This week I started the tedious job of learning to install and customize yet another content management system (CMS) … this time it is Impress, which I chose because it was named 2009’s Most Promising Open Source CMS by Packt Publishing. So far I like it a lot. The modules are easy to install. In fact, the entire CMS was easy to install (without Fantastico’s help) and instructions were clear enough that I could figure it out. That’s something, because I’m not a super-geek. I installed it at Perspectives on Writing and plan to keep working on it for the next few months. I’m in no hurry to launch the site. In fact, at this time (Nov. 2009) the design hasn’t been done - what’s there is a pre-installed theme. I did have one problem and requested help at the Impress site’s message forum. I got help very quickly, so I’d have to say support is available and efficient!

This month I’ve also been writing another novel… this is my other passion in life, besides webdesign. I’ve written eight novels with NaNoWriMo in the past; this is my ninth year. You’re welcome to check out my progress on my NaNoWriMo profile.

Last week I mentioned that I joined The V7 Network. This week I found a link there that answered a question about how to choose a webdesigner. This article, Choosing a Web Designer, gives plenty of qualifications and issues a prospective client should consider. Would you be the webdesigner a savvy client would hire? Could you become that most excellent webdesigner everyone would want in their corner? Consider these points as goals worth aiming toward.

Are you using Reddit? Through Twitter I found out there is a Reddit listing of open directories. I hadn’t been to my Reddit account in a couple years so I started looking around and discovered several Reddits about webdesign. A great place to share information and get feedback on the art of designing websites.

Have you designed business cards for your business yet? You might want to take a look at these very impressive examples: 100 (Really) Creative Business Cards.

Now I’ve got to get back to writing the novel. The CMS building activity will have to wait.

Revised and updated: How to Start a Webdesign Business

This is fun to browse through: Killer Startups - new sites reviewed daily…

Do you use WordPress for your designs? If so you might love this site: WP Scoop. While I was there I found this cool article: 18 Alterntive Ways to Use WordPress. I also like this WP Theme Building Cheat Sheet.

If you’re getting started in the webdesign business you’ll get a lot of help from joining an online community. I just joined The V7 Network and have been a member of the Women Designers Group mailing list for years. When you need help with a webdesign project - there it is!

I lost my job at a local business just over a year ago. With the recession and competition for jobs here in California, I’ve thought about returning to webdesign. That depends on whether I can sell that novel I recently finished revising for the sixth time. I’m submitting it to agents now. I see webdesign as ‘easy money’ in one respect, because lots of people need webdesigners… but not so easy when I consider the time I’d have to put into making it work.

In any case, I’m going to start redesigning this site. It will be an intense project as I don’t want to just toss something together… I’m looking forward to a project that expands my creative design skills and produces a truly unique web experience. How’s that for a goal?