My Card Says Plumber, But I Am a Doctor on the Weekend ...

Most people would not hire a plumber to perform a surgical procedure, yet it seems that many people would hire their plumber to do their website. I admit that comparing a web developer to a surgeon is a bit of a stretch, but there are definite advantages to having your website created by a professional.

Many people do not recognize the merits of professional web design and believe that a lower cost option offers the same level of quality and expertise.

If you are having a website created, please make sure your web developer is familiar with the following technical specifications of web development:

• W3C Standards Validated Code (World Wide Web Consortium)
• WAI Level II Validated Code (Web Accessibility Initiative)
• Table-less Web Design
• Search Engine Optimization
• Setup of Statistics and Tracking Systems
• Proper Usage of Meta Data

But why should your website follow the above mentioned guidelines?

• Accessibility
  Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate and interact with the Web. Accessibility also benefits older demographics of web users with changing abilities due to aging.
• Future Proofing
  Web standards are intending to form a foundation for the world wide web so that web browsers and future software can understand the same vocabulary. Utilizing standards in your work prevents future rework required for newer and better technologies to come.
• Maintainability
  Using the right tools for the job is part of any project. Minimizing the amount of work required to update a website can be achieved by utilizing web standards to properly execute your code.
• Search Engines
  Keeping your programming code compliant to standards and properly documented allows search partners to quickly navigate through a website and to decipher which keywords are most important.
• Speed
  Optimization of graphics and code is paramount in any design to keep the users attention and to make your site available on all devices and connection speeds.

These are only guidelines and only "you" can determine if they hold value!

Having a scalpel does not make someone a doctor, much like having web development software does not make someone an instant web developer. It takes years to learn the needed skills and expertise in the medium.

Remember that your website is an investment in your brand and it should perform as you anticipated ... so "Caveat Emptor" ... or buyer beware!