Justin Stambaugh

24/7 Customer Service

February 27th, 2010

Every developer/designer needs a very strong presence online and off; a good place to start, that I believe, is the portfolio. Adding your portfolio displays your skills and style to any visiting potential client. On many portfolios designers included several images, a description of the project, a skill set or services provided , also a link to the site. This helps give the visitor a good visual of the level of expertise and an inside look at some previous work.

One common feature I’ve seen in many websites are a “Frequently Asked Questions” page; a page designated solely to customer service. Pages like these add a great 24/7 question and answer sheet for the visiting customer—not only for the web designer but for many other companies that want to improve their available services online.

Not only does a designer need presence online, but also needs a strong reputation offline as well. Say a client has taken the next step and has officially launched the project, you have answered all his/her questions and they have enjoyed your previous work—now time for the crucial, first meeting. Come prepared for this meeting, ask your own questions about them or the company they represent (remember: you are creating a site that conveys their identity).

To conclude, take the initiative to build a strong customer service reputation. Use this skill to show off your professionalism, also to display your talent and skills. Now, to the customer, you are available 24/7.