The only eight elements you need to know to build a successful website design business, get noticed, get booked out, and get scaling to six figures.
You don’t do things by halves, babe.
So I don’t even have to ask why you clicked on this blog post.
Put straight? You want to know how to build a successful website design business from the foundation, setting everything in place to scale with ease. So from the way you engage with clients in the application process to the way you leave them feeling after your work is done, this is your ultimate guide to creating the biggest, boldest, most badass website design business from the inside out.
You’ll learn the eight foundational elements:
So you can:
→ Build a strong brand from the outset
→ Attract the work you crave
→ Establish a name for yourself
→ Create failproof foundations and processes
→ Draw in an ongoing stream of dream client referrals
→ Live and breathe a business you’re truly proud of
And I’m kicking off this list with a little something so many businesses forget, that makes a big difference.
Client applications are a gamechanger in the online service provider space.
Their function is three-fold:
…all with the view to save you time on the lead generation and client acquisition process.
Include key questions like:
And as for layout (and whether to reveal your prices or not)?
I recommend going one of three ways:
Respond to all leads in under 24 hours.
They’re hot and ready to go, so you need to make them feel like your number one priority and seal the deal.
I mentioned earlier that the Instagram DMs (and voice notes feature) is my go-to for skipping the drawn-out Zoom appointments and time-waster sales calls.
Instagram voice notes are the ideal way to convert hot leads into dream clients.
Whatever you do, don’t leave them hanging with the thought of going elsewhere. Be excitable, streamline the process and keep the ball rolling.
You got the “hell yes” from another dream project – now it’s time to get them settled.
As a busy website designer, you haven’t got time to manually onboard your clients, so building out an automated, plug-and-play sequence from the start is critical.
Before you invest in a CRM like Honeybook or Dubsado, opt for a more unique and enjoyable onboarding experience. To achieve it, I recommend the following tools:
The best onboarding sequences feature at least the following two emails:
In my opinion, the perfect design process goes a little something like this:
This is the step-by-step, failproof formula I use for every branding and website design client whether it’s a VIP day or a full-out, month-long custom project.
Streamlining communications between you and your client is crucial to maximizing your time, efficiency, and income. But when I first started? I had no clue how o do this. I was asking for content last minute, going back and forth with my clients, and looking like an unprofessional, frazzled, hot mess.
My secret to overcoming this? A shared Asana board (that you duplicate for each client) with a place for everything you could ever need from your client (and they could ever need from you). This could include things like a project introduction, branding information, page-by-page breakdown, and key backend details.
As you complete the branding and website, you could upload screenshots of the design for your client to leave feedback as you go.
Spare yourself the headache of disorganization and treat every project to a streamlined process more organized than your Friday night charcuterie board.
10 one-off projects, five retainer projects, and one stressed-out designer. Project tracking is your savior when you’ve grown your business to booked-out status.
I’ve been managing 12 to 15 clients in one month alone, and couldn’t have done it without an Asana board to keep me on top of each project timeline. Because let’s be real, you can’t keep it all in your head.
Early on in my business, I established a board that enabled me to monitor each client’s status using a specific layout that moved them through the process.
It included statuses like:
Depending on your unique process, this project pipeline may look a little different. But one thing remains the same: so long as you’re moving your clients along, you’ll stay accountable and never lose track again.
Business is tough, babe. And without a little organization in your week, it’ll keep you on your toes and have you running on empty.
When you’re not focused on delivering an unforgettable design experience for your clients, you have legal stuff, accounting, launching, marketing, your health, and your personal life to manage.
That’s why I time (and day) block. I elect to spend an entire ‘CEO day’ dedicated to me and growing my business (not client work). I schedule this for Mondays, and it has been a game-changer as it enables me to have a three-day weekend and kick off the week with a growth mindset. I block out this day for getting creative, working on new offers, creating content, and diving deep into my goals. I avoid emails, don’t enter meetings, or allow clients to book me on these days to ensure I maximize my time.
I’ll then plan the rest of my four-day week, prioritizing projects based on where they’re at in the pipeline, ensuring no client’s work is left untouched.
For a step-by-step guide to my unique and uber-effective time blocking process, click here!
Being the incredible designer you are, there’s no doubt you’ll leave every client better than when you found them. But after the magic has been delivered, it’s time to end the relationship (in the nicest way possible) and free your mind and heart for the next project.
Take this as a warning: Before I created an official offboarding process, my relationship with my clients dragged on, with them constantly messaging me, asking questions, and requesting additional out-of-scope changes. Without being harsh, I was ready to be done and dusted!
Jump back into Flodesk and create a template that packages up your work as much as it wraps up the relationship. This could include links to a Google folder with their brand details, training videos, a support group or helpline (if you offer it), and a link to provide a testimonial (like the example on the right).
End the relationship on a positive note like this, and your client is not only likely to return, but refer you on to more of the work you crave!
→ Build a strong brand
→ Attract dream work
→ Establish yourself as an expert
→ Create failproof foundations and processes
→ Draw in a flood of dream referrals
→ Live and breathe a business you’re truly proud of
…All because you’ve mastered the eight elements of a successful website design business
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Your fave soulful, free-spirit designer & mentor. I'm a 24-year old web designer, podcaster, educator, and spicy-marg drinker with big ass dreams. Starting all from a Macbook air and a 560 sqft apartment, I've turned a small one woman show into a multiple six-figure design studio.
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