I have joined a number of online forums for web designers over the past year and I have noticed a disturbing fact. Some of these “designers” have never physically spoken to their clients – they only “talk” via emails.

I love talking to my clients. True, there are a couple that I have never met face to face, purely for geographical reasons – they live at the other end of the state. But I make it a rule to talk to clients over the phone or face to face whilst developing their sites. I need to do this otherwise I cannot get a full picture of the ideas they have and the site that they want. We need to discuss target audiences, colour schemes, updates and all other manner of things. It can’t be done successfully via pure emails.

I also love talking to current clients about the success of their sites. I recently got a real buzz from the client who told me that his website was exceeding expectations and generating masses of business for them. Feedback about sites is great too allowing me to adapt what I do in the future to ensure that Rusty Mango’s clients are getting the best.

Rusty Mango Design prides itself on the direct link between designer and client – we have no middle man, secretaries or receptionists. The person you talk to is the person making your site.

It has long been a dream of mine to take my office on the road. I love caravaning – the notion of carrying around your own little house and visiting all the great sites of our beautiful country. Recently I’ve been testing out the travelling office – and I have found that running a web design business on the road is not as easy as it may seem.

I have the technology – my notebook is loaded with all the software that I usually use at home. I can create websites just as easily as I do sitting at my desk in Innisfail.

The problem with the travelling office is two-fold for me.

One – I travel with my wife and three young children. Anyone with kids knows that they are exhausting. After taking them to the sights of whatever region you may be in, playing on every damn playground beyond the black stump (actually have just been there) and then finally getting them to bed – you are mentally and physically stuffed. You need some downtime. The last thing you want to do is more work.

Two – I have a Telstra broadband “dongle” for my notebook, which is quite excellent – if you have coverage. Staying at remote sites like the two cattle stations that we have, internet access (and TV access) is just not available. So any work that you need to upload needs to wait until you return to civilisation. Emails are not recieved as some of my clients have found out nor are they replied to.

Its a great idea but until my kids get a little older and able to amuse themselves and internet access truly is Australia-wide, the travelling office will just have to remain my little dream.

I’ve been reading on a number of web designer forums that web design is under-going resurgence at the moment due to the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). Companies are finding it easier and more effective to utilise online solutions to promote themselves rather than expensive traditional print and television methods. A website has the potential to reach millions quickly and a company can control every aspect of the “pitch”.

I recently heard from a client who had found that a website can be quite beneficial. This client had originally asked me to design a site purely because he had purchased the domain name for his email address and wanted a site in case anyone checked further. Looking long term, he didn’t think a site would do anything for his business.

No sooner than the site was online and indexed by Google than he began to get enquiries from further afield. Some of these enquiries have proved to be very lucrative for him and have led to major projects. Our client now believes that his site is an integral part of his business and I’m currently expanding it further for him.