Ten Practices of Web Professionals

Because the web is such a young and rapidly evolving medium, those who would call themselves web professionals have a special responsibility to keep pace with its progression. Sticking with the outdated techniques of the nineties (or even the early 2000s) is no longer an option.

Even you, savvy though you are, can't afford to be left behind. These practices, some more obvious than others, will keep you on top of your field even as it develops beneath you. The first five practices will keep your skills fine-tuned. The last five are ways to not only keep up, but to help push the boundaries of your field.

1. Subscribe to RSS feeds

The best way to keep pace with the profession is to read what the smart people are saying. You probably already know who the luminaries in your field are; if not, Google up the author of your favorite book in your area of expertise, subscribe to their RSS feed, and follow their links.

Don't limit yourself to blogs, either. Monitoring Digg, Slashdot, or CNET can keep you abreast of important developments in standards support, browser issues, and other invaluable pieces of information.

2. Read books

As fantastic as online resources are, you'll need to fall back every now and then on good old ink and paper. Books are still the best way to get an in-depth understanding of a particular subject. Even if you know the subject matter fairly well, you'll almost always be able to gain some insight from one of the canonical works in your area.

3. Go to conferences

Attending a professional conference yields much more than a few nifty design tricks. A good conference offers you a chance to meet and network with other professionals in your field, get a better glimpse of how some of the superstars of your field think, and refresh your enthusiasm for your profession.

Of course, some conferences can be expensive. If you (or your employer) can't cover the cost, try to get your hands on slides, podcasts, and any other information you can.

4. Read the technical specs

You've probably used the HTML spec as a reference. Next time you find yourself looking up a section, try reading it top to bottom. You might discover a new attribute, realize you've been misunderstanding the purpose a familiar element, or gain some insight into how different parts can fit together. (If you're feeling extra geeky, you can even start deciphering the DTDs themselves.)

If HTML isn't your thing, of course, there are plenty of other places to turn, whether it's CSS, Javascript, usability studies, or perhaps the Photoshop manual.

5. Learn a new aspect of the business

Web professionals now specialize in design, markup and CSS, front-end programming, back-end programming, usability, accessibility, content, search-engine optimization, and more. Pick an unfamiliar area and spend some time studying it. Adding breadth to your knowledge both increases your marketability and can enhance your understanding of your own specialty.

6. Write a blog

This is perhaps the easiest way to contribute something to the profession. Did you hit upon an interesting technique? Solve a long-standing problem? Have some insight into the future of web browsers? Publish your thoughts, and measure your reputation in unique visitors.

7. Submit articles for publications

One of the best ways to get exposure and advance the profession is to submit an article to a reputable online publication. It's an instant highlight on your resumé, can bring significant traffic to your website, and, if you've really got something important to say, can become a canonical work in your field.

8. Answer questions in forums

Participating in forums and mailing lists is a great way to help others, establish a reputation, and become more articulate in expressing your ideas.

9. Practice with new techniques

As fresh technologies are introduced and become the next generation of standards, you can't afford to let your skills go stale. If you come across an interesting new technique or design, play with it. Even if you don't plan on using AJAX, Ruby on Rails, or the One True Layout in the normal course of business, you'll be ahead of the game if you have some experience under your belt.

10. Do research

We all find ourselves reusing the same solutions as familiar problems arise. Make it a point to push yourself. Try improving solutions that are "good enough", but could use some refinement. Seek out interesting new problems. Fiddle with the dustier corners of your specialty. Whether your findings lead to a blog entry, a book, or a business, you can become a driver of the evolution.