On the podcast today David Waumsley and Nathan Wrigley discuss some of the things that they've done well, and not so well over their 20 years as web site builders.

David kicks off by reflecting on some common missteps: not fully understanding the nature of the web, getting distracted by new tools and dependencies, and forgetting the basic tenets of good markup and accessibility.

He and Nathan talk about the importance of simple, semantic HTML first, focusing on communication before aesthetics, and the recurring struggle with over-complicating even the most basic sites.

From there, they examine why recurring revenue is essential for freelancers, how face-to-face and honest communication with clients can be a superpower, and why being agile, building projects around the client rather than forcing the client into a predefined 'system', can be transformational.

The episode is full of candid admissions and practical insights: David talks about his ongoing battle to minimise dependencies and keep his projects hand-off ready, the value of welcoming all kinds of clients/projects (even friends and family), and why he’s moved away from selling websites as self-contained 'products' towards offering them as ongoing, collaborative communication tools.

Finally, Nathan and David lay out their plan for the future of the show: a practical series focused on building up a library of reusable website 'components', demonstrating not just how to write cleaner code, but how to think about user experience, accessibility, and long-term maintainability.

If you want to become a better freelance web designer, or just want to hear what two experienced freelancers wish they’d done differently, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 Revisiting Web Design Fundamentals

03:50 "Web Evolution and Future Trends"

09:37 From HTML Learner to WordPress Builder

10:23 Tech Complexity: Unnecessary Dependencies

16:22 Balancing Solo Work and Agility

19:24 Website Maintenance Challenges

23:13 Early Web Development Business Growth

26:10 Human Connection as Future Asset

30:22 Misconceptions in Page Builder Circles

33:23 "The Value of Being a Generalist"

35:57 Prioritizing Content and Efficiency

37:34 Streamlined Approach to Optimization