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Web Development Year-in-Review: Our Roses and Thorns of 2020

Author: Tom Cottrill | Date Posted: Jan 4, 2021

As we step back and reflect on 2020 as a whole, there is no doubt this year has been an absolute roller coaster both personally and professionally. And not just for web development, but for the world as a whole.

As this absolutely crazy year comes to a close, we’d like to take some time to contemplate the roses and thorns of 2020. Why is this important to us? While it’s true, 2020 was a year filled with negativity and frustration, it was also a year that forced us to adapt and grow in ways we might not have otherwise had the chance to explore.

So, let’s end this year on a high note so we can ring in 2021 with a positive outlook and hope for the future.

Our Web Development Roses for 2020

As a web development company, Ignitro managed to stay busy during all of the craziness of 2020. We know that when compared to many other industries, we were lucky. As many businesses shifted all of their attention to digital efforts, it gave us an opportunity to shine by helping them build better websites, apps, and other functionality to keep business moving.

Below are some of the major triumphs we’ve had as a company and an industry in 2020:

1. From July to September, consumers spent $199.44 billion online with U.S. retailers, up 37.1% from $145.47 billion for the same quarter the prior year, according to retail figures published by the Commerce Department. That means nearly $1 in every $5 spent came from orders placed online during Q3.
2. After a rough start in 2020, by the end of the year, 55% of small businesses are starting to feel positive about the future.
3. Companies have started to realize the importance of good web design, SEO, and usability as it applies to improving customer experience and boosting an online presence.
4. Many individuals made the transition to remote work, which allowed for more personal flexibility and lower operating costs. Many companies smartly reinvested this saved money into marketing their business.
5. As a company, we have been able to broaden our horizons in regards to making hiring decisions. The limitations we placed on ourselves due to geographic restrictions are no longer an issue with the switch to remote work environments and allows us to focus on hiring top talent no matter where they live in the United States.

Personally, we are all grateful for the additional time that we have gotten to spend with our immediate family members. While juggling remote learning with virtual meetings was a challenge, it was also something special to get a glimpse into our children’s everyday lives. We all have a newfound appreciation for teachers.

Our Web Development Thorns of 2020

Since COVID-19 hit, our entire business became about adapting. Adapting to working from home, adapting to meet our client’s changing needs, and adapting to a new way of life. While looking back at the challenges of 2020 doesn’t seem that fun, it is helpful to see everything that we overcame as a business and as an industry so we can feel more confident in our abilities in the future.

1. COVID-19 has hit small businesses particularly hard, with 81% reporting that they have financially suffered because of COVID-19, according to a new survey by Wiss.

2. The same survey revealed that nearly half of all small businesses cut spending on things like marketing, inventory, and in some cases staff members.
3. As a company, we have moved to a mostly full-time remote company. And as much as we all love spending time in the office, it just doesn’t make sense to continue paying for a large office space if we are all going to continue working remotely for the foreseeable future.

2020 was the year of change. Change for the better and change for the worse. But as we head into 2021, we think it’s important to leave the past in the past and start directing our efforts towards the future. We hope to continue helping our clients digitize their businesses through smart web development decisions in a way that makes sense for them and their customers.

About Ignitro Studios

Since 2013, Ignitro Studios has been working to blend marketing and technology in support of agencies and other marketers. By understanding both sides of web development, we have a unique perspective and advantage within the industry. We provide design, development, project management, QA, and strategy, driving the bus so our clients don’t have to. We will work with our clients to get results while also empowering them to do their job better. Learn more about Ignitro Studios.

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