on Oct 4th, 2006
How to get the most out of your webmaster
I present below, in spectacularly boring fashion, four things to keep in mind at work when dealing with your local web nerd:
- your webmaster is an idiot
- your webmaster needs all the details
- email is your friend
- don’t try to write code for the webmaster
• Assume your webmaster is an idiot
Now, chances are your webmaster is not an idiot (he’s not). But with all sorts of simultaneous projects going on (that you likely know nothing about) it can’t be assumed that the webmaster is going to take the time to learn all the details that you know about your department/project/company.
Assume your webmaster is an idiot and do the detail work (see the next point).
• Give your webmaster all the details
Make it easy: don’t tell your webmaster to find some information on such and such a site; send the link. In fact, send all the information you can. Spell check your stuff. Check your typos. Don’t print the page and hand him a hard copy (he can’t type worth a lick - typo hilarity will ensue).
• Send an email
Sending your requests and content changes via email is effective and preferred. Most of the time it indicates that you have already thought through the issues and changes. Email gives you an opportunity to electronically compose and organize the information you are submitting to the webmaster. Email also leaves a record that can be referred back to later.
Good email communication will eliminate needless meetings and calls. And who doesn’t like that?
• Don’t write code or design webpages for the webmaster
You know your content and are therefore suited to created it. The webmaster knows how to take your content and format it for the website. If you code or design a webpage, all the webmaster is going to do it redo all that labor anyway. Really. He’s the webmaster for a reason; let him do his job.
So, what’d I miss?
Aww…did somebody have a hard day at the office? Were you being picked on again by those mean, nasty clients? Well, honestly, you were being too nice. I have worked in the customer service department before and come to realize that, in fact, the CUSTOMER is the idiot. Of course, I am sure you already realize this, hence the need to post a message detailing everything they should already know…
By the way, if I try to type another contraction and the apostraphe key takes me to that stupid toolbar again…let us just say I will not be held accountable for my actions!
you’re right! I am too nice. SCREW YOU ALL! (sorry, mom)