It’s funny, but I have never been asked why I got into the website development industry. I say it is funny since I think most people in other businesses are asked that question a lot. I suspect that the internet is still enough of a novelty that most people think, “If you have the ability, why WOULDN’T you get into the business?” If they only knew….

Still, I kind of wish that someone would ask me, as I have a perfect response. “Crappy websites” is what I would say. After a few seconds of enjoying the perplexed look on the face of my interlocutor, I would continue like this: “I spent many years surfing poorly designed sites for important information. In that time, I found myself returning to the few sites whose experience I enjoyed and abandoning forever many sites that, frankly, sucked. But, what most intrigued me were the sites that sucked but to which I (and many others) returned to regularly. I began to wonder, if there were someone who could reach out to those sites and improve the experience, they would be unstoppable. Alternatively, if you set up a competitive site that offered information of comparable quality but better experience, you could siphon off a great deal of business.”

Assuming that I either had their complete attention or, more likely, they had achieved such a state of somnambulism that they no longer had the faculties to go anywhere, I would start quoting the usual prophets like Jakob Neilsen, Vincent Flanders, Seth Godin, and Mark Hurst to name a few. Then I’d go on and on about the “seven plus or minus two” rule and CSS design and the W3C’s (don’t call them standards) recommendations. Finally, I rant about the need for accessibility even on sites not governed by Section 508 or other laws enacted throughout the world.

A bit long-winded I agree. (So, note to readers, never ask me this question at a party unless you don’t want to speak to anyone else.)