Musings on the Business of Web Design

Whenever I try to explain to people what my 'job' is, it always brings the realization home to me that this business of web design is a wonderful (terrible?) balancing act that can't help but inspire a diverse set of reactions.

It seems it always has to start with the marketing, because a web site is nothing more than a marketing tool. But marketing always seems cold and calculating to me and is not very satisfying until it produces results - delayed gratification, UGH.

Then I switch gears to the creative work involved in the design. As long as I like what I produce, I get instant and lasting satisfaction. I get better and faster at this all the time.

Then the actual programming that makes the marketing and design work. Switch yet again into a strict, technical environment.

Then of course there's the day to day business activities that take me all over the map, from sales to accounting to the janitorial duties.

I guess that may all sound like some sort of hell to some, but for me it's the challenge of being able to accomplish all those things that keeps me interested and glad to come to work every day.