Move over webmasters…

There was a time a website could be managed single-handedly. These days it’s far more a community effort and we’re all the better for it.

At the turn of the millenium, when I first started working online, most websites were run by ‘webmasters’.

I hated the title because it conjured up the wrong impressions. The idea that one gatekeeper (or geek) sat in the corner ‘running the website’ never did the job justice.

I’ve always looked at websites as a collaborative tool. The idea of having a ‘master’ is all well and good, but it meant it was too easy to misunderstand the nature of websites and what they’re all about.

Tools for the job

Thankfully ‘social media’ came along to help crack the web for the masses. It’s allowed regular people the chance to communicate online – not just the geeks.

Social media helped us understand many things, not just various ways to keep a check on friends. It was a giant step to separating out those who provide the tools for the job from those who provide the conversation and content.

Publishing to the web shouldn’t be limited to a select few. Just because one’s good at writing code, doesn’t mean their artistry extends to interesting conversation.

I give huge credit to web developers. They’ve allowed me to have this blog, my Facebook profile and other means to communicate online. But that shouldn’t mean they control the conversation.

Older, wiser

Thankfully, the web has now to become a team game. A community of people working together to communicate through words, images, audio or video.

Websites are far too complicated and specialist these days for one person to be an expert on everything. The web needs those skillful in code and others to create engaging content.

I love the fact everyone can get involved, whatever their competency. From a simple comment on a story, to a fully fledged website. From holiday snaps on Flickr to selling images on iStock. Blogging, tweeting, podcasting, it’s now ‘do-able’ to anyone – geeks or otherwise.

Thankfully open-minded developers want anyone to use their software. ‘Easy of use’ is the name of the game. Locking access away behind one person is long gone.

This collective effort has vastly improved the web and from now on is the only way forward. The webmaster is dead. Now everyone’s welcome.