Last week we started a discussion on Facebook asking whether you’re happy with your website in its current state or whether you see it as an endless work in progress.

The responses were incredibly broad and threw up all kinds of interesting spinoff debates and questions. Should all websites be regularly updated? Is there a point when it becomes change for change’s sake? How many of us browse the net and think ‘If only my website looked like that’ when seeing someone else’s design? Where’s the line between self-imposed pressures and getting the job done to a good, practical standard without fruitlessly striving for unattainable perfection?

As with most things in life, it’s fundamentally about reaching a balance that’s sustainable, sensible -and most importantly of all – ensures you’re happy. At the same time, it requires acceptance of the fact that time is finite, and that everything in the world could be better…just remember that it could also be worse.

Why hello there 2004.

A curse and a blessing

Not happy with your site? You’re not the only one. In the same way you’re more critical about yourself than you are other people, you’re always more critical of your own website than other people’s. You know your flaws. You don’t see the blood, sweat and tears of other people’s coding, vectors, or project management…just the perfectly polished result.

If you’re the perfectionist type, you could have the only website in the world and still never be completely satisfied. Accept it, go with it, and see it as a motivational advantage, not a flaw.

The very nature of the web means continual reinvention. Unlike an old school print project, you can always keep editing, which is simultaneously fantastic and terrible.

The freedom and freshness of the digital world presents endless possibilities (and reduces panic in many ways!), but it also means a whole new set of challenges.

 Just remember, everyone’s in the same boat and facing very similar situations, especially when it comes to updating your own website. Let your past successes and client work speak for itself. At the end of the day, the ideal person to hire is one who has a great track record and spends most of their time focused on creating great client websites. Having too little time for your own website is a good problem to have.

On being speedy

As long as you implement security updates and keep on top of significant new browser releases, there’s no need to feel the pressure to keep up with the Joneses of the design and development world. If you like to experiment and play around with the latest trends and technologies, there’s nothing wrong with that. But if it becomes a chore or a source of frustration, don’t be afraid to step back. Early adoption gives you bragging rights, but then so does a fast, optimised website with good UX and balanced browser and device compatibility.

The web industry is one of the most – if not the most – fast-paced in human history. Cisco has calculated that global internet traffic in 2018 will be equivalent to 64 times the volume of the entire global internet in 2005. This is fantastic news for all internet businesses and those who rely on web technologies for their careers, but the flip side is that keeping on top of changes, releases and trends is only going to get more difficult.

It’s important to get the balance right in order to ensure you’re meeting customer expectations but not advocating obsolete technology and software, especially if it’s no longer supported. The tricky part is convincing industry outsiders. But at the end of the day, a client’s decision to not upgrade or invest is not your fault, so don’t make it your problem.

If you’re lucky enough to be the decision-maker, be aware of what’s up and coming, but don’t feel the pressure to immerse yourself in it until further down the line. Side projects are great for experimenting, but remember that it doesn’t always pay to be an early adopter.

Losing the ‘not good enough’ mentality

Ever worry that your work isn’t good enough? Breathe a sigh of relief and remember the Dunning-Kruger effect. Failing that, find a picture of a beautiful sunset, a lovely serif font, type ‘I am better than I think I am’, save and then post on Tumblr.

On a more serious note, try to avoid comparing your work to other people’s, especially if you’re learning a new skill or just starting out. Everyone had to start somewhere, and you don’t get better at anything without practice.

The journey

It may be a cliché, but it really is about the journey…after all, there is no end! If you’re working with clients, then naturally there will be an end to the project itself, but in real terms the website’s lifespan will go far beyond the original designer/developer. This is the main reason it’s easy to get so frustrated with your own websites and projects; because they’re your responsibility, permanently, and unlike a child, they won’t grow up and leave home. Then again, they’re decidedly less expensive and don’t draw on your walls.

Embrace it, enjoy it, and take Steve Woody’s wise advice:

Changing your mindset

Want to change your thought process and attitudes? Start by listing your main frustrations and use them to fuel your motivation for action. Here are some of the most common, along with advice to kickstart your new way of thinking:

• Perfectionist? Get a second opinion of your website. It’s better than you think, honestly.
• Not enough time? Schedule specific slots into your week and look at how you can streamline your tasks and workflow. Try to keep the number of different projects you have on the go simultaneously to a minimum.
• Having difficulty finishing a project? Don’t start the next until you’ve finished the first.
• Don’t know where to start? If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount you have to do, compartmentalise. Take a look at our post on How to manage your projects effectively for a quickstart guide.
• Get bored with your website easily? Use themes and frameworks that provide plenty of flexibility for quick, efficient changes. Take advantage of easy to replace elements such as large photos and simple colour schemes so you can give your website a different look easily.
• Don’t have enough design/coding knowledge? Use it as motivation to learn a valuable new skill. If you really can’t, or don’t have time, hire. It doesn’t have to be expensive (especially if you can trade skillsets), and can save a lot of hassle.
• Never get your website live because it doesn’t feel quite right? Take a risk and live develop. Just let your visitors know you’re in the process of making changes and there may be a few kinks, then get your head down. There’s no better motivation, and you’ll get plenty of reminders, tips and feedback along the way too!

Over to you

What’s your take – and strategy – on being happy with your website? Do you like to adopt the latest trends and technologies as soon as possible, or are you reluctant to change? Let us know in the comments!