[inkosi]

Ok, so I've begun dabbling in web design, and I find it interesting enough to set up what you might call a hobby business. I can do the HTML/CSS, I can do the graphic design(decently enough so far), and I can do some ok javascript, but after all that's said and done, there's support.

If I were to get a client, fulfill that clients design requests, and transfer the complete work to them, what then? I mean, do I expect the client to just install, manage, and update the site? Wouldn't they just make their own in house if they had the necessary skills?

Commissioning some programmer to put together some basic input software seems like an extreme solution, not to mention clumsy seeing how it would have to be tailored per client...

How do you guys handle the support element of a design business?

[cjgraphix]

Originally Posted by inkosi

Commissioning some programmer to put together some basic input software seems like an extreme solution, not to mention clumsy seeing how it would have to be tailored per client...

There is nothing extreme or clumsy about this solution. Applications like Wordpress make this simple. Or hiring someone like me... I have 4 or 5 other design firms that use me for this specifically.

Good Luck.

[inkosi]

So essentially that's the common practice for customer support? What exactly do you do? Could you elaborate a bit more on your comments?

[cjgraphix]

It all depends on client needs. But generally it's just a big textarea (I use tinyMCE to deal with HTML formatting) where clients can input content. When submitted it goes into a database which is them pulled out where needed.

It keeps the client out the actual page code and focused on content. Which is what they should be worried about anyway. It takes a little bit of knowhow on a front end, but is simple enough.

When I build these for clients one of two things occur. They get it and make updates themselves, or the hire someone in house to deal with the content. But once the system is in place it takes me out of the equation. I support the application, but not the data entry.

[inkosi]

I've been researching content management systems since your post, and it's a lot to take in. I've yet to analyze word press, I'm not a blogger myself, but if it provides some sort of WYSIWYG interface for users, and doesn't force me into any corners I'll be pleased. Tinymce also looks interesting.

Thanks for your comments!

[pgo]

There are other CMSes that are probably more appropriate to a hierarchical page based website, such as CMS Made Simple. Wordpress is great for blogging, though and you can certainly use it for other things.