You can’t be a great web developer if you don’t take care of your mental health. Jamie Strachan, web developer and mental health advocate, stops by the show to explain the practical techniques that cognitive behavioral therapy provides and how it ties to developer mindset. Listen in as we share our own stories alongside Jamie’s, what we’ve done to overcome mental health issues, how we can help others, and other practical therapies. Let’s help our industry and community be better mental health ad...
Oct 12, 2017•1 hr 7 min
Need to grow your web agency, but don’t know how? Struggling to attract leads for your freelance business? Get practical advice from marketing expert Jake Jorgovan! Jake joins the show to discuss how forging new relationships — through strategic partnerships and outreach — can build your business. He offers tips on identifying strategic partners, connecting with them, and establishing and nurturing the partnership over time. Jake also dives into strategies for cold outreach, with a focus on bein...
Sep 27, 2017•58 min
What have we learned in another 100 eps? We celebrate this milestone — again! — by highlighting must-listen episodes from our perspective and yours! Tune in for what we’ve learned, our most downloaded episodes, and some rather nice reviews. Let’s celebrate 4 years of conversations about the web! < Download MP3 >      < Listen on ctrlclickcast.com > Show Notes: Color w/ Geri Coady Niche Identity & Branding w...
Sep 14, 2017•34 min
npm, Inc. co-founder and COO Laurie Voss joins the show to talk about trends in web development — frameworks, component architectures, performance and more. Laurie provides more than a technical view; he offers a nuanced, bigger-picture perspective about trends reflecting evolution and pushing innovation. We talk about the practical pros and cons of implementing a trend like React, but also how trends offer even broader benefits to the industry overall. < Download MP3 > &a...
Aug 31, 2017•51 min
Doctors and lawyers have a code of ethics — maybe it’s time web professionals do as well! Kristin Valentine explains how more of us should consider ethical practices when designing and developing for the web. We talk about the importance of privacy and security, how other industries address ethical concerns, and guidelines to help navigate the complicated topic of applied ethics in web work. < Download MP3 >      < Listen...
Aug 17, 2017•48 min
Mobile devices have the power to connect people from underserved communities to empowering resources and information. Which is why mobile tech is so critical for today’s NGOs and aid programs to positively impact the people they serve. Special guest Rowena Luk, VP of Strategy at Dimagi, joins the show to discuss the challenges, and rewards, of using mobile apps and tech to drive global change. She details how Dimagi develops apps with a focus on in-field testing, as well as the design constraint...
Aug 03, 2017•51 min
Our final “Demystifying” episode tackles what powers the function and content of a site: a content management system! We discuss how CMSs tie into business and administrative goals, and explain tech terms to help break down client barriers. We share examples of what kind of non-tech questions to ask and how they serve the CMS, plus fun analogies that give further context and value of CMSs to empower our clients. < Download MP3 >     &...
Jul 20, 2017•1 hr 3 min
Do you know whether you your website actually supports your business goals? Google Analytics can help you find out! We talk with digital media expert Terri Jenkins about the basics of digital measurement and Google Analytics. She explains why analytics are important for both site owners and site developers, and offers examples of the basic measurements every site should have in place. She also details other Google products that can further enhance what site owners (and developers!) can do with G...
Jul 06, 2017•1 hr
How well do you know your clients’ needs and business? That’s where Ben Furfie suggests you invest time before forcing clients into a CMS they may not need. We discuss the pros and cons of CMSs, why a client may not need one, and the importance of business goals over tech. Ben shares the questions he asks clients to determine site needs, examples of the types of client that don’t need a CMS, as well as pricing alternatives to keep smaller projects profitable. < Download MP3 >&n...
Jun 22, 2017•1 hr 1 min
Creativity evangelist Denise Jacobs returns to the show to illustrate how we can excel by banishing our inner critic! We discuss the real science with how we hold ourselves back, plus practical techniques that help you push through. We discuss comparisons and envy, define expertise and challenge perceptions of what self-esteem means. We share personal experiences but go beyond feel-good points as Denise shares actionable ways you can silence that inner critic today. < Download MP3 &gt...
Jun 08, 2017•56 min
Developer Andy McCormick of DuBose Web Development stops by the show to explain why his entire team develops and works on the cloud—not only for disaster recovery, but for better efficiency, workflow and cost savings! He explains how he evaluated various tools with real examples (including coding in the cloud!), how long the evaluation process should take, as well as the importance of documentation. < Download MP3 >      &lt...
May 25, 2017•1 hr
Do your clients value the work you do and understand how it supports their business goals? If you don’t know (or the answer is ‘no’), then you need to start communicating better! We continue our client-friendly series exploring how technical web terms create a barrier between ourselves and our clients. In this episode, we tackle front-end development, explaining the technical terms and acronyms in ways non-web folks can understand! < Download MP3 >   &...
May 11, 2017•54 min
Creating a culture of fearless feedback not only helps foster better interpersonal work relationships, it ultimately helps your team, project, and company! Product Design Lead for the New York Times, Amélie Lamont, explains how to give AND receive feedback both in the perspective of a leader as well as a team player. Through practical and actionable communication tips, as well as anecdotes of best practices and fails, we discuss the nuances of what it takes to foster a culture of fearless feedba...
Apr 27, 2017•59 min
The foundation of a successful brand? Authenticity. Reuben and Sherri Johnson — AKA The FlyDuo — join the show to share their journey of embracing authenticity and forming their non-traditional brand. They discuss the challenges of their agency’s early days, including hard lessons about their identity, choosing clients and saying no. And they detail their evolution to a brand that reflects who they are and, most importantly, connects with like-minded clients. < Download MP3 >&n...
Apr 13, 2017•1 hr
Does an ideal content workflow exist? Listen to Jack McDade, creator of Statamic, talk about CMS content workflows both from a client and developer perspective. We chat about user experience expectations and verifying assumptions through user research. We discuss what makes a CMS easier to use, and how poor workflows can make users abandon a perfectly good system. Tune in to also hear how far Statamic has come since we last talked to Jack, plus what lies in its future! < Download MP3 &...
Mar 30, 2017•57 min
There’s no one size fits all approach to building client relationships. But if you want more long-term clients, you do have to be intentional. Susan Snipes joins us to discuss how she and her team at Q Digital Studio build long-term relationships. It starts with too-often forgotten basics like professionalism and good project management, but it also involves strategic communication after a project ends to demonstrate your ongoing value. We talk about being proactive with client communication and...
Mar 16, 2017•50 min
More people are visiting the web on mobile than they do desktop today! Responsive retrofitting can be a cost-effective way to go beyond a desktop-only experience ASAP. Emily and Lea break down the importance of mobile-friendly sites and different ways you can tackle mobile-friendly projects based on client budget and priorities. We share front-end techniques and other processes that help prioritize audience and client goals, regardless of what device they use to access their site. < Downl...
Mar 02, 2017•1 hr 8 min
What does it take to run a successful, diverse and inclusive tech conference? Is it a mindset? A formula? Peers Conference founder and organizer Jess D’Amico joins the show to share her approach to making Peers a people-focused, welcoming event. Jess details her approach to diversity and inclusion, which is less about formulas and quotas and more about a mindset towards openness and support. She also shares how she seeks and encourages speakers, especially first-timers, as well as the Call for P...
Feb 16, 2017•1 hr 4 min
Don’t expect your clients to understand every aspect of the web — that’s our job! And the first step to improving sales and client relationships is to break down technical language barriers. Industry terms can confuse and intimidate, so Emily and Lea share analogies and scenarios that more clearly explains the value of web design at every step. Through non-technical explanations (complete with examples) Emily and Lea bridge the gap between what we do as web designers and how it relates to client...
Feb 02, 2017•51 min
Start 2017 with a new perspective on success and failure! Web developer and entrepreneur Erik Reagan returns to the show to share his own lessons learned about finding professional success and managing failure. We discuss what success and failure really is (hint: it isn’t you), how to define measurable goals, and the importance of learning and reflection. Erik also offers suggestions for managing the ebb and flow of priorities, so that success (or failure) at work doesn’t negatively impact home....
Jan 19, 2017•1 hr 3 min
For the final episode of 2016, Bright Umbrella assistant Erin Lewis joins us for one last Year in Review. We look back at all we learned in business, technology and life this past year. As we reflect on recurring and changing goals, we also address what we hope for 2017 with conviction and solidarity. And finally, the year’s Rapidfire Questions analyzed! Do pancakes triumph over waffles? Tune in to find out! We’re on hiatus until the new year (tune back in January 19, 2017), and we wish you all ...
Dec 01, 2016•49 min
It’s simple: Ecommerce development is complicated. There are a lot of moving parts, from understanding business rules and tribal knowledge to designing for user experience and building internal systems that work. We tackle all of these points with Noah Bersohn and Peter Compernolle, with a focus on shipping and fulfillment. Noah and Peter share two client case studies, each with unique shipping and fulfillment needs. They detail their approach, which starts with a strong focus on discovery and p...
Nov 17, 2016•59 min
Do you have a marketing plan? If you’re a tiny freelancer or agency, the answer may be no — and can be contributing to your business’s feast and famine cycle! Marketing Mentor Ilise Benun helps peel back the realities of marketing to help your creative business. We discuss the three main marketing techniques to use, specific tips and examples from real-world clients (including Bright Umbrella!), and the mind shift required to be better at marketing your services to get the clients and projects y...
Nov 03, 2016•1 hr
Ever needed to build a login-protected “member portal”? Or support subscriptions for digital downloads? Then you’ve secured site site content. But have you covered all the bases? Rachel Andrew joins the show to explain the what, why and how of secure sites. We each share real-world client examples, particularly in context with content management systems. Rachel specifically details how Perch CMS supports secure content, including using a paywall with Perch Shop. She also explains the core server...
Oct 20, 2016•55 min
How do you rehaul a 21-year-old brand? Eric Gillin explains how he helped relaunch Epicurious’ site through a phased, practical approach. We focus on the most important features of the site and which tools helped narrow these assumptions down. We talk about the difficulty of launching new features on a site with exponential visitor growth, developer impact, user experience, and parsing criticism. We also chat about their upcoming mobile app, how it differs from the site, as well as the future of...
Oct 06, 2016•48 min
Is copy the same as content? Can copy influence design? Professional copywriter Stephanie Morillo joins the show to explain copywriting and how it impacts user experience. She shares examples of copy on the web — such as headings, form labels, alerts and notifications — and details how copy helps you connect with your audience and support your brand. Stephanie talks about where copywriting fits into the project process, as well as the importance of collaboration with stakeholders. She also share...
Sep 22, 2016•56 min
Ever dive into a project and realize the scope is completely off? How about realizing the client is the wrong fit? Paid discovery projects help minimize these issues. J Cornelius of Nine Labs explains how being more focused and intentional with a small discovery project benefits both you and your client’s business. We chat the various ways discovery projects can be executed, what they include, why they’re important, and how it sets the tone for the rest of the project. < Download MP3 &...
Sep 08, 2016•49 min
Performance matters. Tune in to hear real-world examples on how Lea and Emily tackle their client site speed issues! From fixing emergencies to thoughtful rebuilds, we discuss the specific ways we manage client expectations, budgets and resources while isolating bottlenecks. We reveal real solutions to fixing slow EE sites from different angles, including front-end, and discuss why it’s important to fix, test, and review in the first place! < Download MP3 >  &...
Aug 25, 2016•1 hr 14 min
Quality Assurance isn’t just testing. QA is a process that spans the lifecyle of a project. Lewis Francis, Director of Quality Assurance at Threespot, joins the show with a primer on QA for websites and apps. He talks about the difference between quality assurance and quality control, and explains where QA should fit into the project cycle. Lewis details how budget can dictate the scope of QA, but also the elements that are important for any QA process. And he shares a bunch of great tools and r...
Aug 11, 2016•51 min
UX expert Matthew Oliphant stops by the show to help define what data-driven design even means! We discuss testing assumptions before a project begins, as well as how UX research affects process and the project lifecycle. From critical business decisions to design and development, we chat about different ways to test a website or app, real-world scenarios of testing, and how to make sense of it all to fulfill client and user goals. < Download MP3 >   &...
Jul 28, 2016•1 hr 3 min
