may be just the thing to improve your business and client relationships. It’s a service worth adding to your freelance business or agency.

The post When a WordPress Site Needs a Rehab Instead of a Full Redesign appeared first on Speckyboy Design Magazine.