Web Design Business with Josh Hall

Something I’ve learned over my 16 years of being self employed is the importance of designing your business around you. Not designing your life around your business.That’s exactly what Lindsey Freeman, founder and creative director of Designed to be Human, and I dive into in this episode.It’s easier said than done of course. And there are times where you need to do what you need to do in order to pay the bills but if you’re intentional about setting your business up (services, operations, clients, calendar, partnerships, etc) around things that actually GIVE you energy and not take it away, that’s success in my book.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/385

WordPress is in a tricky spot…and while still over 43% of websites on the internet use it, other platforms and builders are picking up steam and gaining in market share.My big questions are:Has WordPress reached it’s potential?Is WP just for old dudes?Will Gutenberg (aka the block editor) EVER improve?Do people care more about WordPress or their page builder of choice?Is the WordPress leadership team secretly a commune outside San Fran?All of that and more is covered in this episode with repeat guest Kevin Geary.Kevin has been on the leading edge of making products for WordPress which help designers build faster, best practice sites that are focused on maintainability and sustainability.His new venture etchwp.com has loads of potential to not only rival and overtake the cumbersome native block editor, but many page builders as well.If you know Kevin, you know there’s no fluff, no hiding opinions or stepping around honest thoughts. I always love talking to folks who are 100% transparent and that’s what you should expect in this one.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/384

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 👇Use code JUNE50 to get 50% off your first month of Web Designer Pro, either for the courses or community tier. This offer expires at the end of June 2025.https://webdesignerpro.comIn this one, we covered:• Reading recommendations for web design business owners include "Atomic Habits," "Built to Sell," and "Sponsor Magnet"• WordPress site migration strategies from platforms like Blogspot should consider domain authority, metadata, and using migration tools• Despite Google AI overviews potentially reducing clicks, SEO remains crucial as these tools cite quality content• A former Web Designer Pro member shares their success landing a $10K website project through BNI networking• White label partnerships require clear payment terms - agencies should pay contractors regardless of client payment status• The "Automatic for agencies" offer appears to be competing with WP Engine amid ongoing tensions in the WordPress ecosystem• Divi 5 works well for simpler sites now, but complex sites with third-party plugins should stay on Divi 4 until fall 2025• Productizing web design services works best when creating template "buckets" based on complexity levels• New designers can build portfolios through charity work or passion projects using terms like "featured work"• In-person networking remains highly effective for landing quality clients, even in the digital age⏯️ Watch this replay on YouTube here

Jonny Miller, founder of Nervous System Mastery, helps entrepreneurs enhance their health and manage stress. The conversation reveals how mastering your nervous system can improve every aspect of a web designer's life, from navigating burnout to building emotional resilience. Jonny shares his personal journey through trauma and the importance of self-compassion in stress management. He challenges conventional definitions of success, encouraging listeners to find balance and prioritize well-being in their businesses.

Join Racheal Graham, CEO of Greenhouse Creative and web design specialist for interior designers, as she dives into the lucrative world of paid discovery offers. She reveals the ins and outs of her successful $2,000 paid discovery process. Racheal discusses transforming client engagements through remote communication and strategic relationship building. Plus, she shares how upselling can stabilize revenue and emphasizes the journey from web designer to business consultant. Get ready for actionable insights that can transform your web design business!

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

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 👇Use code MAY50 to get 50% off your first month of Web Designer Pro, either for the courses or community tier. This offer expires at the end of May 2025.https://webdesignerpro.comIn this one, we covered:How to point a new site to an existing URLDesigning for web vs print vs vehicle wrapsPersonal brand vs business name – pros and consStructuring website subscription pricing modelsMonthly payment plans for web design projectsUnderstanding and using sitemaps for SEOHow to value and sell your web design businessTransitioning clients when retiring from web design50 ways to get web design clientsOnline vs in-person marketing strategiesUsing LinkedIn, Instagram, and social media for leadsHigh-converting lead magnets and freebie ideas⏯️ Watch this replay on YouTube here

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!