Michael Sowers on sun 15 oct 00
Before I end my, errr... "longish discourse", I
would like to point out that many who claim to
be "experienced web site developers" have maybe
only built one or two simple sites or are part
of a team who work to other designer/s or client
remits. Do not be conned into taking advice from
any Tom, Dick or Harry who comes along,
especially if they are charging for their work
and input.
By all means, we should never trust someone who has developed their interest
to the point where someone will pay them for it. If it is something we don't
understand or know how to do, it must have taken tons of $$$ and an entire
team to do. Anyone who charges for their work cannot be trusted and would
never freely share information. Does this apply to potters in the group or
only to "experienced web developers"? Could someone be both?
As an "experienced web developer" I can share this. I work from a spare
bedroom with a homemade computer that is definitely not state of the art.
The program I use for 90% of web design and development cost less than $100
(I built my first web site using Publisher '97). The people who hire me do
so because I can take raw information and present it on the web. I make all
aesthetic and technical decisions. My "target market" for these services are
companies who cannot pay up to $100,000 per year for a full time specialist
but are willing to spend in the neighborhood of $15,000 to $50,000 per year
for a consultant. I have two such accounts that comprise the bulk of my
work. They have absolutely no desire to learn how to do it themselves. I am
not out to get anyone's $1.98
I learned web design because I wanted to sell my pottery online. I bought my
first computer in 1996 because I felt illiterate. I continue to do web
design to support my studio and the life I want to lead. If my sales ever
reach the point where I can survive solely from pottery I will quit web
design. I will gladly share any information I have gathered in my 48 years
to anyone who has the desire to learn. I freely give all of my glaze recipes
and firing information to anyone who asks and no one who has used this
information has ever made anything that looked like my work.
I am a little obsessive-compulsive and have gone deeper into learning about
web design than most would and I am grateful that I have. It has given me a
means of livelihood that allows me to work from my home/studio while I take
my craft as far as I can. My web designs as well as my pottery both have
lots of room for improvement. When I want to learn something new I seek out
those around me who are knowledgeable and willing to share their knowledge
and experiences with someone who has a genuine desire to learn.
I did the same thing when I first started learning about clay and continue
to do so.
Tom, Dick, or Harry
Mike mike@classiclinespottery.com
www.classiclinespottery.com
Sharon31 on mon 16 oct 00
I want to tell you why I like your site!
Your letter is too long for an un English speeking person, but you sites
says it all: Simple background, opens fast, simple
moving and loading from one page to the next. And good pots!
Ababi Sharon
sharon@shoval.org.il
http://www.milkywayceramics.com/cgallery/asharon.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Sowers"
To:
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2000 07:06
Subject: Re: Web sites, contempt prior to investigation
> Before I end my, errr... "longish discourse", I
> would like to point out that many who claim to
> be "experienced web site developers" have maybe
> only built one or two simple sites or are part
> of a team who work to other designer/s or client
> remits. Do not be conned into taking advice from
> any Tom, Dick or Harry who comes along,
> especially if they are charging for their work
> and input.
>
> By all means, we should never trust someone who has developed their
interest
> to the point where someone will pay them for it. If it is something we
don't
> understand or know how to do, it must have taken tons of $$$ and an entire
> team to do. Anyone who charges for their work cannot be trusted and would
> never freely share information. Does this apply to potters in the group
or
> only to "experienced web developers"? Could someone be both?
> As an "experienced web developer" I can share this. I work from a spare
> bedroom with a homemade computer that is definitely not state of the art.
> The program I use for 90% of web design and development cost less than
$100
> (I built my first web site using Publisher '97). The people who hire me do
> so because I can take raw information and present it on the web. I make
all
> aesthetic and technical decisions. My "target market" for these services
are
> companies who cannot pay up to $100,000 per year for a full time
specialist
> but are willing to spend in the neighborhood of $15,000 to $50,000 per
year
> for a consultant. I have two such accounts that comprise the bulk of my
> work. They have absolutely no desire to learn how to do it themselves. I
am
> not out to get anyone's $1.98
> I learned web design because I wanted to sell my pottery online. I bought
my
> first computer in 1996 because I felt illiterate. I continue to do web
> design to support my studio and the life I want to lead. If my sales ever
> reach the point where I can survive solely from pottery I will quit web
> design. I will gladly share any information I have gathered in my 48 years
> to anyone who has the desire to learn. I freely give all of my glaze
recipes
> and firing information to anyone who asks and no one who has used this
> information has ever made anything that looked like my work.
> I am a little obsessive-compulsive and have gone deeper into learning
about
> web design than most would and I am grateful that I have. It has given me
a
> means of livelihood that allows me to work from my home/studio while I
take
> my craft as far as I can. My web designs as well as my pottery both have
> lots of room for improvement. When I want to learn something new I seek
out
> those around me who are knowledgeable and willing to share their knowledge
> and experiences with someone who has a genuine desire to learn.
> I did the same thing when I first started learning about clay and continue
> to do so.
> Tom, Dick, or Harry
> Mike mike@classiclinespottery.com
> www.classiclinespottery.com
>
>
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