I was on the phone with my client Janet Booth today and she asked me if her website was still listed on my portfolio page.

“It’s kind of old to be listed in my portfolio,” I said.

“What are you ashamed of it?” she said.

“No, actually it still looks pretty good,” I said.  “I’ll have to put it back on the site.”

The conversation got me thinking about why this website is still working.  After all it was designed in 2001, which, in human years is only nine years ago, but in website years is probably equivalent to about 90 years.  Coding standards have changed, design preferences have changed, browser and equipment choices have changed and user’s expectations have changed in nine years. Heck, even I’ve changed. I’d like to think I’m more skilled now than I was in 2001.  But this website is still doing the job.  Why?

Over the years we’ve added a shopping cart and we’ve updated the menus, but other than those two upgrades, the design hasn’t changed much.

I think the main reason why this site continues to work well is Janet.  She’s a proactive website owner.  She has, over the years, continued to build upon that initial website by consistently adding content and tweaking the site.  She works hard to give her clientele a useful website filled with content that’s informative, current and relevant.

She understands that content is what makes a website successful.  The design, while important,  is really only there to support and present the content.

So congratulations Janet for building a great website and for having the vision in 2001 to know what you wanted and for staying true to your vision.  And thank you for being a fun client and working with me for the past nine years.

More about JanetsPlan-its.com.