My website has been going through a major reboot. If you haven’t been to the site, let me just say it has been going through a Soft Open. If you haven’t heard the term soft-open, basically it means that its open, but not fully ready.
Lynne created my website eleven years ago in 2009. It was great for the time, but over the years increasingly became outdated—software changed, visuals changed and they did away with the software she used back then. So technically we were stuck. There was just a lot going on in that she had her own business working full-time and updating became almost impossible with the ever-changing ‘web’ design world. When the pandemic hit us, an opportunity came about. Lynne just finished a huge book project for a client and with 95% of her work coming from New York City, well, the whole place was shut down. So no freelance coming in.
Maybe this is the time we start over and scratch the whole site. This was a tremendous undertaking and I would never be able to make this happen without my wife Lynne.
This is 100% an in-house project. From the photos, text, videos, web mastering—Everything you see comes from the hands and minds of the two of us and the publishing arm of our little empire Luffa Press. lol
It took me more than three weeks to compile what was needed for the site and then dumped it in Lynne’s lap. Even then it was still only the beginning.
An important part of the website that I always wanted to do was a more in depth “how to” section. I started out by breaking down all the steps of making one of my baskets and deciding when I would use a picture vs video. Then I started writing. I think it took me over a week to do this. Now I had a list of what pictures I needed and what videos I wanted.
I am not a professional photographer or videographer, so I’m guessing it took me twice as long to get quality shots. I rigged up a way to use my iPhone to shoot the video. After a day of playing with angles and lighting, I became discouraged with my results. I decided to experiment with my Canon that I have been using for my photos—I knew there was a video feature on there but never used it.
After getting familiar with the settings, I set it up on my tripod, adjusted all my lighting, did some test shoots and was pleased with the results—in that they really didn’t suck. Now, I have a basket, that I already started and completed several stages, for the prior iPhone video, that I can’t use. Back to the beginning, which set me back almost two days. This is why I never did this project, until now. The pandemic gave me the block of time to do what I’ve been wanting to do for ten years now. This was not a pick-up and put-down project—it needed to be started and finished in one block of time, whether it took a day or many days. Which it did… an intense two weeks. I would start the video and do a test for each step. Then watch it. Often times, the lighting was off or the angle wasn’t right or it wasn’t in focus. Do over. It went on like this until I was finally done. Now, it became Lynne’s problem.
She came back with, “Do you know how huge this site is going to be?” Then immediately continued without a response from me, “It’s going to take me a week just to do one-fourth of your “how to” page: edit your text, create a template, edit code when it’s not how I want it and don’t leave out the videos I need to shorten considerably then overlay some text and music… I can go on you know!”
I don’t think a “well this is your problem now” was appropriate. I quietly said, “Sorry, but it’s going to be real good. You are going to make it really good.” I will help but I don’t code. She said, okay go find some music. And I did. I think pretty good choices if I might say. BUT……… it was copyrighted. My wife is a stickler for not grabbing things off the internet. Constantly she comes into my workshop to say “I can’t believe this client sent me these images to use… one is owned by a famous photographer, the other belongs to…” so-and-so. I can’t remember all. But she takes enjoyment in telling her clients “please sign off on this photo in that you own the copyright, otherwise I cannot use it.” I know she always wants to secretly add, “I’m not getting sued because you steal other people’s images!”
So here’s where we are at. Lynne published my website, erictaylorbasketry.com under 2020.erictaylorbasketry.com so I would be able to view it and for her mother to test out links, look for typos, make ‘test’ purchases (thanks Joan), etc. But… a whole bunch of you seemed to stumble upon it! So much for her thinking this would be on the down-low. I even sold one of my baskets the next day after she posted it on the “secret alias site.” So it was time, whether she was done with it or not, to officially make it live on erictaylorbasketry.com. I gave her the week to add a little “box” that she wanted to do in all the spots that were unfinished and point out that things were still coming.
Now I know this is a Mr. Basketmaker Speaks, but I am going to do something highly unsual. I am going to hand over the mic to The Basket Maker’s Wife. She can best explain her experience working with the boss man and what you need to know about the site.
Lynne: Wait… is this supposed to be some kind of honor??? I’m able to speak on “YOUR” Mr. Basketmaker Speaks” which happens to be on “MY” blog? Do you know how long I’ve been sitting in this chair from 7 am to sometimes 1 or 2 am for the last month? You are cruisin’ mista….
But I do want to say that many of the photos are still being worked on. After processing about a dozen of your basket products, we changed the “look-and-feel” up. Instead of doing a pale gray, we were gravitating towards the all white kind of look. So need to re-do many of those photos. Except for the product gallery shots. I like those on pale gray. Your poor gallery isn’t showing all the photos it should, to do it justice. Only have a few kits up in your store. If only I didn’t start with your extremely long, long, long, did I say long… How-To page! I’d have everything done except for that. But I can attest to the fact that your how-to pages are thorough. And chock full of info.
Now if it was any other client, I would have no part in doing a “soft open” for a website. So I went and created these “goofy” callout boxes from “me” to place wherever there are more things coming.
Nothing worse than going to a site and seeing little information and saying “that’s it?” and never coming back. But I get it. Covid-19 and we need to get this done so people can order your new kits since, how long has it been, a decade of the same old kits online??? Ugh. I promise to write more on why it took me so long to update. I now get it. And it would’ve saved me a lot of therapy bills btw. Here I was thinking I was being lazy or neglectful! But it will also answer why it took you so long to make these how-to videos as well!
Stay tuned.
Lynne you did a beautiful job on the website!
Thank you Joanne. Not done yet but anything is better than the old archaic one.