Hey there,
I learned HTML and CSS (the building blocks of any basic website on the World Wide Web) like a lot of folks: making my Tumblr page very “aesthetic”. On top of that, I once took a HTML/CSS course in college and built a jewelry blog like ten years ago.
But it wasn’t until last year that I actually took that foundation and put it to the test.
I had just moved back to Paris after three years in Amsterdam. In Amsterdam during that time, finding housing was hellish. One of the ways I managed to find a roof over my head was to petsit for weeks and months at a time. I did it for free, in exchange for a beautifully located apartment in central Amsterdam.
When I came back to Paris, I thought to myself: well, I grew up with dogs, and have catsitted for two years on and off now. What if I made a business out of it. And what if I built this website myself?
I knew I had the knowledge. Then I built the website (Paris Petsitter) within a week.
It gave me the confidence I needed to stick to it. In the past year since committing to web development, I built five more websites:
Here are three things I’ve learned during this new phase of my business.
Do not, under any circumstances, take brand design for granted.
I thought that just because I have some logical understanding of user experience and user interface (UX/UI), that I’d be fine when it comes to actual visual design.
That’s a massive underestimation of the role of visual design in web development. Colors being accessible, buttons having a cohesive look, these are all these you can’t take for granted when building your brand. It’s your audience’s first impression of you before they even scroll on your homepage.
That’s why I’m thankful I have a branding partner, Olivia Daniels, to help me out when clients are looking for cohesive, professional, and accessible visual branding that actually feels like what the client wants. Once Olivia’s work is done, that’s when I start building!
New skills can continue to round you out as a professional
As a digital marketer, a lot of what I do is actually educating my clients on what marketing is. I don’t just click buttons and post a few things on social media. I actually strategize a brand’s entire ecosystem, making sure that from start to finish, their audience has a streamlined and consistent experience.
Yes, SEO remains my specialty (as well as overall strategy) but when you add the benefit of knowing web development well… it makes me stand out as someone who not only knows how to implement advanced SEO techniques, but also someone who can actually make the changes necessary without you needing to go to your web developer every time.
Don’t forget to find joy in what you do
Web development can be challenging, but I find it very rewarding. It can turn a business around if done right. It allows me to get more out of my SEO and strategy work. And the aforementioned 5 websites I built in the past year can actually prove that.
All that being said, there’s still so much to learn. I’ve loved sharing my thoughts with you every month; it’s a way for me to communicate what I’ve been learning and what you can learn from it, too! If you’re curious for more, feel free to browse my newsletter archive below.
