Web designers, IT person, etc. – Who does what?

A web designer is not an IT person (IT=Information Technology). IT people usually work on your computer, setting up network solutions and deal with their problems, and possibly doing backend programming.

A web designer is what is known as a frontend person doing design and programming specific to the way a website looks or interacts with people.

Nowadays both IT people and web designers go far beyond these decriptions due to necessity or interests.

Often these types of professionals have crossover skills. Clients can be confused where is the separation.

Many of my clients want help with:

1. Email
2. Computer systems
3. Sharing across multiple computers and/or devices in multiple locations
4. Managing files (photos, documents, etc.)
5. Instruction in software programs commonly found on computers
6. Design/redesign of a site
7. Develop (program) a new or existing site
8. Print marketing materials
9. Business marketing program
10. Writing for web and print
11. Design/redesign of logo
12. Advanced programing
13. Project management
14. Self-guided recources

Depending on each individual’s knowledge and skills, it usually breaks down to the following:
Web Designer: 6, 7, 13, 14
IT Person: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Graphic Artist: 6, 8, 11, 13, 14
Marketer/Writer: 9, 10, 13
Programmer: 7, 12

My skills are:
• My main skills: #6-11 and #13-14.
• I can help with #1 on Macs (basics on Windows), #4, #5.
• I can do training in most Adobe suite of programs (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.).
• I can do some advanced programming (#12) but usually contract out for the best results.

A good web designer should do more than just websites and should look at all your marketing needs, even if you have an in-house marketing department or farm out other marketing needs to other professionals.

A Word About Training
For Windows Office or other office programs, bookkeepers or other office-based trainers are best to turn to for instruction. However, there is lots of online training you can get, some free or pretty low cost.

First you can try YouTube but is an uneven field, although there are some fantastic trainers and mostly free.

Another place to get the whole gamut of training (from Office programs to video to photography to marketing to marketing plans to…) is Lynda.com. Free through many libraries.