Web Design Business with Josh Hall

In the Summer of 2020, I made a huge decision…to sell my agency In Transit Studios and go full-time into web design online education.In this episode, I’m reflecting (5 years later) and sharing some lessons learned on the things I would do again and things I’d do differently.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/391

If there’s one word that can sum up where the industry of web design is right now in the age of Ai, I’d say it’s “uncertainty.”But uncertainty doesn’t have to be bad. I love talking to people who are excited and optimistic about the road ahead and one of those folks is Web Designer Pro member Antwaun Williams (goes by A-T)A-T is an early adopter of all tech, and when I got a chance to sit down with him in person at our recent WDP CON 2025 event, I learned just how in-the-know he is with things like:Where Ai is today in the design industryThe different types of Ai available (agents vs chats vs ideation, etc)How to prompt any Ai tool to get the most out of itWhat Ai tools are best for certain tasksAnd what web designers can be excited about in the age of AiWe have a great, 101 style breakdown of Ai as a whole in this one and honestly, I felt much more at ease after learning more about Ai from A-T. Hope it helps you 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/390

Have you heard the rumours that high-ticket is ☠️?Rumours they are, indeed.Clients are absolutely still investing in high-ticket design packages (both web and branding) that range from 5k, 10k, 20k, 30k +. And to learn about how to structure high-ticket packages and how to sell them, I’m pumped to bring Kenzi Green and Maris Burgett of thebriefcollective.com on the podcast!They work exclusively with brand and web designers to help offer and sell their high-ticket offers so they’re a great resource to learn from about what’s working (and selling) TODAY in high-ticket world.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/389

Here's the replay of the latest Q&A session held live on my YouTube channel.Links mentioned:Copy my new Revenue Calculator (free)Bailey Collins' Design Day Blueprint Course (affiliate link)*** Course enrollment ends Friday, July 25th, 2025 ***Great live Q&A session here where we dove into topics including:• Website in a day versus website in a week models can both be profitable starting at $2,500• Setting clear client boundaries during the design approval process prevents expensive scope creep• Understanding the difference between homepages, landing pages, and sales pages improves site effectiveness• Real SEO success comes from consistent optimization, regular Google Business Profile updates, and valuable backlinks• Shifting from a purely creative mindset to a business owner perspective ensures sustainable growth• Networking with fellow web professionals works best by establishing a specialty and providing value first• Building industry relationships through meetups and communities like Web Designer Pro creates referral opportunitiesAll additional links and show notes are at joshhallco.com/388

Ready to start selling 3k, 4k, and 5k Website-in-a-Day packages?Bailey Collin's new Design Day Blueprint Course is now open for enrollment and I'm a proud affiliate/recommender of learning from her!Her recent episode (#387) on how she and her team have sold over 400+ design days is on 🔥 right now, so I know there's a big need for guidance on this.Having a design day offer can be your main offer or can be perfect as your starter package for less complex builds.Use my link joshhall.co/DDB to get an exclusive $500 value bonus when you sign up today!Enrollment closes on Friday, July 25th, so be sure to jump in before then if interested 🙂

You’ve probably heard of VIP days or Website in a Day packages…but if you’ve yet to crack the code on how to do them effectively, DO NOT MISS this episode.Bailey Collins and her Honey Wave Creative team have landed over 400+ website in a day projects and are now charging $3,800 (addons available) for each design day client.Now, I had some questions…How do you fight scope creep?How do you sell these?Is it truly a day or is it more of a week?How do you balance delivering these and running the business?Do you offer maintenance plans after they go live?Well, all of that (and much more) is answered here because Bailey held absolutely nothing back. So if you’re ready to launch your design day offer…this is an audio pile of GOLD!!P.S. Bailey has put her entire system and process into a brand new course to help you do the same!Because I don’t teach on design days, I’m happy to partner up with Bailey on this and recommend that you just steal everything she does to save you time.Head here to jump into her new Design Day Blueprint course!Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/387

I’m not currently active on LinkedIn but ironically, if I was starting a web design business today, it’s the place I’d spend most of my social media/online connection time.Why? Well, mainly because I know it’s geared towards connecting professionals rather than social media algorithm entertainment. If you’re interested in what’s working well for getting clients on LinkedIn today, my chat with LinkedIn expert Joe McKay is a great guide to follow.Joe knows the platform, knows the ins and outs and how to practically set yourself up for success rather than burnout if you’re going to commit to making LinkedIn a large part of your social strategy.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/386

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