Web Design Business with Josh Hall

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.com

In 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

How does working on your nervous system help you as a web designer apart from the obvious fear of public speaking and large group settings?

Turns out, it affects (either positively or negatively) EVERY aspect of your day to day as a web designer and business owner.

In the name of sustainability, longevity and just being healthy and happy as a business owner, I’m thrilled to share a conversation I had with Jonny Miller, founder of Nervous System Mastery, who’s helped top level entrepreneurs and people at the highest level of business manage stress, get healthier and have the tools to handle bigger challenges and hurdles in their life.

What works for folks at this level of business also work for us as web designers, solopreneurs and agency owners.

Can’t wait to hear your takeaways.

Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at https://joshhall.co/383

Paid Discovery is a HOT topic right now in web design.

The idea of getting paid for a discovery call – before wasting an hour of your day with someone who has a budget of $300 – is dang intriguing for pretty much every web designer.

But then the questions come up…

• Is it just a consult/strategy call?
• How much do I charge for it?
• What if I don’t have enough experience or expertise?
• What’s included in paid discovery?
• What if I don’t want to be viewed as a digital marketing agency?

Welp, we tackle all of those questions and more in this episode with Racheal Graham, an established web design agency owner who has a proven $2,000 paid discovery offer and who graciously pulls the curtain back on her entire process.

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/382

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/playlists

Recap 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/start

Free 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/wdpcon2025

Watch 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 here

And you share your thoughts, feedback and questions at the show notes for this one which will be at joshhall.co/380

Quick 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