Problems in the Web Design Industry

[businessservicesuk]

I am not into blogging, I seldom have time. However today I started a blog on the problems in the web design industry, I would appreciate any comments from members here

[Costin Trifan]

can you be more specific...?

[businessservicesuk]

Forgot to post the link, sorry

[link removed]

[Costin Trifan]

Now I understand, but you see, the v7n rules say that you should paste the article content here and not linking to it

--
I liked the second part more. That's because you're right but I don't believe that this situation is about to change ever...
In ten years, you'll see the exact situation that's now, so...

[Clarissa101]

What are the problems in Web Design Industry ?

[businessservicesuk]

I will post the article here

The web design industry is currently in a bad state and unfortunately things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. This has been brought about by the following factors;


The amount of low cost products on the market continues to rise.
The general public are unaware that the majority of low cost websites will never amount to anything, due to their poor table based coding, poor design and the total lack of optimization
The market is flooded with poorly or part trained designers who deceive clients by owning good looking websites or by making elaborate sales pitches in forums.

I read a lot of forums on the internet, in most of these forums there are categories for website reviews, over the past few years I have looked at 1000’s of sites listed for review, in all honesty I can say I have seen less than 5 that have been designed in a satisfactory manner. The general mistakes or errors made by poor designers are;


The sites are designed using basic HTML coding, this practice is outdate and most certainly not search engine friendly
The layout of the sites are poor and generally are not checked on all browsers
The use of fonts are bad
If a website is collecting data from the public it needs to display a privacy policy, most don’t
If a Website is taking money from the public it needs to display a set of unique terms and conditions, most don’t
Search engines like to see an on-site sitemap, most sites do not have one.
Web designers add their own sitewide link throughout a site they have designed, this is an outrageous practice, one that is carried out for no other reason than to enhance the rankings of the designers website.
Homepage meta tags are copied throughout the whole site, once again a disgraceful practise.

There are many more faults however I am sure you get the point. So what can be done to improve standards across the whole industry? My own feelings is there should be a regulating body, one that lists web designers who provide sound products at a fair price. If a client then has a problem with the design of a website, they can simply report their feelings to the regulators, who carry out a full investigation into the case. Search engines could also play their part by only listing regulated designers in their main index.

[paranoidandroid]

Hi businessservicesuk,

I do agree with most of your points, here are some of my thoughts/comments -

The web design industry is currently in a bad state and unfortunately things are going to get a lot worse before they get better.

A bit sensationalist in my opinion, more people seem to be aware of web standards, accessibility and organic SEO than ever. Of course these people are in the minority still, but it's a growing awareness and I don't believe things are going to get worse.

Web designers add their own sitewide link throughout a site they have designed, this is an outrageous practice, one that is carried out for no other reason than to enhance the rankings of the designers website.

Completely disagree, is it really so bad for a web designer to try to improve the ranking of his/her own site? I am fairly sure Google takes into account the value of these links anyway. There is of course a second reason why designers add these links - to advertise their services. A client could always request to have these links removed.

Search engines like to see an on-site sitemap, most sites do not have one.

Not just search engines but users also

I read a lot of forums on the internet, in most of these forums there are categories for website reviews, over the past few years I have looked at 1000’s of sites listed for review, in all honesty I can say I have seen less than 5 that have been designed in a satisfactory manner.

Sites are (on the whole) submitted for website reviews for a reason, the person who submitted is generally either an amateur or just wants some help with either the look or the functionality so I wouldn't be surprised to see lots of mistakes. If it's a good forum then many of the points you raised will be addressed by those offering advice.

Homepage meta tags are copied throughout the whole site, once again a disgraceful practise.

Given that most of the major search engines ignore or give little value to the contents of the meta tags I think to label it 'disgraceful' is a bit much, lazy maybe but that's as far as it goes. The only meta tag I think it's worth paying attention to is the description tag.

Will be interested to read other opinions.

[3ncryptabl3_lick]

What ^^^ he said.

Plus I'd like to add a 'ho hum'...

[businessservicesuk]

Completely disagree, is it really so bad for a web designer to try to improve the ranking of his/her own site? I am fairly sure Google takes into account the value of these links anyway. There is of course a second reason why designers add these links - to advertise their services. A client could always request to have these links removed.

Of course it is, the designers services are being hired by a client, for many clients this will be their first online project, they have no real understanding of why the designers has a small logo on each page. The fact you think this is good practise says it all..

Given that most of the major search engines ignore or give little value to the contents of the meta tags I think to label it 'disgraceful' is a bit much, lazy maybe but that's as far as it goes. The only meta tag I think it's worth paying attention to is the description tag.

I understand SEO well, possibly why my website ranks very highly in the search engines. Even though I understand the fundamentals of SEO, I have no idea how much strength Google gives to individual title and description meta tags. You did however hit the nail on the head with the comment about laziness.

[scorpionagency]

I must add another area of Discomfort .. heres a short article I wrote on Mock-ups destroying the Design Industry as well & YES it IS Copyright Protected.

A Designer, no matter if they are into Graphics, Websites, Logos, Brochures, or anything else related to Design/Art are devaluing themselves every day. Some may not realize they are doing it to them self while others do it blatantly simply to secure a contract that should have went to a professional. Now, I know the implication I just made sounds like any designer that provides Mock-ups is not a professional, so I will clarify that statement a bit so you can fully understand the concept behind it.

Ok, what I am referring to here is a Designer / Artist that puts forth effort, time, and research into a mock-up only to have the potential client choose one (NO type of payment yet). No contracts have been initiated, So if the client should decide not to choose "ANY" of the mock-ups you provided, you have now waisted valuable time, energy and money. This is the reason why Mock-up work destroys a designers experience and skill levels in the eyes of the consumer.

Design / Art is not a "Try Before You Buy" industry, Thats what Portfolio's and references are for. How justifiable is spending 1-3 days carving a wooden plaque with a potential clients name in it as a mock-up just for them to turn around and tell you that its not really what they were looking for? Can you justify the 3 days of free labor? Or even feel good about the worthless work that will end up in the trash because it can not be reused with their name branded in it?

Are you starting to see the devalue taking effect now? I see it every day in a market that is becoming saturated with wanna be designers / artists that have no self respect. I'm not saying All designers / artists understand what they are doing to them self and the industry, just that the ones who do understand and purposely destroy the fabric of a professionals career in order to try and secure that one client using these devaluing tactics should be held accountable themselves as individuals. Sadly it's not that easy though, As designers / artists we all have to take the hit.

Training the Potential consumer is essential for the design / art industry, we need to get the word out and explain to the consumer that we ARE Professionals in an industry needed on a Global level. Self respect and Self worth are the keys to achieving this goal.

There will always be an underdog (The individual that lowers their price to secure the contract). Thats in any industry and a way of life, However the try before you buy tactic of Mock-ups needs to be stopped. If a potential client wants to hire you, yet needs samples, then send them to your portfolio filled with past work references of clients that contracted your services already, Give them a phone number to your happiest client, provide them with testimonials your clients have written about your services, But PLEASE don't aid in the destruction of our ethics & standards by providing work prior to contracting.

Might as well spend the money to build a house & then ask them if they want it, give them an option to say yes or no with no binding contractual agreement to buy. At least that way YOU can live in it when they say "Its not really what we were looking for".

Once the contract is initiated you can provide revisions as stipulated in the contract secure in knowing its a sealed deal and payment is guaranteed for the work rendered. (Lots of designers these days do the 50% down & 50% on delivery to insure some type of payment in case of a contractual breech).

In conclusion, Let us all work smarter not harder, provide a Professional design / art service at reasonable market value rates, compete on a professional business level, Underdog when you must, But STOP teaching the Potential client that Mock-ups are to be expected. I have turned away more potential clients than I can count for the simple fact that they expected me to work for free prior to any financial agreements. Doing free work as a donation to aid in Public Relations is one thing, however when it comes to doing free on demand work I have to ask myself, What does this say about me and my industry?

Copyright (c) 2007: Eric C. Lyon - ALL Rights Reserved

If you would like to use this article as reference on your own site to help get the word out to other designers / artists to Aid in re-setting the standards, Make sure that you keep My Author tag Intact & that you Hyperlink it back to my main site (The first link in my Signature) Scorpion Agency. Thanks... (We actively check for infringements / Plagiarisms)

[paranoidandroid]

they have no real understanding of why the designers has a small logo on each page. The fact you think this is good practise says it all..

Please feel free to quote the section where I said that this is 'good practise'
I just don't feel it is 'outrageous' as you described it. Also you seem to have moved the goal posts, a logo is a world apart from a simple text link at the bottom of a site and is in my opinion less acceptable.

I have no idea how much strength Google gives to individual title and description meta tags.

I think it would be fair to say that the title section has significantly more importance SEO wise than the meta keywords and descriptions tags, and of course duplicationg the title accross a site is very poor practise.

I did think this thread could have been constructive and even convince others to follow some of what you had to say (I do agree with much of it), unfortunately because of your attitude this doesn't look very likely.

[businessservicesuk]

I must have got the wrong end of the stick, this is easily done with written text.

Regarding the small hyperlinked site-wide logo's or text links a designer puts on a clients website, I will say this. A good designer would not do this, I think it is simply taking advantage of the client. I wonder how many designers who use this practise would be happy for their clients to put their links on every page of their website. Just because a website is new and the owner inexperienced it does not mean their websites is of any less value.

Regarding the title and description tags, I personally put no extra value on any of the seo fundamentals including

Anchor texting
Good unique content
Adding unique content regularly
Keeping my sitemaps up to date
Links
etc etc

I view all aspects as important as I do not know how much value search engines put on them. The fact my site is listed number 5 from 1.7 billion pages for my main keyword shows it is a sound strategy.

[scorpionagency]

businessservicesuk: Regarding the small hyperlinked site-wide logo's or text links a designer puts on a clients website, I will say this. A good designer would not do this, I think it is simply taking advantage of the client.

I must interject at this point. While I may agree that if used in a deceptive nature, it is Not professional, However.... As a Designer myself, I find that when I do - Donations, reduced prices, & or Templates to be sold at my digital downloads store - a Hyperlink in the footer is acceptable.

My terms of Service also states: "#4.) The Scorpion Agency Holds “ALL” Copyright Value for “Any” design Created through our Services. (Joint & or sale(s) of copyright(s) can be arranged Contractually, Please Contact us for details)"

If the client chooses not to purchase full copyrights or simply wants a joint venture to save a little money on the project, I feel that it's not only within my (T.O.S. stated) rights as the copyright owner, it is also being conducted in a Professional manor.

In a way I feel insulted that you would generalize a statement like: "A good designer would not do this, I think it is simply taking advantage of the client." However on the other hand I have to accept that you may not have been aware of other legal / professional options available to designers in order to cross market & provide discounted rates.

Hopefully my post (& current practices) provide other designers with a few more ideas on how to let their work "Network For Them" - Legally & Professionally -

[businessservicesuk]

Scorp, I fully understand and agree with your statement.

It is difficult when posting on a forum to be totally specific, otherwise everyones posts would be triple the size.

Of course when offering any sort of low cost product, external advertising is expected and generally the only reason why products are either low cost or free.

[scorpionagency]

I'm not sure I agree with: "It is difficult when posting on a forum to be totally specific, otherwise everyones posts would be triple the size."

You see, a form page (Just like any other web page) gets spidered by the search engines. I hear people complain allot about their forum backlinks not showing up, or asking why did it get put into the Supplemental / Omitted pages in the index?... Simple answer really: A.) The forum itself uses NoFollow attributes on the signatures or B.) The majority of the threads in question are "Not Specific" or "did Not" go to any length to add any quality / Unique advise. I find that Option B.) is the most common cause due to 1-3 liner posts.

(Not to go off topic)
I think you have some great ideas & compassion inside you to try & help keep the Art / Design industry standards alive & maybe even bring back some of the good old days. As you can see by my added article "Mock-ups Destroying The Design Industry", I also have some compassion towards this matter.

I wish you the best in all the adventures ahead of you.

[businessservicesuk]

It comes from being ripped off many years ago when I was totally new to the game.

Regarding designers who add their links to clients sites, how many of the top websites have the designers link plastered all over the place, the answer is none, well none that I have seen.

When speaking to my clients I advise them to ask their designer to add their sidewide link on the designers site. So far every answer has been always been no.

[scorpionagency]