Is G.I.F. pronounced GIF or JIF? Join me, Cathy Sirvatka, as we dig into the amusing argument surrounding this well-known graphic format. We'll journey back to its beginnings, exploring the creators' original intent for its pronunciation. Spoiler alert: there's no wrong way to say it! We also get into its features as compared to the JPG and its historical role in web graphics. It's time to settle the debate. Sort of.  And remember, I'd love to hear your take on it and any other 'debatables' you encounter in your web design adventures.

Ever wondered how your website design could impact someone with a disability? Join me as I chat with Vanessa Russo, a passionate web designer and WordPress UI/UX design teacher, who opens up a new perspective on website accessibility. She shares with us the often overlooked importance of creating accessible and inclusive websites.Our enlightening conversation delves into different facets of website design - color contrast, fonts, link cues, and heading usage. Vanessa, with her unique approach and practical knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, educates us on the three parts of website accessibility. We delve into the significance of consistent design patterns, which can lead towards providing an inclusive experience.Our chat with Vanessa wraps up with some practical advice for designers and developers. From viewing each webpage as its own mini book, maintaining correct tab order for accessibility, to dealing with clients with specific design ideas, Vanessa gives us useful tools and strategies. By the end, you'll be itching to connect with her online and learn more about her work. Tune in for a conversation that holds the potential to revolutionize your approach to web designing.

There are a lot of questions surrounding AI (Artificial Intelligence), especially for those of us who work in web design. Is it ethical to use AI tools like ChatGPT in our workflow? Will AI replace the need for web designers? I address these questions and more today with my guest, Matt Gilliam.Matt is an innovative and creative freelance graphic and web designer, and he’s been using AI in his web design business since 2021.He has tried and tested several AI tools in a myriad of ways for page layout, graphic design, and writing copy.Listen in to find out what he’s learned along the w ay and what HE has found to be the best uses for AI at this time.https://opticcell.com https://mattgilliamphotography.com/Instagram: MattGilliam82Sites/resources mentioned:Rytr.meBARDMidJourneyJasperThemeforest

Today I talk with Kim Kopec, a freelance web designer in Kalamazoo, MI. Kim shares her experience and strategies for acquiring a clientele that she loves. Like many of us, Kim started out bartering her services with clients just to get work and grow her portfolio. She talks about how it was in the very beginning of starting her business and how her client acquisition evolved over the years to the point where she now just focuses on her desired niche. And she shares with us the strategies that got her there.Kim has 20+ years of experience in marketing, design, and communications. Perfection-obsessed, Kim delights in crafting custom WordPress websites with story, style and strategy. Her motto is "Behind every great design, is a substantial amount of coffee!"https://www.kalamazoo-webdesign.com/https://lookamazingonline.com/#Kimproved #behindeverygreatdesignisasubstantialamountofcoffeeOther content management systems (CMSs) we talked about:·        Joomla·        Drupalhttps://meetup.com

How do you get new clients? Should you work within a specific niche?  What exactly is a niche? You may hear the word a lot but aren't sure whether it means you should focus on a specific client type, or industry, or location.When you first start your freelance web design business or if you have decided to niche in a specific way, you have to do extra work to acquire a client base. You have to build that new reputation to where people start to show up from word of mouth.In this episode, I talk with designer, Vanessa Bucceri, who shares about the type of clients she works with. We talk about how to acquire clients when you're just starting out, and then honing in on your ideal client - those you love to work with. We discuss red flags that may pop up before agreeing to work with a client, and the possibility of needing to "fire" a client. Keep in mind, this is your business and you get to choose who to work with and who may not be a good fit. Working with the wrong client can be a real drag on your business and your motivation. Vanessa also shares the top 3 problems her new clients face that instigates them to come to her in the first place. Asking your clients what their top issues are will help you help them. Understanding what has caused those problems will also help you decide on the right direction for the project.As I went through this conversation, I found myself thinking not only about my clients' business but my own as well. Vanessa brings a lot of solid ideas to apply to both.

Have you ever considered using Wix as your website development tool?Maybe you’ve thought Wix isn’t a viable tool for true professional web designers. Perhaps you’ve selected another CMS platform and you’re sticking with it because of the time, energy, blood, sweat and tears you’ve put into it to become proficient.I get it. Up until 2010, I was still using Dreamweaver and creating HTML websites. Working with a CMS was a whole different animal, and I really didn’t understand the concept. I knew I had to make the switch but didn’t know which one to pick. At that time, the most talked about platforms were Joomla, Drupal and WordPress. I got a book called Joomla for Dummies and my goodness it was a thick book! I really stressed about my choice, and ultimately I picked WordPress and I’m so glad I did. It’s a big deal to consider learning a new platform either to replace your methods now, or to add to your toolkit.Today there are a ton of CMS’s to consider especially if you’re just starting out in web design. If you’re like I was, trying to find the easiest platform to get started with, so you may be consider Wix.Now there are certainly a lot of opinions out there about Wix. Some people love it and some hate it, but listen to these stats:WordPress has the largest website market share of CMS websites at just over 64% globally.  Wix comes in at 3rd place after Shopify with just 3.7% of websites globally. And while that sounds like a really small number it equates to over 110 million websites worldwide.Those statistics come from W3Techs.com.Wix has been through many evolutions since it came out in 2006. It got carried a bad reputation for a long time because of its early years using the Flash editor. But flash forward, they now use their own development tool called Editor X. This fairly new editor breaks down the walls developers and designers used to hit when trying to create sites. Enough so, that you may want to take a second look at it.Today I’m talking with Matt Cici who is a web designer and Community Leader for Wix, with expertise in Editor X. He's designed programming and created curriculum for international film festivals and Apple's popular Today at Apple, educating millions in communities worldwide. Matt is using these same strategies to create A Creative Community for values-based entrepreneurs looking to start and grow their online business.SOCIALS twitter.com/mattcicilinkedin.com/in/mattcici#ACreative

Does the thought of finding new clients stress you out? The ups and downs of work and income for a freelance web professional can be overwhelming. Finding the illusive steady income stream can seem like the proverbial needle in a haystack. Of course there are many ways to grow your clientele. Among them is a platform called Upwork.For those who don’t know, Upwork is a website freelancers can join and apply for projects; these projects have been posted by clients from all over the world. So what is the deal with Upwork?Well in this episode, we get to hear from Morgan Overholt who has achieved pretty remarkable success using the Upwork platform. Morgan will talk about her experience on Upwork as both a freelancer AND an employer. So she describes it from both sides giving us some really juicy insight.As you listen to Morgan, you’ll hear that she really knows her stuff. At the time of this recording, she had been using Upwork to acquire projects for almost 6 years and made over $500,000 during that time! And later in our conversation, Morgan tells us her tips for success on Upwork, and she’ll also talk about the big mistakes she sees  and how you can avoid them!Tennessee native and Miami transplant Morgan Overholt is a freelance graphic designer, owner of Morgan Media LLC and co-founder of TheSmokies.com. Morgan and her team have worked with nationally recognized clientele from all over the world, including the Centers for Disease Control Foundation (CDCF), Kimberly-Clark, and Stanley Black & Decker.Morgan transitioned into the role of freelancer and small business owner after spending nearly a decade in the traditional corporate world left her feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled. Today, Morgan is passionate about sharing her story with other hopeful entrepreneurs who hope to follow in her footsteps. She has been featured on Upwork.com, Parade Magazine, and Business Insider. LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEhttps://upwork.com/https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~017103f1940969128f/https://www.patreon.com/morganoverholtSOCIALShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/morganomediatwitter.com/morganomedia

Working as a freelance web designer and/or developer is becoming more popular with each passing year. COVID caused many people to reflect on their lives and jobs. Many have chosen to work for themselves, thus relieving them from frustrating commutes, exasperating bosses, and the overall feeling of being stuck in a job they don't really care about. Freelance website work is the perfect work-from-where-ever-you-want, set-your-own-hours solution. If you are one of the people who made that leap to running your own freelance web business, then this is the podcast for you! Or perhaps you already work for yourself but have hit a plateau in your business. No matter where you are in the process, you will surely hear meaningful information relevant to your own work.My name is Cathy Sirvatka and I have been working as a freelance web designer for 20 years. I am happy to offer my insights with you and, through interviews with other successful web professionals, share our experiences, guidance and golden nuggets of a-ha moments. This is all so you can grow and improve your business too! I want you to feel more comfortable in your work, improve your client satisfaction and increase your income!