We still have one more day of SXSW Interactive, but I figure with the bulk of it behind us, let’s look at some the highlights so far.

Web Anywhere: Mobile Optimization With HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript

Bruce Lawson knows his stuff, and really calls out some philosophical problems many developers (myself including) carry around with us. He quickly dismisses the idea of a “mobile web” or a “tablet web”, and makes a pretty strong case against separate sites for mobile users. Many of the new technologies in HTML5 can be used to progressively enhance the web experience, especially for smarter mobile browsers, without causing problems for older browsers. Javascript libraries, he argues, have become a crutch for many developers who should maybe write their own code if possible to avoid sending heavy JS files across the wire. Most of this stuff I already knew, but Bruce really brought it all together and made me think about the diverse needs of all web users.

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Between getting you badge, thumbing through your swag, and remembering how to get around the Convention Center, Day 1 of SXSW Interactive is always pretty chaotic. There were fewer heavy-duty talks today, but that made more time to check out all the cool goings-on (the Tron Legacy Lounge was kinda fun).

I did get a chance to check out John Battelle’s interview with WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg. Not a lot of technical talk, but it was fun to hear how WordPress came to be, and where it’s going. Apparently 12% of the web is powered by WordPress – a pretty staggering statistic. I loved Matt’s philosophy on ads – keep out of site, and only serve them up to non-Firefox users – #Mullenweg.

Caught the end of Google VP of Consumer Products Marissa Mayer’s presentation. Apparently Google was actually making plans to provide maps and Streetview for public indoor spaces as well – neat! – #MarissaGoogle.

There are a lot of design firms out there who do great work, and I always wonder, what makes a firm and a client “click” and, what makes a client “stick”?

I feel that building a rapport with a client is much like trying to build a friendship with someone from another culture. As people, we all have things in common and yet there are communication gaps that need to be bridged when two people or groups of people from different backgrounds are trying to find a solution to a common task. In the case of a web design firm it starts with trying to understand what the client is looking for both in the appearance and functionality of their website, followed by trying to find the most effective and efficient way to make that happen.
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A great article came across our desk from our friends at EntireWeb regarding the top 7 things required to keep confidence in your site.  It reads as follows:

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7 Tips to Maintain Your Website Reputation

In order to succeed and combat the competitive online world, you need to maintain a good reputation online. A good reputation does not only require a good website design but a lot more to build confidence, to grow sales and ultimately leads to better revenues and higher profitability.
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