Web Design Business with Josh Hall

When I began my career in web design, my initial goal was to “get a job” as a web designer for an agency or corporation…until I realized corporate life is NOT for me. But that’s me, I enjoy the world of risk and reward of freelancing and entrepreneurship, whereas the freelance lifestyle is NOT for everyone. So today I’m thrilled to share the conversation I had with Chris Webb, who’s had a long career as a web designer and developer as an agency and corporate web designer. But Chris also does freelance on the side, so he has a unique perspective on the pros and cons of freelancer vs agency vs corporate web designers. What makes this convo extra special is that Chris has been a close personal friend of mine since early high school. I looked up to him big-time when I first got started in design because he was “the cool agency designer,” and he mentored me in many ways in those early days. So to be able to have him on the show now, 16 years later, is an awesome, full-circle moment for us both 🙂 Freelance web designer, agency web designer or corporate web designer – what’s right for you? Let me know after this convo! Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/397 Loving the Web Design Business podcast? You'll really love the Web Design Business Newsletter! It's completely free! Sign up today to get: ✅ Josh’s Web Design Biz Revenue Calculator (instant access) ✅ The top 5 newsletters (over the next 5 days) ✅ A special offer for Web Designer Pro™ Sign up here 👉 joshhall.co/newsletter

This episode is a conversation I had with Web Designer Pro™ member Whitney Bateson recently on her podcast “The Growth Show” where she helps wellness professionals build and launch a successful online presence. While she picked my brain about current website conversion trends in 2025 mainly to help her clients, we actually talked about some significant, general trends for websites today, for all industries. She graciously let me repurpose the whole conversation for you! If you want to know what’s working TODAY for converting traffic to customers (for you and your client sites), I hope it helps 🙂 Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/396 Loving the Web Design Business podcast? You'll really love the Web Design Business Newsletter! It's completely free! Sign up today to get: ✅ Josh’s Web Design Biz Revenue Calculator (instant access) ✅ The top 5 newsletters (over the next 5 days) ✅ A special offer for Web Designer Pro™ Sign up here 👉 joshhall.co/newsletter

This episode is a recent coaching call I had with two members from my community Web Designer Pro™, all about going full-time with your web design business. Alexia JUST went full-time at the time of publishing this episode and Ben went full-time in Dec of 2024, so it was great hearing both of their perspectives about lessons learned going full-time with them having just done it. What’s particularly of note is the mental shift when opening up an additional 20, 30 or 40 hours a week of freedom along with the challenges that most web designers aren’t aware of after the fun and excitement of going full-time wears off. Excited to hear how this one helps, especially if you’re gearing up to go full-time with your web design biz! Join Ben, Alexia and 270+ active community members in Web Designer Pro™ today. Community members get first dibs to upgrade to the Coaching Tier to get access to these weekly coaching calls and 24/7 DM access to me for personalized, private coaching! Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/395 Loving the Web Design Business podcast? You'll really love the Web Design Business Newsletter! It's completely free! Sign up today to get: ✅ Josh’s Web Design Biz Revenue Calculator (instant access) ✅ The top 5 newsletters (over the next 5 days) ✅ A special offer for Web Designer Pro™ Sign up here 👉 joshhall.co/newsletter

Great to have Chris “the self-made web designer” back on the podcast! Aside from casual catch-up and web shop talk, we get into where the web industry is today compared to when we first entered the industry years ago. Chris has a unique perspective as a freelance web designer who got most of his work through Upwork, and, with his work with ShowIt, sees a different part of the market than what I often do with WordPress. Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/394

I just launched a new DNS Course for Web Designers, specifically to help you get a 101, foundational understanding of all things domains, DNS records, email, security, performance, etc. It replaced what was formerly my cPanel course. It’s a short, snappy, “what you need to know” DNS course without getting too technical or overwhelming. In this podcast episode, I’m giving you a little teaser! Included in the episode: DNS horror stories ‘Domain Types’DNS ChecklistAgain, be sure to download the DNS Checklist I’ve made available to you for free. It also includes a special offer if you’d like to dive into the full course! Show notes at joshhall.co/393

Repeat guest and founding member of Web Designer Pro™, Marie Brown, is back on the podcast, sharing what’s working for her with getting clients through Instagram. And she offers a much-needed reminder that, even if clients don’t mark down “found you on social media,” it doesn’t mean it’s not working. The more touch points you have and the more you stay top of mind, the more likely you’ll land more clients. Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/392 Join me this week at Jason Gracia's (founder of Swyft Sites®) Million-Dollar Website Workshop if you're looking to offer a productized web design service where you get out of building and developing to focus on sales and marketing. It's happening this Thursday, the 21st at NOON EST 👉 Register for free here

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: We 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 opportunities All 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… 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: 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… 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