You’ll see this thread come up in the developer forums, or when looking for someone to make you a website. But how do you answer it? What does make a good web developer? Some might say it’s their knowledge of code. How well they can write javascript or PHP. Some may say it’s how much schooling they have or how many websites they’ve made. Maybe how many different computer languages they know. Or how much money they make?
There are a lot of ways to qualify what makes a good web designer or good web developer. But I have a different way.
Want to know how I answer this question?
A good web developer is one that’s able to identify the needs of his or her client, and deliver that client what they need.
Notice how I mention nothing about coding skills? Nothing about education? Nothing about experience? That’s not an accident. Because it truthfully doesn’t matter if you are the world’s gift to programming if you can’t deliver what your client needs.
When a client comes to you with their wishlist for their website, they usually present a lot of information. So often, though, this is a collection of information on various topics. It might include design things they want, logos they want, functionality they want. It’s our job as developers to be able to sort through this information, identify what the needs are of the client, and help them figure out their needs too. So often the clients aren’t sure how the website is going to make a difference in their business.
I have a lot of experience making websites. We’ve made a lot, which you can tell by our portfolio. I was an Education major in college, although part of my degree was in computer education, I didn’t take a ton of programming classes. I feel like I know my way around PHP, HTML, and CSS pretty well, but I’m not expert. And you’ll never finding me writing my own plugins or creating custom solutions.
But I do have a specialty, and that’s finding the right solution for my clients, and delivering that solution. Helping the client figure out their goals, and creating a website that does what they need it to do.
That’s what makes a good developer.
Need help finding the solution to your website needs? Let me help. Get in touch for a quote today.
Amy Masson
Amy is the co-owner, developer, and website strategist for Sumy Designs. She's been making websites with WordPress since 2006 and is passionate about making sure websites are as functional as they are beautiful.