Web Design Archives - Elizabeth McCravy https://elizabethmccravy.com/category/design/web-design/ Showit Website Templates, Business Courses, Business Podcast for Moms Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:22:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://i0.wp.com/elizabethmccravy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/cropped-Elizabeth-McCravy-Logo_Icon-Watermelon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Web Design Archives - Elizabeth McCravy https://elizabethmccravy.com/category/design/web-design/ 32 32 138427508 New Business Owners, Here’s How to Build Your First Website https://elizabethmccravy.com/build-your-first-website/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/build-your-first-website/#respond Tue, 30 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=8433 If you're a new business owner looking to build your first website, this episode is for you! I'm sharing common website words you should know, what you need (and don't) to get started, and how to build your first website step-by-step.

The post New Business Owners, Here’s How to Build Your First Website appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

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You’ve started the business, or the side hustle, or the hobby, or freelancing. You’ve got the name, maybe even an Instagram handle, maybe your first client paid or not, but no real website yet. That means, to build your first website might be the next big step to looking professional and really solidifying your business as a business.

In this episode, I’m giving you clarity, confidence, and understanding on how to get a website up without tech overwhelm, without tons of money, or without tons of time. I'm even going to do a quickfire glossary of website-related terms you’re going to hear on your website journey so you can really understand what’s going on.

Below, I’m going to share the things you don’t need when building your first website, even though you might think you need them. I’m also going to share the things you actually do need, and then walk you through the step-by-step of building your first website. Let’s dive in.

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I truly love helping first-time business owners launch their first website because it is such a milestone. The day you launch your website as a small business owner is often the day you think of as the official start date of your business. It’s like that ribbon-cutting moment.

If you’re brick-and-mortar, the start date is often the grand opening when customers walk into the building. But when you’re online-only, especially as a service business, it’s often your website going live and you telling people about it. That is the official start.

For me, I actually count my website launch day as day one of my business. I had been freelancing for about six to nine months before that, but the day I made it official is the day I consider my business start date. That was March 29, 2016, which is almost ten years ago now, which is crazy.

I still remember the feeling of building my first website and nervously posting on my Facebook profile and personal Instagram account that I now had a business, with a name, and that I was open for new clients.

Anyway, when I launched my first website, it wasn’t perfect. My current website still isn’t perfect. There are errors that happen on it, even as a designer. But my first website was exactly what my business needed at the time, and it helped me immediately. It helped me book clients and get things rolling.

And for me, as someone who was just 22 at the time, it helped me, in the middle of feeling really nervous about the whole business thing, confidently call myself a business owner.

So before we get into it, I’m going to share what you actually need and don’t need to build your first website. But first, if you’re new here, I want to give you a quick 30-second summary of who I am. 

I’m Elizabeth McCravy and I started my business officially almost 10 years ago after quitting my first “real” job. I worked at an advertising agency as a designer, stayed about four months, and then quit with no plan. 

I had started freelancing while I was still at that job, but I really ramped it up after I quit. Eventually, that freelancing turned into a legitimate business. At the beginning, I did random design work, websites, social media management, copywriting, whatever people needed, I would do it. I was a jack of all trades and wasn’t sure what I liked most yet. I just knew what I could do and what I enjoyed.

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Over time, I narrowed things down to website design and branding, and within that, I narrowed it further to using Showit as my website builder, which we’ll get into later in this episode. Now, almost ten years later, I’m one of the top Showit website designers. I sell website templates, I’ve helped thousands of businesses with their websites, and I’m also a mom of three.

My youngest is five months old, my oldest is four years old, and I work part-time from home on this business and this podcast, often during nap time. Literally right now, my little girl is napping. I love what I do. I love website design, I love keeping things simple, and I love removing the extreme confusion that often exists around this process.

I really love seeing people make their business legitimate through a website. Taking the dream, making it a reality, making money online, and making money from home. I’m all about working faster and smarter so you can get back to things like being with your family or focusing on other areas of your business.

5 Things You Don’t Need To Build Your First Website

I’m going to start with the five things you don’t need to build your website, and then the five things you do need. 

 

1. You Don’t Need to Have Your Business Running For a Certain Amount Of Time (Or Have Earned a Certain Amount of Money)

The first thing is this: you do not need to have your business or side hustle running for a certain amount of time, or have earned a certain amount of money, to have or need a website.

This mindset is really just selling yourself short. We often make up milestones we think we need to hit before our business is “legit” enough to do the next thing. But typically, you know in your gut when it’s time to get a website.

For some people, that’s day one. For others, it’s more like my experience, where I freelanced for about six to ten months before deciding to make it official with a website. And for some people, they won’t even launch their business until the website is set up.

Or maybe you’ve had a couple of clients through friends or social media, and now you’re feeling that gap because you don’t have a place to send people. You’re thinking, I booked someone through Instagram, but now this next person wants to see more than just a post. They want a website. You don’t have a home base yet.

In those cases, yes, you probably do need a website. What I don’t want you to fall into is the trap of thinking there’s some test you have to pass to prove your business is ready for one. That “ready” point looks different for everyone and depends a lot on your business and what you’re doing.

 

2. You Don’t Need Custom Coding Or To Hire a Developer

Second, you do not need custom coding or to hire a developer to build your first website, or honestly, for most websites ever. Custom-coded websites are very 15-years-ago. That’s the hill I’ll die on. Technology has advanced to the point where you simply don’t need it.

You likely do not need a developer. If you’re listening to this podcast, you’re probably starting a service-based business or maybe an online course business, something along those lines. You do not need a custom-coded website.

And I’m not even talking about AI advances here. I’m talking about website technology before AI was even a thing. 

Now, I’m not saying your website isn’t built using code, or that code isn’t happening on the backend. But you don’t need to code yourself, and you don’t need to hire someone to write custom code for you in order to have a website.

Instead, you can use what’s called a website builder. It often feels similar to using something like Canva, if you’re familiar with that, where you’re dragging and dropping elements to build your website yourself. So just take the coding and developer aspect off the table.

Again, yes, some people do need a developer. If you’re starting an app company or building software, absolutely, you’re hiring a developer. But if you’re starting a copywriting business, bookkeeping, a design company, or maybe you’re a midwife, a doula, or a counselor, you do not need a custom-coded website.

 

3. You Don’t Need To Invest Thousands in a Custom Website

You do not need $1,000 or more for a custom-designed website when you’re just starting.

Yes, you can hire a designer to custom build a website from scratch, start to finish, if you want to. And if you have the funds and feel confident that a custom website makes sense for your specific business, then sure, that can be a valid option. But for most businesses, that’s not what I recommend.

It’s usually better to invest less money into your first website and have something you can edit, adapt, and change yourself. In the first three years of your business, things are likely going to change a lot.

What often happens is someone spends $10,000 on a custom website, and then one, two, or three years later, it feels like a waste because they need to redo it anyway. Maybe they change their business name, their services, their messaging, or their aesthetic. A lot shifts early on.

Those first three years of business are similar to the first three years of a child’s life. You go from laying there, to sitting up, to crawling, to walking. Businesses grow and change in the same way, and a lot can happen in a short amount of time.

That’s why I think starting with a template makes more sense. Earlier in my career, before I sold website templates, I worked one-on-one with clients only. I didn’t have a template shop yet.

And this exact issue is what motivated me to create my templates and eventually start selling Showit templates. I had amazing women coming to me for their very first website. As my prices increased to $10,000, or more for custom websites, I’d often think, I really want to work with her, and she really wants to work with me. But I don’t think she needs to spend that much right now.

Some of these women were even willing to go into debt to get their first website. And as someone who also teaches business, my honest opinion was that this wasn’t the best business move.

One of the best things about service-based businesses is that they can be very low-cost to start and have low monthly expenses, while still having high profit margins. So going into debt for a website right out of the gate often doesn’t make sense.

That’s why I created my website templates with these business owners in mind. You’re new, you want to move from freelancing or side hustling into a legitimate business, and you want to spend less than $1,000 on your website. That’s where templates come in. 

You don’t need the “super website” when you start. Most people don’t. But it is really nice to spend under $1,000 and still have a website that looks custom and professional through a template. And for some people, they continue using templates long-term, and that works beautifully. A lot of people do that. 

Or maybe when you’re five years in, you hire a designer to revamp everything and get a completely custom website.

 

4. You Don’t Need To Have Your Website Copy And Branding Photos Ready

You don’t need to have every photo or every piece of website copy written before you start. This is something that often hangs people up. You’ll think, I need to get a photoshoot done. I need to write everything. I need to know exactly what I’m going to say on my website before I even begin.

But you can actually buy a website template first and then figure out your photos and copy after. What I’ve seen through my own customers is that the template can actually inform those decisions, rather than the other way around.

If you don’t have a super clear vision yet for your brand photos or overall style, it’s often easier to choose a template first. Then you can get brand photos done after you’ve purchased the template. The same goes for writing your copy. Once you see the layout and sections, it’s much easier to think, okay, this is what this About page includes, or these are the sections on the Services page. Now I know how to write copy for that.

So I actually think it’s a better decision to pick the template first and then do photos and copy afterward. It’s usually faster and more effective.

 

5. You Don’t Need a Giant Business Plan

You do not need a giant business plan with all of your goals and hopes for the next five or ten years before you have a website.

You might not consciously think this is a requirement, but a lot of people feel like their business just isn’t “there” enough yet to have a website. So let me be clear: you do not need a five-year business plan. You don’t need to know that you’re in this for the long haul.

You just need to know what you’re selling right now and have a little bit of money set aside to create your website. That’s it. Know what you’re selling, have a bit of money ready, set aside a little bit of time, get the website up, and then make that money back once you start booking clients or customers from your new site.

website-template-quiz

What You Need to Build Your First Website

Okay, now let’s talk about what you actually do need before you build your first website.

 

1. A Business Name And Offer

You need a name for your business. That can be your own name, like mine, or something like your name plus what you do, for example, Elizabeth Maccray Copywriting. For a long time, my business was called Elizabeth Maccray Designs, and now I mostly just use my name.

Your business name can also be a fictitious name, which is actually how I started. I had one fictitious name, then a few years later I rebranded to another fictitious name, and eventually I rebranded to my own name. Any of those options work.

You also need an offer, meaning something to sell. That could be a service like photography, a product like an online course, something online like coaching, or something in person like being a birth doula or a therapist.

Without a name and an offer, you won’t really have anything to put on your website yet. So those are the first things to figure out: what am I selling, and what am I calling this business?

Once you have those things figured out, you’re probably ready to start the journey of picking out a template.

2. A Domain Name

The next thing you need for your website is a domain name, which is your website address. You can think of this like your brick-and-mortar address. If you had a physical store, this would be the address people put into their maps app to find you. Online, your domain name is where people go to find you on the internet.

For example, my domain name is elizabethmccravy.com. In my ten years as a business owner, I’ve actually changed my business name three times, so I’ve had two other domains before this one. I share that to say, pick something that works for now. You can change your domain later if you need to. Is it a bit of a headache? Yes. But it’s doable, and it doesn’t have to be the thing you keep forever.

You can buy a domain name through places like GoDaddy. Domain names are usually much cheaper than what you’ll pay for your website template and your website platform, which we’ll talk about next.

Unless you’re buying something that’s extremely short or highly desirable, most domain names are pretty affordable. We’re usually talking around $30 a year. Something like your own name, like elizabethmccravy.com, is typically not expensive because it’s specific to you.

You do want your domain name to be short, memorable, and easy to spell and say. You also want to make sure that when it’s written out without spaces, it doesn’t accidentally spell other words that don’t make sense.

I also have a business naming guide on my website here if you want more advice about this. Inside, it talks more about naming your business and choosing a domain name, since those two things go hand in hand.

 

3. A Website Platform

The third thing you need for your website is a website platform. This is also sometimes called a website builder. Those two terms are interchangeable.

The platform I use, and that my templates work with, is called Showit. It’s very beginner-friendly, but also robust enough that large businesses earning millions of dollars still use it. It has a wide range of users, from people just starting out to very established companies.

It gives you a lot of creative freedom and it’s something you can update yourself, which is one of the many reasons I’m such a big Showit fan. I know the people who work there and build the product. They care deeply about excellence, customer support, and community. It really is one of the best platforms out there.

Head here if you want to learn more about Showit and get a one-month free trial with no credit card required, just to explore the interface and see what I’m talking about.

 

4. A Template Or A Custom Design

You either need a template that you can customize yourself, or you need to hire a designer to custom build a website from scratch.

I’ve already shared why I don’t recommend a fully custom website for most brand-new businesses. There are always exceptions, but if you’re not a designer yourself, you’ll need one of these two options.

What you don’t want to do is start with a blank screen and try to build everything from scratch on your own. That usually takes forever and becomes overwhelming. You need a starting point, either through a template or through a designer.

 

5. Website Hosting

And the fifth thing you need is website hosting. Website hosting is the tool or company that actually puts your website out on the internet.

We use hosts for lots of things. Podcasts have hosts, for example. If you’re a podcaster, your host is what gets your show onto platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. My podcast host is Buzzsprout. Buzzsprout is what makes this episode available for you to listen to.

Sometimes the website builder and the host are two separate things, and sometimes they’re the same. In the case of Showit, your website builder and your website host are bundled together, which makes things much simpler.

In the case of WordPress, for example, the host and the builder are not the same.

A Rapid First Glossary Of Words You’ll Come Across As You Build Your First Website

Okay, now let’s do a rapid-fire glossary of the words you’ll hear when you build your first website. Even as a designer, I wish I’d had something like this when I was starting out. 

Website template (sometimes called a website theme): A website template or theme is essentially the bones of your website. It’s designed and ready, and you just add your words and images. It’s a base you build on, and you can customize it as much or as little as you want. These terms are interchangeable. “Theme” is more commonly used in the WordPress world, which is another website builder. “Template” is more commonly used with platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or Showit. 

Domain/domain name: Like I mentioned earlier, this is your website’s street address, for example, elizabethmccravy.com. You buy this through places like GoDaddy. Your domain name is where the website you design gets pointed to.

Hosting: A website host stores your website’s content, things like text and images, on powerful computers called web servers. Hosting also maintains the site and makes sure it’s secure and available to visitors. Showit is a website platform that also includes hosting, which is really nice because everything is wrapped into one place. So when you hear the term “hosting,” that’s what it means. It’s the behind-the-scenes system making your website accessible online.

Website platform (also called a website builder): Just like template versus theme, platform and builder are interchangeable terms. This is the tool you use to actually build your website. Examples of website platforms include Showit, Squarespace, WordPress, Wix, Shopify, and Kajabi. Kajabi is a good example because it includes a website builder, but it also hosts online courses and handles email marketing. Some platforms do multiple things, while others, like Showit, are more focused specifically on the website itself.

SEO: This stands for search engine optimization. SEO is how Google, ChatGPT, and other search engines find your website. And to be specific, SEO isn’t something you buy, it’s something you do. When you hear the word “optimize,” that’s exactly what it means. You’re optimizing your website to be found in search results for the things people are looking for.

Full site template: This is a Showit-specific term. A full site template means it includes your entire main website: homepage, About page, Services page, Contact page, blog, and more. You can always add pages, and you can also delete pages you don’t need. For example, if a template includes a blog or resources page and you don’t plan to use those, you can remove them. A full site template is meant to be the foundation for your entire website.

Add-on template: An add-on template is made up of pages or canvases that you add onto an existing website, rather than replacing the whole thing. This is not going to be your whole site. It’s pages you add onto a template or custom design you already have. 

Here are some examples:

  • Speaker page template: if you’re trying to book more speaking gigs and want a media kit on your website, you can buy that template, customize it, and add it to your main site. 
  • Timeline template: this is made up of canvases, meaning sections of a website page, that you add onto your Showit template. It lets you share your story or your service process in a unique way through a really intentional design.
  • Podcast page: that’s a page on your website dedicated to information about your podcast. Maybe your full site template doesn’t include a podcast page design, so you buy an add-on to include that.

Add-on templates aren’t necessary. They’re an extra option, not something you need to start with. What you do want to start with is a full site template.

So there you go - those are your glossary terms. There are probably a few I could add that I’m forgetting, but this is a really good starting point to help you understand the language around websites.

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Step-by-Step For How To Build Your First Website

Now let’s get into the step-by-step of how to build your first website. I’ve got five steps that outline what to actually do. I’ll also say that if you’re using a different website platform than Showit, these steps might look a little different. I’m specifically sharing how to build your first website in Showit.

1. Choose Your Website Platform

Step one is choosing your platform. Again, I recommend Showit as a first platform, but the most important thing here is just picking something and starting. Don’t get stuck in decision overwhelm.

I’ve actually changed my website platform three times. My very first website, back when I was freelancing in college, was on Squarespace. After that, I built websites on WordPress. And now I’ve been on Showit for many, many years. So just know that you can change platforms later. 

One thing I do want to clarify, because this comes up a lot, is that changing platforms does mean redoing your design. You can’t design a website on Showit and then simply upload it to Squarespace. You would need to recreate the design within that new platform.

But again, the key thing here is to just pick a platform and start. For service-based businesses, online courses, templates, and things like that, my recommendation is Showit. You can learn more about Showit here and you can get a one-month free trial with no credit card required by using the code ELIZABETH when you sign up.

You can also check out my Showit website templates here! 

Read more: Is a Showit Website Template Right for Your Business? (The BIGGEST Questions We Get Asked About Using Templates!) 

2. Pick a Template That Fits Your Brand

Step two is picking a template that fits your brand. A website template saves time, stress, and money. If you’re DIYing your website, you do not want to skip this step.

Like I mentioned earlier, as a non-designer, you don’t want to start with a blank screen and think, okay, let me drag in a button, place a photo here, adjust this spacing. That process takes forever if you’re not a designer.

As a designer, that’s literally what I do for fun. That’s what I’m doing when I create templates. I’m starting with a blank screen and designing something for you. But that’s not what you want to be doing yourself.

A website template puts you in the driver’s seat when it comes to updates. If you need to change your pricing, you can do that yourself. If you want to add a new service, you can duplicate a page and create a new info page for that service.

Maybe you launch your website using photos a friend took of you, and later you do a professional brand photoshoot. You can easily go into your template and swap out all of your images. Showit makes this really simple, and that flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of starting with a template.

That flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of using a template. It really puts you in control. So to start, you pick your platform and then you pick your template.

For your main website, you’ll want what’s called a full site template, not an add-on, like I explained earlier in the glossary section. A full site template gives you everything you need to launch your website.

And if you’re enjoying this episode, I highly recommend checking out my templates here! I have a lot to choose from. 

I have templates for photographers and videographers, wedding professionals, coaches, therapists, lactation consultants, birth doulas or midwives, copywriters, bookkeepers, podcasters, course creators, and YouTubers. When you’re choosing a template, I recommend picking one based on the design, layout, and overall vibe that resonates with you. That matters more than the industry label.

There’s a wide range of styles too, from sophisticated and modern to fun and colorful. There really is something for everyone in the shop.

I also have a website personality quiz that matches you with a group of templates based on your brand personality. If you’re looking at the options and thinking, I don’t know which one is right for my ideal client or my business, you can go here and take that quiz. When you take the quiz, you also get a discount and some free Canva templates for your social media.

Read more: How to Choose the Best Showit Template for Your Business (WITH EASE)

3. Customize Your Site

At this point, you’ve picked your platform and your template, and now you make it your own.

You customize your site by adding your brand colors, fonts, website copy, and photos. Sometimes people keep the template’s original fonts and colors, which is the fastest and easiest option. Other times, they change everything.

What I see most often is a mix. Maybe you keep most of the colors but swap out a font, or you keep the fonts and change the colors. There’s a lot of flexibility here.

The template you purchase includes placeholder content, so it’s meant for you to replace the words and images. That means swapping out photos of models or stock images for photos of you, your work, or your products, and updating the copy so it reflects your business.

My templates also come with my Showit Blueprint Course. It walks you through how to use Showit step by step. You don’t have to watch the entire course to customize your site, but I do recommend watching the first few videos so you understand the interface.

Showit itself also has great resources to help you learn the platform.

Read more: How to Customize Your Showit Website Template Really Fast

4. Connect Your Domain And Launch Your Website

Step four is connecting your domain name and going live. Your website does not have to be perfect before you do this.

Showit has clear tutorials on how to connect your domain, so I won’t go deep into the technical details. But essentially, you’re telling your domain provider, wherever you bought your domain, that the website you built in Showit is what should appear when someone types in your domain name into their browser.

That’s what it means to connect your domain and go live.

Once you do this, your website is live on the internet. It’s launched, which is such a fun and exciting moment. Now you can share the link with people. It can show up in Google search. You can share it on Instagram, add it to your Stories, and send it directly to potential clients. It’s a real link, out there on the internet, connected and working.

5. Start Sharing Your New Website

That brings us to the fifth and final step, which is to start sharing it. Add your website to your social media bio. Put it in your email signature. Do that launch post where you say, “Hey, I’m officially in business. Here’s my website. Come check it out.” You can promote it as a way to book clients or sell your offers. At this point, it’s yours to share.

I also want to say this about this step: you can continue tweaking and updating your website after it’s live. You don’t need it to be perfect before you launch.

Maybe you get your site to a solid baseline where you think, this is good enough to go live. Sure, you might want to add a blog later, or a resources page, or email marketing opt-ins down the road. But for now, it works. Launch it with what you have and keep improving it as you go.

With Showit, making updates is very simple. You just log into your Showit account, open the website builder, make your changes, and click publish again. As soon as you do that, the updates go live.

So when I say that step four is connecting your domain and going live, that doesn’t mean you’re locked into that version forever. You can make changes as often as you want, even multiple times a day if you need to. You’re fully in control, and changes take effect immediately when you publish.

You can add new pages over time, purchase add-on templates whenever you want, and those add-ons can come from any shop. They don’t have to be from the same designer you bought your main template from. That’s a question I get a lot, so I just want to note that here.

And from there, you start sharing your website and making money from it.

showit-website-template-quiz

Are you feeling ready to finally get your business online and build your first website?

I’ve mentioned it a few times, but if you’re interested, go check out my Showit website templates. They’re fun, unique, and strategically designed. They’re also built with SEO in mind, which I briefly touched on in the glossary section earlier, but SEO is a big focus in how I design my templates.

My team and I also offer really great customer support over email. If you run into roadblocks or need help troubleshooting something while you’re working on your template, you can email us and we’ll get back to you. We even often create custom videos to walk you through things. If you’re stuck and need a visual explanation, we’ll record a video showing you exactly how to do it.

I really hope to see you launching your website and officially making your business official in the near future. I hope this episode was so, so helpful for you as you build your first website!

Links Mentioned:

Shop Showit Website Templates

Not sure which template is right for you? Take the quiz!

Sign up for Podcast Success Blueprint

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

5 steps to build your first website
tips to build your first website

Thanks to our blog sponsor, Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)! 

CHM is a faith-based alternative to health insurance—at about half the cost. You can enroll at any time and join a proven, faith-based solution that’s both reliable and affordable.

My family has been CHM members for over 5 years, and their maternity care shared all expenses for all 3 of my children’s births—from c-section to home birth. They even shared costs for key parts of prep and postpartum care, like pelvic floor physical therapy and lactation consulting.

Beyond birth, CHM has helped us through ER visits, surgeries, and procedures. Those bills were shared by other CHM members, leaving us responsible only for our monthly contribution.

I can’t recommend Christian Healthcare Ministries enough! It’s more than financial help—it’s also spiritual support when you need it most.

 Learn more here! And if you’d like to hear our full story, check out episode 305 of The Breakthrough Brand Podcast, where Adam and I dive into our experience with CHM.

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]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/build-your-first-website/feed/ 0 8433 5-Minute Website Audit: Is Yours Helping or Hurting Your Business? https://elizabethmccravy.com/five-minute-website-audit/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/five-minute-website-audit/#respond Tue, 11 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=8383 If your website isn’t converting, feels outdated, or doesn’t sound like you, it may be hurting more than helping. Take this 5-minute website audit to find out if you need a new website or just a few tweaks!

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Today, we’re talking about your website and just simply whether or not your website is working for you or if it’s hurting your business… because yes, sometimes “just having a website” isn’t the answer and it is possible that if it’s hurting your business, then it would be better to bypass the website altogether (I’m not saying I recommend that, but if it’s really not working for you, that might be your best option until you get one that does!). This quick website audit should help you decide!

Basically, if you’ve ever wondered, “Is my website actually working?” — as in, is it doing the job it’s supposed to — then this is your episode. 

Alright friends, we have five questions — basically five elements or components of your website — that we’re looking at today to figure out: is my website helping me or hurting me? And if it’s hurting you, what do you need to do to get things working the right way?

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

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Search for episode 323!

Real quick, though, if you’re new here, new to this podcast, or new to me… or maybe you’ve listened to a few episodes but you’re thinking, “I don’t actually know what this girl’s background is — who even is she and why is she talking about this?,” let me give you a 30-second spiel.

I’m Elizabeth. I’ve been a professional website designer for 10 years and a business owner for about 9.5. I’ve designed sites on Squarespace, WordPress, Showit, Weebly, Wix, and even custom-coded sites — you name it. 

For the last five-ish years (really more like six or seven — time is a blur), I’ve focused exclusively on Showit. I’ve built custom websites for clients, and I've also sold website templates (which are pre-made sites you buy and customize, or hire someone to customize).

Elizabeth McCravy shares 5-minute website audit

Now, I primarily design and sell website templates at elizabethmccravy.com. And I’ve helped thousands of small business owners with their websites — from people launching their very first site (which is one of my favorite things to celebrate!) to people working on their tenth version, or coming over to my add-on templates after working with another designer.

Okay, little background done. Now let’s get into it. These are the things I look at, based on my experience as a website designer, to figure out whether what you currently have is working for you or if it’s time to change things up. And just a note: changing things up does not always mean starting from scratch. It can be a full overhaul, or it can mean adjusting and adding in a few strategic things.

Read more: 3 Tiny Website Updates to Maximize SEO and User Trust in 2025

Step 1: The 30-Second Test

If someone landed on your homepage right now, and we are focusing specifically on your homepage for this, would someone who doesn’t know you immediately understand:

  • who you are (or what your business is),
  • what you do, and
  • who it’s for

within 10–30 seconds?

If the answer is “maybe” or “probably not without clicking around” — that’s your first clue that your site might be confusing people.

You want to make it super obvious what your company does and who it’s for. Your headline, the big text someone sees first, should clearly say what you do. This is not the place to be super cute or overly clever.

Clarity always beats cuteness. Clarity also beats industry jargon your ideal client might not understand. And clarity definitely beats fluffy “word-salad” phrases.

For example, instead of something vague like:

“Making magic happen online”

(which could mean anything), you’d want something clear like:

“Strategic Showit website templates for creative entrepreneurs.”

Same for photographers. Instead of:

“Capturing your beautiful moments from behind the lens”

(which only implies photography), try something like:

“Seaside Florida luxury wedding photographer.” 

You're telling the location, the style, and the type of photography and actually using the word photographer. 

Getting really specific helps your visitor immediately know, “Okay, this is for me.” That’s when they’ll keep scrolling, or click to another page, or head over to your Instagram or TikTok — whatever they want to do next.

Here’s what I want you to do. 

Either do this yourself or ask a friend, your spouse, your roommate — someone who already kind of knows what you do — and say, “Hey, can you scroll my homepage real quick? Do you get what I do?” Send them the link on their phone and just ask: Do you get it or not? If you landed here as a stranger, what question would you have?

Attention spans… they’re wild. Like I said, I’ve been doing websites for 10 years now, and so much has changed. Attention spans are getting shorter and shorter — which honestly bums me out (different conversation for another day!), but it’s true. The rise of short-form video has really changed expectations for how fast people should understand something.

Years ago, when I first started, people had more patience. They might land on a site, not immediately understand it, and think, “Hmm… what’s happening here?” and keep scrolling. They’d give the website a chance.

Now? They don’t. They leave. They close the tab, go back to their Google search, go back to the list ChatGPT gave them, hop back to Instagram — whatever. They move on fast.

That’s why this first step is so important: you need to grab attention through clarity of words and a design that is both functional and beautiful.

So again, that first test: give someone 10-30 seconds on your homepage to understand who you are, what you do, and who it’s for. Pause this episode if you want and send your site link to someone right now. Ask them, “Do you get what I do?”

Elizabeth McCravy talks about her website audit

Step 2: Does the design feel like your brand? 

This one is simple — and you probably already have a gut reaction. Does the design of your website still feel like your brand?

Your business evolves over time. Sometimes you need a new look to match where you are now. That’s not a dig at what you had before — it just means you’ve grown. I’ve had many versions of my own site in the last 10 years because my business, my offers, and even how I want to show up have all changed.

So it’s normal for the fonts and colors you once used to not be the right ones anymore.

Here are a few signs it might be time to part with your current design:

  • You’re using a totally different aesthetic on social media or email than on your site. You updated everywhere else but left the old look on your website. Time to bring your site up to speed.
  • There's no cohesion on your site. Each page has a different color palette or vibe. Maybe one page looks like one template, another looks like a different template, and another looks custom… nothing feels unified.
  • Your fonts feel busy or hard to read and it’s confusing for users to figure out where to go next. If you’re unsure, ask a designer or trusted friend, “Does this feel too busy? Is this readable?”
  • Your site feels like “old you.” You look at it and think, “This was my business five years ago… but it’s not anymore.” Your headlines, offers, tone — they align with an older version of your brand and not who you are now or what you sell today.

Step 3: When is the last time you looked at your website on your phone?

This is a big one: your mobile experience.

Because oh my gosh — this can be a disaster you don't even know is happening. You had the best time designing your site on your desktop, dragging things around in Showit, getting everything just right… and then you completely ignored the mobile layout. And now your mobile site is chaos.

This happens all the time.

I love Showit. I chose it as the platform I design on and for my templates — it’s the only thing I use and recommend. But one of its biggest perks is also a challenge: desktop and mobile are connected, but you still have to manually adjust mobile.

Meaning, you can’t design only on desktop and assume it will magically look perfect on a phone. It won’t. And honestly — that’s actually a good thing. The fact that Showit lets you customize mobile separately is a huge advantage. There are a lot of design decisions you should make differently on mobile versus desktop.

When I design my templates, I almost always simplify and rearrange things for mobile to make the experience smoother. And remember: over 60% of website traffic is mobile.

So why are we ignoring mobile design?! Truly, you could argue we should start with mobile first.

If your text is tiny, buttons overlap, images are cropped weirdly, or the whole thing just feels clunky — that’s a problem.

So, scroll your site on your phone. If you have a giant site, pick key pages to evaluate. Ask yourself:

  • Is this easy to use?
  • Does scrolling feel natural?
  • Can I read the text?
  • Do buttons work and are they tappable?
  • Are photos cropped correctly (especially faces)?
  • Can users clearly see where to go next?

You might not need to check every page on your website on mobile, but you should check these for sure:

  • Homepage
  • About page
  • Blog (blogs often break on mobile!)
  • One services page or product page

This will tell you whether things need tweaking… or a full mobile overhaul. But bottom line — don’t ignore mobile.

Read more: Get a New Website By New Years: How to Customize Your Showit Website Template Really Fast

Step 4: Personality & Connection

This one’s huge. And once you have it, your whole website just clicks. It’s like this secret sauce that makes everything feel right.

Ask yourself:

Does your website sound and feel like you?

Or…

  • does it sound like your copywriter wrote it?
  • does it sound like ChatGPT wrote it?
  • does it sound like a mash-up of everyone else in your industry?

If your copy and design feel stiff, generic, or bland, people won't connect. They won’t feel anything.

You want your website to sound like you talk:

  • on your podcast
  • in your YouTube videos
  • in your Instagram Stories
  • in your DMs
  • and even in your Instagram carousel captions

It should feel like a real human speaking — you, not a template of “professional website voice.” So, a great website doesn’t just show what you do — it shows who you are as a business or as a person (especially if you’re more of a personal brand).

Look at things like your copy and your photos. Stock photography is totally fine in places — I love high-quality stock photos and videos — but you also want to highlight your own work. So if you're a photographer, yes, most of the images on your site should be yours. And you should also have your face on your website. That personal connection really matters.

People shouldn't have to dig all the way to your About page to see what you look like. Your face should be on your homepage and sprinkled throughout other pages too. That connection goes a long way.

Another piece of this: don’t be afraid to share real details about yourself — things that help someone connect with you beyond your resume. I’ve emphasized this from day one when designing sites, especially for personal brands and service providers. If you are the person they’ll be working with, they want to know you — not just your credentials.

So in my templates, you’ll see an emphasis on creating space to share about yourself — who you are, not just what you do.

And if you’re thinking, “I have no idea what I’d even share” — here are some simple examples:

  • Do you have pets?
  • Are you a parent?
  • Do you practice a specific faith?
  • What hobbies do you love (even if you think they’re boring)?
  • What did you do before this career?
  • How long have you been doing what you do?
  • Are you married or in a relationship?
  • What's your Enneagram (if you're into that)?
  • Favorite books?
  • Fun quirks or interests?

Those kinds of details build connection.

When I was prepping this episode, I was looking through the Showcase page on my site — I have probably 200+ real examples from customers who’ve used my templates. You can see their sites, testimonials, and which template they chose.

And I want to share one testimonial that really fits what we're talking about — this one is from Marisa Glaser Creative. Shout out to Marisa — her website is amazing. 

Here’s what she said about her Elizabeth McCray template:

“This purchase was worth every penny and Elizabeth is definitely going to be my recommended designer for friends looking for Showit templates in the future! Before Elizabeth McCravy Shop, my website was fine but felt like it was missing something. It didn’t feel like a full representation of the quality and quantity of my work as a photographer. I was a little overdue for a portfolio refresh but I wanted to go a step above and add a blog, a resources guide page, more client testimonials, and have better spaces to lay out sales copy for my services. “ - Marisa Glaser Creative 

Marisa is such a good example of this — her old website was “fine,” but it wasn’t her. And now? She has a site that actually showcases the quality and quantity of her work and who she is.

Read more: How to Write Personality-Packed Copy That Entertains AND Sells with Brittany McBean

going through a 5-minute website audit to decide whether it's time for a new website

Step 5: Is Your Website Doing Its Job?

This one is simple, and again, a bit of a gut check. Is your website doing what it's supposed to do?

Ask yourself: what is the main goal of my website?

Some examples:

  • Book clients
  • Sell digital products
  • Grow your email list
  • Send people to your podcast or YouTube channel
  • Get people to buy your book
  • Capture inquiries / forms

Whatever the goal is: is that happening?

Is your website actually driving that result?

If the answer is no, it's time to adjust. Sometimes the design looks amazing, but the strategy isn't working. Other times the strategy is great but the design isn't supporting it.

And that’s the difference between a site that's just pretty and a site that's actually profitable — strategy + great design.

It may mean a full overhaul, or it may just mean tweaking and updating pieces.

I have one more quick testimonial because it really fits here — this one is from Design Our Travel, a travel agency who used the Alice template. Here’s what she said:

“Before using the Alice template, I was piecemealing each page together, which made my website clunky and unorganized. The Alice template allows my website to still have so many working and moving parts, yet it flows and it's interactive as if I spent thousands of dollars on it. My traffic has increased – people are filling out forms and requesting more information.” - Design Our Travel

Such a great example — her old site wasn't working, it felt pieced together and messy. Now, people are filling out forms, requesting information, and traffic has increased… all huge wins. That’s exactly what we want. Your website shouldn’t just exist because someone told you you “should have a website.” It should actively support your business.

business rebrand bts of the new website

Recap: Your 5-Minute Website Audit

  1. Clarity: Can someone land on your homepage and know who you are, what you do, and who it’s for in 10–30 seconds?
  2. Brand Alignment: Does the design still feel like your brand today? Or like a past version of your business?
  3. Mobile Experience: Have you checked your site on your phone? Is it clean and easy to navigate?
  4. Personality: Does your website sound and feel like you — not AI, not your competitors, not a generic template voice?
  5. Results: Is your website actually doing its job? Is it bringing in leads, clients, sales, traffic, whatever your main goal is?

So if you do this simple test and you're realizing, okay… my website needs some updates, that’s what I’m here for. Truly. If you've enjoyed this podcast and you’ve never checked out my Showit website templates, I really want to encourage you to do that.

I have so many options — because sometimes you really do just need a fresh start and a brand new site, and sometimes you just need a few strategic upgrades. If you already know you need to start fresh, amazing. Let’s do it. If you're not sure, email us with your website link, and we can help you figure it out. We’ll give you honest feedback on whether you need a full new site or if a few add-on templates would give you a big upgrade at a lower cost.

We have add-ons like:

And then, of course, we have full site templates — a complete website + blog, ready to customize. Think of it like a “website in a box.” They come with pre-selected fonts and colors (which you can absolutely change), and every purchase includes the Showit Blueprint Course that walks you through customizing everything. So if you hear “change fonts and colors” and panic, don’t worry — I walk you through it.

If you're listening to this live, my big Black Friday sale is coming up really soon. If you're looking at 2026 and thinking, This is the year I do the big website upgrade or I need that add-on to really uplevel my business, this is the time to shop. This is my biggest sale of the year.

Head to elizabethmccravy.com/bf (short for Black Friday) to get on the waitlist. Once you sign up, you can forget about it until the sale starts — we’ll email you all the details when it goes live. If you're listening and the sale is already happening, all the info will be on that page.

Links Mentioned:

Get on the waitlist for my Black Friday sale

See REAL Showit website template customers

Shop Showit Website Templates

Not sure which template is right for you? Take the quiz!

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Join Podcast Success Blueprint

How to do a 5-minute website audit
this website audit will help you decide if you need a new website or not

Thanks to our blog sponsor, Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)! 

CHM is a faith-based alternative to health insurance—at about half the cost. You can enroll at any time and join a proven, faith-based solution that’s both reliable and affordable.

My family has been CHM members for over 5 years, and their maternity care shared all expenses for all 3 of my children’s births—from c-section to home birth. They even shared costs for key parts of prep and postpartum care, like pelvic floor physical therapy and lactation consulting.

Beyond birth, CHM has helped us through ER visits, surgeries, and procedures. Those bills were shared by other CHM members, leaving us responsible only for our monthly contribution.

I can’t recommend Christian Healthcare Ministries enough! It’s more than financial help—it’s also spiritual support when you need it most.

 Learn more here! And if you’d like to hear our full story, check out episode 305 of The Breakthrough Brand Podcast, where Adam and I dive into our experience with CHM.

The post 5-Minute Website Audit: Is Yours Helping or Hurting Your Business? appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/five-minute-website-audit/feed/ 0 8383 3 Tiny Website Updates to Maximize SEO and User Trust in 2025 https://elizabethmccravy.com/website-updates-to-maximize-seo-and-user-trust/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/website-updates-to-maximize-seo-and-user-trust/#respond Tue, 14 Jan 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=8076 Want to get your website in tip-top shape for 2025? In this episode, I'm sharing 3 tiny website updates to maximize SEO and user trust (that take less than 5 mins!).

The post 3 Tiny Website Updates to Maximize SEO and User Trust in 2025 appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 5 minutes

The new year means it's a great time to make some small website updates to your existing website. So in this quick episode, I'm going to share a few things for you to do to your website for the new year to keep things up to date and fresh, both from an SEO perspective and that improve the experience for prospective clients. Let’s get into it!

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 301!

Alright, so first, these three things that I'm going to recommend you do to kick off the year are going to take you less than five minutes, okay? This is seriously quick stuff to go through real fast and by the time you're done listening, you'll be ready to go.

 

1. Update The Copyright in Your Footer

This is one of the easiest website updates you can make! If you have the fun little copyright © in your website’s footer, you likely have last year’s date on it. So, you’ll want to update this to the current year (and make sure your starting year is included too!). So yours may look like 2015-2024 and you want to change that last number to 2025 now. 

Also, it’s worth mentioning that you have automatic rights to the content you create on your website, so YES you can add this little © and the year without filing any government paperwork and stuff like that. It’s your right. 

To get the little ©, just google copyright C and find an icon then you can copy/paste it into your website with ease! Or just copy the one I have here: ©

Updating it communicates to views that you actually update your website. Right at the beginning of the year it matters less, but say it’s June of 2025 and your footer still says 2024, people will think you just aren’t updating stuff and trust purchasing from you less! 

This is sooo important as online businesses, like I know so many of you are.  For me, people buy on my website often without ever speaking to me or contacting me first and this little change shows that my site is updated. 

On most sites this is something you change ONE PLACE and then it’ll update everywhere. Or, if you use Kajabi or Shopify, this is automatically done for you on most templates because it’s built into the site design and is not something you customize yourself. 

Read more: The Best Alternatives to Squarespace Templates for Photographers

2. Update Any Dates On Your Website 

This happens more than you think! There are so many DATE opportunities on a website. For example, you might say  “I’ve been in business 5 years”, and now it’s 6 years. Or, maybe you put that you’ve served 100 happy customers, but you haven’t updated that in a year so now it’s actually 125. 

Even subtle things on your about page, like if you mention your own age or your children’s ages, usually don’t get updated often enough and the new year is a great time to do it. 

As someone who has a really large website, for me this looks like going on every page and looking for these things that need tweaking! 

And actually, when I redesigned my website last year, I thought ahead about this and I made an area in ClickUp where I added parts of my website that have dates (and I put due dates on things so I know when something needs updating!).

 

For example, I have:

 

But my advice for you would be to just LOOK for date problems that you can fix and I’d consider too where you can use years instead of dates to make this something you have to do less overall. For example, say you started your business in 2015 instead of saying you’ve been in business for 10 years. But sometimes this is unavoidable. 

Read more: 3 Things I WISH More People Understood About Their Website (From a Designer’s Perspective!)

shop easy templates for moms

3. Update Your Plugins and Delete One’s You’re Not Using! 

This is another simple one! If you’re a WordPress user (Or, Showit user since we blog via WordPress), you want to make sure your plugins are up to date.  

In addition to just going in and updating, it’s also worth checking to see if there are any plugins you actually aren’t using. Then, deactivate and then delete those! Having active plugins you’re not using and don’t need will slow down your website. 

In WordPress, in your dashboard in the top left corner you’ll see an icon with a number and a little arrow in a circle and that’s where you click to update. I just did this myself and had 18 to update and a few I needed to delete!  You likely do too!

If you’re not sure if it’s really being used, try deactivating it and seeing if anything changes or ask your designer. 

Website Updates for the New Year

These three website updates will take you just a few minutes and make a big difference on keeping your website fresh and clean for the new year ahead. If you want to do some additional things (that take more time), consider things like updating your testimonials, your portfolio work displayed, and checking that links are all working properly on your website! You can also make yourself a little area in your project management software like I did to help manage these tasks more easily for next year! 

Read more: Beyond Project Management: How ClickUp and Other PM Tools Should Become Your Digital Workspace with Courtney Lazar of SystemsUp

website updates

Make Website Updates with Add On Templates (or Grab a New Template!)

That’s it, friends! I love bringing you these short and tactical episodes, and I hope you take some time to review your website and make these changes.

If, as you’re going through your website, you find yourself thinking, “Hey Elizabeth, this is great, but I don’t love my website and don’t even want to work on it right now,” that’s okay! If you’re feeling like it’s time for a new website for the new year, or if you just want to add some new pages to make your current website feel more elevated and functional for where your business is now, check out my website templates.

Just recently—about a month ago—I launched four incredible new add-on templates:

The timeline template features advanced Showit design elements that you can use to enhance your About page, Work With Me page, or wherever you want to showcase your processes and story.

Plus, there’s the Landing Page Bundle, the Speaker Template, and the Quiz Template. These add-ons can really help you take your website to the next level. And, of course, I also offer full-site templates if you’re ready for a complete overhaul.

That’s it for today, friends. I hope you enjoyed this episode, and more importantly, I hope you take action on it! I’ll be back next week with another episode.

Links Mentioned:

Shop Add On Templates!

Shop Showit Website Templates

Not sure which template is right for you? Take the quiz!

Sign up for Podcast Success Blueprint

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

3 tiny website updates
3 tiny website updates podcast episode

Thanks to our sponsor, Christian Heathcare Ministries! CHM is a health cost-sharing ministry and is a faith-based alternative to traditional health insurance. My family has been using CHM for our healthcare for 4+ years now, and we couldn’t be more pleased. As a business owner we all know healthcare is outrageously expensive with CHM you can save money on your budget and know if a medical situation ever arises CHM will be there to take care of you and share 100% of your eligible bills. Learn more here!

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The post 3 Tiny Website Updates to Maximize SEO and User Trust in 2025 appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/website-updates-to-maximize-seo-and-user-trust/feed/ 0 8076 Redesigning Your Showit Website? 6 Tips For Making The Process As Easy (And Fun) As Possible https://elizabethmccravy.com/redesigning-your-showit-website/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/redesigning-your-showit-website/#respond Tue, 03 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=7888 I redesigned my 100+ page Showit website, and here are my biggest tips if you want to redesign (or refresh) yours this year!

The post Redesigning Your Showit Website? 6 Tips For Making The Process As Easy (And Fun) As Possible appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 7 minutes

Last week, I shared all about how I just redesigned my whole Showit website from scratch after years of having the same design. I just kept adding pages to it over time! It was time for a total overhaul and I absolutely love the new website. Today, I'm sharing six things I learned from designing for myself that you can apply to your own business, whether you're redesigning your Showit website template (or using one of the Showit templates in my template shop!), or if you're simply updating your current website every now and then.

These tips will help you even as a non-designer. These lessons are fresh because I literally just launched as I'm recording this (the site went live yesterday). These are things that I learned in real time that you can apply to your business. So let's get to it.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 283!

First for context, I shared last week all about my rebrand and new website, about how the whole project took about a year start to finish (with a 4 month maternity leave in the middle and with me working only part time in my business). 

Some of that project time was the brand visuals — new logos, colors, fonts, patterns — for all of my sub brands and main brands. I also spent time on things like updating email signatures, freebie designs, course banners in kajabi, checkout pages, etc. It was only when all of those things were done that I started redesigning my website!

Here’s the surprising part? It actually took MUCH LESS TIME than you’d think. Even with over 100+ pages on my website. 

We started the project in mid-June and it was finished mid-August, so it took about 2 months total, plus I’d tack on a third month for when I started on things last year before my maternity leave. Yes, I did have some team members helping too! But I still think that’s an impressively quick timeline for so many pages!

As I was doing this project, I was keeping notes to help YOU with your website design! My goal is to help you do this faster (while still being intentional and detailed throughout the process). 

EM-Website-resources copy

1. The order you design matters! 

Some pages are harder to get going on than others. The advice I’ve always given for template customization is to start with your contact page. Why? Because first, it’s an important page, so you’ll feel momentum and like you got something done, but it’s also an easier page to design. So it’s a good “quick win” compared to things like your home page or course sales page which take more time and require a lot more decisions to be made! 

Here’s what I started with:

  • I started with my home page (against my own advice), and then stopped because it was too overwhelming. 
  • Then, the first page I truly completed was the contact page. 
  • Then, I moved onto the about page
  • Then, I did all the freebies pages! 

For things like the menu, footer, etc. I actually finished up toward the end of the project. I actually didn’t even finish the homepage until days before I launched. A lot of it was done before then, but for the hero section at the top I tried a bunch of different styles on and ultimately landed on what I did just days before going live. 

Whenever I needed a break on thinking big and creatively, I’d do an easier/simpler page.  So take that as my advice to you — start with your contact page and/or opt-in pages as your first focuses on a website design! It’s okay to let the homepage (or things like your menu and footer) be something that evolves over time! 

Read more: How to Know When It’s Time for a New Website

2. Organize the project well, especially for a redesign! 

I started on the website redesign in December last year, got things set up-ish, but then stopped to have a baby! When I came back to work on it post-maternity leave, the first thing I did was organize the project in ClickUp. 

Once I got going on the overwhelming amount of pages, it felt so much easier. Plus, having it in ClickUp for tracking pages and stages was KEY because there were so many. You’d lose track of what’s done and not otherwise. This is huge when redesigning your Showit website.

clickup statuses I used to track my website redesign

Every page that needed to be done was in ClickUp as a task, by category of pages:

  • Blog pages together 
  • Shop pages together 
  • Freebie pages together 

I also had status the pages went through in my process! 

You don’t need ClickUp for this, you could use whatever Project Manager you like! I love ClickUp (and in case you’re curious, you can hear me talk with Courtney, who set up my Clickup, here!).

3. Some days it will feel like you accomplished nothing, even though you spent hours working on it.

I felt like the entire process really reminded me of days I sometimes feel in motherhood where it can feel like, “wait, I was taking care of the small child (or these small children) all day, but I don’t feel like I really accomplished anything.” But you did. You were changing the diaper, you were feeding the baby, you were playing with him, you were doing all these things all day, but it can feel like you accomplished nothing. 

I feel like that is how the website process felt for me some days. Some days it would feel like I made no progress. Maybe I worked an entire workday, which for me might not have been that many hours, but I worked on a whole page and then I leave the workday and the page isn’t even close to being done. It felt like I was NEVER going to finish.

I also had plenty of times where I spent a LONG TIME designing something only to decide I didn’t like it, and changed it later. That’s NORMAL. 

I also had three times where I designed a canvas, had a glitch, lost it and had to redo. That’s OK. That’s part of the process. You WILL finish.

4. It is worth it to always design WELL, even if the site you’re on now isn’t your “forever site”. 

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All of last year, I knew this huge overhaul was coming, but we still focused on great design on the old site, so all the various pages I made last year for things like quizzes, sales pages, or opt-ins felt EASY to bring over to the new site because the design was good and it just needed updated branding.

My advice? Don’t get lazy just because you’re getting something new! 

This really was huge for me because while a lot of the webpages truly needed a major overhaul, more of them actually just needed to be updated with my new branding. 

When we think about template customization, this can truly apply — maybe the page on your current website has solid copy/images because you kept focusing on this while you saved up for a new website and so all it needs now is to be placed into the new design. EASY! 

Read more: Is a Showit Website Template Right for Your Business? (The BIGGEST Questions We Get Asked About Using Templates!) 

5. Keep multiple spots for you to put content ideas and inspiration as it comes to you. 

Redesigning your Showit website takes time. I randomly would get inspiration for copywriting or design, and would add that little idea in a note on my phone. I like the iPhone’s notes app for this because it’s always with you! 

I also had a bigger area in ClickUp where I was adding content ideas, my plans for what would go on each page of the website, and other things I wanted to make sure I did as they came to mind. 

You will forget if you don’t write it down, so save the ideas somewhere! This is also a great idea as you prep for a new website before you even start. Have somewhere to save ideas.

6. You have to stop tinkering at some point and just LAUNCH.

I was so guilty of this! Once I got close to finishing the website, I’d go back to pages that I already marked “done done” in ClickUp and add more things. Specifically, I was doing this when I had some KEY AND DIFFICULT pages to still do! So for example, instead of designing my podcast page, I was procrastinating by adding a random color change on my terms and conditions page, for example.

It’s really easy to just keep adding an animation, changing a color, and rewriting the copy! It has to stop at some point and you’ve got to just launch. Stacey kindly reminded me at one point, “you’ve just been staring at it too long, it looks great!” 

I want to give you this same reminder. 

ALSO, remember that a website is never truly finished. That’s not a sad/bad thing. But while the project of the design is finished (like mine is), I will always do updates on my website. Whether it’s small like changing out the date in the footer, or large like adding a new page for a new product/offer, it’s always evolving. 

Let the project part be done, even if you don’t have all the pages you ultimately want up. Even if you think it would be cool to do this random thing on this random page, go live with it. Then, keep a list of ideas for the future that you can tackle another time, but get the core thing live! 

Read more: 3 Things You Need to Update on Your Website for the New Year (That Take LESS THAN 5 minutes!)

Get Started With A Showit Website Template

If you’re looking for a new website, I create and design Showit website templates and I have a whole catalog of really beautiful, really strategic, templates. I love to focus on SEO, using color and bringing in brand personality in the way I design and have a ton of templates and add on templates ready for you! Head here to shop!

Links Mentioned:

Shop Showit Website Templates

Not sure which template is right for you? Take the quiz!

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Join Podcast Success Blueprint

tips for redesigning your Showit website
tips for redesigning your Showit website

Thanks to our sponsor, Christian Heathcare Ministries! CHM is a health cost-sharing ministry and is a faith-based alternative to traditional health insurance. My family has been using CHM for our healthcare for 4+ years now, and we couldn’t be more pleased. As a business owner we all know healthcare is outrageously expensive with CHM you can save money on your budget and know if a medical situation ever arises CHM will be there to take care of you and share 100% of your eligible bills. Learn more here!

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]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/redesigning-your-showit-website/feed/ 0 7888 The New Elizabeth McCravy Brand (BTS of my Business Rebrand & New Website!) https://elizabethmccravy.com/business-rebrand/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/business-rebrand/#respond Tue, 27 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=7856 I'm taking you BTS of my business rebrand and new website! New logos, colors, fonts, patterns... EVERYTHING! Let's talk about the 1 year+ process and what this shift means for you!

The post The New Elizabeth McCravy Brand (BTS of my Business Rebrand & New Website!) appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

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If you are reading this, I have a brand new website and a new brand for my business, and it’s finally live! I'm talking about new fonts, colors, patterns, logos, and a completely new website that I started completely from scratch. This business rebrand has been in the works since LAST October, and so we’ve been working on it for almost a year (and I’ve been dreaming of sharing it with you ever since!). 

I’m going to share:

  • Exactly why I chose to rebrand my business
  • My experience working with a branding agency (as a designer myself!)
  • Design decisions we made for the brand (and the why behind those decisions)
  • The process we went through (including the nitty gritty of working to redesign and reimagine 100+ pages of my giant website from the ground up).

Plus, before you dive in, I’m celebrating the launch of my new website with a SALE. Head here to find out how you can get 15-25% off my Showit Website Templates and Courses!

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 282!

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Why Did I Choose to Rebrand My Business?

Simply put, I’ve had my business for almost 9 years. In those 9 years, there has been a ton of evolution of what I do and offer, but my Elizabeth McCravy brand hasn't changed at all!

A little history lesson (in case you’re new around here!):

  • When I started my business almost 9 years ago, I was under a brand name (Every Whim Creative) that I kept for a little less than a year. I had a brand/website I built for that on WordPress. 
  • Then I rebranded. I made a new logo, brand, and a new WordPress website with a new name (Speak Social Agency)! Some of you may remember those days! Thank you for being here so long!! 
  • Then I redesigned that website on Showit, when I switched to designing websites on Showit. 
  • Finally, in August of 2018, I rebranded AGAIN to Elizabeth McCravy. I said “let’s stop with the made up fictitious/created names and use my name”. I was showing up as a personal brand and I just wanted to do that all the way. 

I feel like sometimes we forget truly how many changes and growth that happens in the early years. It’s funny looking back on it now thinking how many times I changed things in a short period.

Business as Elizabeth McCravy

I rebranded to Elizabeth McCravy six years ago already. And in those 6 years, I’ve been using the same logos, even though I didn’t like them anymore and didn’t feel like they represented me well. Instead, I kept adding new courses and products and the overarching visual identity for the brand was the same in these 6 years! 

It got to the point where I didn’t like the logos so much that I avoided using them anywhere (they weren’t really on the website at all). Then, in 2022, I set out with the goal to do a rebrand myself. New logos, fonts, colors, website, everything!! It was my big THING for that year. 

Truthfully, I did not even consider hiring anyone else because I am a designer myself. So my thought was, “I should do this, because I can do this.” With this business rebrand attempt, I got as far as new fonts and colors that I really loved, that I felt suited the brand well, but I never created new logos. I did do some brand strategy for sure, but it was all done SOLO, with no one to bounce ideas off of. Just me and me! Not super effective! 

Also, it always fell to the back burner for me behind other projects. I felt like I struggled to get out of my own head and out of my way. It’s hard designing for yourself as a designer! 

So basically, since January of 2022, I have been using the rebranded vibe that I created, while trying to not use any of my old logos. And it did work. I want to emphasize that. My business has grown and done really well in those years. But that whole time, “completing the business rebrand” has been on my to do list and I just kept not getting it done or getting stuck.

It’s also harder because I have a lot of sub-brands underneath my business name. I have Booked Out Designer, The Template Shop, Breakthrough Brand Podcast, and now Podcast Success Blueprint. They are different and unique, so figuring that out how they could all come together cohesively too was tough at times. 

I think in reality, I needed someone else’s perspective as a designer myself!

Fast Forward to January 2023

I had done a power hour call with Veronica Romney! She’s wonderful. She’s a team building expert and a podcast host herself. I’m going to have her on this show soon! A big thing that came out of the call is that I was holding onto things in my business that I needed to delegate. 

She helped me see ways I could focus more on my genius, on the things only I can do, which is especially important for me in this season of working so few hours and being with my kids more than working typically. I’m not a stay-at-home mom, but I am not working 40 hours, or even 25 hours a week, either! 

So after that call, I had ideas and direction, and I decided enough is enough. I needed to step into my CEO role more in my business and let a brand designer do the rebrand, while I did the website after! Because truly, websites are my passion. I love website design, and felt confident that I could take a brand and implement it into a new website for myself. And that regardless of if it was a good use of time or not, I would adore the process. And it would be fun for me, and business is supposed to be FUN! 

I will be honest: I had some doubts/imposter syndrome at first about the idea of hiring a designer (as a designer myself). But I realized that was not how I should run my business, and it was not how I was running my business in other areas that I was seeing success. 

For example: 

  • I don’t do my own customer support and haven't for years. 
  • I don’t write the blog posts that go with these episodes. 
  • I don’t create every single Canva graphic to promote launches/sales. 
  • There’s a lot I don’t do that I can do or did do at one point. 

So I applied to be a client of another designer who I admired. I knew she was familiar with my brand, and had listened to my podcast before. We had been online acquaintances for some time, but she wasn’t overly involved in my brand, which I felt was something I wanted actually. Some familiarity but not too much. 

Read more: My Team Building Story: Hiring, Outsourcing, Terrible Hires, Delegating and More!

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Hiring Cember Studio for My Business Rebrand

That person was Kelsea from Cember Studio! I do plan to have her on the podcast to talk about branding at some point, because she’s wonderful. I reached out to her, she had never worked with another designer before, but was game! I promised that I would trust her with the process and let her be the design lead. Which was actually really easy for me to do! 

I booked her, then we started the project in October of 2023. And guys — it was exactly what I needed to create a powerful brand for this business and powerful sub-brands, and a vibe built to LAST! Plus, I felt like I had a really strong foundation for the website I was going to build! 

We finished up the rebrand in December of last year, and of course, I was closing in on having a baby at that point. I started designing the new website then but I struggled to really get GOING on it until after my maternity leave was over. I had some pages done prior but not much. 

I implemented the finished branding on my current site first, which I know is not necessarily the best way to do it, but I knew with the size of my site and all the different things that needed updating, I couldn’t launch it all at once. 

Before I went on leave, I updated the logos everywhere on the website, updated all my checkout pages, receipts/invoices, Dubsado settings, email signatures, things for students in Kajabi, and our freebies to be the new look! 

Then post-leave, I got going quickly. After we started to get some momentum, it was like BOOM - HERE IT IS! 

my new business rebrand

About the Business Rebrand

I love it all, and I hope you do as well! Kelsea was great to work with. It was truly just a fun, fun project. I love when I hire contractors in my business and get to see how other people run their business and work with them and get to be a client myself. Kelsey's process (at least her process with me) was that she ended up presenting two brands that were similar.

They had the same color palette and some similar elements, but the logos themselves for my main brand were completely different. we actually did the brand presentation in person, which is really cool because I live in Nashville and she lives in Alabama fairly close by, and she was coming here for their team retreat. She then asked me, “Would you want to meet at a coffee shop and do the brand presentation in person?” I was like, yes, that would be so fun. I was so excited and nervous leading up to it though! But it was so nice having her explain her vision and show me everything in real time.

When she showed me the options, there were things I loved from both of them and things I didn't like about both of them. So the ultimate brand we ended up going with was a combination of both things she presented to me, even down to some of the submarks. I really, really love the final result and the whole process with her!

Brand Words and Visuals

Beyond visuals, the brand words that we went with to describe the new brand identity, are:  bright, friendly, authentic, inspiration, supportive, and powerhouse. I really love all of those words and I hope those words resonate and feel accurate for you too. A lot of them are actually words that I've gotten from podcast listeners and other customers who have filled out my end of the year survey. 

a moodboard from my business rebrand

Truthfully, I had a moment in the business rebrand process where I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue to embrace color. My brand has literally from day one embraced color — from pinks to yellows, blues, purple. I have always been a color gal, and loved bright and vibrant colors. However, one of the goals for me was to “grow up the brand” while keeping it fun, and I briefly was like… wait, do I ditch the bright colors? Really quickly I decided (with Kelsea’s help) that the answer was NO. This is something that is my style and there’s a way to stay bright, but mature with the brand,

For the final colors, you’ll see some shades of pink, yellows, a poppy reddish pink, a purple color, and shades like that. The yellow and poppy colors are almost the same as what I had been using from that half-way rebrand, but lots of the other colors were new! I actually started using the new colors on social media last year and in the freebies! I did things in phases. 

Overall, my favorite parts of my new branding are the colors, having a cohesive brand look, and having so many patterns/logo variations.

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Updating and Launching the New Website

I’ve been on Showit for many years now, and hadn’t created a new site for myself since 2018 when I switched to my Elizabeth McCravy brand from Speak Social. Overtime, I’ve ended up building a huge website of over 100+ pages, some not using the design settings in Showit, which made it hard to update. It wasn’t the best organized, which is why I chose to START FRESH instead of duplicating my current website and going from there. I wanted to start with a complete blank slate.

If that sounds daunting to you, especially for you designers listening… it was! 

I’ve learned so much from this design process that I plan to create more content around Showit for template customers and fellow designers, because yeah… designing for yourself is hard. And staying organized and motivated and getting started is hard too!

So anyway, I started with a blank website last December in Showit. And I did make some progress before Ethan was born. I got everything set up in Showit with the brand colors and I started on the homepage and the menus, but then I halted at baby time and had to pick up after. I picked up the project again for real in June of this year, and now we’re launching, so that feels FAST. Once I got the momentum and systems, it moved a lot quicker. 

Read more: Get a New Website By New Years: How to Customize Your Showit Website Template Really Fast

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Help From My Team Redesigning the Website

At first, I was doing it all completely alone because I had a vision of reimagining every single page. Then, I realized that I really only needed to reimagine the older pages and the bigger/most important pages (for example, the home page, resources, blog, etc).

But then there were some pages (like all 30ish email marketing freebie landing pages) that I have that I didn’t feel the need to reinvent the wheel on myself! My team member, Stacey helped me with those pages, and y’all she is one of my favorite business people ever. I just adore her! She was a huge blessing in this project. I’d assign her pages in ClickUp and give her some direction, and then she reworked them on the new website by bringing those pages in and editing them (so not every page was done from scratch).

New Website Rebrand Changes

Here are a few of the pages/things that I am most excited about with the new brand and website:

  • About page (finally - I didn't have one for like a year!!) 
  • Freebies only page
  • Resources page
  • Blog that’s more easy to navigate (now that it’s so large)
  • Logos for all my products and podcast that feel more cohesive and branded than they did prior 
  • My site menus (head to the hamburger menu at the top or the footer to see them!
new website after business rebrand

Design Decisions For The Blog

While there were a million decisions that went into the new website and business rebrand, I want to walk you through just a few design decisions I made for the blog. 

  • For pages like the blog pages, I had a process where I mapped out all of the possible things that could go on those pages. Then, I thought about what should go where (and in what order). So, for example, I have a bio at the end of all single posts, but not on the blog “home” page. 
  • I chose to get rid of the sidebar on my blog, because with over 400+ posts, I wanted to go “full screen” with it.
  • I redid the categories for all 400+ blog posts I have to make things more organized. That took hours in WordPress! There is a big emphasis on search and categories for the new design to accommodate all the content.
  • I also created a  blog search bar and think it’s sooooo cool. Have a look here!

Updates I Did With the Business Rebrand Nobody Will See/Notice

Here are a few more changes I made with the new business rebrand and website that nobody will see/notice (but make my life easier and business better!)

  • I started using Universal Site Canvases! Yay! I never implemented these on my old site, even though I did in all my templates as soon as the feature came out in Showit. My old site felt too massive and unorganized to do it. Now, I am using universal canvases really well and intentionally and it’s so nice!
  • All of my pages are sorted in the sidebar into groups (which I already had that way) but now, within the groups, everything is alphabetically organized. This is going to make it so much easier to find a page quickly.
  • There’s no more “Em Shop” branding (what I used to call my template shop). Now, everything has been updated to Elizabeth McCravy.

Favorite Things On My New Website

Thank you for reading this post all the way until the end! To close, here are a few of my favorite things on my new website:

sale for my business rebrand

To Celebrate, I Am Having a Sale!

Like I said before, I’ve been dreaming about sharing this with you all for more than a YEAR. For a limited time, until September 3rd, grab some seriously stunning website templates at a sweet discount (25% off!). Whether you're a coach, creative, or small biz owner, I’ve got Showit Website Templates that will make your online space feel like home. 

Plus, if you’ve ever thought about diving into one of my courses (Booked Out Designer or Podcast Success Blueprint), you can join those here at 15% off. I would love to teach you everything I know to support YOUR business vision! 

Thank you so much for celebrating with me! Grab all the launch sale details (and find out what you get for FREE with every purchase) here.

Links Mentioned:

Shop My New Website Launch Sale

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Shop Showit Website Templates

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]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/business-rebrand/feed/ 0 7856 3 Things I WISH More People Understood About Their Website (From a Designer’s Perspective!) https://elizabethmccravy.com/what-makes-a-great-website/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/what-makes-a-great-website/#respond Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=5952 What makes a great website? What makes a dud? Besides all the obvious things like don’t make your text too small, don’t use 1,000 fonts at once and things like that… What are the major keys?! No matter what you do in your work, if you have a website, you should ask these questions. Today […]

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]]> Reading Time: 5 minutes

What makes a great website? What makes a dud? Besides all the obvious things like don’t make your text too small, don’t use 1,000 fonts at once and things like that… What are the major keys?! No matter what you do in your work, if you have a website, you should ask these questions. Today I’m sharing 3 things that I consider top things to making a successful website, and people often miss them. I’m calling these “strong opinions”, but this could also be called “unpopular opinions” because these aren’t said enough. I hope this short and sweet episode gives you some business and website ideas to run with!

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 257!

Strong Opinion #1: Copying an influencer's website will not give you their success; it will just give you a website that everyone obviously sees looks like "so and so's" website.

How many times have you been looking at someone’s website and thought to yourself “Wow this looks like Marie Forleo’s website!” or “Interesting… this is the same fonts and colors that Jenna Kutcher uses”, or “Lewis Howes site looks like this one.” As a designer, I see it all the time where the big-time entrepreneurs’ sites are everyone’s #1 inspiration. 

And guess what? People have been loving their websites since early iterations that weren’t so beautiful and amazing because they love these people’s BRANDS. You may love the business they built, the success they have, the things they teach you, so you say “I want a website similar to theirs”! 

Here's the thing: You're cutting your own brand short when you copy someone else's website. You have something special and unique to offer the world too, and it doesn’t look the same as their sites. (Whoever “their” is to you!). I've even had this with my own brand quite a few times where people reach out asking what fonts I'm using and I don't tell them because I really believe that you should figure out what fonts you want to use for your brand. Don't copy someone else's website because you want their success or because you just don't know what your own brand is yet.

So what I want for you and what I want for myself (and for my template customers!) is that when someone lands on your website, they feel your brand coming through and they're not saying in their head, oh, this looks like Jenna Kutcher's website.

So how do you take action on this? First, ask yourself what you like ABOUT the site specifically that you’re feeling inspired by. Do not consider this person's brand outside their actual site; look at the site itself. Do you like the way type is used? Or how things flow? How can you be your own person and be inspired by those things you love without being the same? 

Read More: 5 Fascinating Social Media Marketing Lessons We Can Learn From The Top Influencers/Bloggers

easy new year website updates you can make

Strong Opinion #2: Simple websites with very few pages are amazing! You don't need a gazillion pages for your site to be incredible.

We often think more website pages = better results. But, when you’re just getting started, you may only need a few pages on your website, which means not using every page your template comes with. For example, my templates come with many pages, and that's not because you need all of them from the get-go. This is because I want you to have what you need to grow WITH your business.

I want the template you're investing in to be the site you're using years from now after you've gotten more clients, added more offers, started your course, made blogging a priority, etc. I want you to have those pages there to grow with you, but you don't have to use them all from the start and you might not even ever need them all.

For example, most of my templates have a "Ways to Work Together Page", that's basically an overview of your services. Maybe you never need that because you only have one main offer so you don't need a page with so many options. Maybe instead you utilize those different sections to create what you do need (that I've very strategically for you to go into other pages of your website). For example, maybe I have a section for your website viewer to schedule a call, but you repurpose it to link to a waitlist for your course.

If you look at your business and think, "I only need three pages," — that is ok. If you only need a Home page, About page, and Contact page - that's FINE! If you only need a sales page — that's ok! I've seen plenty of people do this with my sales page templates. So, don’t believe the myth that you need a gazillion pages to have a successful website! 

Getting a New Website Live Fast

I also think too, as someone who's creating your website for the first time, this can take a lot of the pressure off and speed up your process of getting your site live so you can start making money from your website. If you're looking at your template and you're like, I have to get the blog set up, I have to get this call scheduler page and the contact page and all of this perfectly set up, that's a lot of pressure and it can feel a lot better to feel like, "okay, what are the essential pages I need to get started right now?"

Read More: Get A New Website By New Years: How To Customize Your Showit Website Template Really Fast

Strong Opinion #3:  You must have photos of yourself somewhere or your site will feel scammy!

I feel like MOST people agree with me on this - but it's still being missed on SO many of the websites I visit. You have to have photos of yourself somewhere on your website or else your site's going to feel scammy, illegitimate, not personable, and all other sorts of problems.

I know not everyone wants to or can invest in professional imagery with a brand photographer from the start, and that's ok! Relying on stock photography can work, but put yourself on your website too! You need to be on your site even if it's not the most “professional” image. Otherwise, it can feel scammy and cause you to miss the opportunity to let your audience put a face to the name. 

Your face doesn't have to be front and center, but you need to be on there. To give you an example, the other day, I was searching for accountants and looked over different accountant websites, and I stumbled upon one that was using only stock images, even on their About page. I knew it probably wasn't a scam, but I did have to ask myself, "Is this legit? Where are the people who work here?" So, put yourself on your website — a great place to add a photo of you is on your About page and/or contact page. 

Read More: How To Use Paid Stock Photography To Completely Up Level Your Brand

So that’s it my friends — 3 opinions! I could do more and maybe we’ll do a part two later on. I appreciate you being here and reading until the end. 

Links Mentioned:

Tune into Episode 192 to learn more about using paid stock photos with Haute Stock

Shop All of My Showit Website Templates

Not sure which template is right for you? Take the quiz!

Join me Inside Booked Out Designer

Join my FREE Breakthrough Brand All Access Facebook Group

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Looking for amazing stock photography and videography? Check Out Haute Stock!

Thanks to our podcast sponsor, Haute Stock! Haute Stock is my favorite stock photo and video company. I've been a subscriber over 4 years now, and it's made my business' marketing both easier and more effective. I use Haute Stock images and videos for things like course and webinar slides, podcast promotional graphics and videos, on my website, for Reels and Reel covers, and so much more. You can get 15% off your Haute Stock subscription with the coupon code code: ELIZABETH at checkout or by clicking here!

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]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/what-makes-a-great-website/feed/ 0 5952 The Ultimate Web Design Course for Business Owners https://elizabethmccravy.com/web-design-course/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/web-design-course/#respond Mon, 18 Sep 2023 13:40:12 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=7074 Are you a website designer looking for the best web design course to help you grow and run your business? Booked Out Designer is here to offer an ultimate web design course tailored specifically for entrepreneurs just like yourself looking to create a profitable BUSINESS from their design skills. In this article, I’ll break down […]

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Are you a website designer looking for the best web design course to help you grow and run your business? Booked Out Designer is here to offer an ultimate web design course tailored specifically for entrepreneurs just like yourself looking to create a profitable BUSINESS from their design skills. In this article, I’ll break down the components of my comprehensive web design course so you can decide if it’s right for your business! I strongly believe in offering enough information for you to make an educated and empowered decision so if you are thinking about starting (or growing) a web design business, get comfortable and let’s dive in!

an honest review of Booked Out Designer - a web design course

Choosing the Right Web Design Course for You

I have to be honest - I take a different approach from most of the other web design course creators I see in the space in that my course does NOT focus on the actual design work. And while that might seem like a strange choice, it’s because after 7 years as a designer I know that being a great designer is NOT ENOUGH to build a successful design business. In Booked Out Designer, I focus on what you need to actually build a business that pays you while you learn and enhance your design skills every step of the way. Whether you are already an experienced designer looking to streamline and scale your business or you are brand new to business and ready to jump in, Booked Out Designer is right for you if you want to focus on making a real business out of design! We talk about design skills on things like our coaching calls and in our Facebook community, but the bulk of this course is about business.

I’m going to dive in deeper on what Booked Out Designer includes (and what I think every web design course should include!) below, but here’s a snapshot:

  1. 90+ Transformational trainings divided into 9 modules covering everything marketing, pricing, legal and business foundations and so much more.
  2. Live monthly coaching calls (if you are looking for a web design course to help you launch your business, do NOT choose one without ongoing support!)
  3. Swipe files and templates (including an attorney-drafted contract) to help you get going faster and actually implement what you learn!

This course is so much more than a surface level “how-to” guide. It offers training and support that go far beyond what you can learn from Googling design things like “how to change fonts in Showit”. It provides resources on pricing, legal and business foundations, and marketing strategies—all important aspects of successfully running a website design business. Booked Out Designer gives you the skills and knowledge to set yourself up as an authority in the industry, taking your web design game to the next level. So if that’s what you’re looking for in a web design course, we would love to welcome you inside here.

Here's what past students have to say about this web design course!

Choosing a design business mentor + web design course

First of all, I'm a firm believer that opting for a larger, comprehensive course rather than multiple smaller course options can often yield greater benefits. The advantage of choosing a larger course partly lies in its ability to provide a holistic and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter (like in Booked Out Designer, I cover in detail everything I think you need to know, and I don’t skim the surface for the sake of brevity). 

Smaller courses, on the other hand, tend to repeat and cover similar information in different modules. This is a generalization of course, and there are exceptions, but after 7 years in the online space it’s something I see come up over and over again. Duplicate information aside though, when trying to learn from different business owners and mentors it can often leave you feeling more stuck as well because you’ll find yourself in a sea of conflicting information. After all, there is often more than one way to do something and you can spend far too much time debating which approach to take than if you had gone “all in” on one strategic roadmap to get you from point A to point B.

Booked Out Designer might not be “cheap”, but it will show you how to get the results you’re after. This isn’t some $297 course that only shares just enough, but still keeps the big wins a secret. 

Investing in a larger course allows you to gain a deeper and more nuanced understanding, which is why that’s the route I chose to take for my own web design course!

Here are some tips for choosing a business mentor or business course for designers:

  1. Make sure the mentor has already achieved success in your industry: Research and look into the mentor’s past successes in web design to ensure they have a proven track record of success. 
  2. Ensure that the mentor can provide the guidance you need: Before deciding to work with a particular mentor, make sure there is enough support/time available for them to commit to helping you reach your goals. In Booked Out Designer, I offer live monthly coaching calls so that we can grow TOGETHER instead of leaving you on your own after you buy the web design course!
  3. Find out what kind of resources the mentor includes: Does the course you are considering offer any additional resources like templates, tools or software that can help you reach your goals? That was one thing that was really important to me when creating Booked Out Designer!
  4. Consider their teaching style: Make sure their teaching style aligns with what works best for you when it comes to learning new concepts or topics in growing a web design business. Want an example of my style? You can sample 2 lessons Booked Out Designer FREE here. (No credit card required!) And, if you’ve ever listened to my podcast, Breakthrough Brand, you’ll find my teaching style in the course is very similar.
  5. Make sure they understand what it actually takes to run a successful design business in 2023, 2024 and beyond. Especially for things like marketing (which you DO need to master in order to grow your business), you want to make sure the course or program is going to share what’s working now in the online world. It changes quickly.

Who is Elizabeth McCravy?

I guess this is a good time to introduce myself if we haven’t met yet? Hi - I’m Elizabeth McCravy!  I’m a website designer, Showit template shop owner, podcast host and a business coach for designers.

lifestyle blogger shares website traffic tips

Here’s what you should know about ME if you are thinking about signing up for Booked Out Designer: 

  • I’m a wife, mom, and Christian business owner whose been in business over 8 years. 
  • Over the years, I've been able to help over 2,000 entrepreneurs show off their skills through my collection of customizable website templates and my custom branding and web design work. 
  • I'm also proud to be a Showit Top Designer, Showit Design Partner and go-to resource for the online business community.
  • On my podcast - The Breakthrough Brand Podcast - I share all my business strategy tips and tricks so aspiring entrepreneurs can learn how to create successful businesses they love. Definitely tune in to get an idea if I might be the right mentor for you!

What’s included in Booked Out Designer that makes it the best web design course?

When I created Booked Out Designer, I wanted it to be a comprehensive course that covers all aspects of creating a successful design business. But at the same time, I wanted to make sure my students could jump around different sections and use it like a toolkit - taking what they need right away and coming back to it over and over again as their business evolves. That's why my course is broken down into modules that are easy to understand and digest - so you can quickly find the information you need when you need it.

Let’s recap the modules that house literally everything I believe you need from a web design course if you want to turn your design skills into a business:

Module 1: Marketing Your Design Business

Marketing is often overlooked when starting a business, but it plays a crucial role. In this module, I'll show you how to develop a solid marketing strategy. Learn how to build an audience, drive traffic to your offers, and stand out in a crowded marketplace. Don't underestimate the power of marketing - it’s a HUGE focus not only in this module but throughout the entire course! 

Module 2: Your Niche, Ideal Client, and Website

In this module, you'll gain insights into the real deal behind "niching down" and "ideal client avatars" and learn how to create and implement a customized plan that actually works for you (complete with what you need to include on your own website!). 

This module is not just about buzzwords. This module isn’t about how to guess your Ideal Client’s favorite coffee order! It goes beyond that, delving into my unique approach to niching down and highlighting the common mistakes I've observed both new AND experienced designers make. Don't underestimate its power – even experienced designers have gained tremendous value from these training sessions! We also cover some website must-haves for yourself whether you’re a brand designer, web designer, stationery designer, or illustrator. (We have them all in this course community!)

Module 3: Networking to Book Clients

This is one of my favorite modules that not enough people talk about. It's like a secret key to building a successful business! From sliding into Instagram DMs (in a non-creepy way!) to crafting podcast pitches and attending live events, this module will transform you into a networking ninja and help you make lots of fellow entrepreneur friends. Yes - I cover how to write pitches and get high-quality referrals too! After taking this module, students report getting booked on dream podcasts, gaining speaking experience at live events and summits, and so much more. 

Module 4: Marketing on Social Media

As I mentioned from the beginning, marketing is a key priority throughout the course because without customers, you don’t really have a business. If you find content creation, marketing, and social media confidence challenging, this module is truly invaluable (I assure you – my students can vouch for it saying these modules are worth the cost of the course alone!). Inside this module, I dive into everything you need to know about Instagram and Pinterest marketing (although the principles can be adapted to other platforms as well!).

booked-out-designer-course

Module 5: Legal and Financial Business Foundations

If you're considering a web design course that doesn't cover the legal, ethical, and financial aspects of your business, run! In this module, we'll make learning about contracts, LLCs, SPs, bookkeeping, accounting, and financial tracking/planning fun. 

This module is so much more than a “how to” guide. Inside, I include:

  • An attorney-drafted contract template you can swipe and customize for your business ($350 value)
  • How (and when) to hire a bookkeeper and accountant 
  • My recommended credit cards, banks, health insurance companies, and more
  • How to streamline and track your finances so you actually know how much you’re making 
  • Design Integrity principles — how to avoid copying others and what to do if you’ve been copied or accused of copying
  • A class with my personal bookkeeper on DIYing your own bookkeeping for your design business 

Module 6: Pricing for Profit

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know how important it is to me that your business does more than just hit vanity revenue numbers. When I say I want to help you grow a 6 figure business, I want as much of that as possible to be PROFIT.

In this module, I share the secret behind creating premium design packages and how to set the right prices for your services. Unlike other web design courses that barely scratch the surface on pricing, this module dives deep into my exact pricing system. I also address things like the money mindset blocks that have been keeping you stuck and spoiler alert - they aren’t always what you expect!

And by the way - in case you already know one of your weaknesses is mindset, Booked Out Designer INCLUDES an extra 5 day mini course to help you embrace an abundant mindset. It’s truly the first step to growing a thriving business! As you get going in Booked Out Designer, this mini course is a great add on to get you in the mindset to really take the course seriously and see results!

Module 7: Making the Sale (Discovery Calls & Project Proposals) 

This is another place I find your average web design course falls short! What happens when someone actually reaches out to inquire? Module 7 goes beyond just hypotheticals and instead shows you exactly how to respond to initial client inquiries with confidence (and a plan!), gives you three unique discovery call methods for booking clients, and shares how to prepare for and execute amazing discovery calls. I go through my EXACT client booking process from start to finish and give you an exact play-by-play for executing a discovery call. Don’t worry - I also share major discovery call mistakes to avoid (and prepare you for awkward things that might happen!) 

Module 8: Creating a Wow-Worthy Client Process

Inside Booked Out Designer, I am the first to admit I dedicate considerable attention to marketing, but this isn’t just a marketing course. I am firmly not one of those "gurus" solely focused on making sales at any cost. Let's talk about the course's QUEEN module where I share my comprehensive and proven client process, guiding you from the initial booking phase to the final project launch and blogging about your projectt. Regardless of your design business type, the knowledge and techniques taught in this module can be applied for your benefit. And here's the best part – I hold nothing back. You have access to every detail, and rest assured, it works like a charm! I even give you my ClickUp Project template! This is most people’s favorite module for a reason.

Module 9: Put it into Action: Real Client Calls with Elizabeth + Clients

In Module 9, you'll see that I practice what I preach around here! This course goes beyond just telling you how to run a client meeting – it shows you firsthand. Explore four diverse client meetings with real clients, all filmed prior to the creation of this course. Get ready for an authentic learning experience that highlights the expertise of a true professional in the field and see what you’ve learned put into real life situations with real life web design clients!

The Best Web Design Course: What Else Do You Need to Become a Successful Designer?

If right now you are thinking “wow - Booked Out Designer has everything!”, I want to share three more things that I think make it the best web design course ever! As I said from the start, I want this to be more than something you binge in a month and forget about. I want you to actively use this “course” as a toolkit and implement everything you learn to help you run a thriving design business. 

#1 Swipe Files and Templates

Have you ever taken a course that was all theory and no action? Not Booked Out Designer! Booked Out Designer takes your learning experience to the next level by not only providing essential knowledge but also offering all the necessary resources for immediate implementation. For instance, you'll have access to valuable tools like my Profit Sheet to optimize and plan for your business earnings, pre-built ClickUp project templates for seamless project management, and an attorney drafted contract that ensures legal protection. With these comprehensive and tangible resources, I want to make sure you'll be well-equipped to excel in your new design career. Also, those 3 templates alone are worth $687 if they were sold separately. 

ClickUp Template for brand and website designers
Know your numbers for your business with Profit Sheet by EM Shop!

#2 The COMMUNITY of fellow web designers

I believe that community is incredibly important! By enrolling in Booked Out Designer, you will gain access to our exclusive students-only Facebook group. Inside, you will find a diverse range of designers from various niches and stages in their businesses (not everyone is a web designer!). 

And let me just say - this Facebook group is well used! This is not your average free Facebook group where you may hesitate to ask challenging questions due to potential clients seeing. Our community is solely for designers, and we prioritize creating a supportive and welcoming environment.

On top of that, as your teacher, I am actively involved in the group. Many courses offer Facebook groups, but more often than not, the course creator is not actively engaged. In our group, I frequently share valuable tips, advice, and my own ongoing learning. This isn’t an "Elizabeth's Advice Group" either - our members have a wealth of amazing advice to offer as well (and they are eager to share it!).

booked-out-designer-course_mock_ups-group_coachingp-elizabeth

#3 You Get Live Group Coaching Calls 

 

From the very beginning, my vision for Booked Out Designer has been to create something that evolves alongside you and feels more like an ongoing membership than a quick course. That's why I bring you the opportunity to join group coaching calls where you'll receive personalized business and design advice directly from me. I truly believe that personalized coaching is the key to reaching your business goals faster and with greater clarity.

 

By becoming a member of Booked Out Designer, you'll gain ongoing access to these monthly calls, guaranteeing that you never miss out on the valuable insights they offer. During these face-to-face Zoom sessions, you'll have the chance to ask me anything and learn from the questions posed by other students. I can assure you, these calls will quickly become the highlight of your month. And, yes… you get ONGOING access. We still have people on our coaching calls that purchased 2+ years ago and come back each month to learn and grow.

Booked-out-designer-email-message-testimonial

What can you expect if you join Booked Out Designer? 

Are you just getting started and looking for a web design course that will teach you everything you need to know about running a profitable and in demand design business? Or maybe you are tired of feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and under-earning as a designer? In conclusion, if you join me inside Booked Out Designer, you will:

  • Learn how to run client projects smoothly and effortlessly, thanks to our tried-and-true system that both you and your clients will love
  • gain the skills and confidence to attract high-paying clients, bringing you one step closer to reaching that dreamy 6-figure goal (or whatever number you are after!)
  • say goodbye to the 9 to 5 grind as you transform your design passion from a mere hobby to a legitimate business that gives you the financial freedom you’ve been looking for
  • become a recognized leader in your design industry and niche
  • learn professional marketing strategies that work now, allowing you to expand your reach beyond Instagram and connect with your ideal clients.

What do you think? Are you ready to take your design career to the next level? Sign up for Booked Out Designer today and unlock your full potential as a confident, successful, and booked out designer. I’ve included payment plans to help make this web design course accessible because I would love to cheer you on every step of the way! Get instant access now!

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]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/web-design-course/feed/ 0 7074 Best Showit Templates for Coaches in 2023 https://elizabethmccravy.com/best-showit-templates-for-coaches/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/best-showit-templates-for-coaches/#respond Mon, 12 Jun 2023 16:09:19 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=6815 As a business coach and educator myself, I know exactly what it takes to create the best Showit templates for coaches. And (humble brag here), I did it. Today, I want to share with you what makes Elizabeth McCravy Showit Website Templates the BEST option for coaches specifically, and share a few of my favorite […]

The post Best Showit Templates for Coaches in 2023 appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 7 minutes

As a business coach and educator myself, I know exactly what it takes to create the best Showit templates for coaches. And (humble brag here), I did it. Today, I want to share with you what makes Elizabeth McCravy Showit Website Templates the BEST option for coaches specifically, and share a few of my favorite Showit templates for coaches in 2023. Whether you’re a life coach, business coach, career coach, or some other kind of coach, I have no doubt you’ll LOVE these premium website templates as much as me! 

Premium website templates for women life coaches and business coaches

And by the way - if we haven’t met yet, I’m Elizabeth McCravy! I’m a website designer and marketing strategist, and I know how to build bold and brilliantly fun coaching websites. In fact, I’ve custom-designed 20+ websites for coaches and worked with 1300+ people through my Showit template shop. I’ve learned firsthand what works on a coaching website and what doesn’t. 

I’ve taken everything I know as a business coach, marketing strategist, and website designer and created templates that establish trust, show your personality, and ultimately make the sale!

When you buy one of our Showit templates for coaches, you get:

  • A website that offers effortless integration with the software you use every day (whether you are a Dubsado and Convertkit kind of coach or prefer Honeybook and Flodesk in your coaching toolkit)
  • To ditch expensive “one-off” platforms like Lead Pages, and instead invest in a website that houses your sales pages and landing pages so you can grow your email list so that you can sell your online courses and digital products with ease without lowering your conversion rate.
  • A website that was designed with search engine optimization in mind. I know what it takes to rank on Google (maybe that’s how you found me today?) and I know how quickly bad design can tank your rankings. That won’t happen here!

Allow me to introduce a few of my favorite Showit templates for coaches…

Gabby podcast for coaching businesses

Gabby: A Polished, yet Fun Website Template for Coaches

Gabby is a favorite for Elizabeth McCravy Shop customers, and even has a matching podcast kit and sales page design! If you are building a coaching business, you know how important it is to create helpful evergreen content, so whether you are in your client’s ears on a podcast or writing content for your blog, the Gabby is a great choice. This template is polished, lively, fun, and bold. The color palette is stunning (although it’s easy to switch to your own brand colors too!). 

This template won 1st place among over 30 designs in a Showit design competition partly because of the way the dynamic features keep your viewer engaged and clicking to the next step. The modern and clean layout is perfect for business coaches, wellness coaches, weight loss coaches, health coaches, consultants, and nutritionists or yoga teachers.

 

Want to see what your website will look like using Gabby IRL?

an example of one of the top showit templates for coaches
an example of one of the top showit templates for coaches

 

Don’t just take our word for it! Megan V. says

 

“The Gabby template was perfect for me, and Elizabeth's education course is amazing! I felt my business come to life as filled in my information. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to have a beautiful site, and also to know how to work it!”

Shop the Gabby Template!
Jena website template for coaches

Jena — a Showit website template for coaches:

Again, we are coming in hot with the best-selling Jena template and the podcast website kit to match. Since she launched in 2022, this bold and bubbly template has been a fan favorite. As a coach, you’ll love the way the about page is set up to show off your expertise, and the services page is designed with conversion in mind.

Your Jena Website Template Could Look Like This…

an example of one of the top showit templates for coaches
an example of one of the top showit templates for coaches

 

Don’t just take our word for it! Dolly D. says

"I know that the Jena template helps new users see that they have several ways to work with me. I still get consistent inquiries + leads every month, I have been getting more DREAM clients every month, and I have been getting more feedback about how beautiful my website looks!"

Shop the Jena Template!
a polished and clean Showit website template for coaches

Kate: The Best Showit Website Template for Coaches:

We love all of our website templates equally, but if we had to pick the best Showit website template for coaches, it would be hard not to pick Kate. Not only is she an all-time favorite here at Elizabeth McCravy Shop, but she’s actually the updated version of our best selling template EVER, which got a digital face lift in 2022. This top-selling Showit website template will have your ideal customers scrolling through every page and ready to BUY!

Perfect for coaches, wellness pros, consultants, yoga teachers, personal brands, and online course creators, you’ll love the different options for service pages and the resources page to share your favorite tools (and affiliate links!). When you shop at Elizabeth McCravy Shop, you truly get it all!

While this is the PERFECT template for business coaches and life coaches alike, it really works for any coaching business that wants to stand out online as both brilliant and bold. Plus - this one has a sales page included!

 

Wondering what your Kate Template Could Look Like?

an example of one of the top showit templates for coaches
an example of one of the top showit templates for coaches

 

Don’t just take our word for it! Andrea C says

“This is the best website I’ve ever had, and I’ve hired a designer before. The ease of use, how gorgeous the template was made it super easy to use and build out. Your videos on how to create it and what to put on your website were beyond helpful. I’m in love with my website and cannot wait to share with people now to check it out!”

Shop the Kate Template!
fun Showit website template for coaches

Nicole: A Professional Showit Website Template for Coaches, Online Course Creators + Personal Brands

Meet the beautiful Nicole template. This template was nominated for Best Premium Showit Template of 2019! Nicole is clean, minimal, and feminine, and we think you’ll love the soft colors, fun typography, and stunning layout for your coaching business. Customers who gravitate to this template typically want a clean design that’s easy to customize and has gorgeous typography that helps you stand out. 

Wondering what Nicole looks like for a coaching business?

nicole-showit-template-for-coaches-2
nicole-showit-template-for-coaches

Or listen to Osiris C when she says…

"I fell in love with the Nicole template because of how simple and chic it was. I bought it, and the videos that came after were so informational and easy to follow. I have never used Showit either, all my websites have been on Squarespace, but this was so easy to install and customize to my liking."

Shop the Nicole Template!
minimalist Showit website template for coaches

Liane: For Coaches Who Love Minimalist Design and Sophisticated Touches

Want romance and whimsy on your website? Do you love romantic scripts and minimal design? Then the Liane template for coaches was made for you, friend! Liane is the essence of sophistication and romance. Its simple layout will allow you to quickly set it up and launch it to your audience! This is one of those sites where you fall in love INSTANTLY. 

My favorite feature of the Liane template is its long form sales page designed to help you easily sell your mastermind programs, webinars, online courses, and retreats! 

Looking for unique Showit templates for coaches? You would never guess these are all Liane!

an example of one of the best showit templates for coaches
an example of one of the best showit templates for coaches

Can you see how customizable these Showit templates for coaches can be? And if you need more convincing, just take it from Sarah L. who says…

 

"I am SO happy with my website, and it's truly because your template and training made it so easy to customize. I think your Showit course is worth the price of the template alone!"

Shop the Liane Template!
Sophie Showit Template Mockup

Sophie: The Best Showit Website Template for Business Coaches

Clearly we have a lot of favorites! The Sophie template features bold typography, minimal design, and a fun aesthetic. It has been a hit among business coaches! You’ll love Sophie’s sleek design and all the amazing pages that come with this template. You’ll have everything you need to grow your email list, sell out your programs, and schedule calls with your new (dream) clients.

Want to see more examples of Sophie in the wild?

an example of one of the best showit templates for coaches
example-showit-template-for-coaches

Need an extra push? Listen to what Emily C has to say…

 

“The Elizabeth McCravy Shop experience is fun, thoughtful, intentional, and thorough. I was able to see exactly what I was getting in my template before I bought it. Once I'd bought my template (Sophie-- love her!), I was blown away by the level of instruction and care that accompanied my purchase. Even though I'm not technically savvy, I was able to make customizations and edits with ease. I'm obsessed with my new website from Elizabeth McCravy and I can't wait for my potential clients to experience the magic!”

Shop the Sophie Template!

Do You Love these Website Templates for Coaches but Aren’t Sure about Showit?

You can learn more about why I believe Showit is the best website platform for coaches in 2023 here, but let me just share a few highlights for you in case you are seriously considering a new Showit template right now:

  1. In saturated industries especially, it’s more important than ever to stand out. Elizabeth McCravy templates are beautifully and strategically designed so that you can add your own branding and transform your website into something that’s truly your own to start calling in ideal customers. 
  2. With each purchase, you gain instant access to our easy-to-follow online Showit course that shows you EXACTLY how to customize your template (so you can have your brand new website launched within just a few days!). 
  3. Our website templates are designed not ONLY with marketing in mind but are also SEO-optimized. If you are looking for more ease in your business this year, having potential customers find you on Google might just be the thing your business has needed.

 

going full-time in your business is scary and exciting

Ready to Shop the Best Showit Templates for Coaches in 2023?

Here at Elizabeth McCravy Shop, we are truly with you every step of the way. From our Showit Blueprint Course showing you exactly how to customize your new coaching website (and show off your brand and business!), to ongoing customer support before you launch, we also genuinely do a happy dance for you too. As a business coach myself, I love helping other coaches. I’m sure you can relate right? So if you have questions about any of the Showit Templates for Coaches you see here, just reach out and ask! Or, head to our shop to see every option available for you right now. Did I mention you get instant access and we have ultra affordable payment plans?

Not sure which one is right for you? Take the Website Personality Test to find out! It takes less than 3 minutes and you’ll be matched with the website that’s right for you and your business. We have got you!

Oh, and… want even MORE examples of real customers using our templates? Head to the Showcase to see Elizabeth McCravy sites in the wild and filter by industry or template! 

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]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/best-showit-templates-for-coaches/feed/ 0 6815 How to get IN THE ZONE when working on a design project https://elizabethmccravy.com/get-in-the-zone/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/get-in-the-zone/#respond Tue, 11 Apr 2023 06:00:41 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=6457 We've all been there, struggling to find inspiration and motivation when working on a new project. Whether it's designing a website, creating a brand, or even just a simple graphic for a blog post, sometimes our creative minds just hit a wall. Maybe you can’t focus, or you just don’t feel like it, or you […]

The post How to get IN THE ZONE when working on a design project appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 8 minutes

We've all been there, struggling to find inspiration and motivation when working on a new project. Whether it's designing a website, creating a brand, or even just a simple graphic for a blog post, sometimes our creative minds just hit a wall. Maybe you can’t focus, or you just don’t feel like it, or you are actively looking for the inspiration but you just can’t find it. Fear not - because today I'm going to share with you some personal tips and tricks that I use to get in the zone as a creative entrepreneur and find my flow as a designer.

Now, even if you don't work in the design industry, these strategies can still be applied to other types of creative work, such as copywriting, photography, or even bookkeeping and coaching. We all do creative work in our businesses, and sometimes we need a little push to get us going.

So, whether you are customizing a website template, creating a complete brand and website design for a client project, or even having a VIP day, these techniques will help you get focused, productive, and in flow as you design your next masterpiece.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 209!

Launching a New Website Template

Recently, I launched a new template and it got me thinking about my own creative process again. As a designer, there are times when we need to get in the zone and really focus on the project at hand, right? For example, when I was creating the new template, there were two times that I really had to get in the zone for an extended period of time. First, was during the “idea stage”. I had to think about the fonts and colors, the vibe, who is it for, and so much more. Later on, I had to make big tweaks and envision what cool things we could do within the template. 

In both situations, I needed to be creative and get in the zone, which is one of my favorite things to do as a designer anyway. It's a treasure to be able to turn off other business hats and focus solely on the design project. I know many of you listening feel the same way because you love being designers and you love the work you do. There's something special about being able to get in the zone and create something beautiful. So today, I’m sharing 5 tips for getting in the zone when working on a design project. I hope you hear this process and make it your own!

new website template created by a Showit website designer

1. Dedicate more time than 30 minutes or a “quick work session” to the design task at hand. 

I don't believe in creating designs in short 30-minute stints over the course of weeks or months. Instead, I prefer to sit down and work with the design uninterrupted for at least an hour or an hour and a half. I find that this gives me the time I need to really get into the zone and produce high-quality work.

That doesn’t mean you never get to take a break. I'm sure you can relate to that feeling of looking at a design for too long and feeling stuck staring at your Illustrator screen. When that happens, it's time to step away from the computer and give yourself a break. Your eyes and mind need time to rest and recharge. Sometimes, it is best to come back to the design later.

Most of the time though, II find it helpful to plan for at least an hour of uninterrupted time to work on a design. Trying to squeeze in design work between tight deadlines (like a meeting with a client in 30 mins, or needing to pick your kiddos up from school soon!) or with only a few minutes to spare can hinder your creativity and result in lower quality work. I know at this point in my business, I have to attend more meetings than I would realistically like to, but I still dedicate at least a few days a week of no meetings for this more focused work.

For example, today I have zero meetings, so I'm able to get in the zone creatively and work on writing and recording podcast content. I do the same thing on my design days, where I try to plan them without any meetings so I can fully focus on my design work.

On top of that, it's important to find the time of day when you feel the most creative. For me, I've always found that I'm more creative at night. Before becoming a mom, I loved to work on design projects after 5 PM, even staying up until 9 PM to work. Finding the time of day when you feel most creative and can work uninterrupted will help you get in the zone. 

Read More: How To Take Your Design Business From Burnt Out To Booked Out With Dream Clients

 

2. Get the right noise going. 

When it comes to sound, I have a playlist for every project and client that I work on. This helps set the mood and keeps me vibing with my work for a longer period of time. However, if words or even musical notes become distracting during certain parts of the design process then I switch up my background noise to something like white noise or brown noise instead. That’s usually the case for me when I’m at the very beginning of a design project! 

This YouTube video is one of my favorites for getting in the zone! 

Regardless of what type of background noise works best for you, I’ve found that having some form of it can really help your creative flow and keep you productive

I also usually like to switch up my background noise depending on which phase I'm in for any given project. Early on, when I'm more in the planning phase and writing a lot, binaural beats work well for me. But once it's time for designing, music playlists that vibe with the project help keep me motivated and focused. And then there are times when I'm able to listen to a podcast while working too. Though honestly, Podcasts tend to be too distracting depending what I am working on. Everyone works differently though; some people have no issue listening to podcasts while designing.

I will give you an example of choosing the vibe of the music around the project. When I was designing the new Carrie template, I chose the Gossip Girl Playlist (on YouTube or Spotify) because it has that New York Upper East Side vibe which felt perfect for this project. It also brought back some great throwback songs that I hadn't heard in a while since it's an older show. 

As another example, when I was designing the Leanne template, I was listening to Taylor Swift’s Lover album. I feel like you can kind of get a sense of those vibes when you look at that template!

 

Bonus Tip: Ask Your Client What Music They Love

If you're not sure what to listen to when working on a client project, why not ask them? Ask your clients to tell you what their brand would be as a musical artist or playlist; then try to pull that into what you're listening to as you work. It could be a great way to connect with your client and their brand in a unique way.

 

3. Have a “design drink” and light a candle. 

When I need to get in the zone as a designer, it doesn’t end with sound! My third step when starting a design project is to have a special drink and light a candle. I know that sounds silly but this is what works for me! When I need to get in the zone as a designer, it usually means a latte from Starbucks or one of those La Colombe canned coffee drinks we buy at home. I’ve also grabbed a Kombucha or even a glass of wine when I’m working late too. Taking this extra step to treat myself to a beverage helps me feel relaxed and focused while I work.

Another thing that sets the mood for me is lighting a candle – it literally signifies the start and end of my work session! Even on days when I'm just at my desk for normal hours, lighting up a candle signals to myself that it's time to start (and I blow it out when it's time to stop) working for the day. It also makes my office smell lovely and I love to create a special atmosphere for myself.

As well as setting up a nice environment, there are other ways that you can keep productive during your design sessions. My top tip would be to make sure you physically write out what you're planning to design and what you're working through – this helps keep your thoughts organized and focused on the task at hand. Even if most of your design work is done digitally, taking some time away from the screen can be beneficial for those moments when your creativity starts to run low.

Read More: From Burnt Out To Booked Out: 4 Keys To Building An In-Demand Design Business That Won’t Drain You

 

4. Put pen to paper

Most of you reading this right now are doing digital design work but that doesn’t mean you have to stay on the computer the entire time. One of my biggest tips when trying to get in the zone as a designer would be to make sure you physically write out what you're planning to design and what you're working through – it truly helps keep your thoughts organized and keeps you focused on the task at hand.

Whether it’s making a list of sections you're designing, wireframing with shapes, or just doodling - taking your ideas off-screen can help trigger new ways of thinking. And you don't need to be an artist – even if your drawings just look like squiggles and lines to anyone else, they can still make sense to you.

 

Elizabeth McCravy shares 5 tips for how to get in the zone as a designer

 

Use Cardboard Boxes to Map Out Your Project

Personally, I love to do this on those cardboard boxes we all get from Amazon. Cardboard is often longer and larger than a sheet of paper so I love to save those and then pull them out when I’m working on a big design project. With the help of Sharpies, I'm able to draw out my creative ideas on these objects and get a better understanding of what my end product will look like.

You don’t need to use cardboard though - you can tape paper together if you need a larger surface too. Close the laptop when you do this too and I think you’ll be surprised at how many unique ideas you truly come up with.

As someone with a background in graphic design in college, we had TONS of different branding projects throughout the year where we had to create logos, brand identity, and more. I remember during one of those classes the teacher required us to write/draw out 50-100 different logos BEFORE we were ever allowed to create them digitally. That seems crazy now but it was a GREAT way to get unique ideas out. I always found ideas #1-#10 were kind of the “obvious” logo choices, and then somewhere between 20-50 was where the magic happened (at least when looking for a UNIQUE idea). Even if something didn't end up being used, it still opened my mind to possibilities that I wouldn't have thought of otherwise. It also made the design process on the computer go smoother and faster once you got there!

 

5. Stop looking at other designers’ work. 

I saved the biggest tip for last. When I'm trying to get in the zone and am designing, I don’t look at other people’s websites or pull up Pinterest. I’m not saying you can’t look at things like that during the discovery process, but I think it should be left behind during the actual design project. If you are currently designing with Showit open on one tab and somebody else’s website up in another, that’s lazy design work. Trust me, you can do better than that. 

Obviously, there are caveats to this but most of the time I find the temptation to do something like this when designers are tight on time, feeling stressed, or even feeling a bit of imposter syndrome and feeling like someone else has all the answers. But trust me, it’s not worth it. You are amazing and you have your own gifts and style to bring into the world. Embrace that!

Read More: 20 Questions About Building A Successful, Booked Out Design Business

Want Help to Grow Your Design Business?

If you're looking for more detailed guidance on how to build your design business, you have to check out Booked Out Designer. Inside, I'm not teaching you things like “here's how to design a logo” or “here’s how to work Show it”. Instead, I'm teaching you how to turn your design skills into a business that actually makes money. From finding clients to managing finances, to sharing my own client experience from start to finish - it’s all in there. 

It’s also not a course that you have to take like start to finish. You totally can and a lot of people do - but I personally like to think of it as a toolkit where you watch the modules you need when you need them and then you go back to others later. With 90+ lessons in total this course can help ANYONE build a booked out design business (whether they are searching for their first customer or are fully ready to raise their prices and want help with the next stages of their business). 

TL;DR: Booked Out Designer is a comprehensive course for anyone looking to grow and elevate their design business. We cover everything from workflow and client process, to discovery calls, booking processes, finances and even legal considerations. Check out everything that’s inside here.  

Links Mentioned:

Join me inside Booked Out Designer

NEW! Shop the Carrie website template

Shop our Showit Website Templates

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

The post How to get IN THE ZONE when working on a design project appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/get-in-the-zone/feed/ 0 6457 The Best Alternatives to Squarespace Templates for Photographers https://elizabethmccravy.com/alternatives-to-squarespace-templates-for-photographers/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/alternatives-to-squarespace-templates-for-photographers/#respond Mon, 03 Apr 2023 18:45:59 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=6128 Whether you are a long-time user of Squarespace or aren’t quite sold on their website platform but the Superbowl ad has you curious, welcome! If you are looking for Squarespace templates for photographers, I could probably guess two things about you are true: You value a beautiful website that showcases your work  You want your […]

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]]> Reading Time: 8 minutes

Whether you are a long-time user of Squarespace or aren’t quite sold on their website platform but the Superbowl ad has you curious, welcome! If you are looking for Squarespace templates for photographers, I could probably guess two things about you are true:

  1. You value a beautiful website that showcases your work 
  2. You want your website to be easy to update

Am I right? If so, you are definitely in the right place. While all of my Elizabeth McCravy Shop templates are built for Showit and not Squarespace, about 80% of the people switching to Showit are coming from Squarespace. You may feel like so many photographers are raving about Squarespace that you think it’s the only option, but I am here to stick my heels in the sand and tell you that it’s simply not true in 2023. So before you bounce off this page in search of Squarespace templates, I would love just two minutes to talk about why I believe that Showit Templates are better than Squarespace Templates for photographers!

 

showit is a better alternative to squarespace templates for photographers

Why Showit is the Best Website Platform for Photographers

 

I dive deep into the details in this Showit vs. Squarespace comparison, but here are just a few reasons why I truly believe Showit is the best platform for photographers (regardless of whether you specialize in weddings, branding, portraits, or newborns!).

 

1. Showit website templates are easier to use!

If you have purchased a Squarespace template for photographers before, you know that some things will require complicated code to change. NOT Showit. Showit is a true “drag and drop” platform, and while you might feel like you can customize your website on Squarespace now, I promise you that it is a drop in the bucket when you compare what Showit is capable of. 

With Squarespace, everything is COMPLETELY template based. With Showit templates, the end result can look truly unique and custom to your business - which is even more important in more saturated industries like photography! Say goodbye to complicated coding or using Photoshop for everything.

Speaking of marketing in saturated industries - I want to throw in a shameless plug here. If you haven’t taken a look at our Showit website template shop yet, run don’t walk. Not only do we design our templates to have a wow-factor aesthetic, they are strategically designed with creative businesses in mind.

 

best website platform for photographers is Showit

 

2. You want full creative control (including on mobile!)

Have you ever wished you could customize what your website looks like on your phone? With Showit, the mobile experience is completely independent of the desktop, so if you want parts of your website to look different (in terms of photos or the information you include!), it’s incredibly easy to do. As a photographer, your images are EVERYTHING. With Showit, you never need to struggle with a weird crop or wonky image on the mobile version again.

You are a creative and you want a website that reflects that and actually allows you to be creative. You may want to start with a template (and we might be biased but we think that’s a really good idea - especially if you want your website up fast and flawlessly!), but you don’t want to be restricted by a template. We’ve got you.

 

that feeling when you launch a new website

 

3. It’s easier to rank on Google with Showit.

Hear me out on this one - it’s NOT impossible to rank on Google with Squarespace (you can totally do it), BUT Showit’s capabilities both as a website platform and as a blogging platform is unparalleled. Showit actually uses WordPress for blogging, which means you have access to one of the most powerful blogging platforms in the world, without needing to sacrifice design. As a bonus, inside of my Showit Blueprint Course (included with every Elizabeth McCravy Shop template!), I show you my favorite WordPress plugins to use to make sure your ideal customers can find you on Google every single time!

And by they way, if you haven’t experienced the benefits of an SEO-optimized website template yet, this is probably going to be your favorite part about switching to Showit.

Alternatives to Squarespace Templates for Photographers (when you switch to Showit)

If you are open to alternatives to Squarespace templates for photographers, allow me to show off some of the templates I think work BEST for photographers (regardless of your niche!). Want to see all of your options? Shop all of our SEO-friendly, strategically designed templates here. 

Taylor Showit Website Template

Looking for a fine art or editorial photography vibe? You’ll love the Taylor for showing off all the romantic vibes with a sprinkle of personality using cool photo frames. When you are a photographer, you KNOW you need an epic portfolio page (it’s where your ideal clients head before they book you!). Taylor is a high-end, refined, elegant Showit website template (with a fully developed blog!) for photographers who love what they do (and have the photos to prove it!)

Shop the Taylor Template!

Elle Showit Website Template

As one of the newest templates in the shop, Elle has everything you need for your photography website. Although not specifically designed for photographers, the simple yet impactful nature of this sleek neutral design has quickly become a fan favorite among creatives! And, the portfolio page is set up great for showcasing your work. 

Shop the Elle Template!

Jena Showit Website Template

It goes without saying your customers want to see your photos, but they want to feel like they know the person behind the camera too! If you have a bold and bubbly personality, our best-selling Jena template might just be the perfect option for you! Top Photography-Educator, Stephanie Kase, uses the Jena template for her website, so you’ll be in GREAT company!

Got big goals this year? Keep scrolling for the incredible add-ons with the Jena template too…

Shop the Jena Template!
website templates for branding photographers

Catherine Showit Website Template

Are you a branding photographer? A real estate photographer? A restaurant photographer? You know that the sky is the LIMIT when it comes to people who need your services. If you are looking for a website with clean lines and timeless typography (to let your work do the talking!), the Catherine was designed to be classic and professional, just like your brand.

Shop the Catherine Template!

Alice Showit Website Template

The Alice is one of our best-selling templates for businesses and brands who want a timeless and sophisticated vibe. Perfect for showcasing high-impact photos (and video!), the Alice Showit website template for photographers makes it EASY to create a strong impression for your brand. The classic, whimsical look of this template is a hit with wedding photographers. 

Shop the Alice Template!

Kate Showit Website Template

Your personality shines through when you are behind the camera, and you know how to make your customers feel comfortable too. If you need a website that feels fresh, feminine, and approachable, the Kate Showit Template is one of our faves! Yes, it’s “modeled” for fitness coaches, but trust me — it works wonders for photographers too. Best of all, the minimal and effortless design makes this one a DREAM to customize, so if you want your website up and running like yesterday, you can make it happen without sweat and tears!

Shop the Kate Template!

Maggie Showit Website Template

Did you become a photographer to have fun? Where are our enneagram 7’s over here? The Maggie Showit website template is not for the photographer who wants to feel fancy - but if you are looking for a website that feels quirky, bold, and bright (unlike most website templates for photographers - let’s be honest!!), the Maggie just might have the fun and flexible look you crave.

Shop the Maggie Template!

Last but not least, meet the Olivia Showit Website Template

Strikingly beautiful in an effortless natural way, the Olicia was designed with YOUR photos and videos in mind. We wanted to create something that would suit the adventurous and artistic - and if that’s you, look no further.

Shop the Olivia Template!

Alternatives to Squarespace Templates for Photographers Looking to Offer Courses, Group Programs, and Other Educational Products This Year

If you are looking to offer some form of educational product or service this year, I haven’t even told you the best part yet: OUR SALES PAGE ADD-ONS. When you set up to launch your digital products or a new online course this year, you want sales pages you can get launched in days, not months. You can add any of our Showit Sales Page Templates to your website (whether you purchase a full Elizabeth McCravy Shop template or not). 

Our sales page templates have 30+ canvases strategically designed to help you show off and sell out your offer. The best part? Payment plans start at just $107/month for 4 months so you can get started making your money, honey.

 

 

sales page website templates for photographers

The only question I have for you is: Which of these sales page templates will best help you sell your stuff this year?

Shop Sales Page Templates Here!

Launching a podcast for photographers this year?

I just finished recording my 200th episode on the Breakthrough Brand podcast, so trust me when I say, if you are launching a podcast this year, we fully support the decision. I’m not lying when I say that podcasting is truly one of my favorite things I get to do in business. (and, podcasting is NOT over saturated.) 

Whether you are brand new or have a few episodes live already, I want to share TWO of my favorite Showit Podcast Templates for photographers below. These templates look great with any Elizabeth McCravy Shop template but they can also hold their own if you want something separate for your podcast right now! These were created by a podcaster (me!) for podcasters, and have truly everything you need to share your podcast proudly, book guests, put together a killer media kit, and grow your show.

 

podcast website template for photographers

The Gabby Podcast Showit Template

If you are looking for something fun and high-impact, the clean lines and layered design of the Gabby podcast template make it super easy to customize with your podcast’s unique vibes. Love the Gabby as much as we do? She also has a full website template option and a sales page add-on you may just want to add to cart.

Shop the Gabby Podcast Template!
podcast website template for photographers

The Jena Podcast Showit Template

If you are looking to show some PERSONALITY, the bubbly and feminine design of the Jena podcast template is truly what you need. As one of our best-selling templates for photographers, she also has a full website template option and a sales page add-on for the dreamy cohesive vibes you desire!

Shop the Jena Podcast Template!

Worried you have time to learn a new platform right now?

If there was a steep learning curve when you originally built your website on Squarespace, I can understand your hesitation. While there will always be a bit of a learning curve switching platforms, I firmly believe that you will find Showit more intuitive to use. On top of that, with the purchase of ANY template from the Elizabeth McCravy Shop, you will get instant access to our Signature Showit Blueprint Course, walking you through how to easily change the colors and fonts to match your custom branding, and I will walk you step-by-step through customizing each section.

 

customizing your showit template

 

Want to try before you buy? 

I understand that too. Click here to sign up to get a free month of your Showit subscription here (you may even want to scroll to the bottom of the page for a bit of an Easter egg if you are looking to buy a new website template). Have more questions? We are standing by so you can connect with our team directly here.

 

Ready to make the switch? Let us help you! 

Showit offers AMAZING support already - but we wanted to make it even easier for you with a quick step-by-step recap.

  1. Grab yourself one of the best Showit website templates for photographers. With payment plans starting at just $247/month (and a ton of 5 star reviews), this might be the easiest decision you make in your business this year!
  2. Get yourself a one month free deal with this coupon code (this kicks in AFTER your already free 14 day trial). My templates make it easy to have your site live before your trial starts (we have had template users launch their websites in less than 4 days!).
  3. Enjoy help and support along the way! Our Showit Templates are very image-driven with lots of opportunity to show off your work but they are also SEO-driven, marketing minded, and were designed by a Showit Design Partner, who (humble brag here) was named one of the top 15 designers using Showit.

Whether you are launching your first website or making the switch from Squarespace, we are here to support you! Don’t forget, you’ll get instant access to our Showit Blueprint Course with every Elizabeth McCravy Shop template purchase!

alternative templates for photographers if you don't want to use squarespace
Squarespace templates alternatives

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]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/alternatives-to-squarespace-templates-for-photographers/feed/ 0 6128 My Top 3 Showit Design Hacks That Every Web Designer Needs to Know https://elizabethmccravy.com/showit-design-hacks/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/showit-design-hacks/#respond Tue, 07 Mar 2023 06:00:01 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=6106 I’ve been using Showit for years now, and navigating the software is like second nature to me. In fact, I have had many dreams where I am literally designing websites on Showit (this always tends to happen to me when I’m deep into a client project or working on a new template). At this point, […]

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]]> Reading Time: 7 minutes

I’ve been using Showit for years now, and navigating the software is like second nature to me. In fact, I have had many dreams where I am literally designing websites on Showit (this always tends to happen to me when I’m deep into a client project or working on a new template). At this point, I’m an established Showit design partner (I was honored as a top Showit designer in 2020!) and I have had over 1,300 websites go through Showit’s system that was either custom-designed by me directly or with one of my Showit templates. So, you could say I know a thing or two about Showit. Today, I’m sharing my top three Showit design hacks for designing custom websites or templates on Showit, so if you are a website designer, you’ll want to tune in today!

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 204!

Before I share my favorite Showit design hacks, I want to invite you to join me (virtually!) at the Thrive Summit happening on March 13-15, 2023. I have to be honest with you: I have been asked to speak at summits many, many times. This is the first one I’ve ever said yes to. And I said yes for a REASON. 

 

Elizabeth McCravy shares Showit Design Hacks

 

Thrive Summit is a free 3-day event featuring 16 experts (I’m one of them!) who will help you improve your current technical skills and help take your design portfolio to the next level.  They are going to be presenting on topics like: wireframing websites with ease, designing a timeless logo, and taking a deep dive into color, typography, and brand strategy. Additionally, there are presentations on Shopify, Squarespace, and Figma/XD if you’re interested in any of those software options specifically!

To my knowledge, it is the ONLY summit available that covers the strategy, design, the creative process AND includes feedback and support to help you implement what you learn. You’ll want to be there!

And spoiler alert, I’m going to be sharing all about how to design a Showit website that WOWs. And it is SO good. You’ll also get a really incredible Clickup template bonus when you come to watch my presentation.

 

TL; DR: This free summit is going to be amazing. I am excited to watch all the presentations and learn myself too! Grab your free ticket here!

 

free ticket to Thrive Summit 2023 for website designers

 

While the event is free, you may want to consider snagging The Creator Pass for $97. Not only does it include lifetime access to the presentations AND full access to Live “In Action” Sessions, but it also includes over $1400 worth of premium resources from each presenter (including my Profit Sheet!). 

 

 Now, let’s get back to the three Showit Design Hacks I promised you in the episode!

Showit Design Hack #1: Don’t build every canvas from scratch. 

This hack applies to Showit website template design and custom design but it DOES have some caveats (so don’t keep scrolling!). What I am saying is: you can use other things you’ve already built as bases for new projects. You can still make the custom website you are designing for your client completely and uniquely theirs without starting from scratch everytime. Because of how technical you can get with Showit, this is one of those Showit design hacks that can be a REAL time saver.

 

Just a quick note for new Showit website designers

For websites you’re building as designers, you need to start with one of Showit’s starter templates that are licensed to be used for that purpose. In case you are new to Showit, one of those canvases is literally nothingness, which is what I prefer. And then there are two other options that have some structure to them! 

Don’t start with templates you purchased from another designer to build your template. Don’t start with someone else’s template for a custom site that wasn’t purchased as a customization for that client. 

Looking for the designer starter templates? Find them here!

 

5 things I never design from scratch on Showit:

  1. Buttons - I actually have a lot to say about creating buttons on Showit, but we will get to that next!
  2. Menus - Whether it’s across the top or a hamburger menu, I start with a menu that I’ve already created as a base 
  3. Footers - I have a few different footer options in my canvas library that I will usually use as my starting point
  4. Contact forms - Showit contact forms do NOT need to be built from scratch every time. 
  5. Blog pages - If you’ve ever designed a website in Showit, you know this one here. There are so many technical things on a blog page, it’s great to have a starting point where everything is linked correctly and then design from there. 

 

Are you thinking about launching a template shop?

Here is a BIG caveat - if you’re building a template NEVER use other people’s templates as a starting point. I know as designers it’s common for us to have offered template customization previously, so maybe you have a template designed by another designer in your Showit library. Do not use that as a base for anything outside of the project it was purchased for. That’s likely against the terms of the template use and will get you in trouble. 

This is not exclusive to template shop owners either. If you’re building a client site, you should not be using someone else’s template as a base.

Read more: The 3 Biggest Myths about Starting a Brand and Website Design Business

 

So what can you use as a base if you are a Showit website designer?

While you can’t use other people’s templates as a base, here are a few things you can use as a base for future templates and custom website projects:

  • Your own templates
  • Your own past client projects
  • You can even create YOURSELF a starter template that you use for your own projects internally. 

 

If you’re just getting started, don’t get discouraged here. You may have nothing to use as a base yet. That’s ok! You’ll build it up. As you grow with Showit, just make sure that you don’t try to recreate the wheel on everything every time. Just like how we designers use canned emails for messaging our clients (and then customize that message to their particular need), we can do that with our web designs. 

 

3 Showit Design Hacks you should know

 

Showit Design Hack #2: How To Make Buttons in Showit (Easily + Effectively)

Over the past 2 years, I have changed how I make buttons in Showit, and this new way is SO MUCH BETTER! 

Originally, I would make a square button and then add a little strip of text across it. Is that what you are doing too? The biggest problem with this, is that then you need to link both the square and the text because someone’s mouse could hover over either and try to click.

This is kind of tedious, but it’s usually fine for us designers (because we are used to triple checking the details, right?).

But for clients who want to maintain their site (easily) and for our template shop, it becomes more of an issue. We don’t want things to be unnecessarily hard for them! 

Y’all - I have FOUND a solution…

 

How I make buttons in Showit:

  1. Take the text box and make it the entire height and width of the button. 
  2. Adjust the line height to be alot higher so that the text centers on that larger box.
  3. Now, the button itself (the rectangle) doesn’t need to be linked to anything. And the text is the only link that needs to be changed!
  4. Don’t forget to adjust it on mobile too!

Not only does this look better, it is easier to edit long term for your clients. This is one of my favorite Showit design hacks for buttons! 

 

how to make buttons in Showit

 

Read more: 5 Cool Features You Should Try On Your Showit Website

 

Showit Design Hack #3: Design Mobile While You Do The Desktop. 

In case you are unfamiliar to Showit, the mobile view and desktop view need to be designed separately. Usually you will use the same “objects”, but you can put them in different places, hide some on one view and not the other, do different colors/font, etc. It’s awesome. The fact that you can customize the mobile version of your website COMPLETELY is easily one of my favorite things about using Showit as a website platform.

My Showit Design Hack for you is this: stop abandoning mobile to focus on the desktop. I see too many designers do this because it’s “easier” and can feel faster in the moment, but then when you have to go back through an entire page at once to fix the mobile site… it’s a MESS. 

 

Showit design hacks

 

In my opinion as a designer, it’s better to go little by little instead. Adjust a button (for example) on desktop and then immediately adjust it on mobile. Now you have a great looking button that you can copy over to other canvases and pages too!

To be fair, Showit is trying to make this easier and has recently added some features where mobile settings carry over better! But it’s still alot of work to constantly go between the 2 versions. However, in the meantime, designing both the mobile and desktop “little by little” will ultimately help you create a cleaner website overall! 

 

The way your website looks on mobile matters

When you try to do the mobile version all at once, it’s easier to rush through it and make mistakes. Plus, focusing only on desktop is like you saying that the mobile site doesn’t matter, when in reality - you or your client likely have the same if not more people seeing the mobile view. 

As designers, we love desktop. But in real life, people are visiting websites on phones. In my own business, 35% of my users in the last 30 days were on their phone. That’s my site, but overall statistics show that 54.8% of all internet traffic came from mobile devices in 2021. Do not ignore the mobile version (it truly is one of the best reasons to use Showit). I want to encourage you to stretch yourself and grow as a designer by always asking: how can I make the mobile experience even better?

Read more: 3 Of My VERY Strong Opinions About What Makes A Great Website

 

Are you a Showit Website Designer?

If so, you are in the right place. I hope you’ve enjoyed these three relatively quick Showit design hacks and I hope to see you at the Thrive Summit next week! I will be sharing these hacks (with visuals) toward the end of my presentation but before that I’m walking you through my exact client process for designing Showit websites (and I don’t hold back). 

 

creative summit for website designers

 

Remember, you’ll get a modified version of the Clickup template I use for client projects for FREE too (I share the full version exclusively inside Booked Out Designer). It’s totally free to attend (although to be honest, I would super recommend considering the Creator’s Pass upgrade too!). It’s a steal for all the value you are getting. Snag your spot here!

Links Mentioned:

Sign up for Thrive Summit 2023

Showit Templates for Designers 

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Shop Showit Website Templates

The post My Top 3 Showit Design Hacks That Every Web Designer Needs to Know appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/showit-design-hacks/feed/ 0 6106 SEO for Showit Hacks: Optimize Your Site to Be Found in 2023 with Sara Dunn https://elizabethmccravy.com/seo-for-showit/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/seo-for-showit/#respond Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:01 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=6081 Whether you are somebody who already feels fairly advanced in their SEO knowledge or you are somebody who is still unsure exactly what it is, there is something in this interview for you. We talked about SEO for Showit specifically, and I believe it will serve you whether you already rank first on Google or […]

The post SEO for Showit Hacks: Optimize Your Site to Be Found in 2023 with Sara Dunn appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 13 minutes

Whether you are somebody who already feels fairly advanced in their SEO knowledge or you are somebody who is still unsure exactly what it is, there is something in this interview for you. We talked about SEO for Showit specifically, and I believe it will serve you whether you already rank first on Google or you don’t even know what page you are on (or how to check). 

I hired Sara Dunn from Sara Does SEO personally in my own business a few years ago (although it honestly doesn’t feel like that long ago) and I can attest, she is the real deal. Such a pleasure to work with and I learned so much about SEO in the process of working together. I can’t wait to share this interview with her today!

For those of you that don’t know - Sara is a wedding industry SEO specialist which means her (and her team) actively search for what engaged couples look for online every single day. She has been helping wedding pros everywhere get found on Google since 2017, and in today’s episode, she actually dropped that she will be launching something for website designers in 2023! Her background is in web development so I’m excited to stay tuned!

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 201!

Let’s start at the basics - can you explain in basic terms what SEO is?

Yes! SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and it’s essentially the art of influencing Google to show YOUR website higher in search results for free. We aren’t talking about ads here. We are talking about the exposure you can get for zero dollars, just by doing the right things on your website to help Google understand your website or your content is exactly what your audience is searching for.

You can bring in so much traffic over multiple years for $0 if this is something you do well.

I’ve personally always cared about SEO and it’s so true how you worded that. It’s funny but whenever I get a sale from someone who comes to my website from Google or signs up for Booked Out Designer it almost feels “free” because I did a lot of the SEO work a long time ago. I didn’t feel like I had to pitch them on a webinar or batch a bunch of Instagram reels.

Absolutely. It’s kind of magical how the work you did from four years ago can be bringing you new sales today without you doing more work now. I always love the more passive work than the “active work” required from other platforms.

 

Should we update old blog posts that are ranking well? I feel like I can be scared to touch it.

Absolutely. It’s a GREAT idea to update and refresh your old content regularly. It’s very unlikely that you’ll change something so dramatically that will cause your post to dip in the rankings. 

Should we change the date on the blog post after we update it?

As long as you’ve updated the entire post and it’s current for 2023, go ahead and change the date! That way, it gives you visibility at the top of your blog page too!

With that said, if you’ve only tweaked a few things and the post still kind of feels like “2018 advice” I would personally leave the date as is. It’s still okay to make those tweaks though!

Read More: 7 Tips To Successfully Spring Clean Your Website (Improve Your SEO, Sales, And Everything In Between)

 

Is Showit good for SEO?

People always ask me - what website platform is the best for SEO? It truly is whatever platform you enjoy using and will keep updated though - because one of the biggest things that will affect your SEO is letting your website go stale. One of the reasons I love Showit is it allows more creative brains like photographers and designers actually enjoy keeping their website updated, which in turn helps with their SEO.

 

Let’s Talk about the SEO Settings on Showit!

On the right hand panel, you’ll see the “SEO Settings”. The most important settings are the Page Title and Meta Description.

 

How do we write our Page Title and Meta Description?

First, I like to take a step back and remind people where this is actually showing up. When your potential clients type their search into Google, they see a list of blue clickable links and short descriptions below. The “Page Title” will often end up as the blue clickable link for your website or piece of content. Then, the meta description is the couple of lines of text that show up underneath and entices the reader to click.

With that context, we can then think about what we need to enter into Showit. The Page Title is one of the most important things that Google looks at to know what a page is about, so it’s important to include the keyword you have in mind for that page. Oftentimes, the best Page Title is “your keyword - the name of your business/brand”. So, for example, my home page might be “Wedding Industry SEO Specialist - Sara does SEO”

 

Do you need to include the name of your business in every page’s Page Title?

We do personally always end every page with a separator and the business name! It’s a common best practice and helps make sure Google indexes all of your content.

 

How do you keep that under the 60 character limit?

I don’t spend much time thinking about the visible character limit! Numerous studies have shown that even if your Page Title is wider than the viewable limit, it can still help your website rank on search engines. Ultimately, Google will choose the part of your Page Title to show. Sometimes - I will even include TWO keywords in the Page Title for a certain page.

What are some best practices for the meta description?

First, let me just say this: the biggest mistake I see people making is copying the same meta description on every single page. That’s not what Google (or your ideal client) is looking for. We don’t want to just describe your business, we want to tell people what they are going to get from that particular page.

The other thing to consider is that you do want it to be kind of enticing. This is not the place to keyword stuff or write four words and call it a day. This is your chance to sell someone on why they should visit your page so make it count. You don’t “win” by getting on page one of Google you “win” by getting them onto your website.

 

Sara does SEO talks about SEO for Showit

 

What about the SEO Image Setting in Showit?

This is more of a branding question because whether or not you have an image doesn’t necessarily make you appear higher in search results. From a branding perspective, these images are starting to show up on Google though so you definitely want to include something eye-catching if you have one! Ideally, that image will also appear on the page so there is some consistency between their Google search and landing on your page.

Personally, I prefer to choose a horizontal image, but it has to be something that looks good when cropped to a square. This is often the image that gets shared when someone posts your link on Facebook anyway, so that’s another reason to choose a horizontal image. I will rarely use a vertical image as they are less likely to look good once cropped.

 

Talking about SEO for Showit, what should we be doing with our images?

Whether it’s an image block or a gallery, you’ll get an option to add an image description. What is the SEO title vs. the description box? The description is your alt text! That is the MOST important piece to fill out when it comes to your website's SEO (over what Showit calls the “SEO Title”.

One mistake I see people make is wanting to use the same keyword in every image. Ideally, you want to describe what is IN the image and include your keyword when it is natural. The more context the better! For example, in a photo with a group of bridesmaids, you could write “bridesmaids at a Nashville wedding.”

Then for the SEO title, I just copy what is in the description.

 

Do you need to rename your images before you upload them?

Yes, I spend a lot of time downloading, renaming, and re-uploading clients' images because they have file names like “IMG0846.jpg”. It’s not something you can do later, and the name of the image actually becomes part of the code on your website. In fact, the Showit webmaster guidelines, recommends you use image names that are short but descriptive of the actual image.

You can definitely batch rename and name all of the images “Nashville-wedding-photographer.jpg” but if you want to take it up a notch, you can rename each individual image to be even more descriptive.

Did you catch the dashes in that example? You do need to make sure to include dashes in between the individual words in the image name. 

 

What do we need to know about SEO for Showit or SEO in general in 2023?

Google is making a strong push to prioritize content that is unique, helpful, and based on personal experience. What Google wants to do more than anything is help its users find unique information they are looking for, that they can’t find anywhere else.

Those days of writing basic blogs are over. You really need to find an interesting perspective or showcase your personal experience in order for Google to trust YOU as the source of that information. 

Read More: Is A Showit Website Template Right For Your Business? (Software Integrations, How To Choose A Template, And SEO Strategy)

 

Sharing an example of a bridal shop featuring Vera Wang

I worked with a bridal shop recently that noticed their rankings were decreasing. They wanted to be found for certain designers, and for the sake of example, we will use Vera Wang. When I went to their website page featuring Vera Wang dresses, I saw the same copy, images, and descriptions as every single other bridal store carrying Vera Wang. Nothing was of unique value. That is a perfect example of what is NOT working on Google anymore.

Instead, we worked on making those pages unique with tactics like:

  • Unique photos of Vera Wang dresses in their store
  • Quotes from bridal consultants who work at their store
  • Reviews from brides who have purchased Vera Wang from them
  • Embedding Custom Video

Let’s take a second to stop thinking about the Google robot for a second - how much more interesting is this new page to potential customers who may be looking for a Vera Wang wedding dress? When we think about the humans behind the screen, which is what Google wants to do as well, SEO makes a lot more sense.

 

How do we find the natural balance between including keywords in our copy and also writing naturally for potential customers?

First things first, Google really does understand synonyms now. You do not need to repeat the exact same phrase over and over again anymore. In fact, more synonyms might actually be a good thing! It helps the page read better and Google will still understand the page. I tell my clients that they do not need to think about keyword density (the number of times your keyword shows up on the same page) and they do not need to write like a robot. 

Instead, make the topic really clear in the first paragraph and then write naturally for the rest. 

 

AI talk is everywhere now. How does this affect your job now and how is it affecting search engines right now?

People love to make scary statements like “AI is the end of Google”. Ultimately, any time anything new comes out, it has the potential to change the way we operate online. But what I recommend is for anyone who hasn’t experimented with something like chat GPT (it’s free!), to go ahead and check it out. It’s absolutely fascinating. You can put together truly anything and use any prompt. My husband had it write me a poem the other day!

At the end of the day, we control the prompts and we also control the output. We just talked about how Google is prioritizing unique content based on personal experience. Why do you think they are doing that? Because then AI will have less of an impact. AI can only scrape what’s on the internet so I think we need to ask ourselves from a human perspective: what can we bring that’s truly unique? 

Also, let’s think about how we can use AI to support what we do.

 

Here’s what not to do: Go to an AI tool, ask it to write a blog post, and then copy and paste it on your website. Everyone working in the SEO space believes that Google will try to suppress content that was obviously and completely written by AI.

But can we use the tool to write a blog introduction if we are struggling with that? Or, can we ask something like chat GPT to write an outline for us and bring points we hadn’t thought of to us? Absolutely. 

We can use AI to jumpstart the content you will write as a person. Ask it to write a blog post for you and then go in and edit it. Add your personal experience. Add a human touch. Add internal links that are relevant. 

As an SEO specialist, I am not against AI writing tools. But I don’t think we should turn our websites into content factories and put out a ton of garbage content.

 

Sara does SEO talks about AI and SEO

 

I always love experimenting in my business. Now, let’s talk about plagiarism and intellectual property for a second. Is AI literally just going to be taking sentences from the top blog posts from a searched topic and rewriting them? It seems a bit problematic.

From a content creator standpoint, I’m pretty ticked off about it. It’s funny actually, my friend asked chat GPT to write a blog post on ranking for the top wedding venues on Google and the output had so much of what I had in my blog post that ranks number one for that search term.

Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for this. AI tools are going to scrape public content that already exists and rewrite it as new. As a content creator, I don’t think there is anything we can do anything about it (but I’m not a lawyer!). I think we just have to keep reaching toward providing helpful first-hand content.

Adding Video to your Content

I also want to make the point here that this makes more of a case for adding video into your content because video is harder to scrape/steal. If you can add a video component to your original content, you add a ton of value that can’t be as easily replicated.

 

How can we use video to help with SEO for Showit? What can we do to help video rank on Google?

Google is making a push to rank more video because it’s the type of content that everyone is consuming. Video can be a helpful result for a lot of searches. Personally, I don’t see it a lot in the wedding industry but if you are searching “how to do something”, video will often show up on the first page. That’s because we as searchers WANT a video.

One thing we don’t do enough as content creators is type into Google the keyword we want to be known for and see what kind of content people are searching. Analyze the current search results. If we want to be number one for a certain phrase, what’s there right now? Is Google including video in the results? Then you should make a better video than what’s available right now.

If there is no video, it’s a maybe. It might be that nobody has made a video on it (yet) or it might be that Google is not sure people actually want a video for that keyphrase. Ask yourself: would a video add value to the end user?

I also want to add - in terms of having video show up on Google, it does still usually need to include written words. I always recommend having a written blog post about something and then embedding video within the blog post. It’s not an either/or. 

 

Such a good tip about analyzing current search results! Sometimes I will think about a keyword I want to rank and then when I search it on Google I realize that it’s not really a match.

 

Yes, and to add to that - I always recommend using Ubersuggest to confirm what people are actually searching for. It has a pretty generous free version, and you can type in the amount of times people search for a specific keyword. You’ll often be surprised to see how many times the answer is zero!!

 

I love using Ubersuggest too. Back to video, is there a platform that is “better” than the others for ranking on Google? Outside of SEO for Showit.

Youtube will always be first because Google owns Youtube. As much as possible, that’s where Google will push video traffic. That said, I do see Facebook videos on Google too so include a CTA in those Facebook descriptions too.

 

What is the most common outdated SEO strategy?

The idea of overusing the same keyword over and over again. People still believe SEO success comes from using their main keyword more than anyone else. That’s an outdated strategy. It doesn’t best serve the visitor on your website which is ultimately what Google wants.

It’s really easy to feel like your entire world would be solved if you could just rank for this one key phrase, but there are actually so many things people search for that could be relevant to your services, your business, and the advice you have to offer. Do not just focus on one keyword phrase.

 

Is there any new SEO strategy we should try in 2023?

Actually creating things that are unique and interesting and feature our personal experience. I think so many of us try to sound like a formal publication. We need to start adding our own opinions and perspectives in. It’s more work to create high-quality things, but it will absolutely pay off.

 

What’s an unpopular opinion you have about SEO strategy?

Consistency in blogging is overrated. I actually feel like this would be popular if people knew it. I hear all the time from clients that “I don’t have a blog because I don’t know if I could be consistent with”. NO! Just put one up, write two posts if that’s what you have time for right now. You can let it go stale, but whatever content you do have will at least start working for you in the meantime and you can come back to it when you have more time (even if that’s six months from now).

 

That’s exactly what I tell people about starting an email list. It’s like people don’t even want to make an opt-in or a nurture sequence because they won’t be emailing their list. I’m the first one to say: just put it out there so you can grow your email list and then use it when you do have the time.

 

Read More: 5 Ways To Leverage The Power Of SEO To Build Your Email List

 

Rapid Fire Questions for Sara Does SEO

 

What’s an SEO plugin or website you love for SEO in 2023? I love Ubersuggest. Honestly, for the price and the value it brings, it’s easily one of my favorite SEO tools. 

What’s the best business book you’ve ever read? Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Daniel Meyer. He’s the founder of Shake Shack. It’s all about hospitality in business and going above and beyond in your business.

Where can people find and connect with you next? SaradoesSEO.com is where you’ll find all of the information on our services, obviously there are a lot of informational blog posts on there as well! You can also find me on Instagram and TikTok @saradoesseo

 

Ready to get to work and get your website on page one of Google?

My Showit website templates can help. One thing a lot of people don’t realize about Showit website templates is that if the designer set things up sloppy on the back end (even if they did not mean to), it can hurt your SEO. 

I’m talking about things like your heading settings (called advanced tagging in Showit), the way your canvases are set up, the stacking order of your objects, how much opportunity there is for text on a page, and a lot more of that technical stuff that you probably don’t want to be thinking about when you’re building your website. That’s one of the reasons you chose Showit, right? I get it.

If you are in the market for a new website template, you can rest assured I’ve thought about it all (and have double checked everything multiple times) so that you don’t have to. You can find all of my SEO-friendly templates here. There are sales pages, landing pages, podcast pages, full website templates, and so much more waiting for you there. 

Plus, as a podcast listener (or reader!), you can use the code BBPODCAST for 10% off ANY template. So go get your template, apply what Sara and I talked about here, and get set to sail to page one on Google.  Also, if you’re new to Showit and want a FREE month of your subscription, check that out here!

Links Mentioned:

Check out UberSuggest

Shop SEO-friendly Showit Website Templates

Check out Booked Out Designer

New to Showit? Get a FREE month-long trial here.

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Connect with Sara Dunn on Instagram

Find Out More About Sara Does SEO

The post SEO for Showit Hacks: Optimize Your Site to Be Found in 2023 with Sara Dunn appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/seo-for-showit/feed/ 0 6081 How to Get Paid to Teach What You Know with Laylee Emadi Smith https://elizabethmccravy.com/create-an-online-course/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/create-an-online-course/#respond Tue, 13 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=5968 I’m chatting today with fellow educator and podcaster, Laylee Emadi! She’s the host of the So, Here’s the Thing Podcast and the founder of The Creative Educator Academy. I personally really enjoy her podcast, and I was a guest a few months ago on episode 108. This interview is so insightful if you are someone who […]

The post How to Get Paid to Teach What You Know with Laylee Emadi Smith appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 9 minutes

I’m chatting today with fellow educator and podcaster, Laylee Emadi! She’s the host of the So, Here’s the Thing Podcast and the founder of The Creative Educator Academy. I personally really enjoy her podcast, and I was a guest a few months ago on episode 108. This interview is so insightful if you are someone who has ever wanted to get into education as a business owner. Whether that is education like speaking at events or being interviewed on podcasts OR things like educational offerings within your business, like creating an online course.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 193!

What Laylee Emadi Smith Does in Her Business

"I am an educator for creative educators, but I'm also a photographer. That's where I got my start in the creative industry. Before and during some of that, I was a high school teacher, which is why I now serve creative educators. I love teaching and helping people get paid and build a life they love doing something they know so well. And I love being able to help them communicate that to others in their industry because I always say that industries thrive when experts can share their knowledge and share it well."

Laylee Emadi Smith's Advice on Speaking to Your Audience When You Have Multiple Niches

"I used to say, ‘it's okay, talk to all of them. People will find what they need.’ Now I say you can only talk to some people at a time. You can do whatever you want. You can't do it all at once.

It's easy to incorporate talking to brand clients while I'm talking to education clients because they're all usually in the creative industry. They're all small business owners. My senior and dancer photography has its own Instagram account.

They tell their friends about me. So that takes care of itself. But I still share it sometimes when I want to. It's just hard because you have to prioritize where your audience will find you and what you want them to see when they find you."

How to Get Started With Teaching What You Know

"Ask yourself why you want to teach the thing you're so good at. There's no right or wrong answer. However, people often assume I'm implying that the answer can't be because you want to add another revenue stream to your business. So I ask that question to find out what outcome they're looking for. That will help determine how you approach the type of teaching you want to pursue. 

When I started offering education, I would hear educators say, 'If you don't have the heart to give it all away for free, then you shouldn't be teaching it.' I don't believe in that. We all need to make a living, so it's okay. However, it's important to approach it from a self-aware standpoint. This will help you determine how to teach what you know to others. It will also show you your bandwidth for creating/selling. Then, lean into what you want to teach in terms of the topic and the best format for that."

Laylee Emadi Smith's Advice for Making Time to Create Before it's Profitable

"The number one thing that I advise people to do once they know what they want to teach is that you're going to have to scale back for a certain amount of time on the other things that you're doing. 

For example, I have a lot of white space on my calendar, and I have for the past year or so because that's what I wanted to set my business up as. I want to pursue new projects without having to completely change my life around them. However, six years ago, when I was creating my first educational offering, I had no white space in my calendar. 

So that meant I had to make a decision. Am I willing to create this white space to build a new offer and take that financial hit temporarily while I'm building a new revenue stream that will hopefully make up for that? I'm at the place where I tell my students and myself if things take a little bit longer, there's no downside to that. But, on the other hand, if we're supposed to be having our businesses for the long haul, what is another few months?" 

Laylee Emadi Smith's Course Creation Advice Pet Peeves

"I do not believe in pre-selling a course before the course is created. All of these predatory educators for educators are telling perspective course creators to 'sell the idea. You don't need to create anything.' 

You could not pay me to do that. My signature program has a live component, but the core content has been tested, reviewed, and changed. I've kept up with it because quality content is thorough, concise, and tried & true. You are asking for people's hard-earned money in exchange for your knowledge delivered in a way that will be impactful and effective for those people. My biggest pet peeve is when people jump in before having a concrete plan to make sure what they are teaching is effective for people. 

People should work harder on not going overboard and over-teaching. I commonly see that with my students. As experts, we know so much that we feel like we have to pack everything into a course.

Sometimes that's fine if it's a very high-level course. But if it's smaller, shorter is better. If you can teach something in 10 minutes but take 40 minutes to teach it, that is a mindset issue. One more thing I encourage people to do is not overthink it to the point of not taking action. You can have high ethics, expectations, and standards, but you also have to start somewhere."

Laylee Emadi Smith's Advice For Steps to Take Before Course Creation

"Inside my Academy, I kick off by saying, 'If you're here because you want to create a course, I'm going to tell you that the place you need to start is one-on-one.' If you can get somebody on a call and figure out what they're struggling with, you'll know the needs of the many. A pitfall people fall prey to is not getting on one-on-one calls every time they create something new. I still get a few people on a one-on-one call. It's a healthy practice because you can't pay for that feedback. 

Laylee Emadi Smith's Advice for First Steps in Finding Your Audience

"One good example is a copywriter. Are you a copywriter who's going to help other copywriters with their craft, or are you going to help them with their business? One thing that coaches and mentors struggle with is they don't share what outcome people can expect from working with them. So instead, they say, 'Do you need help with copywriting? Work with me.' 

You want to identify what you're good at helping people with, or what you're really good at, and what you've found great success with within your business. Another thing many people wait on is having a home to share everything they are offering. If you grab somebody's attention, you need to have an online home for them. Have somewhere to send people before you start selling. Otherwise, you'll be overwhelmed when you get the inquiry." 

What is The Smartest Type of Package to Offer to Start?

"A lot of it comes down to the outcome you want to reach with whoever you want to coach and how you want to coach them. For example, you decide you want to teach people about marketing strategy. You know that a marketing strategy takes more than a couple of weeks to put into play because you have to test, look at your results, and keep track of the data to see what needs to be tweaked and how long it will take to come to fruition. That's how I base the frequency and the amount of time you offer people in mentoring sessions. 

When people inquire about working with me one-on-one, I'm clear that I have a six-month coaching opportunity where we can create and launch a course in six months because I know that I can do that in six months." 

Being a First-Time Conference Speaker

"Figure out what you want to speak about and what you are passionate about. Then, in terms of getting started with speaking, start pitching yourself for podcasts and virtual summits because they're everywhere right now. But, I turn down a virtual summit a day at this point because, typically, they're unpaid, and I'm not at the point where I can take unpaid work.

If you were talking to me several years ago, I would jump at the opportunity to get practice. So any opportunity you can get to practice, take it. Whether it's paid or unpaid because you can work up to getting paid, in addition, start looking at local organizations and pitching them to come to speak in person because the creative industry, in general, doesn't pay very well. You have to be showing up, willing to serve, and hoping you may walk away with some new clients and get your investment back that way."

The Breakdown of Paid Speakers at Creative Conferences

"It differs from conference to conference, and some conferences are put on by corporations that have a lot more money to put into their event. 

They can afford to pay their speakers a decent amount, especially those on the main stage. But, on the other hand, you'll often see breakout speakers not get paid at all, or maybe the company will cover just their hotel room. 

On the flip side, you have the individuals who are hosting conferences. It's a double-edged sword because many speakers are paying to speak in our creative industry. The good part is that the audiences then get to know them. They get to see how they teach and decide if they want to invest in working with them one-on-one as a coach or purchase a program or product."

How to Make Your Speaking Application Stand Out

"Now that I'm planning a conference, I was inundated by applications, which made me realize I was teaching the right things. First, pitch appropriately in the appropriate setting. I know many leaders out there teach pitching in the DMs because the worst people can say is no. That is true, but I don't agree that you should pitch wherever possible.

So if you want to pitch an event, do your due diligence, do a little bit of research, see if they have a website, see if they have an application, and see if they have a deadline. You also need to take your application seriously. The worst thing is when people feel that the friendly person they're pitching to means they can casually throw a bunch of stuff into an application and get the position because we've established a relationship, which is just not the case. I want a speaker who puts work into the application and doesn't answer questions haphazardly. Treat it like a job application because it is a job application."

The Creative Educator Conference

"It's the first official conference I've hosted. I've hosted retreats and workshops for years, but this is specifically for creative educators. It's called the Creative Educator Conference in Dallas in January, and I'm thrilled about it. We have a great speaker lineup, and it will be very different from your typical conference. Because I attend so many conferences, I realized there was a need for more hands-on work where you're not just sitting in a ballroom listening to motivational messages. Of course, there is a place to be inspired and motivated, but I also believe that if you invest your time in something, you should walk away with some tangibles. That's what I'm hoping to deliver at our event.”

I’m thrilled to be speaking at the Creative Educator Conference in January 2023. So, come learn from me and Laylee there! You can use the code “ELIZABETH” for $100 off your ticket. 

Laylee Emadi Smith's Unpopular Business Opinion

"In terms of the online education space, it is neither true nor untrue that this space is so saturated that it can't work for you anymore. So many of my students have this fear that just because a lot more people have started selling education, it means that they can't. Like any industry, there are good, great, and not-so-great things. All you can do is the great work that you're able to do. Show up and do the best you can."

Laylee Emadi Smith's Best Team Tip

"Figure out what you want help with before you start hiring because you might find that the things you need the most help with have nothing to do with your business. They could be things in your home or things you can outsource because that's where you're spending time you don't have. Maybe you think you want a VA, but you look at it and realize you actually need a content creator. Identify where your pain points are and see what would help you if you took it off your plate."

How Laylee Emadi Smith Creates White Space in Her Business

"A year and a half ago, we had some personal stuff come up where I was forced to create white space. I realized that the world didn't come to an end when I came back to work. Things were still running, and I still had an income, which made me think about what is important in my life, where I want to spend my time, and what is worth it to make that happen. From there I took a step back, and I stopped bringing in certain revenue streams at the level I was before. I was willing to take that temporary cut to focus on more important things, like my health and my family. See what you can do, and then be okay with readjusting your goals and your expectations for your business."

Looking for an event to help you grow as an educator!?

We talk briefly about Laylee’s new conference, The Creative Educator Conference, and fun fact — I’m a speaker at it! It’s January 17th-18th in Dallas Texas. I love a good in-person event - the community element is incredible, you make new friends, and when you have a conference that is hands-on and implementation focused, you grow so quickly too. This conference is for up-and-coming Creative Educators who are ready to grow and established Educators who are dedicated to scaling and bettering their craft and current offers! Attendees will get hands-on, action based education. This is not your average sit-and-listen conference! You’ll be able to chat and get help directly from myself and other speakers. If you're ready to level up your educational offerings, this is for you! Get all the information and sign up here. You can use the code “ELIZABETH” for $100 off your ticket. 

Looking for amazing stock photography? Check Out Haute Stock!

Thanks to our podcast sponsor, Haute Stock! Haute Stock is my favorite stock photo company, and I use their images ALL over my business. You can get 15% off your subscription with the referral code: ELIZABETH at checkout or by visiting this link: https://elizabethmccravy.com/hautestock  

Links Mentioned:

Connect with Laylee Emadi Smith on Instagram

Connect with Laylee Emadi Smith on her website

Haute Stock (and 15% off deal!)

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Shop Showit Website Templates

create an online course
create an online course

The post How to Get Paid to Teach What You Know with Laylee Emadi Smith appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/create-an-online-course/feed/ 0 5968 How to Use Paid Stock Photography to Completely Up Level Your Brand https://elizabethmccravy.com/haute-stock-uplevel-your-brand/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/haute-stock-uplevel-your-brand/#respond Tue, 06 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=5958 Today we’re diving into a MUCH requested topic — the visual side of your marketing and business — a.k.a. the images and videos you use on your website and throughout your marketing. This is so important, right? We know that. We are visual creatures and that is true now more than ever. Gone are the days where […]

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]]> Reading Time: 8 minutes

Today we’re diving into a MUCH requested topic — the visual side of your marketing and business — a.k.a. the images and videos you use on your website and throughout your marketing. This is so important, right? We know that. We are visual creatures and that is true now more than ever. Gone are the days where you can have a website with no images or social media or any other part of your business without using images. The images and videos we use in our businesses express who we are as a brand, they might resonate with our buyers or they might not, and they are a vital part of content creation which we know drives sales. 

Things we’re covering today:

  • What even is a stock photo, and how it’s different from customized brand photography 
  • What to look for when using stock photography (and what to avoid) 
  • My favorite stock photography company! Yes, I’ll just tell you exactly what I use so you can use it too. 
  • Where I recommend using stock photography versus photos customized to your brand (and what I do in my own business for this) and how to integrate the 2 seamlessly into your marketing! 

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 192!

You can't do a photo shoot for every image/video you need as a business owner.

To start, let me say — it's unrealistic to think that as a business owner, every single image or video you use in your marketing or other content will be something made specifically for your business. This would mean a lot of photoshoots and video shoots with a brand photographer. 

I am ALL ABOUT working with brand photographers for our businesses. I've done multiple episodes on this about planning for brand shoots. 

Episode 120:How To Get Amazing Brand Photos For Your Business (+ EM Shop Template Feedback!) With Amber Tice.

Episode 16: 10 Questions You're Asking About Personal Brand Photo Shoots

Episode 15: How To Prepare For An Incredible Personal Brand Photoshoot

But, even with brand shoots, you'll likely need MORE images/videos in today's world. I know I do! It would be best if you also had pictures/videos where you are not the key model or focal point of what's happening. 

Often we can't necessarily shoot with a photographer to get as many photos/videos as we need. For example: if I want images to show a "celebration happening" among a group of friends to go with a podcast episode about community, that is going to be tough for me to shoot myself. I also don't need a ton of those images, so gathering my pals to do a professional photoshoot to get these images is unrealistic and unnecessary. 

So enter Stock Photography!

If you're like, "Wait, what is that?!" Stock photos are already taken images by a photographer that you can then buy (or possibly download for free) to use in your own projects without having to hire a photographer yourself, which saves money and time. These images or videos are already taken, edited, and ready for use. 

Something cool about finding a stock image you like (at least with paid stock photography) is that the pictures are done in photoshoots. So, you might find one image you like but wish that it was horizontal, not vertical, or wish that it was farther away instead of so close, and typically there are multiple variations for you to work with. If you don't live under a rock, you have seen a stock photo somewhere! They are everywhere and some are more “obvious” than others. 

Stock photos sometimes get a bad rap as being cheesy or having a particular "look" to them. There's an Instagram account I LOVE following that uses those cheesy stock images constantly – look up "middle-class fancy" on Instagram if you want to see what I mean. That “cheesy look” is when the model is looking at the camera, in front of a white background, and has a "fake" feeling that is not personalized to that business. Then there's GOOD stock photography, which I use in my own business and recommend you use. 

So, how do you find GOOD stock photography for your business?

What to look for:

(no particular order)

  1. LOOK FOR: Different versions of images/videos, so you have options. It's really helpful not just to use a "one-off image" but instead one that is a whole collection of similar images. 
  2. LOOK FOR: Images that feel like they could have been taken for your business but just weren't. THIS IS EVERYTHING with stock photography! The images you use should have a custom vibe and go with your brand colors to blend seamlessly into your brand. 
  3. LOOK FOR: Diversity of people — and I mean this in every way. Diversity of skin color, age, size, everything! This is huge. Some stock photo companies are lacking in this area. 
  4. LOOK FOR: Not an image you feel you've seen 100,000 times on the internet that is clearly a stock image. 
  5. LOOK FOR: Images/videos that convey the emotional reaction or feeling you want to go with whatever it is you're sharing. For example, I've used stock images a few times when someone is frustrated at their computer to go with a course lesson about dealing with a difficult client. I've also used stock images that would resonate with a working mom because it's her baby snuggled up to her while she's working at home on her laptop. 

What to avoid in stock photography—

  1. AVOID: Images that don't flow together because they're all taken in different styles of photography, different lighting, etc. When you start using these in your brand, there becomes a disconnect. 
  2. AVOID: All the white background with the person sitting in front of the computer smiling cheesily at the camera. It doesn't work and won't FEEL like your brand, probably ever. It feels like a meme. 

If you're thinking — Elizabeth, what do YOU use and recommend, though? I want to go with that.

I am happy to share that with you! I use Haute Stock. I've been using their images and videos on my website and in my marketing since early 2020 - so almost three years now. They fit all of the criteria I'm laying out for you and then some. You've seen me use their stuff over and over again probably, and this subscription is a KEY for me not to have to do brand photoshoots all the time but still have on-brand images to use. 

I have only done ONE photoshoot all year due to life with becoming a new mom and working less. So it hasn't been a big priority right now, but I still have plenty of images to use in my business. Over 8,000, in fact — and that number is constantly growing because Haute Stock is always adding new content to the library!

As a Breakthrough Brand Podcast listener, Haute Stock has hooked you up with a deal to get 15% off your subscription with the referral code: ELIZABETH at checkout or by visiting this link: https://elizabethmccravy.com/hautestock.  

How to use it:

Once you join Haute Stock, you can access over 8,000 images/videos. They are constantly adding more. And a cool thing worth noting — it truly isn't just images. They have tons of videos, too, that are oriented for social media and horizontally oriented for websites. So you'll get both, and these videos typically have a b-roll footage vibe where you can seamlessly integrate them into your brand. 

As a Haute Stock member, you can quickly download photos, videos, and even marketing templates for your business. Then, you can favorite the things you want to return to within your account. In addition, you can search based on things like the colors used in the image or video, if there are people in it or not, tech in it, and a bunch of other cool things. 

It's pretty amazing! I regularly will go into my account and be able to quickly search for something like a “video using my brand colors that does not have people in it and is a vertical orientation” and find exactly what I am looking for.

Plus, you can use their Couture Curation Service when you're a member. You submit a request with your specific brand info like colors, audience, keywords, etc., and their team will go into the library and personally select imagery based on your branding. You'll get upwards of 100 photos that fit your brand vibe + a PDF with a mood board, additional keywords/categories to search, etc. This is VERY COOL and helpful if you're looking at all those images feeling like you don't know where to start. 

Haute-Stock-How-to-use-Elizabeth-McCravy-Discount

NOW… Let's talk about where you can use stock photography versus where it should be customized branded photography.

We need to see YOU these spots:

  1. On your website — you need some photos of YOU AND YOUR BRAND. I love stock photography, but I feel strongly about this one. You can't have a website that is only stock images, and especially on your about page, you need an image of you or you and your team (whatever makes sense for your business) because people need to see the face behind the company. 

[For more on this, check out: What Makes a Great Website]

  1. On social media — I believe you need to show your face. Whether that's in the occasional (or frequent) Reels, Stories, or posts to your feed with images of you. I do all 3 of those! That's a nice thing about social media these days. There has been a trend toward LESS curated imagery and more just "showing up" content. So you can be present on social media without feeling like you need a professional photographer following you around. 

Places you can (and should) use stock photography:

These are ALL places where I use Haute Stock images and videos in my business.

  • On your website: stock photography is particularly great for sales pages! 
  • On your social media - as the main image/video or for covers on reels, TikToks, backgrounds with your stuff over it, etc. 
  • For Pinterest graphics 
  • For YouTube cover images 
  • For graphics within your paid content:
    • Course lesson cover images 
    • Facebook group covers 
    • Community posts in your Facebook groups 
    • Within the PowerPoint for your training/course 
  • In lead magnets 
  • For webinar graphics 
  • For event powerpoints 
  • For Facebook ads 

This is just a starting point, but there are so many other spots to consider! 

Haute-Stock-Elizabeth-McCravy-Discount

So, how do you integrate the stock images in all of those places with images from brand photoshoots you've done over the years?

First, you need to use quality stock images that match the criteria I laid out. And you focus on images that match your brand's aesthetic. It's okay if a viewer "knows" that it isn't an image you commissioned. For example, during my recent Booked Out Week promotional period, I used Haute Stock videos of 3 women toasting champagne in party clothes. 

People probably know that it wasn't me and my friends doing this video or real Booked Out Designer students. However, it doesn't matter. It conveyed the emotion I was going for of celebrating the program and people joining it. It fit into my brand vibes and was engaging to watch while still being professional! 

My advice is that it's a back-and-forth. It's not all stock images and not all images of you that you shot for your brand. So in your mind, see it as a back-and-forth—some stock images here, some brand images there. For video stuff on your website (video as background), you can LEAN on stock video a lot more, and it works fantastic! Go with your gut and your own creative eye on what to use where. 

That is it, friends! I hope this helps you and gives you a jumping-off point on using stock photography and videography for your business. I can't recommend using stock photography enough to take STRESS off the content creation process and help you have more imagery to work with. 

Thanks to our podcast/blog sponsor, Haute Stock! Haute Stock is my favorite stock photo company, and I use their images ALL over my business. You can get 15% off your subscription with the referral code: ELIZABETH. 

And do let me know if you join! Also, tell me your favorite image collection; I'd love to know. My answer to that is constantly changing because, as I said - they are always adding AMAZING new images and videos! 

Links Mentioned:

Connect with Haute Stock on Instagram

Haute Stock (and 15% off deal!)

Get Black Friday deals

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Shop Showit Website Templates

The post How to Use Paid Stock Photography to Completely Up Level Your Brand appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> https://elizabethmccravy.com/haute-stock-uplevel-your-brand/feed/ 0 5958 From Side Hustling with a 9-to-5 to Her First $10k Month as a Web Designer with Katelyn Dekle https://elizabethmccravy.com/9-5-to-first-10k-month-katelyn-dekle/ https://elizabethmccravy.com/9-5-to-first-10k-month-katelyn-dekle/#respond Thu, 27 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://elizabethmccravy.com/?p=5913 Today I’m chatting with Katelyn Dekle from Launch the Damn Thing. Katelyn and I first connected when she heard me on James Wedmore’s podcast, and she sent me the world’s sweetest email. This was BEFORE Booked Out Designer even existed, but later, when I created the course, she joined and has been an essential part […]

The post From Side Hustling with a 9-to-5 to Her First $10k Month as a Web Designer with Katelyn Dekle appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

]]> Reading Time: 6 minutes

Today I’m chatting with Katelyn Dekle from Launch the Damn Thing. Katelyn and I first connected when she heard me on James Wedmore’s podcast, and she sent me the world’s sweetest email. This was BEFORE Booked Out Designer even existed, but later, when I created the course, she joined and has been an essential part of our community ever since. We’re talking through her business journey, her advice for niching down and finding clients as a designer, and her experience with Booked Out Designer! I love Katelyn; her unique approach to business and marketing and love of teaching what works for her is so evident. 

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device:  Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |   YouTube  |  iHeartRadio

Search for episode 186!

What Katelyn Dekle Was Doing When She Decided To Start a Design Business

“I worked in the art department at a screen print and embroidery shop. I designed the graphics that went on the shirts. It was fun initially because it was mostly design, but it was also some illustration. And then the company got busier, which was great, but management dictates how you do things, and it doesn't always align with the way we want to do things as creatives.

There was always pushback; eventually, it felt like nothing was good enough because we couldn't do it fast enough. I started thinking, ‘Is this gonna be what my work life will be until I'm 65?’ At that time, I think I was making $15/hour. We were living paycheck to paycheck, and I remember checking out at the grocery store, having just paid some tax, and I had postdated the check. However, the IRS ignored my post date and deposited the check. My debit card got declined, and that was that. Then I had to leave all my groceries, and I remember I was like, ‘I want better than this.’

So I started freelancing, but I had no idea what I was doing because my art college classes didn't discuss business. It was all about software. So I had no clue how to create a website.”

Katelyn Dekle’s Offers at The Beginning of Her Business

“I offered business cards, posters, Facebook profile pictures, cover pictures, and social media posts. I think I even did some video editing. Then I had a client come to me wanting to trademark his logo. He had a Photoshop file, so I broke it down and recreated it in vector form so he could submit that.”

When Katelyn Dekle Went Full Time in Her Design Business

“Around Christmas 2019, I told my husband I could not do both jobs anymore. It was taking all of my energy away from me. So, with his blessing, I went to work, sat down with the owner, and said, ‘I'm burnt out. I've been here for eight and a half years. I need to do something different. I would like to phase myself out slowly.’

For months, nothing changed. Then the pandemic started to affect us. The business started slowing down, and it got to the point where they let go of our remote designer. So we went from four to three, and then he cut us back to part-time. So I had all this extra free time to work on my business at home.

And then I was like, ‘This is going to happen. If he wants to let one of us go because business is slow, I will volunteer.’ So he offered me a furlough, and I was on unemployment from June 2020 to December 2020. It was almost nothing after that initial period, but at least I had something coming in.”

What Led Katelyn Dekle to Join Booked Out Designer

“In January 2021, we were house hunting out of state. I knew I was going to move, so I kept my availability in February and March fairly quiet.  I was taking clients in January, but many people didn't want to wait until April to complete their projects. So for the whole month of January, I made $269. So I was like, ‘Well, that's not a good sign.’ But I felt hopeful about it because I had just rebranded a few months before, I was getting traffic, and my blog was doing really well, so I knew it was coming.

When I settled into the new house, I had systems I needed to work out. I was in Notion at that time. While it’s great for note-taking, it's not great for project management. When I started booking in June and August, it felt very chaotic. I had invoices in one place and Calendly, Dubsado, and Notion.  

I found out that you had just released Booked Out Designer once before that. So I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that sounds exactly like what I need in my business,’ so I signed up. 

Working through module 6, Pricing For Profit, and module 8, Client Experience, was terrific. It was exactly what I needed. I would've paid that amount just for those two modules by themselves.”

Katelyn Dekle’s Wins and Takeaways After Joining Booked Out Designer

"I'd only been full-time freelancing for about 6 months in Jan. 2021 (after side-hustling for years), and literally, that whole month I only made $269; it was SO quiet. 1 to 2 months after implementing 2 or 3 of the modules from Booked Out Designer, I had my first $10k month. No joke. Since taking Booked Out Designer, I've stayed booked out 2-3 months in advance, I've raised my rates several times, and I'm working with clients I love! 

In my first full year of working for myself, even though the first half was slower than the last half, I still made more than the salary I'd have gotten at my previous full-time job and so far this year is already growing faster than last year. C.R.A.Z.Y. So glad I took the leap of faith to join BOD!"

KATELYN DEKLE

How Katelyn Dekle’s Prices Have Changed Since Joining Booked Out Designer

“I charged $1200 to $1500 for a website for years. It just never occurred to me that it should change. I was too in the forest to see the trees. So I hopped on a coaching call with you during the course. I asked a question about something, and you mentioned that [my prices] might be slightly low. Then, the students in the chat were like, ‘I looked at your site and was surprised at how it looks for those prices.’ So it's changed quite a bit. My average is now $5,000, and that's just for a website. I also do VIP days for $1500 per day instead of the whole website.”

Katelyn Dekle’s Favorite Thing About Being a Squarespace Designer

“I like tinkering with things, and Squarespace gives you enough freedom to make the ease of use on the back end for clients a no-brainer. I can flood the site with all these custom features and ensure they don't have to do any of that themselves. It’s easy for the client to reorder their pages or make a dropdown menu. My clients aren't all super tech-savvy, so it's a good fit. They just have so much included in the box.”

Katelyn Dekle’s Unpopular Design Opinion

“I was told for so long that I needed to niche down, so I always assumed that it had to be an industry. So when I finally decided I just wanted to work with a certain type of person, that was like hitting the gold mine. I said, ‘Why didn’t I think of this earlier?’ Niching is important but doesn't have to be a specific industry. 

Another unpopular opinion I have is that you don't have to be everywhere. The bigger businesses have the visibility that the smaller businesses are looking at. They see everybody on YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. But it's not feasible for one person to do all that initially. So I always just tell people to pick one and run with it. Then, when you get comfortable with that one, you can stack something else on top of it.”

Katelyn Dekle’s Advice For Those Considering Booked Out Designer

“Booked Out Designer is worth every penny and probably a lot more. Elizabeth answers all your questions — if you've ever been uncomfortable, unsure, or insecure about how you talk to your client on a discovery call, what to ask, and when to give them the price. Even if you're already doing all those things, which I was, it's just the validation you get knowing you're not doing anything wrong.

The Pricing for Profit module was incredible. Being able to realize what simple things you can change and figuring out that you have to price to make a profit made so much sense when Elizabeth explained it in Booked Out Designer. So do it; it will be worth it. You will make that money back. I did nearly five times my usual amount in a month.”

Hear my full conversation with Katelyn on episode #186 of the Breakthrough Brand Podcast! (Audio above in this blog post) You can connect with Katelyn on her website here and on her Instagram here! And, of course, if you join Booked Out Designer, she’s an active part of our awesome community. 

Want more? Check out my new guide: How to Find Your 1st (or Next) Paying Client ASAP! It’s a free and extensive guide to help you with client bookings. And, if you’re ready to take things to the next level and go all in as Katelyn did, you can check out Booked Out Designer here! 

Links Mentioned:

Connect with Katelyn Dekle on Instagram

Katelyn Dekle's Website

Find Your 1st Paying Design Client ASAP FREEBIE

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Shop Showit Website Templates

Katelyn-Dekle-Elizabeth-McCravy-Booked-Out-Designer-Review(2)
Katelyn-Dekle-Elizabeth-McCravy-Booked-Out-Designer-Review(1)

The post From Side Hustling with a 9-to-5 to Her First $10k Month as a Web Designer with Katelyn Dekle appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

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