Dear Clients, The Web Has Changed. It’s Time To Use CSS3 and HTML5 Now.
By David Martin
Since hearing about HTML5 and CSS3, then later reading Hardboiled Web Design by Andy Clarke, I have been working on a presentation to help me introduce these development methods to my clients. If all I said to them was, “These are the latest development methods, but there will be visual differences in your website across browsers,” I’m sure you can imagine the response I would get.
Most of my clients these days tell me they want the following:
- HTML to validate as Strict or Transitional,
- CSS to validate,
- Website that meets Accessibility Level 2+,
- Design that looks the same across all browsers.
They have learned this information from us, developers and agencies, who have educated the world over the last 10 years on best practices. Now we need to re-educate them, and it won’t be easy! Most people steer away from things they don’t understand out of fear of the unknown.
Re-Educating Your Client
Generally speaking, you would start by discussing what the client currently knows, and telling them why these methods are out of date and need to be changed. Following this, you would talk about how we do things now, explaining why these ways are better. Let’s begin.
