The Impact of Blogging

July 25, 2007

I’m starting to learn there are blog-charged days — days where even if you’re not blogging, the ripple effect of your words is quite clear. Today was one of those.

First off, I heard from Vincent Flanders of Web Pages That Suck. He’d noticed my mention of him. Holy Toledo! In my web diva universe, he’s a super-star. He literally wrote the book on dreadful web design, and I’ve been reading his stuff for years.

If you haven’t visited his site, be sure to check it out. Chances are it will cure what ails you. It’s bound to make you feel better about whatever website (church or otherwise) you are coping with at the moment. And, if you’re like me, you’ll end up howling with laughter.

Then my most recent post (Firing a Client) elicited a couple of surprising results. I worried one of the people I’m currently working with. She was concerned I might mean her. I hadn’t realized she was reading my blog. Wow. Not only was it not about her, she’s the kind of client that makes me want to do more of this work. Witness her taking the time to read what I write.

In addition, Lizard Eater had an excellent comment about the same post. She suggested writing a contract, and she clearly delineated the particular perils of being a web volunteer, such as, “people assume that since they surf the internet, designing web pages can’t be that hard.” Amen to that. She’s so burned, though, I wonder if she’ll ever do this kind of work again.

I know she’s far from alone. Putting these two responses together, I realize that a page geared to clients with easy tips on how to work well with us webbies would be helpful. So I’ll pull one together in the next few days. If you have any suggestions for the list, just drop me a line or make a comment below.

Posted in: Housekeeping