diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2fa55db..1941bec 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
+DEV_DIST_DIR:=./devdist/
+PROD_DIST_DIR:=./dist/
+
 devserver:
-	jekyll serve --incremental --destination devdist
+	@echo "Serving development site from $(DEV_DIST_DIR)"
+	@jekyll serve --watch --incremental --destination devdist
 
 proddist:
-	jekyll build
+	@echo "Building production site into $(PROD_DIST_DIR)"
+	@jekyll build
 
 release:
-	git subtree push --prefix dist upstream production
+	@echo "Pushing $(PROD_DIST_DIR) contents to the upstream production branch"
+	@git subtree push --prefix dist upstream production