Web Design Business with Josh Hall

Web design and marketing agency owner, business coach and partner at BreakIntoWeb, Kelly Diekmann, shares her proven strategy for mapping out a successful business plan after working with many web designers who are serious about building a successful web design business.

In This Episode

04:30 - Greeting to Kelly
08:52 - #1 Make a plan
09:15 - Business plan evolution
10:36 - Doing it wrong
13:59 - Never too late
15:28 - Take it seriously
16:33 - Reverse engineer
19:22 - Digestible chunks
21:04 - What is the why
23:01 - Lifestyle goal
24:28 - Safe decisions
26:40 - #2 YOUR business
31:26 - Giving back
32:28 - Customer care
34:12 - Workflow automation
36:28 - #3 Financial Strategy
37:00 - Pay attention
38:37 - What is top selling
40:39 - Don’t sell yourself short
47:29 - Being a “connector”
48:33 - #4 Avoiding cold call
52:17 - Let people know
53:31 - Tell your secrets
54:53 - Try what works
55:00 - Cold call thoughts
59:58 - #5 Develop a process
1:05:43 - It’s mine
1:06:42 - Outline of plan
1:08:50 - Kelly’s five year plan


Get all links, resources and show notes at:

https://joshhall.co/110

We dive into a recurring income based, subscription web design business model with web design entrepreneur Steve Shramm!

In This Episode

04:28 - Greeting to Steve
07:48 - How recurring started
11:06 - Keeping owners active
13:36 - A recording session
16:30 - Musicians to websites
18:15 - Evolution and lessons
21:03 - Pricing breakdown
24:36 - Playing the long game
27:12 - Devil’s advocate
29:44 - Getting content on time
32:44 - Grandfathering
35:38 - Automation tools
37:52 - The four phases
41:33 - Guiding the relationship
42:01 - The key to success
45:09 - Renewing vows
48:13 - Five year goal
51:33 - Living on a prayer
53:16 - Financial discipline
55:30 - Growth
58:53 - Josh does math
1:01:18 - Steve’s Info
1:02:46 - Finally thoughts
1:04:18 - Spreadsheet budget

Get all links, resources and show notes at:

https://joshhall.co/109

Co-founder of online community platform Circle.so, Andy Guttormsen, shares tips, tricks and secrets of building a successful online community and asks Josh questions about his experience with building a high-touch, high-value premium community and a Student Center through Circle.

In This Episode

00:20 - Josh’s intro
03:40 - Welcome to Andy
06:25 - How Circle started
08:31 - Course creator input
09:32 - Benefits
13:23 - “Eat our own dog food”
15:06 - Versatility
18:50 - Building trust longer
22:39 - Adding emojis
23:44 - Update on messaging
26:23 - Most excited about
30:27 - It’s not end all be all
35:28 - Play nicely with others
37:42 - Josh’s turn to answer
38:27 - How member’s start
44:25 - Why is it self sustaining
47:04 - Founding core help
48:55 - Quality over quantity
51:09 - Bringing insight
54:28 - When it started working
57:00 - Micro meetups
57:31 - Compound effect
1:00:48 - Getting feedback
1:01:54 - Care of members
1:05:09 - Invite for Josh to share

Get all links, resources and show notes at:

https://joshhall.co/108

Josh’s SEO keyword research expert and website editor Michelle Bourbonniere shares her secret tips for how to do keyword research for free!

In This Episode

03:44 - Greeting to Michelle
07:09 - Keyword research
08:16 - Why it’s important
10:36 - Short tail or long tail
12:37 - Short tail examples
15:39 - Local keywords
19:28 - Keyword strategy
21:03 - Free research tools
23:32 - Example
26:18 - Benefit from “How to”
28:40 - Candidate keywords
31:31 - “People also ask” box
34:09 - “Related searches”
36:10 - Random search
43:58 - No one controls Google
47:05 - Attention to optimization
49:13 - Freemium tools
49:49 - Keyword Tool.io
50:33 - Ask the Public
52:29 - Also Asked
52:49 - Keyword Surfer
53:48 - Google Keyword Planner
56:37 - When to invest in a pro
1:01:33 - Being intentional
1:03:55 - What Michelle offers
1:06:42 - Biggest free tool result

Get all links, resources and show notes at:

https://joshhall.co/107

Full time white-label web designer and developer Christian van’t Hof shares how he took his side-hustle of doing web design for agencies abroad full time.

In This Episode

03:59 - Greeting to Christian
05:06 - Netherlands to Brazil
08:35 - Starting design
09:31 - Working internationally
12:58 - Creating trust
14:35 - Give before receiving
18:09 - Start with one connect
20:35 - Building from network
22:22 - Working for free
22:59 - Right place, right time
26:44 - Auto mechanics
29:20 - Preparing in the wait
32:43 - Making decisions
35:22 - 2020 launch
37:47 - How to leave a job
41:50 - Quality over quantity
44:24 - Facing fears
45:35 - Currencies
47:20 - Benefits to a name
48:05 - Pay from agencies
50:23 - Profit First budget
52:33 - Learning from another
54:54 - Teaching others
57:16 - Keeping flexible
1:00:59 - Final tip
1:03:28 - Efficiency for 2021

Get all links, resources and show notes at:

https://joshhall.co/106

Josh shares about his brand new Student Center and why he’s decided to remove his course support groups off of Facebook.

In This Episode

01:08 - Value and announcement
01:42 - Fanboy excitement
03:22 - Future interviews
04:06 - New student center
04:41 - Problems of social media
05:39 - Engagement is down
07:04 - Distractions
08:11 - No ownership on SM
09:03 - Why the move to Circle
10:10 - What is Circle
12:20 - What is the student center
14:23 - Student perks
16:19 - Big ole “but”
19:06 - A sweet life interruption
21:04 - Link access in courses

Get all links, resources and show notes at:

https://joshhall.co/105

Voice of the Columbus Blue Jackets and NHL play by play broadcaster Bob McElligott shares his tips, tricks and secrets for getting better on camera and at communication which is key for web designers to grow their businesses as well as working with clients.

In This Episode

04:33 - Welcome to Bob
11:27 - Bob’s backstory
19:20 - Emulating the good
20:24 - A confident mascot
22:37 - Tips on camera
27:09 - Review your videos
29:05 - No swivel chair
29:59 - Build muscle memory
31:47 - Get honest feedback
35:18 - Look into the camera
41:07 - Be aware of background
42:10 - Lighting importance
46:02 - Self-evaluation
50:12 - “Filler word” awareness
53:21 - Be interesting
54:30 - Be comfortable as yourself
58:00 - Slowing down
1:00:06 - Inflection
1:03:13 - Do less, better
1:05:22 - Final thoughts
1:10:03 - Repetition
1:10:28 - Equipment accessibility
1:14:23 - A small investment

Get all links, resources and show notes at:

https://joshhall.co/104

Josh shares the pros and cons for offering lower-end, template style websites to clients with budgets under $1,500 to help you decide whether you want to explore the option in your web design business or not.

In This Episode

 01:15 - Market for templates
03:39 - Two examples
06:06 - Biggest pro
07:37 - Adding upsells
08:47 - Building relationships
09:34 - Adding clients faster
10:27 - Easier to scale
11:23 - Biggest con
13:50 - Overshadowing
14:49 - Portfolio struggles
15:52 - Bleeding into custom
17:36 - Not fulfilling work
20:54 - Recommendations
21:08 - Have constraints
22:11 - Clear explanation
22:59 - Hidden option
24:26 - Make it about recurring
25:01 - Change as needed
26:19 - Comment with experiences

Get all links, resources and show notes at:

https://joshhall.co/103

Digital nomad and freelance web designer Suzanne Black shares how she runs her web design business while traveling Europe and running her web design business out of her decked out sprinter van.

In This Episode

03:43 - Welcome to Suzanne
05:46 - A little background
09:17 - Wi-fi and a laptop
11:40 - Experience to niche
14:23 - Traveling
15:21 - Pivoting out of need
18:42 - 100% word of mouth
20:12 - Nurturing clients
22:02 - Creating lifetime work
23:28 - Setting boundaries
26:52 - Creating structure
28:28 - Using lock-down to build
31:11 - Use content collection time
35:44 - Managed attention & focus
36:26 - Use real answers on site
38:02 - Helping people
40:45 - Being an expert
43:51 - Domino effect
46:56 - Showing personality
47:54 - Explaining the process
51:18 - Client control & education
55:30 - Connect with Suzanne
56:49 - Work and travel tips

Get all links, resources and show notes at:

https://joshhall.co/102

Author of the book “Work Less Make More,” James Schramko shares how to practically, through challenges and tactical examples, how to work less and make more in your businesses.

In This Episode

05:01 - Greeting to James
07:27 - Some history
10:15 - Helping others
12:20 - Being a seasoned vet
15:54 - Getting stuck on tools
17:46 - Moving the needle
20:25 - Task inventory
21:34 - Time equals money
23:20 - Love spreadsheets
24:52 - Smashing ceilings
27:44 - 64/4 Principle
30:39 - Keep finding what works
32:22 - Surf or edit
33:57 - Listing the unnecessary
37:48 - Going to a restaurant
40:44 - Kryptonite
41:31 - Start small to delegate
42:47 - Taking responsibility
47:31 - What do you love
49:17 - To younger James
53:27 - Take care of a team
1:00:20 - James’ final thoughts

Get all links, resources and show notes at:

https://joshhall.co/101