Web Design Business with Josh Hall

This episode is our first ever greatest hits episode. I'm doing this for a couple reasons:Number one, I am getting caught up on some podcast interviews because I've been a little busy with Pro Con recently and some other stuff going on, and number two…I wanted to dig up some episodes from the past that I think are very relevant and more applicable than ever today in 2026. And that is definitely the case with this interview, which was with Amy Porterfield.For new listeners to the show, you're coming into the podcast in the 400s and you may not know about what episodes are back in the hundreds or the two hundreds or three hundreds, even before that. So the ones that are really good, I want to make sure they continue to live on. And that's definitely the case with this conversation with Amy because it’s more relevant than ever, all about trusting yourself and preparing yourself to do this sustainably and do it for the long haul.Plus, she laid down one of my favorite quotes in the podcast to date:“you can't believe everything you think.”True in good times and bad times, and in this age of change and flux and everything that's going on in all markets with AI and abroad, this conversation could not be more timely. In this one, we cover:Amy's path from corporate security (including 7 years at Tony Robbins) to going all-in on online businessWhy the early dip happens and how to push through itShifting from one-on-one service work to digital courses — and why that change saved her businessGetting through rough seasons by leaning on your support system and mentorsThe mindset motto that keeps Amy grounded: "You can't believe everything you think"How transparency in online business has changed — and the "scab vs. wound" method for sharing authenticallyWhat building an online course used to look like vs. todayWhy your "why" evolves over time — and how that fuels longevityHustle as a short-term season, not a long-term identityHow Amy moved her whole team of 20 to a four-day workweek — and what changedOwning your calendar as the boss (including Hobie's legendary line)The simplicity move: doubling down on what works and cutting what doesn'tThis was originally episode 185, so head to the OG show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/185

👉 View this newsletter entry🙏 Check out SiteGround's new Coderick AI** sponsored **Links mentioned:AprilRayCreative.comPRO CON 2026 Behind the ScenesWeb Designer Pro Mastermind

→ Apply for the WDP Mastermind hereFirst round applications open now through Sunday, May 10th, 2026Closed until it opens up again and depending on spots available5/12 spots currently filled (at time of this release)First-come, first-servedAny questions, head here!- Josh

In this special edition episode of the Web Design Business Podcast, I’m sharing a recent live interview I did with my mate from down under – James Barnard – one of the most prolific designers in the graphic, branding, and logo design space.James invited me into his Designerrrs community for a live Q&A session which turned into a masterclass chat about how to build, grow, and scale a freelance design business.He was kind enough to let me repurpose this interview for you! Whether you’re a web designer, graphic designer, or brand designer, this one digs into my experience from starting out to scaling up with a big emphasis on how to SCALE YOUR WAY.Gosh doesn’t that sound like a good course?!? In this episode, we cover:My full career trajectory in web designThe key stages of building and growing a design businessWhat scaling actually looks like (and when to do it)How to start thinking about team building and hiringWays to get everything off your shoulders as a solo designerMindset shifts required to grow beyond freelancingHead to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/426Your special offer:Get 3 days free access to my scale your way course (actually, my entire course suite) inside Web Designer Pro® here!Claim my 3-day trial to all Web Designer Pro Courses →After trial, continue access to all courses for only $49/mo.

Here's a recap of our recent PRO CON 2026 event with a behind the scenes look of putting on an event of this scale, takeaways, lessons and tips for you to help you grow your web design business!Full recap post to come soon...Thanks to our PRO CON 2026 sponsors:17hatsSiteGroundTermageddonLocalSEOAcademyDesign Day BlueprintWP Umbrella (use code JOSHHALL for a full free month)Links mentioned:Marc's post on LinkedIn about the power of having "your people"Austyn's agency - our PRO CON event assistant & coordinatorAlexia's agency - our PRO CON brand & design strategistCircle which kept our community connected during the entire weekend! Special episode coming later this week about how I'm using Circle for Web Designer Pro®Join Web Designer Pro® Also, be sure to check out hashtag #PROCON2026 on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook to see all the posts around the event!

We're in a trust recession. Anything in real life and in person (networking events, meetups, workshops, etc) have become a web designer's edge.In this special solo episode, I share how important this is in 2026 with getting clients and building relationships that last for years, especially in the age of AI, social influencers, and scattered online overwhelm.Links mentioned:See the latest posts from our PRO CON 2026 this past weekend on my Instagram, LinkedIn and FacebookSign up for my free newsletterJoin my community Web Designer Pro®

Over the last several months, I’ve seen more and more chatter in my community Web Designer Pro about WP Umbrella – a new platform making quite the dent in the WordPress site manager space.Personally, I wondered how there was even room for a new tool for managing WordPress sites (updates, optimizations, backups, reporting, etc) when it’s already a crowded market with tools like Manage WP, Main WP, Infinite WP, and many hosts that offer automatic backups, updates, reporting, etc.But it just goes to show…when you have a new, fresh, innovative tool that’s customer-focused and is designed with best, modern UX practices, it can absolutely start to make waves in the market.That’s been the story of WP Umbrella so far and in this exclusive interview, I got to sit down with their CEO and co-founder Aurelio Volle.We covered a lot in our time together, including:The opportunity that he saw which led him to start a WordPress website management tool in an already competitive landscapeHow they made it past the first phase of growth where most SASS companies dieWhy UX design and customer focus are more important than EVER beforeAuerlio’s personal philosophy for vision and goal settingHow to run a successful online business of any size in today’s marketAnd a whole lot more.It’s not every day you get to sit down with the CEO of a major SASS product in the WordPress space so it was so cool to see and hear how thinks about vision, goals, customer service and product-market fit in today’s competitive web design space!P.S. Big thanks to WP Umbrella for being a sponsor of our upcoming Web Designer PRO CON 2026 event! I took notice when members of my community started talking about the tool and their experience with the team/support behind Umbrella and I can tell you, they are the real deal! Great team and a SOLID product that I’m excited to keep a close eye on moving forward.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/425

🔗 View the newsletter with all linksSponsored by:SiteGround's new AI StudioOther links mentioned:Mark Syzmanski's free AI Crash Course videoAI SEO for Web Designers - ep 401 with Michelle Bourbonniere

Morning routines, air-tight calendar blocks, calls at 5pm, hustle and grind culture…all very doable. Unless you have kids..That is, if you want to be a fully present parent > a hustling entrepreneur.We’re getting into that in this conversation with my good friend Kady Sandel who’s been on the podcast before and even did a training inside my Web Designer Pro community talking about niching, pricing and agency building, but in this chat, we’re diving into what’s going on via the other side of the keyboard…the family side.With two young children of her own, and with three under 7 on my side, the way we run our businesses looks different than it did even a few years ago. Our challenge? Being fully present parents while also balancing being a driven entrepreneur. And good news, we’ve both found a sweet spot in work-life balance.We’re sharing what’s working for us and what DOESN’T work for us, which led me to the topic of this chat…who the heck do parent-entrepreneurs follow?Like, seriously? I want to know where the entrepreneur thought-leaders/influencers are who have at least three children and, in my case, ones who are specifically parents of special needs as well. If you know if any, drop them in the comment section below.Otherwise, I’ll continue turning a blind eye to hustle culture, morning routines and things that absolutely don’t work in our season of life and enjoying working 20-30hrs per week and not missing these years with young kids.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/424

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This is a first – and a very special guest for the podcast because it’s an interview with one of my best web design clients!Gary Sigrist, founder and CEO of Safeguard Risk Solutions hired me back in 2012 to do branding, graphic and web design for his new company. What he didn’t know at that time was that I was very green and new to the industry.Fast forward to 2026, his company is STILL a client of my agency In Transit Studios and he remains one of our best clients to date.We did into:What business owners are looking for in a creative/design/marketing partnerHow good communication and responsiveness made them feel like my only clients and build immediate trustWhat his thoughts were when I told him I was selling the agency and brining in a new CEOWhat my agency continues to do to keep his trust and business going after 14 yearsHis reaction to when I let him know my hourly rate was doublingAnd much moreIt was so great to reconnect with Gary and to take a little trip down memory lane but more importantly, it was awesome to hear so many of these great lessons in business from HIS perspective as a client. Hope it helps you in your web design business as well so you can find your next “Gary, A client!”Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/423

If you want inside access to ALL my top leads and conversion strategies, now through the end of March, you can get 50% OFF your first month in the Web Designer Pro Courses Tier, which will give you access to my business course + my entire suite of courses!Click here to get your first month for only $25 →- Coupon code is automatic- Offer valid until March 31st at 11:59pm EST- After 30 days, the courses tier is $49/mo- No pressure, cancel anytimeView this episode's newsletter entry along with the last 3 months of newsletters here:https://joshhall.co/web-design-business-newsletter-archive/

Imagine getting handed a project of sifting, sorting and organizing over 10,000 emails 😮As a web design business owner, that probably sounds like a nightmare. But there are people in the world who actually enjoy this type of work. And for creatives, they are a DREAM to partner up with and hire.This is the story of how Jess Lindgren began working with online-entrepreneur legend Pat Flynn.He was drowning in over 10,000 emails, and needed, not only ongoing virtual assistance support, but someone to organize and address his backlog of inbound email and communication.After Jess knocked that project out of the park (we dig in to exactly how she did that), she immediately became Pat’s full-time virtual assistant. Over the years, she’s become a full-blown executive assistant to Pat Flynn; handling all his inbound communication, call scheduling, travel, organization strategy, event assisting him in person at live events for both SPI and his fast-growing passion project Deep Pocket Monster.In this interview, we get to hear from her side as an organization-loving and biz-supporting virtual/executive assistant.We dig into:The difference between a VA and an EAHow to find and hire a virtual assistantWhat tasks to hire out firstHow to retain your assistant ongoingHow to give up control and empower a VA to free your time and mental bandwidth as a creative or ownerAnd oh so much 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/422

Links mentioned:See the visual/written version of thisSubscribe to The Web Design Business NewsletterGet your free ticket to the Simply Profitable Designer Summit (March 16-20)See my "perfect fit" section design live hereThis episode (& newsletter) is presented by 17hats

A special interview here for a few reasons:This one is in-person so it has a completely different feel, dynamic and I have to admit, I LOVED it. Definitely inspiring me to do more in-person interviews with local colleagues.My guest (Web Designer Pro member Andy Milligan) just took his agency to 200k+ in revenue in 2025 from 30k in 2024. So massive growth, however, it came at a cost. We dig into the stressful side of quick success. Andy asked awesome questions and we got into some topics I’ve never discussed publicly. Hats off to him for becoming such a great, thoughtful interviewer and host!Lastly, I should note that I was coming off of a wicked sickness when we recorded so I was not even close 100% but alas, with 3 littles under 7 at home, it’s the usual story during winter 🙂Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/421

For all links mentioned, head to my new Divi 5 blog post here

I think there’s a misunderstanding of the term “solopreneuer” in that, when you think about that term, you probably think about being “alone.” At least I did. Until this conversation.I had a light bulb moment in this chat with Maggie Patterson, author of the book “Staying Solo” with this very idea that you can be a solopreneur while not being an alonepreneur.Some of the happiest, most balanced and most profitable entrepreneurs and web biz owners I know are somewhere in the middle of alone and owner.That’s the sweet spot we’re diving into 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/420

Watch the video version of this episode.Join Web Designer Pro® to get your ticket to PRO CON 2026, happening April 17-18!🔥 Our 2026 Event Sponsors (With Exclusive Deals)17hats - The CRM I use for proposals, contracts, invoicing, and automations.👉 https://joshhall.co/17hats🎁 Get a 7-day free trial + my quote, contract & invoice template automatically added to your accountSiteGround - The hosting company I’ve trusted for all my websites since 2015.👉 https://joshhall.co/siteground🎁 Get over 80% OFF your first year of hostingTermageddon - Auto-updating privacy policies that embed easily on your sites.👉 https://joshhall.co/termageddon🎁 Get 2 free agency licensesLocal SEO Academy - Web Designer Pro’s “little brother” community focused on Local SEO training & implementation.👉 https://joshhall.co/lsa🎁 Get 50% OFF your first monthDesign Day Blueprint - Bailey Collins’ proven system for launching a “Website in a Day” model (500+ students!).👉 https://joshhall.co/ddb🎁 Get 10% OFF + the bonus Brand Day module ($500 value) for freeWP Umbrella - The WordPress site management tool making serious waves inside my community.👉 https://joshhall.co/umbrella🎁 Use code JoshHallWPU for a FULL extra month free (on top of their trial)Affiliate Disclaimer: These links above are affiliate links. I only partner with tools and programs I personally use, trust, or recommend.

I’m not gonna lie…I needed this chat. In an era where there’s so much emphasis on growth plans (like SEO, CRO, Email Marketing, Ads, Social, etc), it’s easy to second-guess yourself or just abandon web design completely if you prefer to just build awesome websites and support that work.Well good news, just offering high-converting web design + hosting and maintenance plans is still a VERY VIABLE model in 2026 and beyond.Jake Kramer of Artillery Media (along with many members in my community Web Designer Pro) are proof.Jake and his partner John, along with their lean team, are currently hosting and maintaining 500+ websites with their plan, using the same toolstack I’ve been using since 2015. Divi website builder + SiteGround hosting. We get into how they’re running and managing things practically in this one so if you’re interested in simply designing sites and supporting clients month to month but not becoming a full stack digital marketing agency, this one’s for you.Note: I don’t disparage anyone wanting to get into growth plans or digital marketing, and that is a faster path to revenue growth but if you’re more in the “slow and steady” camp, and you’re ok with delayed gratification, website design + hosting and maintenance plans are still a great way to go.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/419

Get your free ticket to the SEO Surge Summit here:joshhall.co/surgeIt's going down Feb 24-26

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

To get this and all future issues, along with all my free content: 📰 Join my free newsletterAdditional links mentioned:🎟️ Get your free ticket to the SEO Surge Summit (Feb 24-26)💪 Join my coaching community Web Designer Pro®🗞️ Read my latest 12 newsletter issues

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 hereJoin my free newsletter to read this issue:📰 Sign up for freeGet my latest 12 newsletters for free:🗞️ Read them here

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 progressWhere AI is in web design now in 2026The changes in the DIY marketMy identity shifts from designer, to course creator, to community builder and coachRunning 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 #387Straight up, I recommend and fully back her Design Day Blueprint CourseUse 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 hereView 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 newsletterJoin 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.Sign up for my weekly newsletter here:joshhall.co/newsletter

In this solo/case-study episode, I’m sharing a super simple—but insanely effective—pricing tweak that helped one of our Web Designer Pro® members, Tom, land a $5,000/yr SEO deal… on the same day he made the change.We break down:why too many plan options confuse clientshow to structure your plans to make the right option stand outwhat Tom changed to close the deal immediatelyhis updated SEO plan layoutlessons you can apply to your own recurring plans right nowIf you’ve ever struggled with pricing, packaging, or getting clients to choose higher-value plans, this one will help big time.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/413 

To kick off the New Year, I wanted to share this convo I had recently for my email/DNS partner specialist Amr Selim which we recorded for his podcast where we do a recap of my journey from cabinet maker/drummer to designer/agency owner to course creator/community builder.We also get into how different the industry of web design is today in 2026 compared to when I got started in 2010. But also, how many timeless practices and strategies work today like they did back then.We also cover where AI is, how it’s affecting (or not affecting) web designers, how to utilize it with clients, where the DIY market is 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/412

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I’m in reflection mode right now and as we get ready for the New Year, I’m been thinking a lot about these 5 timeless lessons from high-profile guests on my podcast that have really helped me over the last few years. Hope they help you as well as you gear up to build and grow your web design biz in 2026!In this episode:Amy Porterfield On Managing Doubt (from ep #185)Pat Flynn On Risk And Regret (from ep #100)Derek Sivers On Simple Versus Easy (from ep #245)Mike Michalowicz On Sales Stress (from ep #250)Chris Do On Revenue Goal Mindsets (from ep #368)Additional links mentioned:Anything You Want Book by Derek SiversProfit First Book by Mike MichalowiczHead to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/411Join my community Web Designer Pro® if you're ready to make more and work less as a web designer in 2026!

Here's the replay of the most recent live Q&A session held on my YouTube Channel. We covered everything from:Keeping support and growth plans separateWhat to include/how to price growth plansA widespread scam where people are impersonating web designers, sending extra invoices to their clientsMy top 3 tips for someone fresh into web designHow to hire support and junior design helpAutomation tools and processes for your web bizRevenue boost ideasAnd more.Oh and here's my Christmas 🎁 for ya... $100 OFF the Web Designer Pro® Community Tier! (annual plan)Normally $999/yr, now $899/yr when you join before Jan 1, 2026.SIGN UP NOW →Bonus: When you join with this gift, I'll follow up personally with a Coaching Boost where I audit your site, review your offers, pricing and give you a plan of action for Q1 2026! The coaching boost is done via private Web Designer Pro direct messageYou send me your site, I'll send you a 10-15 minute Loom video with my coaching boost & plan of action recommendationsOne additional followup for any questions you have after the boostI'll full the coaching boost in the first 2 weeks of Jan 2026 depending on availabilityI just helped Tom secure a 5k/yr client with this very same coaching boost where I recommended making a couple tweaks to his SEO/Growth Plan offers!"Before joining the Pro community I was unsure of my niche selection and unclear about my web design and local SEO offers. After joining Pro and having a coaching boost with Josh Hall I was able to clarify my niche and simplify my local SEO packages and pricing tiers. On the same day, not long after my coaching session with Josh, I was able to score a monthly recurring local SEO deal worth nearly $5,000 a year! Josh has the best courses, the best community and the best coaching - bar none (and I have tried many others over the years!)" - Tom Perry (allydigital.com.au)

As a web designer, you’ve probably considered looking into additional revenue streams, but have you ever considered sponsorships?If not, you’ll want to hear this conversation I had with sponsorship coach and author of the new book “Sponsor Magnet” Justin Moore.While this is mostly a chance for him to coach me live on my sponsorship strategies, it applies to web designers even with small client-based audiences and followings.There is so much opportunity for sponsorships at all levels with brands, local businesses and even referral partners that you might not be thinking about as a web designer. So, instead of just sitting on gold…let’s dig some up in the form of sponsorships with Justin!Side note: as a web designer, I must say, chef’s kiss to the sponsormagnet.com site! Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/409

👉 Read the newsletter issue that this episode is based on.Other links mentioned:Sign up for my free Web Design Business NewsletterRead the latest 12 newsletter issuesWDPCON 2025 Recap Post Join my community Web Designer Pro® 

Jay Clouse is best known for two things:Being the founder of Creator Science, and being one of the most prominent thought-leaders in the content creator spaceBeing the first 4x guest on the Web Design Business PodcastJay and I connected early in his journey into the world of courses, coaching, podcasting, memberships and content creation and over the last 5 years, I’ve seen him excel in all areas.So much so, that I’m a paying member of his community “The Lab” where I keep tabs on all things socials, content creation, podcasting, memberships and more.But a big shift happened for Jay last year when he and his wife had their first little cuddly Clouse. So for this chat, we focus on that – specifically what he’s learned in growing and maintaining his business with harsher time and bandwidth constraints as a new parent.Enjoy! And if you’re this season as well, just know, the sleep deprivation DOES get better 🙂Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/408

There are a lot of ongoing changes happening with SEO and how user behavior is changing with AI. It’s hard enough to keep up with as a web designer…I can’t imagine as a client!But someone who’s doing a great job keeping their SEO clients in-the-know and updated every step of the way is Lindsay Halsey, co-founder of SEO agency webshine.comShe shares how they’re implementing AI SEO, how it’s changing their current offers, pricing and what they’re not changing.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/407

I’m sharing the replay of my recent Live Q&A session where we dug into all things client retention, communication, and keeping your web design business running smoothly… even when outages hit or the unexpected happens.You’ll hear me break down some of the same strategies I taught at the recent Circle Summit — including how to set boundaries, create repeatable touchpoints, and turn one-time clients into long-term fans.And since we’re heading into Black Friday, I also walk through this year’s Web Designer Pro® deals, including some really solid bonuses to help you level up going into 2025.We cover:personal welcome videos that set the tonelaunch packs that turn go-live into referrals30-day post-launch buffers to reduce scope creepmonthly reports to stay top-of-mindA/B/C client segmentation for holiday outreachthe “website is never finished” mindsetSOS plans for Squarespace and Webflow clientscalm scripts for handling outages + tough conversationsshifting from designer → strategistwhat’s new with Divi 5security basics and support plansBlack Friday offers worth sharing👉 2025 Black Friday Deal – 25% OFF Annual Plans on Pro!Courses Tier:Usually $499/yr → now $374/yrPersonalized website strategy audit (10–15 min Loom video)https://member.webdesignerpro.com/checkout/course-access?coupon_code=BF2025 Community Tier:Usually $999/yr → now $749/yrWebsite strategy audit plus a 30-min 1:1 with mehttps://member.webdesignerpro.com/checkout/community-access?coupon_code=BF2025Offer good through Cyber Monday, Dec 1 at 11:59pm ETValid for Courses + Community tiersAudits + 1:1s delivered December–JanuaryWatch the replay here on YouTube!

What better time to learn about the latest (and time-tested) trends for website conversion than heading into Black Friday, Holiday’s and New Year – and that’s what we’re getting into with Greg Merrilees, who literally wrote the book on website conversion with Next Level Website Design.We’re getting into all the nerdy, nitty-gritty and specific conversion tips and tricks on this one.Remember, everything you learn here and apply to your site works on client sites making you more and more valuable as a conversion-focused web designer! Charge accordingly 🙂Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/405

Happy 5th Birthday Web Designer Pro® 🥳What started on November 4th, 2020, as a small coaching community for 30+ of my top course students has become a leader in the web design business-coaching space and one of Circle's most highly engaged communities.It's a testament to the AMAZING members who show up every week to help, support, and encourage each other, as web designers at all stages, to grow their web businesses together.It's an honor to lead this thing, and I can safely say – 5 years in and we're just getting going!🎉This special edition podcast episode is the replay from our recent live Q&A with Coaching Tier members of Pro, celebrating the milestone. Many of whom are original founding members who’ve been in since day one!Questions range from community building, if I miss designing websites for clients, podcasting, offers/pricing, how to do YouTube to get clients and much 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/wdp5

Design and building websites…that’s the fun part.Managing the project, collecting content, onboarding, handling revisions and feedback…typically, not so much.Which is why, if you can automate as much of the repeatable tasks and make a system and process for the “unfun” parts of a web design project, it’ll make your life much easier and more profitable.That’s what we’re diving into this one with automation and systems specialist (and fellow 17hats user) Kristen Lettini.We get into:What automations you’re missing (and why to add them NOW)The GOLD of auto-remindersUsing a CRM like 17hats to automate as much as possibleMy “before and after” automation momentWhy improving systems is THE KEY to sustainability

Being an entrepreneur is challenging. Being a parent-entrepreneur is even more challenging. Being a special needs parent entrepreneur…it’s tough to put into words. But one thing’s for sure, the freedom of schedule and flexible availability, to be able to care for a special needs kiddo as a web designer is UNMATCHED and well worth all the challenges.We’re diving into all of that and more in this special group chat that I had with Marc Hyde, Lisa Dorian and Ed Gomes. All members of Web Designer Pro who have something in common, being a web designer and entrepreneur with one or more special needs children we care for.We get into:Future planning for special care after retirementHow goals and vision changes after having a child with special needsHow to structure your schedule and calls around a complex scheduleHow we stay balanced during hard times (emergencies, surgeries, etc)The invaluable need for a supportive community of others who are in similar situationsAnd don’t worry, you don’t need to have a special needs kiddo to get a lot out of this convo because everything we talk about is applicable to you as an entrepreneur parent.

Today we have a guest host for the podcast, my persona SEO Guru and Copy Strategist Michelle Bourbonniere who’s sharing what you need to know about the latest with AI SEO.Specifically, five things that are changing, and five things that are staying in regard to “on and off-site SEO.”

Do you find that you no longer fit in with many of your friends when you become an entrepreneur?If so, you’re not alone.In this episode, I’m sharing my take on this common “friendshift” for web design entrepreneurs and it’s based off a recent newsletter from Web Designer Pro member Alexia (of visualvibedesign.com) who shared a very open and honest take on this topic.So in this solo episode, it’s narrative as I’ll read you Alexia’s newsletter and follow up with my take as well on things like:Why old friendships shift when priorities changeBelonging in the awkward middle between old circles and new peersThe value of small, curated communities over giant groupsPractical steps to find “web besties” and collaboratorsIdentity growth, ROI on social time, and protecting focusAnd 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/400

One of our biggest Web Designer Pro member success stories, Sam Sarsten, is back on the podcast with an update on how he’s grown his agency to over 200k in 3 years, primarily through Local SEO.We’re getting into all the nitty gritty on this one:How much he chargesHow he finds clientsHow he measures and tracks resultsHow he’s scaled his teamHow he offers web design + SEOAnd more! Heads up, we had some technical issues + a guest interruption (Peaches!!) who wiggled some chords so this one is a little more edited than normal. But the gems were too good to re-record.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/399

Ever wondered if you should trademark your business?There are a lot of reasons you may consider it:You may want to sell your business one day.You might want to make sure no one can take your brand name with no grounds for legal action on your end.You might have a productized service or product you want to sell eventually.You may just want full control over your brand as a whole.For all those reasons and more, you might be wondering if you should trademark and what the process is.To help with that, I’m excited to bring, back onto the podcast, personal legal commandant Ann Koppuzha who recently helped me get Web Designer Pro® officially trademarked!We walk through the entire process, what to do and what to expect.Again, whether or not you want to sell your business one day, there are many reason you might want to consider OWNING your brand name or a product or service that you offer.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/398

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

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