An online friend, Nikki Pilkington, was complaining on her Twitter feed yesterday about web designers who act obstructively:

fed up with web designers sabotaging my SEO by refusing FTP access and to upload vital files and changes

I’ve come across this too, when I’ve attempted in my own modest way to help with onsite SEO efforts. Why do it? I understand the desire to retain clients but not at gunpoint. If you act like this you will ensure your client (and the SEO consultant they’ve engaged) tell everyone they meet not to use your services as you don’t care about their needs, only your revenue stream.

I tried once before to raise consciousness of this issue, but it wants saying again. Those of us who don’t treat our customers this way should shout it loud and often.

When you have nothing to say, make a list, as Wittgenstein might have said - had he been a blogger. This particular list is of some of my favourite tools for website development under Windows (XP Pro): some well known, others less so.
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“Design is a suite of web-design and development assistive tools which can be utilised on any web-page. Encompassing utilities for grid layout, measurement and alignment, Design is a uniquely powerful JavaScript bookmarklet.”

– From Alan Jardine.

You can add Design to your toolbar or list of bookmarks in a second, then with any web page loaded use it to take measurements directly from the page with absolute accuracy.

Javascript bookmarklets have several advantages over browser plugins, not least their being cross-platform. And, as Jardine says, “you always get the most up-to-date version every time you load it”. Design is both beautiful and inspiring.

One niggle, though. The lack of IE6 support means it can’t be used to help fix the inevitable layout bugs encountered when developing for that browser. But I suspect IE6’s bugginess would make porting Design a nightmare, so it’s a forgiveable omission.

How many steps? 299!

299 Steps to Website Heaven is the title of Nikki Pilkington’s excellent blog (and coming book), full of useful tips about search engine marketing and website optimisation. Add it to your list of favourites.

It’s sadly common to hear website owners complain that their web designers take too long to make changes, charge too much money for small updates, and generally don’t give good value. Too many designers attempt to hold their clients hostage by one means or another, such as making it technically difficult for owners to manage their website themselves, or by registering domains in their own name rather than that of the client. Often they’ll create a site for a seemingly bargain price, then milk the client by charging an ongoing fee that’s out of proportion to any service they provide.

Such practices border on scams, in my view. These designers prey on ignorant clients and take advantage of them, rather than providing the impartial advice they need to make informed decisions. They give the industry a bad name. So what should we do about this unhappy state of affairs? Well, I have an idea.
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