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/354Get 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 ***

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/353Get 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 ***

Josh here with big news! Web Designer Pro™ 2.0 (tiered model) is live now!! 🎉Up to this point, Pro has been one membership tier which gave full access to all of my web design courses, the amazing community and coaching with me directly with a member cap of 250 active members. We're closing in on capacity but the exciting news is...we now have two lower tiers available!Available in Web Designer Pro™ now is:Courses tier = $49/moIncludes access to my entire suite of courses + the private Pro podcast feedCommunity tier = $99/moAccess to courses, all community forums, events, monthly trainings and AMA's with JoshCoaching tier = $199/moAccess to everything above + direct DM line with me for coaching and weekly group coaching callsThese new tiers will make it more accessible and practical to help you dip your toe into Pro, with a plan that works for you, depending on where you are in with your web design business.In this episode, we're diving into all the details on the new tiers for Pro and what led to this big innovation.Jump into Pro now at the tier that works best for you at webdesignerpro.comGet 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 ***

The Web Design Business Podcast turns 5 today!!! 🎉 What a ride it’s been so far (and I have no plans on slowing down.)For this special milestone, I polled my community Web Designer Pro™ for questions and they delivered, asking some GREAT conversation starters.So in this special, 5 year anniversary podcast episode, I’m dishing out the longest AMA session I’ve done to date at 2 hours!The questions that came in were mainly in 3 categories:Questions about the podcast (including guest selection, favorite episodes and monetization)Questions about the business of web design (including what’s working today and what I would do differently)Questions about online entrepreneurship (including sustainability, what marketing channels are working today and biggest challenge/best biz decision made )So that’s what we dive into (in depth) on this one!I hope you enjoy it and that you get some great takeaways to apply to your web design business and/or online entrepreneurial endeavors.I also want to say a big THANK YOU for listening to the show on Apple, Spotify, etc or watching on YouTube. I have absolutely loved doing this show at least once a week for the last 5 years and have no plans of slowing down.Means the world to me to see the reviews coming in, to hear your wins and feedback on how the podcast has helped you in your web design business so thank YOU for keeping this thing alive.Want to say thanks or give me your feedback on this special occasion?Leave a comment on the post at joshhall.co/351 or better yet…leave it as a podcast review to help grow the show!00:00 - Intro to 5 year podcast anniversary03:30 - Strategy for getting guests09:28 - Showcasing client results when building portfolio12:24 - Walking the line being boss and spouse when working together16:21 - Tips for asking to be on a podcast18:27 - Guests pushing their free or paid resources21:13 - The legacy I hope this podcast leaves23:39 - Vision of the podcast and how it's evolved30:35 - Episodes that led to the most personal growth39:13 - Most rewarding part of the job44:46 - Favorite moments from the podcast48:55 - Podcast gear, setup, etc50:22 - Future plans (and how the pod fits into them)55:20 - Next hot marketing strategies ahead 1:00:26 - Cultivating an engaged community1:05:45 - Creating and growing Web Designer Pro1:09:01 - Marketing funnel from podcast to Pro1:12:42 - Reflecting on the work you've done1:13:21 - Best (and most challenging) decision in business to date1:26:37 - Most memorable podcast episodes1:28:53 - Biggest mistake new web designers make1:33:47 - Current struggles and pain points1:36:00 - What I've learned from so many different people, cultures and personalities1:42:56 - Batting imposter syndrome (as a web business coach)1:51:46 - What I'd do if I restarted everything today1:53:35 - Thank YOU1:55:42 - Web Designer Pro 2.0 teaserGet 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 ***

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/podcastGet 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 ***

Mark Szymanski, a young web designer and thought leader in WordPress, discusses why many new designers shy away from WordPress in favor of drag-and-drop platforms like Squarespace. He believes WordPress still offers unmatched flexibility and customization despite its reputation as an 'old' tool. Mark also emphasizes the importance of a lean tool stack for agency owners and suggests that better marketing strategies could help WordPress attract younger talent. He reflects on community support shifts and the evolving landscape of page builders, sharing insights on maintaining relevance.

Leigh Scott, founder of zainatain.com, brings her expertise in conversion rate optimization (CRO) to the forefront. She discusses the misconception that clients want just a pretty website, stressing that they seek effective sales machines. Topics include mapping client sales funnels, defining micro and macro goals, and measuring common CRO metrics. Leigh shares strategic practices for improving conversion rates, emphasizing the importance of ongoing client relationships and tailored CRO roadmaps to drive business growth. A must-listen for web designers!