Being a web designer is not as easy as you think. If you don’t recognize the details of the job description, you’ve got a whole lot of preparation ahead of you before you can consider performing this sort of work. Creating and maintaining a web site is not rocket science, but it does demand a great deal of attention to detail and there are hundreds of details. Web sites can begin as very simple home pages that list hours of operation, telephone numbers, driving directions, and basic products or services offered. At the other end are web sites based on huge databases of products and information, including animation, video, music, shopping carts, shipping information, and direct chats with technical support or customer service agents. Even a simple web site may be beyond the skills and interest of a small company or an individual, and a complex site is an extremely labor-intensive undertaking.
When you meet with clients, you have to make sure that you understand exactly their needs and desires. Don’t spend hours of billable time on something they don’t like and won’t want to pay for. Take great care to avoid copyright infringement and plagiarism. If the clients provide photos or other types of art, determine whether they own those items or have purchased the right to reproduce them on the Internet. Don’t “borrow” images from other sites or sources; don’t think for a moment that the lawyers for Mickey Mouse won’t be legal tigers if you use his picture without permission.