Want a Better Website? Learn to Code
If this blog post had a theme song, it would be Olivia Newton John’s Physical. Good. Now that you’ve got THAT song in your head, let’s get started.
Know you need to fine-tune your website design but keep putting it off? Or regularly find yourself bugging friends on the interwebs whenever you need something done that you don’t know how to do? Here’s a thought: Make a New Year’s resolution for your business – learn how to code.
If I had a dollar for every post that I see on a social network asking about web development, coding, WordPress issues, changing WordPress themes, etc., I would be one wealthy chick. And, at the risk of sounding like a hardass (which I am), I have some pretty definitive feelings about business practices in general — and business practices as they relate to website design or refinement are no different. And, before you judge me for being too harsh, let me clarify: there’s a difference between occasionally asking for help and doing it on a regular basis. You know the people I’m talking about. I know you do.
My philosophy when it comes to business is really pretty simple. It boils down to this:
Know what you’re good at. Do that.
For the things you’re not good at, suck it up. Hire someone who does and pay them what they’re worth to do the job right.
Or, if you can’t do that afford to do that, there’s one other route and that’s what this post is about. Quit whining, quit bugging your friends, quit expecting quality work at freemium prices. Learn to do what you need and don’t know – and what you don’t want to pay for (or can’t pay for) – and quit asking people to do it for free. Or on the cheap.
I know, that sounds harsh. And make no mistake, I know what it’s like to be a small business owner, to watch pennies and try to wear a lot of hats. I, too, am a small business owner. But when does the day come that you invest in yourself? That old “cobbler’s children don’t have any shoes” adage only gets you so far. And if you want to be successful, sometimes you have to invest in your business, your image, your website, your education …. you name it.
Do you know these people? Consultants or small business owners who are constantly whining about all the things they don’t know how to do, or not whining but incessantly asking others for help? While on one hand, I’m empathic and want to help, on the other, it makes me wonder how these folks can serve their clients. For instance, if you’re a consultant consulting with small business owners about PR and social media and digital marketing strategy, but you have a crummy website, how is it you expect people to hire you? If you sell strategy or write web content for clients or handle social media community building, and expect your clients to pay you for those services, how is it that you’re not interested in paying someone to build your website (as just one example) the way it needs to be built? Especially if what you’re selling – those strategic services – revolve around online marketing and the importance of a killer website. Do you see the irony?
Again, it’s not my intention to disrespect small business owners who often don’t have a lot of money to allocate to things like design and web development. But I’m also tired of the perpetual cycle of people asking for things for free and always expecting that someone else can – and will - solve their problems. Without ever ponying up any real money – or even trade of services– in return.
I’ve got a solution. Instead of wishing you knew more or asking friends for help, here’s your chance to take control.
Enroll in Codecademy’s Learn to Code Program. It’s as painless as signing up here. When you do, each week a new interactive programming lesson will be sent to you. Badda bing, badda boom. Problem solved. Just. Learn. It. Yourself.
Dudes, it’s FREE. And this is your chance to learn from a lot of very smart people and cross one thing off that list of Things I Don’t Know How to Do But Wish I Did. So the only thing you’ll need to invest in yourself and your website – at least when it comes the coding part - is your time. Surely you’re worth that.
And you know what? That’s a brilliant idea. Even if it happens to be mine. The world isn’t getting any less technical. So, instead of asking for technical advice, let’s channel Olivia and get … technical.
For the record, lest you think me championing never helping other people – that’s not what this blog post is about. I’m all about lending a hand and doing things on a regular basis to help others out. That’s part of living a good life. What I’m specifically suggesting here is not not helping others – it’s really about helping yourself. And if this kind of help with your website is something you find yourself regularly in need of, then maybe it’s time to learn to help yourself. Even just a little.
Oh, by the way, I’m signed up and will be right there with you, every week. Because in my world, there’s no such thing as being ‘too technical.’ I can’t wait. Will I see you there?
P.S. When I discovered Codeyear this morning at about 11am, there were 44,837 people signed up for the course. At 3:15pm, there were 51,353 people signed up. And by 5:06 pm, which is when this post was uploaded, there were 55,373 people who decided to take matters into their own hands in 2012. Almost 10 thousand people in 6 hours … Holy Catballs!
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Shelly Kramer is the CEO of V3 Integrated Marketing. She’s a digital marketing strategist, and owner of a full service digital agency headquartered in Kansas City, MO. What they do? It’s simple — if it’s on the web, Shelly and her team at V3 do it. She’s got a love of words, a propensity for data and analyses, is possessed of a twisted sense of humor and appreciates quick repartee more than most. The icing on the cake? Her well-published love of beer. Find her blog, stalk her on LinkedIn or find her on Twitter.
