Why every Web Developer needs an online presence
It’s simple – visibility.
Loy Okezie recently published a blog post listing a few of what he thinks to be the top 100 web developers in Nigeria. I found the comments to be very educative and interesting.
I happen to know virtually everyone on that list and while some comments on the site and elsewhere were such that the author was partial, there’s something very important here that I wish every other developer (that was nominated) will do something about – Get visible. The people on that list were there because Loy happened to know about them. Loy hasn’t met a number of them physically but using online interaction tools and social networks, he’s been able to get to know them.
After reading the comments on the blog and the discussion forum, I was happy to know that there are people making a difference all over Nigeria but they need to get visible and let the whole world know what they’re doing. At the very least, I expect these web developers to have a Twitter account (since I refer to it as a blog for lazy bloggers) and better still a blog. If they are very ambitious, they can go ahead to have a proper web site with profiles of what they’ve done, a blog and so on.
March 20, 2009
10 responses to Why every Web Developer needs an online presence
Tim, thanks for the mention. You’re very right about that: I specifically mentioned they were people I knew and can reckon with based on what I’ve seen.
Besides, those developers I’ve listed have played huge roles in the web industry and deserve to be honoured. However, they are not my best 10:-)
Will respond to your FB email soon.
Yep. True talk. You could be the best, maybe a part of the Google team, and yet remain unrecognized just because you don’t have a way of publicizing yourself.
Get a website and showcase your works in your own way… I would even recommend Twitter accounts above blogs. Not all developers/designers are good writers. But at least, your thots can be heard by anyone on Twitter.
“while some comments on the site and elsewhere were such that the author was partial”
tim, its not abt bin partial, the guy just got it all wrong…
the names he listed does not represent web developers!
Imagine Gbenga sesan on that list! Or would you refer to Gbenga sesan as a ‘web developer’ ?
its a matter of bin crappy…not bin partial
Hmm, what about web developers who only develop their own websites?
What about web developers who create plugins/modules for WordPress, OSCommerce etc. What about web designers who do a good job creating breath-taking and functional WordPress themes?
Sure, we all need to come out of our shell to be recognized. No one expects you to be found if your indoors.
Anyway, good judgment Tim.
What webmaster worth his salt wouldn’t have a personal online presence anyway?
You are not a webmaster if you do not have web presence. What are you mastering?
Never got to see the article, you know the story of startupsnigeria, but Im guessing some of the best made that list.
Segun, I tried to locate a cached copy of the article but to no avail. Since I did appear on the list
I’m not in a good position to make any comments that wouldn’t seem self-serving and welcome to my blog. Hoping to see more of your comments here.