There are 4 fundamental sets of skills that you must have before you even consider a career in web site design.

1. You must have good computer skills
2. You must be artistic
3. You must have a working knowledge of traditional marketing
4. You must know how to manage a small business

Computer Skills

It used to be that if you knew Photoshop®, HTML and an FTP program you could create a web site. Today you have to have a much larger tool box. I can steer you in the right direction so that you learn the skills you need in order to create sites that have mouseovers, animation, interactive forms, e-commerce, searchable databases and multimedia streaming content.

It's hard to know where to start. Through book and class recommendations, and if necessary private consultation, I can help you analyze your computer skills and set you on the path to complete the skill sets you need to be successful.

Art Skills

I'll start with a quote from my 7th grade art teacher, Mr. Holt.

"If the circle is not perfect, no amount of shading will make it look like a sphere."

Unfortunately, art talent is not something you can buy. If you have the vision and raw talent, I can help nurture your skills so that your artistic talents can be applied to the world wide web.

If you are in the Buffalo, NY area, I teach classes in Photoshop® through Ken-Ton Community Education. See the list of upcoming classes. This is an excellent place to start.

Marketing Skills

You can make a beautiful web site, but if it does not convey the proper message, what's the point. I can show you the basic techniques to design sites that lead end users to the information they need. You'll learn where the end user looks first, what features draw the most attention, and the do's and don'ts of site design concepts.

I can also teach you how to guide your customer through the process to get the information from them that you will need to create their web site.

Small Business Skills

My grandfather always said, "if you don't mind your business, you don't have a business to mind."

Here are the business basics you need to accomplish:

• Choose a name and image for your business
• Incorporate or register a DBA
• Get an accountant
• Get a lawyer
• Set up an invoicing and tracking system
• Set up a merchant account so that you can take credit cards

You also need some other business skills like:

• Locating space for your web sites or co-locating a server
• Hiring, managing and firing employees
• How to get paid for your work
• Search engine optimization techniques
• Drafting proposals that get the bid
• Drafting contracts

I can work with you on a consulting basis to guide you on your path to becoming a first class web master. Call today for a free consultation to see if I am the right mentor for you.