Building a web design business has it’s challenges. Building it on the side while working a 9-5 has an added set of complexities and challenges. But after coaching hundreds of members in Web Designer Pro over the past 5 years, I’ve seen many members go from part time to full time and absolutely soar when they take that leap.

But getting there is the hard part.

• How do you create time to learn, implement and hone your craft?
• How you get clients working a full time job?
• How do you manage client calls/meetings on nights and weekends?
• How do you build a business and brand on social media without full time hours?
• How do you potentially work in the shadows to hide your aspirations from your employer?

All and more is covered in this podcast episode with Allison Ditmer who has some great strategies on how to build your business (and personal brand) all while working a 9-5!

Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/418

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Additional links mentioned:
🎟️ Get your free ticket to the SEO Surge Summit (Feb 24-26)
💪 Join my coaching community Web Designer Pro®
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In our 2025 in-person Web Designer Pro Conference, Sam Sarsten (the Local SEO King inside Pro) presented for us live, sharing his top lessons learned in building his MRR primarily through SEO Growth Plans.

In this special edition podcast, I’m giving you access to the full replay + Q&A sessions (which has been reserved for Pro members to this point.)

I hope this helps you seriously consider, or at the very least, think about what growth plan type service you can offer to help build your monthly recurring revenue.

And if it’s SEO, be sure to check out the SEO Surge Summit that Sam is hosting later this month in Feb 2026!

I’ll be a speaker along with many other Web Design and SEO Pros.

Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/417

My free training on how to Scale Your Way is coming up (Feb 10-13) at the 2026 Designer Boss Summit!

🎟️ Get your free ticket here

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The landscape of website builders has evolved so much since I got started in 2010 and you know what else has evolved? Web designers. 

Building high-converting, well-designed professional websites is still at the core of most web designer studios and agencies but the landscape is evolving now to where, in my experience, clients are relying on web designers to help make sense of the scattered online world and to help them drive traffic, leads and customers to their website.

This means an identity shift for many web designers, who are now viewed as more of webmasters or web consultants/strategists. 

That’s exactly what we dive into in this chat I had with Mark Szymanksi. This convo was recorded for his show Fueled by Progress but we covered so much important ground, I wanted you to hear it as well.

Apart from the landscape of website builders changing, we get into:

• How web designer identities change as we progress
• Where AI is in web design now in 2026
• The changes in the DIY market
• My identity shifts from designer, to course creator, to community builder and coach
• Running an online business around family (as Mark is expecting his first kiddo soon)
• 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/416

This is a deeper dive into how and why I've changed my mind on offering a Website In A Day service.

It's all thanks to Bailey Collins blowing my mind last year after digging into how she sold 400+ (now over 500) website in a day packages back on episode #387

Straight up, I recommend and fully back her Design Day Blueprint Course

Use code JOSH10 for 10% OFF and when you use my link, you'll get the Brand Day bonus model for free! ($500 value)

Based off my latest newsletter:

• Sign up for free here
• View the last 12 issues here

Bailey Collins has now landed 500+ website in a day clients since 2021. This free masterclass is a behind-scenes-look at her entire process which she shared live in my community Web Designer Pro®.

If you're ready to launch your website in a day offer and confidently charge 1k-5k per day, I recommend Bailey's full Design Day Blueprint course which I'm a proud affiliate for.

We've partnered up to give you a special 10% OFF discount and – when you use my link – you'll also get her bonus Branding Day module (normally a $500 add-on)

👉 https://joshhall.co/ddb and use coupon code JOSH10 to activate your discount!

Note: I recommend most web designers have 2-3 package ranges. This can be the PERFECT starter or productized offer, priced anywhere from $1,000 - $5,000 while leaving room for your higher packages for custom, larger, longer projects.

Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/415 

Links mentioned:

• I'm speaking more about this topic at the upcoming LevelUp 2026 Designer Boss Summit – free to sign up!
• Sign up for my weekly newsletter
• Join my community Web Designer Pro®

As a web designer, I’m sure you’ve had plenty of people ask “is AI going to take your job?”

Well, my position is firmly NO.

But one adjacent part of the industry I was curious/cautious about is copywriting. After all, I’m primarily using AI for copywriting and messaging help these days.

To hear how copywriters are surviving, even thriving in an AI world, here’s copywriter for web designers Nikki Thompson who shares everything she’s implementing today!

Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/414

Expanding in audio form on my latest newsletter entry.

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