My 
first-generation websites were like everybody’s–grey and boring. By early 90’s I’d mastered second-generation sites which proudly boasted lists, horizontal rules, and images (sometimes animated) that were lucky to match the background of the page. By the late 90’s I discovered the beauty of table-based designs that stretched to accommodate different screen sizes, and gave me the ability to control the placement of text and images. Just when I thought that I had peaked, I had to realize that my journey had just begun. And now, I’m wading through the waters of how to create compliant XHTML and CSS without sacrificing style.
Got Style?
I’m self-taught in many aspects of web design….which often means that I’ve “Viewed Source” and waded through the HTML lingo to “learn” how to implement different features in my own designs….so I’d been using (sometimes misusing) DIVS, IDS, and embedded CSS without really knowing what it was.
When I first started reading about linking the CSS style sheet (versus embedding as I had done previously) and caring about “standards” I was disheartened to think that the “prettiness” I was so fond of, was going to be sacrificed in order to be accepted in this new arena. And then, I had my realization that standard does not have to equate to being boring.
Like other testimonials I’ve read, my first experience with the power and beauty of properly used CSS and adherence to standards was after visiting CSSZenGarden (if you haven’t been there yet, please do visit). The epiphany occurred for me when I recognized the potential power my clients could have if, with a click of a button, they have an opportunity to choose how the whole design looks (same text, same elements just rearranged) with a click of a button. I now appreciate liquid layouts, and the next leg of my journey has been to put this care for compliance a number one priority. (And, by the way, using a CSS editor like Style Master or Dreamweaver have been helpful making the road from beginner to now-I-get-it status more enjoyable for me.)
Got Validity?
I’d be lying if I said I already know everything about creating a valid website. Truth is, I’m still learning and relearning little nuances to achieve validity, but I’ve found the W3 service (free!) to be an invaluable tool, in addition to a great guide in my learning path. A quick click on a button, and I’m given a line by line list of “fixes” to make (a pinpoint method of finding the problems). I’ve yet to make a valid site on the first try, but am happy with a lower number of fixes with each new design. When I don’t understand something, I visit places like these (http://www.w3schools.com/, Listamatic, Position is Everything, WestCiv, or BrainJar) to find more options and solutions.
Got Proof?
I’ll get my proof that making this shift to standards is worth it from my clients. Each brings different needs (some want colorful image-intense chaos, some want ‘clean’ streamlined; some want static content, some dynamic and ever-changing; some want turn-key, others want me to maintain and update on a regular basis; some care purely about driving up web traffic statistics). But all will benefit from having standard-compliant sites especially when the new technologies that have yet to come, render the other websites into the same dinosaur category that my first generation websites were, while theirs will still be accessible and available to their clients which is what most of my clients want the most.