The Josh Hall Web Design Show

I'm away with my family for vacation this week but, aside from skimming back through the podcast catalog, here are some recommendations check out this week!Curated podcast playlists, head to:joshhall.co/playlistsRecap of our first ever WDP CON in person conference:webdesignerpro.com/wdpcon2025*** special offer to join Pro with 50% OFF your first month ***Free training - 10-step action plan  for starting your web design business:joshhall.co/startFree training - 3 ways to start scaling your web design biz, your way:joshhall.co/scale

A full recap and look-back with takeaways, lessons learned (and a breakdown of expenses) of the amazing weekend that was…Web Designer Pro's first in person event conference WDP CON 2025!!Go to the full post with pictures, video embeds and more here:https://webdesignerpro.com/wdpcon2025Watch the highlight reel here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKg3eMUEA_E

Here's a walk through of one of my real world, paid 15k web design proposals. I walk you through what I included, how I structured it and the 3 keys I recommend that every web design proposal have.This audio is taken from a recent video I posted on my YouTube channel so I highly recommend checking out the video version if you'd like to see all the visuals!⏯️ Watch the video version hereAnd you share your thoughts, feedback and questions at the show notes for this one which will be at joshhall.co/380Quick tips:Web proposals don't need to be complex PDF brochures to be effective—they need to clearly communicate goals, deliverables, and pricing to help clients make decisions quickly.• Website proposals should focus on three key elements: goals and expected results, a simple outline of deliverables, and clear costs presented as investments• The most effective proposals are scannable documents of 2-3 pages, not 20-page brochures that overwhelm clients• Include 10-15 high-level deliverables rather than an exhaustive checklist of every task you'll perform• Separate core website development from add-on services like SEO boosts or e-commerce functionality to create clear line items• Consider your proposal's audience—often they need to share it with CEOs or boards who need to quickly understand what they're approving• Real examples of successful proposals show consistent structure across different project sizes, from $4,000 to $15,000• Payment schedules should be clearly outlined with 50% upfront for smaller projects or 30/30/40 splits for larger ones

I recently had a private coaching session with my friend Jason Gracia, founder of Swyft Sites, who's interested in starting a podcast but isn't sure of the best strategy to take.Jason has kindly allowed me to share it with you!Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/380

Here's the replay from the most recent live Q&A that was held on my YouTube channel!Special offer extended to you as a podcast listener

Recently, my friend Shannon Mattern interviewed me on her The Profitable Web Designer podcast all about what's working well for web designers killing it in 2025.She's kindly offered to let me repurpose the whole convo for you! It's a bit of a 2-parter with part 1 being all about becoming more than just a web designer for clients, but a growth partner for bigger MRR (monthly recurring revenue)Part 2 covers more of what I went through in pivoting from selling information to selling transformation. Very parallel to web designers moving from selling a nice website design to selling a high-converting sales tool for clients. All the same lessons apply.Enjoy!

Having a ton of maintenance plan clients is awesome - especially for the recurring revenue. But with ongoing support clients come with ongoing support requests.Managing this with a dozen or so clients is pretty easy. And as we all know – not all clients ping you every month with requests. But once you get to 30, 40, 50, 100 + maintenance plan clients, you've got to have a system for support.That's why I'm pumped to share this chat I had with Phil Storey, founder and CEO of Glow. This one is interesting because, not only did Phil have some solid advice for handling support requests but it was also a chance for me to learn more about his platform.I've been using ManageWP since 2016 and while it's still my preferred tool for managing multiple WordPress sites, you can't link in non-WordPress sites and there's no native support ticketing system.That's one of the big value-props of Glow as you can add non-WP sites and their big differentiator in the market is the native support ticketing system.We dig into all of that and more!Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/378

Subscriber-only episodeDo you remember your first year in business as a web designer? Are you there now?One thing is common for all of us in the first year…it's a rollercoaster of highs and lows, ups and downs, incredible days and perhaps dreadful days. But if you can survive that first year, chances are you're going to make it.I'm so excited to bring onto the podcast Megan Fletcher who just crossed her first year official year in business and at the same time, had her biggest revenue month to date pulling in over 8k!She's now got her sights set on a 6-figure business and has an incredible foundation to get there in year 2.In this chat, she shares all her lessons learned (both good and bad) from the first year of her business and most importantly, how she weathered a couple storms and got through the tough times.As a member of my community Web Designer Pro, I have to say these success stories are some of my favorites because I often see all the challenges, hardships and coach members when they're in the thick of it…but I know there's always a brighter future right ahead if they just stick with it!! And that's exactly what Megan has done.Enjoy!Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/377Big thanks to the sponsors for our upcoming Web Designer Pro CON 2025 event! We couldn't make such a top-notch event for my community without their support

Jump into Web Designer Pro™ for your first month at 50% off with code APRIL50 at webdesignerpro.com. This special offer expires at the end of April 2025, so don't miss your chance to access all courses and join our thriving community!In this Q&A session, we dive deep into what's working right now in the web design industry, answering listener questions on topics from SEO to networking strategies, CRM systems, and leveraging AI effectively in your business.• SEO fundamentals remain largely unchanged despite AI advancements with core principles of good structure and quality content still driving results• Local networking is most effective when you focus on accessing others' networks rather than directly selling to group members• CRM systems like 17hats can dramatically improve workflow efficiency through automation of proposals, contracts and client onboarding• Adding quarterly strategy calls to maintenance plans can generate significant additional revenue while strengthening client relationships• White label services require consistent value demonstration in communities rather than simply asking for work• AI is most effectively used beyond just site building – leverage it for business development, finding networking opportunities, and streamlining operations• The most successful designers focus on helping clients grow their businesses with websites as a tool rather than just delivering websites• Raising your rates regularly is essential for business sustainability, especially as your skills and results improveWatch the full replay hereBig thanks to the sponsors for our upcoming Web Designer Pro CON 2025 event! We couldn't make such a top-notch event for my community without their support

Josh here popping in with a special bonus episode on my thoughts on Ai for web designers. This was taken from a recent panel discussion about Ai on the Small Business Sweet Spot podcast.For the full episode and to hear other opinions on the good and bad of Ai for small businesses in 2025, check it out at:Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ByyAcRHME1WiPNvrt0dqz?si=7c07b8e44dfe4673Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fight-it-or-friend-it-ai-use-for-the-solopreneur-ep57/id1728291369?i=1000704431752Blog Post https://compassdigitalstrategies.com/podcast/fight-it-or-friend-it-ai-use-for-the-solopreneur-ep57/Big thanks to the sponsors for our upcoming Web Designer Pro CON 2025 event! We couldn't make such a top-notch event for my community without their support

Web designers do a lot more than just web design…It's not uncommon for us to be graphic and brand designers, photographers, strategists, copywriters, etc…So, should we call ourselves more than just a web designer?Award winning branding and design studio founder Jacob Cass, who's worked with Disney, Nintendo and Jerry Seinfeld, has done it all and has some invaluable experience and perspective to share when it comes to how web designers can position themselves nowadays.One of the many things I learned from talking with Jacob is – if you position yourself in a way that's right for you, you'll watch your revenue climb, you'll attract better clients and enjoy your work more.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/376

There's nothing better than talking to a web designer who's enjoying their work, loving their clients, making good money and who's just all around thriving. And that's why I'm pumped to share this recent convo I had with Kristin Adkins of Crash Design Co who's found a suite niche by becoming the trusted “web designer for speakers”Kristin was on the podcast (ep 143) when she had just gone full time and I thought it was a good time to catch up because now, 5 years later, she's grown her business, nailed her niche and continues to love every minute of it. A lot of web designers get burned out, take too much on or have goals that lead to stress and growth pains but Kristin's done it right by building a business around her lifestyle goals and mid-west pace.This was a hard one to title because we get into everything from:NichingScaling/hiringBuilding a referral networkRaising ratesSticking with Elementor (and not having shiny object syndrome)The value of sending clients “website launch packs”And so much more. But it's all the things that have led to her having an amazing first 5 years so that's what we get into in this one.P.S. Wouldn't it be cool to see her website launch pack examples and process? Kristin will be doing a special guest training inside Web Designer Pro™ this summer so jump on in to connect with her!Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/375

I'm doing a first for my business in 2025...sharing quarterly recaps and income reports!In this first-ever quarterly income report, we'll get into how we achieved $115,655 in revenue with over $88,000 in profit while building Web Designer Pro to $346,459 in annual recurring revenue.Highlights include:• Moving course sales pages from joshhallco to webdesignerprocom, including transferring all course reviews using Senja• Launching Web Designer HQ, a centralized directory for all SOP templates, email scripts, and resources• Creating audio versions of three courses available as private podcast feeds for Pro members• Introducing Brock, an AI agent for Web Designer Pro that helps members find resources and get coaching• Planning course revamps for DNS and SEO courses plus developing a new model site• Celebrating nearly selling out the first Web Designer Pro conference with 36 out of 40 tickets sold• Breaking down revenue streams: $85,000 from Web Designer Pro memberships, $15,000 from sponsorships, $8,186 from affiliate income• Maintaining a lean business model with just $27,600 in quarterly expenses, including team costs and taxesI definitely challenge you to look at your own business numbers quarterly, even if you don't share them publicly. Take time to celebrate your wins and analyze what's working and what's not!- Josh

The social media video and reel game is a hard one to play (and win) when it comes to landing clients. Every platform is beyond saturated, the competition is only growing and unless you're getting quality leads fairly quick, it can be difficult to stick with.But as Roberto Blake has recently been quoted in saying:”While there may be saturation in a market, there's not a saturation of “quality.”This could not be more timely for you if you're wanting to market your web design business with videos and reels. And there may be no better example of this than my guest in this chat, Blaze Smith Blaze, who at a very young age, started getting clients immediately through Instagram and TikTok reels. Many of them with big brand CEO's, founders and marketing directors.We get into his process from planning, to recording, to the proven strategies and blueprints he follows for all his videos which have not only brought in quality leads, but have also built up his social media following to tens of thousands in a matter of months.If you're wondering how to stand out and get clients with reels, here ya go.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/374

Ok web designer – tell me if this sounds familiar…You sign on a new client for a website project!But then, they send you their atrocious logo…Now what?Do you design the website based on their terrible logo/existing brand?Do you try to upsell an unexpected logo/brand package?Do you pause the website project and tell them to hire a new logo designer first?This is a very common challenge for web designers but there is a solution!Repeat guest and branding expert Jamie Starcevich has really dialed in a nifty solution for this situation which is, in short, to offer a “Light Branding Package.” In this chat, we get into all the details of how to offer it, what constraints to put on it, how much to charge for it and more!Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/373

Broc (named “Broccoli” by my daughter Annie) is our new Ai assistant in Web Designer Pro™ and it's available now as a part of your membership to Pro!▶️ Watch the video walkthru of Broc hereIt'll help you find lessons, resources, posts, threads, members, past calls, etc. It pulls from strictly from Web Designer Pro™ source material so everything you're getting is straight from Pro.And apart from using it to help you find resources, you can use it as your own “Josh Ai Coach” to ask it any questions about pricing, offers, scaling, etc!Join at WebDesignerPro.com to get instant access to Broc!Available on the Community and Coaching Tiers.P.S. If you're on the Courses Tier, you can upgrade here

They say business is like a roller coaster…ups and downs and highs and lows…and “they” couldn't be more right.My guest in this chat, friend of the podcast, king of the Subscription Web Design model and founding member of Web Designer Pro Steve Schramm can also confirm.Recently, he shared a thoughtful, transparent and inspirational post in Pro about how he rebounded from a tough situation when he had over 6k+ in MRR drop within one week.At the same time, he also landed one of his biggest contracts to date…the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship truly are comical sometimes.But most importantly, we get into exactly WHAT he did when he had the week of 6k down and HOW he began to rebound quickly.Enjoy.Enjoy this chat and enjoy the ride of being a web design entrepreneur baby!Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/372When you join Web Designer Pro™ (on any tier) you'll get instant access to the new private audio course feeds for:Web Design Business CourseMaintenance Plan CourseScale Your Way CourseJoin Web Designer Pro™ and enjoy instant access to these courses in audio format along with the full courses inside Pro!

My wife and I recently celebrated our 10 Year Anniversary

Web designers often have similar dreams…Build a sustainable, freedom-based, lifestyle business.Build a healthy, awesome client base.Grow Monthly Recurring Revenue month after month.Do it all while enjoying the journey.My guest in this podcast episode has achieved all of this and more which is why I'm excited to share my conversation with Web Designer Pro™ member Cami MacNamara who's been a professional WordPress web designer since 2002 and has grown her maintenance plan to over 200 sites!We dive into mainly how she sells her maintenance plan and the automations she has in place to continue to run it at that level still as a happy solopreneur. We also get into how she has built her client base, gets referrals and her views on WordPress and where it is in the market today versus when she started using it over two decades ago.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/371When you join Web Designer Pro™ (on any tier) you'll get instant access to the new private audio course feeds for:Web Design Business CourseMaintenance Plan CourseScale Your Way CourseJoin Web Designer Pro™ and enjoy instant access to these courses in audio format along with the full courses inside Pro!

If you're nervous, anxious, jittery or just plain distraught before sales calls or meetings…you're not alone. I honestly can't believe this isn't talked about more. After all – you pour your heart and soul into building awesome websites and refining your craft but in order to get paid for that hard work…you gotta sell!Luckily, there are many things you can do to build confidence and calm before a sales meeting. And that's what we're diving into today.I'm pumped to be joined by voiceover professional John Melley who – if you've listened to Pat Flynn's “Smart Passive Income” podcast – you already know…he's the guy who's intro'd Pat and done his fun facts for years.Needless to say, I've been listening to John in this form for years. Always wondering…”Is that his real voice?”You'll find that out in this wide-ranging convo about:Calming nerves before sales meetingsHow to speak and present clearly and confidentlyHow to physically change your state if you're nervousHow to save your voice when you talk a lotPosture tips while workingAnd a whole lot more.P.S. Be sure to check out his book The Voiceover Athlete (don't worry, it's for web designers too!)Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/370When you join Web Designer Pro™ (on any tier) you'll get instant access to the new private audio course feeds for:Web Design Business CourseMaintenance Plan CourseScale Your Way CourseJoin Web Designer Pro™ and enjoy instant access to these courses in audio format along with the full courses inside Pro!

Trusting your gut…it usually pays off, maybe not on the books, but personally.But following your intuition is not always easy. Especially if sales are down, confidence is low, etc. You may have no idea where your intuition is leading you.So to help with this topic, I'm here to share my recent convo with business coach and mentor Alyssa Williamson who has some SOLID advice and principles for leading your business through intuition and following what works for you.As someone who faced burnout and learned the dangers of NOT following her intuition, Alyssa is a real-world example of how to live this first hand.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/369When you join Web Designer Pro™ (on any tier) you'll get instant access to the new private audio course feeds for:Web Design Business CourseMaintenance Plan CourseScale Your Way CourseJoin Web Designer Pro™ and enjoy instant access to these courses in audio format along with the full courses inside Pro!

Listen to my full interview with Chris Do (ep 368)When you join Web Designer Pro™ (on any tier) you'll get instant access to the new private audio course feeds for:Web Design Business CourseMaintenance Plan CourseScale Your Way CourseJoin Web Designer Pro™ and enjoy instant access to these courses in audio format along with the full courses inside Pro!

I teased about this recently on my social media and got a HUGE response which tells me…you're pumped to see Chris Do on The Web Design Business Podcast and I'm pumped to share our full conversation with you!Chris is known for helping web designers charge their worth, price value over time, get higher-paying clients, how to negotiate during a sales call and how to price for the life you want to live and somehow, we covered all of that and more in our very fast hour together.Enjoy the full convo and head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/368P.S. Did you know? Web Designer Pro members got early access to this conversation, completely unedited – it's just another reason to join WDP as you get access to the private Pro Podcast feed no matter what tier you're on! Become a member today at webdesignerpro.comHead to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/368

This was a recent live guest expert training held in my community Web Designer Pro™. To get all the resources mentioned, along with the links, slides and access to the extended Q&A session, you can get it as a member of Pro!In this training, Shannon Mattern covers how to offer paid discovery and more specifically, how and when to add it into your sales calls.If you're interested in getting paid before you get paid, getting paid for your ideas and/or having a clear separation between free consult calls vs paid discovery/strategy sessions…this one is for you.If you'd like more guidance, scripts and a more “handheld” approach to offering paid discovery, Shannon has a full Paid Discovery Mastery Course!Normally $500, only $297 for members of Pro AND for a limited time, you can get this same discount even if you're not yet a member of Pro!Use code coupon code PAIDDISCOVERYPRO at checkout.When you join Web Designer Pro™ (on any tier) you'll get instant access to the new private audio course feeds for:Web Design Business CourseMaintenance Plan CourseScale Your Way CourseJoin Web Designer Pro™ and enjoy instant access to these courses in audio format along with the full courses inside Pro!

As a web designer, you may eventually get to a point (or maybe you're there now) where you want to connect, support and continue to empower your clients in one place. One way to do that is by offering a customer membership or community. It's a great way to build MRR, stay top of mind, create powerful customer relationships, partnerships, etc.I get it, as a web designer, you didn't sign up to be a community builder BUT you might be sitting on a golden opportunity here so to dive into this subject, I'm excited to share a conversation I had with Carol Dunlop – a Web Designer Pro member and entrepreneur of over 30 years, recently on her podcast!While she interviews me in this one about online community building and about how to reignite HER customer marketing membership, everything we discuss can be implemented by you if you're considering having a customer membership of your own.We dive into:How a little change in her maintenance plan massively increased her MRR almost instantlyHow to build an online customer communityWhen to sell said community in the lifetime of a customerHow to balance community building and service workHow to price a customer communityAnd much more.Big thanks for letting me repurpose this chat with you and to Carol for having me on her show!Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/367

Ever wondered how to have time to market your business while still having time to get design projects done?Well, there's no magic formula and striking the balance between the two is tricky. But a great example of someone doing this well is my dude from down under, word-class logo designer James Barnard.James follows a simple 50/50 approach. Meaning 50% of his work is dedicated to marketing (social media, videos, speaking, interviews) and 50% is dedicated to service work (proposals, calls, logo designs, admin work, etc)It was awesome catching up with James to dig into this topic more which – speaking of 50% – is actually only 50% of this conversation. This turns into a coaching call about halfway through as we dig into James' lead funnel and we pinpointed some very interesting challenges that I helped walk him through.I hope everything we covered together helps you and your lead funnel/bad-fit weeding out processes as well.P.S. I recently posted about the website audit I did for James following this call that you can check out here! It'll be a great next step after hearing our convo.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/366

Building landing pages or sales pages that convert isn't rocket science. But there is some science to it. Most of which is proven and can be learned from (and implemented) into your own sales pages very quickly.So, let's cut right to the chase on how to create high-converting landing/sales pages with an expert who's been around the block MANY times over.This is a chat with Alisha Conlin-Hurd who's worked on, optimized and deployed thousands of high-converting sales pages across hundreds of different industries. She's a wealth of knowledge on the subject but in this one, we get into the specifics you can apply to your web design services pages and lead generators including:How long a sales pages should beWhat common elements are high-convertersHow to balance images, graphics and copy togetherIf AI convertsWhat “stand out” practices you can try out without veering too far off the proven path of conversionsHead to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/365

An unexpected topic of conversation I've consistently had over the last couple years when coaching members of my community Web Designer Pro privately is around managing ADHD and running a web design business.When thinking about ADHD, I'm probably not alone in immediately jumping to the visual of the wild 7 year old kid who can't sit down in class. But since the conversation around this has become more prevalent for me both personally in my coaching DM's and in the web design community at large via other forums or groups I check into, I wanted to dig into what this looks like practically for adults running a web design business.Since this is a sensitive topic, I wanted to chat with someone who I could level with and learn from versus being educated from an “ADHD Coach” per say.That's why I'm dang pumped about sharing my recent convo with my old friend (literally, we were doubles tennis partners in High School) Rob Chaplin. Rob and I reconnected a couple years back when he was considering jumping into a creative field like web design. Since then, he's been through all my courses, built up his freelance business and became a member of my community Web Designer pro.But in 2024, he let me know that he hit a wall…feeling disorganized, down, scattered and disoriented about how to move forward in business and in life. Now, many of these feelings are natural when you start a business, do something new or take on the common stresses of building something – but for Rob, it was more.After some self-research, he dipped his toe into pursuing ADHD treatment, most of which are behavioral and habitual and I have to say, I've seen a noticeable difference with his output and his overall energy and state.For all those reasons and more, I wanted to have an open chat about HIS experience and journey managing ADHD as a web designer and because he's so new in the journey and he's really passionate about sharing what's working for him.We dig into:The red flags that led him to research ADHDHow he started small and began making better progress in becoming more focused and productiveWhat tips, tricks and strategies he uses to help his ADHD (daily) nowHow creative fields like web design are actually ideal for folks on any spectrum of the ADHD scaleHow ADHD can actually be used in a very positive way with boundaries and constraintsAgain, this is purely an explorative chat for me to learn more about this world without judgement or preconceived notions.Disclaimer: Rob shares HIS journey, methods, strategies and medications that work for him but this is not medical advice or recommendation. See your doctor or consult with a professional before exploring any of the medications that are mentioned.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/364

Many web designers don't want to scale. I get it - because I had that mindset too. I never wanted to be an agency with overhead, payroll, extra stress from managing people, etc.But the good news is, especially nowadays, you can scale a web design business your way. In a low-stress, low-pressure way that works for you no matter where your business is in revenue and profitability.Sandy Burns, a founding member of my community Web Designer Pro is a perfect example of this. She was on the podcast recently sharing her story of passing 10 years in business and how she (reluctantly) HAD to scale because she had become so overwhelmed with projects.We got to hear from her perspective what it was like to scale and how the timing couldn't have been more crucial because shortly after she began to scale and reduce her workload, she was diagnosed with cancer and immediately began a journey of chemo and cancer treatment.That's one angle of Sandy's story but another one is the other side of her scaling journey. Who did she hire? What was it like for them as she began to send more work their way and when Sandy was diagnosed, what was it like taking over projects and speaking directly to her clients?Well for that, I'm excited to introduce you to Alexis. Another founding member of Pro who was on the podcast a ‘little' while ago when we chatted about her first client experience

Let's talk about money.How'd that make you feel? Nervous? Icky? Excited? Opportunistic? Weird?The very thought of money brings a variety of emotions depending on how you feel about it. And I firmly believe how you feel about money today all goes back to your money story – and every one of us has a money story largely based on how we were raised.When you build a web design business, you probably don't realize that you're subconsciously making business decisions based on your money story. And if that story isn't pretty…well…it makes sense why it's hard to charge your worth, raise your rates, build profit, sell with confidence, etc.So to take a deep dive into the psychology of money and to most importantly, to help you build your business with a mindset of plenty and opportunity, I'm pumped to bring on someone who's changed their money story from scarce to plenty…Austin Church. He's the author of the book Free Money - a Guide to Pricing Your Services so You Can Unlock a Better Lifestyle.His book was referred to me as a MUST READ from a trusted colleague and let me tell ya, after this conversation, I have to agree. Austin's approach to changing your money mindset is a must for creative business owners. Especially if you don't come from money. Which, let's be honest, most of us don't.We dig into:How our upbringing affects our money mindset todaySteps you can take to change your money story TODAYHow the internet opened up the door to different money mindset compared to previous generationsHow to take small steps to build confidence with pricingHow $100,000 is not a gross goal to get to – but a base standard of living in the WestHighly recommend checking Austin's book out and connecting with him below.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/362Get my entire suite of courses in the Courses Tier = $49/moGet courses + all community features in the Community Tier = $99/moGet everything + direct coaching with me in the Coaching Tier = $199/moJoin today (in the tier that works for you) at: webdesignerpro.com*** upgrade & downgrade available ***

No better way to kick off the year than to plan some new marketing strategies to get more leads and convert more clients, right?I honestly believe email marketing – along with some focused forms of content marketing – will be a HUGE differentiator for web designers who choose to go this route. Which is why I'm a big proponent and supporter of it.After all…as Abe Lincoln once wisely said “He who sendeth the email gets thine customer.”Now, you know I'm not going to just tell you to go “do something” without giving you a roadmap and some solid tips to help implement so, I'm thrilled to have copywriter, digital strategist and award-winning designer Michelle Martello on the podcast to share about all of that and more.Things we cover include:How to create your “content goldmine” for social, blog, newsletter and podcast contentThe power of having a newsletter in 2025How often to send emails and/or post on social mediaWhen content should be brief vs long formHow – coincidently or not – those who send more emails make more moneyAnd a whole lot more!Michelle's resume includes working with MTV, the National Park Service, Marie Forleo and more so she is truly an industry expert with years of experience backing her.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/361Get my entire suite of courses in the Courses Tier = $49/moGet courses + all community features in the Community Tier = $99/moGet everything + direct coaching with me in the Coaching Tier = $199/moJoin today (in the tier that works for you) at: webdesignerpro.com*** upgrade & downgrade available ***

Happy New Year friends! I wanted to kick off 2025 with a special episode of the podcast to share what I learned from having two down revenue years (125k down from 2022-2023) to having the best revenue year yet in 2024!This episode is broken down into 2 main parts:What caused my business to have two down revenue yearsHow I rebounded to having the best year yet in 2024As I and many other entrepreneurs have learned, business is not always up and to the right. There are hard months, quarters and even years. But there are a handful of things you can do in any situation to keep things going and growing.In this one, I'm sharing:What led to my business going 125k down in 2 yearsWhat I did at my lowest point to keep goingThe beautiful aspect of compounding recurring revenueHow meeting members of my community in person changed everythingA look at my actual revenue growth chart (and when things turned around)And much more.I hope what I learned through my business rebound helps you whether you're in that season now or if you eventually hit a rough patch.In short, here's the checklist from my business rebound:Didn't stopCommitted to WDP being the main thingUsed courses at a lead in to ProMet members in person at WCUSDoubled down on marketing Pro (in podcast, socials, YT, etc)Did some lives on YTConsistently shared member wins on socials and newsletterStarted bringing more members on the podcastWorked on better retention for membersLet go of my “course creator” identityHead to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/360Get my entire suite of courses in the Courses Tier = $49/moGet courses + all community features in the Community Tier = $99/moGet everything + direct coaching with me in the Coaching Tier = $199/moJoin today (in the tier that works for you) at: webdesignerpro.com*** upgrade & downgrade available ***

Subscriber-only episodeFor the last episode of the year, I think it's only fitting to look ahead and share some goal setting tips for 2025!In this episode, I'm sharing a lesson from my Web Design Business Course on my 5 step, annual goal setting framework.We'll dive into:Setting an achievable revenue goal Separating Net vs Gross Rocks, Stones & Boulders goalsPricing that aligns with goals How and when to measureAgain, this is just one lesson inside my signature Web Design Business Course available now (along with my entire suite of courses) inside of Web Designer Pro when you're ready to dive in!Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/359 Get my entire suite of courses in the Courses Tier = $49/moGet courses + all community features in the Community Tier = $99/moGet everything + direct coaching with me in the Coaching Tier = $199/moJoin today (in the tier that works for you) at: webdesignerpro.com*** upgrade & downgrade available ***

Since this is Christmas week, we're going to take a break from talking about business and dive into a much more important subject…Christmas movies.I'll break down my top 10, what I love about them, why some have remained in the top 10 and why some newer ones have made it and I'll even give you a bonus which has an incredible business lesson that I've held strong to even today.In short, my top 10 Christmas movies are:Christmas VacationHome AloneHome Alone 2Jingle All The WayChristmas StoryElfGrinch (Jim Carey)Grinch NewRudolphThe Family ManBonus: Miracle on 34th Street (original)Hit me with your favorites at joshhall.co/358Oh and since it's a week of gift-giving, I have a little something special for you at joshhall.co/xmas *** Limited time offer ***Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday's ya filthy web designer.Get my entire suite of courses in the Courses Tier = $49/moGet courses + all community features in the Community Tier = $99/moGet everything + direct coaching with me in the Coaching Tier = $199/moJoin today (in the tier that works for you) at: webdesignerpro.com*** upgrade & downgrade available ***

Welcome to a special, limited time episode which is the replay of my recent AMA (ask me anything) on my YouTube channel! Some GREAT questions and discussion prompts came in that I wanted to make sure you as a podcast listener had a chance to catch as well.Why a limited time episode? Because there's a special Christmas gift attached...a freebie and a big discount!Here's my Christmas gift to you

I'm in a bit of an SEO pickle…Since 2017 I've built up all my resources - including this podcast - on my personal brand site joshhhall.co but now that my main product (my web designer membership Web Designer Pro™) is on webdesignerpro.com I feel I'm entering new SEO territory.In short, what content should stay at my personal brand at joshhall.co and since all roads are leading to webdesignerpro.com now - what content should be there?Here are my SEO pain points/challenges:It's now a little confusing sending people to joshhall.co only for them to end up at webdesignerpro.comShould I start moving some web design content from my personal brand to webdesignerpro.com and make joshhall.co more of my entrepreneurial content hub?What are the implications of moving my ranking pages (including course sales pages) to a new domain?How the heck is my domain authority ranking for webdesignerpro.com already at a 22/100 as a one-pager?How do I start this transition without blowing up my SEO?Well as you can see, I have some challenges and questions. And I don't like going this type of thing alone so recently, I caught up with my SEO strategist and trusted confidant Michelle Bourbonniere to help me talk this out.Michelle has been on the podcast a couple times, has done 2 training sessions inside of my community Web Designer Pro and is at the top of her game when it comes to SEO strategy so I'm thrilled and happy to share our chat as a little behind the scenes action.I hope this gives you some guidance and ideas for your SEO strategy, especially if you are balancing a personal vs business brand or have multiple businesses online.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/357Get my entire suite of courses in the Courses Tier = $49/moGet courses + all community features in the Community Tier = $99/moGet everything + direct coaching with me in the Coaching Tier = $199/moJoin today (in the tier that works for you) at: webdesignerpro.com*** upgrade & downgrade available ***

At some point, most web designers dream of moving from lengthy, time-intensive, custom web design projects to a more “productized” or “templatized” web design service. Something that clients can purchase, that has clear boundaries, constraints and limitations.There are a lot of ways to go about productizing your offers - and one way - is to frame it as a program or course. Especially if you're empowering your clients with any sort of marketing or growth help.A shining example of how to do this is Web Designer Pro member Whitney Bateson who, after years of developing custom websites, refined her process into a web design + education solution for her wellness clients in her signature program “The Wellness Pro Website System”In this convo, we get into:What was the “breaking point” for her to move from custom buildsHow her maintenance plan recurring revenue growth rate was factored into this pivotWhat she did to refine her systems and processes to prepare to productizeHow she's balancing ongoing support for clientsWhy she feels it's GOOD to start custom before moving to productizedWhether you're interested in productizing your web design services as a course, service, product, program, etc…Whitney is a shining example of how to do it right so I really hope this convo helps you get more time and sanity back when you're ready to productize your results!Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/356 Get my entire suite of courses in the Courses Tier = $49/moGet courses + all community features in the Community Tier = $99/moGet everything + direct coaching with me in the Coaching Tier = $199/moJoin today (in the tier that works for you) at: webdesignerpro.com*** upgrade & downgrade available ***

If you're on the shallow or deep end of the “introvert spectrum” spectrum, I'm guessing the sales part of web design is your least favorite part of the job, right?For some, going to in person networking, business meetups, chamber of commerce events or even calls can be energizing but for others, it's draining. It is, however, part of being a web biz owner if you're the one doing the selling…There must be some strategies for making sales easier as an introvert, right?There is! And that's why I'm pumped to have Michelle Warner on the podcast who specializes in networking and has many introvert-friendly sales techniques.That's exactly what we cover in this convo, including:How to create comfortable sales environmentsHow to find referral partnersThe power of creating a “connection avatar”Mindset shifts that make sales less ickyHow to network efficientlyHead to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/355Get my entire suite of courses in the Courses Tier = $49/moGet courses + all community features in the Community Tier = $99/moGet everything + direct coaching with me in the Coaching Tier = $199/moJoin today (in the tier that works for you) at: webdesignerpro.com*** upgrade & downgrade available ***

Ah…the tug and pull between wanting to avoid being a burned out agency owner but also not being a stressed out, overwhelmed freelancer…Surely there's a happy medium between the two?Good news, there is. My whole web business education model is focused around this hybrid approach to having a business that runs like a true business/agency but having the freedom and flexibility of a freelancer.Though I never had a great name for it - someone who does is fellow web design business educator Payton Smith, who calls it “The Solo Agency.”In this convo, we're getting into the ins and outs of his experience from being a full fledged agency owner to stripping things down to the basics and taking on a more solopreneur approach. We cover:The pros and cons of being an “agency” todayHow a life-changing medical diagnosis caused him to rethink his agency modelHow he pivoted to a “solo agency model”What he learned leads to more profit and less overheadCreating a sustainable business around YOUR goals and needsI really appreciate Payton being totally open and transparent on this one. With not only the business side of his experience but what he's learned on a personal level as well.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/354Join Web Designer Pro™ before we hit the 250 member cap!https://joshhall.co/pro

Copy, written by a human, with its flaws, oddities, and personally lived experience beats out corporate, stale, or AI-generated content every time.From home pages to service pages, to lead generators, blog posts, email sequences, and sales posts…the more personal and genuine you come across, the more it'll stand out in today's AI slop world.To help us get practical and tactical with writing personalized copy that sells more websites, I'm excited to bring on copywriter, podcaster, and speaker Emily Aborn who works with web and graphic designers to help them create, refine, and optimize conversion-based copy.We cover:A copywriters' take on AI now that we've had over a year with ChatGPTHow and where to personalize content and copyHow far is too far when creating personal copyThe superpower of “saying more with less”And how stories and real lived experiences translate better today than ever beforeHead to the show notes to get all the links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/353Join Web Designer Pro™ before we hit the 250 member cap!https://joshhall.co/pro

Josh here with big news! Web Designer Pro™ 2.0 (tiered model) is live now!!

The Web Design Business Podcast turns 5 today!!!

I don't know about you…but I didn't officially “launch” my web design business when I got started. I just kind of fumbled through starting my freelance journey. But if I were starting today, I would put much more effort and emphasis on creating an official “business launch.”Now to the big question…how do you launch a web business successfully? i.e. Get clients fast?Well, my guest in this podcast chat, Alexia Lynn launched her web design business in June of 2024 and got 3 new clients in her first 2 weeks after her amazing launch. So I can't think of anyone better to learn from!Alexia went ALL OUT for her launch and it's paid off in a big way in just a few short months. And today, she's pulling the curtain back on exactly what she did, step by step.We cover:How she got her business ready in order to “launch with confidence”What marketing channels she decided to useHow she built anticipation for her big launchHow replying to comments kept her launch posts top of feed for weeksAnd even though it was a success, what she would do differentlyIf you enjoy hearing what worked for Alexia but would love a more step-by-step, checklist guide for your own launch plan…you're in luck! She's made her launch plan available FOR FREE at https://visualvibedesign.com/designer-launch-planBig thanks to Alexia for sharing everything she's done in the first phase of her journey. Whether you're preparing to launch your own web biz or you're an established web designer looking for a revenue boost, you can use these strategies as well!P.S. Alexia is a member of my community Web Designer Pro and will be doing a live training breaking this launch plan down in more detail in November 2024! Join today to catch the live training or have access to the replay.Get all links and resources mentioned along with a full transcription at:https://joshhall.co/350The Web Design Business Podcast is available on:Apple - https://apple.co/36wnnc3Spotify - https://spoti.fi/36ttMEor wherever you get your podcastsView all Web Design Business Podcasts with show notes and full transcriptions at: https://joshhall.co/podcastWe just added new listening pathways on the Podcast Playlists page!

Let's get real and share exactly how it is…WordPress is not the tool of choice for most web designers getting into the game today.It may be where most end up, because WordPress is the most popular, customizable, and only open-source platform online but as a starting point, it's not where most new web designers are starting.Drag and drop platforms like Framer, SquareSpace, and ShowIt and even more robust platforms like WixStudio, WebFlow, and Duda seem to be where young whipper-snapper web designers jump to first.So it begs the question…is WordPress just for old people nowadays?To dive into this topic and to explore both the challenges and opportunities ahead for WordPress, I'm pleased to bring on a young web designer and thought leader Mark Szymanski who, despite being a young whipper snapper web designer, decided to choose WordPress over all the options above.We explore:What made Mark decide on WordPress over more user-friendly buildersThe challenges in competition WordPress has moving forwardHow WordPress can market better to young web designersHow important it is to have a lean tool stack as an agency ownerThe key ingredient that continues to keep WordPress leading as the most popular platformNote: we recorded this conversation before the recent WordPress vs WPEngine drama happened so that is not discussed in this one.If you have anything to add on this topic - feel free to drop us a comment on the show notes at joshhall.co/349The Web Design Business Podcast is available on:Apple - https://apple.co/36wnnc3Spotify - https://spoti.fi/36ttMEor wherever you get your podcastsView all Web Design Business Podcasts with show notes and full transcriptions at: https://joshhall.co/podcastWe just added new listening pathways on the Podcast Playlists page!

Clients don't really want a pretty website…they want a 24/7 sales machine.You work hard creating beautiful designs that are built solid and have intentional messaging and copy…but how do you know all that work is paying off for your client?How do you measure results? How do you keep your clients coming back for ongoing work over and over again?Well, at the end of the day…one of the best ways is to offer some sort of CRO (Conversion Rate Optimization) as a service.But I'm sure you have a lot of questions on how to do this practically and how to sell it to clients so I can't think of anyone better to dig into this topic with than Leigh Scott, a conversion rate optimization specialist.As the founder of zainatain.com, a design and conversion consulting company, this is her bread and butter.We get into the weeds on this one including:Mapping out sales funnels for clientsMicro goals vs macro goalsCommon CRO metricsCreating a CRO roadmap for clientsSelling result-based CRO servicesA big thanks to Leigh for opening up her playbook on this one!If you want to learn more about CRO, she's the next industry expert who's doing a live training in my community Web Designer Pro! If you're catching this the week it comes out, you can join Pro and watch her presentation live, otherwise when you join, the replay with all links and resources will be available for rewatch on-demand for you.And be sure to check out the show notes for this page which has all the links and resources mentioned at joshhall.co/348View all Web Design Business Podcasts with show notes and full transcriptions at: https://joshhall.co/podcastWe just added new listening pathways on the Podcast Playlists page!

I recently published a newsletter sharing 5 ways I would get clients if I were starting out in web design today in 2024.It got a lot of great feedback from both early-stage web designers and established web designers looking for a revenue boost alike - so I decided to expand on these 5 strategies as a full podcast!We'll dive into each of these strategies, how I would go about them and how I would execute on them in detail.In short:Join a referral groupUtilize LinkedInCreate local SEO targeted YouTube videosHost an interview seriesStart a monthly newsletterAgain, even if you're established as a freelancer or web biz owner, you can implement some of these strategies as well to get more clients.But man if I was an early-stage web designer…I would've loved to have this roadmap when I got started! So I hope it helps.

If you're an established web designer, think back to your first year in business. What was your highest paid project? Aside from some exceptions, I'm guessing it was in the low-thousands…or hundreds.Well, Ben Forred, a web designer who's still in his first year of business, building it as a side hustle alongside full-time corporate employment recently landed a $7,500 website package and in this podcast chat, shares the entire journey on how he did it.We cover:What Ben did to speed-learn and be able to build websites from start to finish in a few monthsHow Ben created and refined his offers and price-pointsHow he utilized his background to discover an untapped nicheHis genius process of selling a low-ticket item first to build trustHow he turned a $1k website project into $7,500This is a bit of a 2-part convo because we also dig into Ben's desire to leave his corporate job to have the freedom and flexibility he wants in his personal life as a Dad to a growing young family.Ben's story on how he got into web design really sets the stage for the quick progress he's made in less than a year. It's evident that he's serious about this web business and is going for it - and as one of our top engaged members of Web Designer Pro™…I feel honored to have a part in his journey.Incredible first year that he expands on here. Next step…6-figures and freedom!Get all links and resources mentioned along with a full transcription at:https://joshhall.co/346View all Web Design Business Podcasts with show notes and full transcriptions at: https://joshhall.co/podcastWe just added new listening pathways on the Podcast Playlists page!

It's been a little while since we've talked about accessibility on the podcast and one area we haven't covered at all to this point is specifically how to make accessible eCommerce websites.Everything is more complex with eCommerce sites and accessibility, while complex even at the basic level, gets even trickier. So, to help understand all of this, accessibility expert Bet Hannon (CEO of accessicart.com) is on the show as we dive into:The very basics of accessibilityEasy accessibility wins you can achieve on your sitesThe common accessibility traps for eCommerce sitesThe #1 accessibility culprit for restaurant websitesOffering accessibility from the start of your projectsAnd more.It's easy to feel overwhelmed with accessibility - perhaps because it CAN be extremely robust but every time I speak with an expert in it, I'm reminded that the most important thing is to have the basics covered. So if you do everything we talk about in the first 10-15 minutes here, that's a great start.And while we do get into some of the accessibility penalties that have been circulating, I don't want you to feel intimidated or scaled by web design as a whole. Accessibility is a lot like privacy and security in terms of the “rare events (aka lawsuits and penalties)” making the headlines.The goal is simple, make websites as accessible to everyone as possible. Build sites with that in mind and you'll be far ahead of most other web designers and you'll make the web a better, more user-friendly place for all.Get all links and resources mentioned along with a full transcription at:https://joshhall.co/345View all Web Design Business Podcasts with show notes and full transcriptions at: https://joshhall.co/podcastPodcast Playlists are now live!!

You've heard of work/life balance…but what about life/work balance?What if, instead of prioritizing our work and living life around that, we set our calendars, schedules, and weekly routines to have our work revolve around our ideal week?As freedom based lifestyle web designers, that's exactly the option we have available to usBut it takes a proactive approach to make this happen, otherwise calls, meetings, design and troubleshooting will take up our entire week.So, to help dig in on how to do this practically, I can't think of anyone better to learn from than Oscar, the CEO of Lifedge who's at the forefront of this life/work balance movement.Covered in the episode:How to set boundaries between family and work while working from homeHow to turn your “business mind” off after hoursHow to make it work when your spouse is in business with youThe game-changing practice of a “look ahead” weekly meeting with your spouse or familyThe seasonal approach to hustlePersonally, I love these types of conversations because, as someone who loves my work and who likes to work, I constantly need to be prompted and reminded to make sure I'm not out of balance with my wife and family.A healthy approach to balancing work and family = doing this sustainably without burning out. Get all the show notes, and view a full transcription of our podcast chat now at joshhall.co/344View all Web Design Business Podcasts with show notes and full transcriptions at: https://joshhall.co/podcastPodcast Playlists are now live!!

I've noticed a common thread among web designers who always seem to have no trouble getting clients - they're easily ‘referable'

Web designers often ask me “how long will it take to get to 6-figures in my web design business?” And it's a tough question to answer. There are a lot of variables to how fast you can build your web design business. Your background, your time availability, your area of focus or expertise, your aversion to risk, work ethic, etc are all factors.But I can tell you, there are folks who go from zero to 6-figures in less than a year.One of those folks is Sam Sarsten, a member of my Web Designer Pro community who joined BEFORE he even had a paying client and in less than a year, is closing in on 6-figures with (as of August 2024) $7,197.00 in monthly recurring revenue. And that's just monthly MRR, not including one off web design projects and hourly work.If you're curious about what he did to get to this level so fast, you're in luck because Sam is on the podcast sharing exactly what he did!We cover:What in the world Sam was thinking when he quit his day job with 0 paying clientsHow Sam began to get web design clients and instant cash flowHow he fell in love with one area of web design (Local SEO) and made that his primary serviceHow he sells SEO services to build recurring incomeSam's plans (and challenges) with such quick growthOne of my favorite aspects of Sam is that he's an open book. We talk numbers, real sales data, and proven strategies that work in this one.Sam has consistently been one of the most engaged members of Web Designer Pro and has quickly become the “go to Pro” for Local SEO which has not only been a huge help to his business but also for our community as he recently did a full expert training on How to Rank Websites Locally which you can now watch on my YouTube channel!Even if you're not yet a member of Pro, we want to give you some hot tips for local SEO because, as Sam has shown, it can really help you build your recurring revenue and be a great addition to your web design business.Sam just launched a sub-community of Web Designer Pro “Local SEO Academy” which you can check out now at https://localseoacademy.co/josh which is a great additional place for you who are interested in diving deeper into local SEO!We cover a lot of the fundamentals and most important SEO strategies for web designers in Pro but since that's not our primary focus, I'm so excited to have partnered up with Sam who is diving deeper into it. And quite frankly, who better to learn local SEO from than the man who went from $0-$7k+ in MRR in one year??Get all the show notes, and view a full transcription of our podcast chat now at joshhhall.co/342View all Web Design Business Podcasts with show notes and full transcriptions at: https://joshhall.co/podcastPodcast Playlists are now live!!