Hello everyone.

Welcome to our Women of Web Summit Speaker panel.

Uh, we are going to be talking about going from Pixel ER to problem solver, shifting from designer to strategist.

Now, we actually posed a bunch of topics to our WP Mavens members, and this was the one that was top voted.

So I’m, I’m really excited to talk about it.

And one big thing I’m hoping that we’ll do today is help encourage people that maybe think this is really intimidating, like, offering strategy sounds like really scary, and maybe I have to go back to uni and get a special degree for that or something.

I really hope that by the end of this discussion that we have today, a lot of you will walk away feeling like, actually I’m kind of already doing a lot of this already and I’m not charging for it.

Or maybe I’m not doing it, but it is something that I feel like I’m really capable of doing and I can sort of take those first steps.

So before we dive in, I’m just going to throw it to all our lovely panelists to introduce themselves.

Uh, firstly I’ll just say I’m Emma Kate, if you haven’t caught me on any of the lives or anything like that yet.

I am one of the founders of the WP Mavens and this Women of Web Summit.

I will now throw it to Shannon, if you can please introduce yourself.

Yeah, thank you so much for having me.

I’m Shannon Mattern. I am the founder of the Web Designer Academy, where we help women web designers stop undercharging and overdelivering and really transform what they believe about themselves and their value.

And uh, yeah, this is one of my favorite, favorite topics.

So I, I’m excited to chat with y’all about this.

Awesome, thank you. And next we have Alexia.

Hi, I’m Alexia Lynn and I own Visual Vibe Design, where we help clients rank higher, attract better clients, and look damn good doing it. And I am so excited to be on this panel with these lovely group of ladies.

Like this is just a dream come true.

So I’m excited to see everybody’s different perspectives and people from the chat, the questions like, I’m just enjoying the moment. So yeah. Thank you.

Awesome. Thank you. And Rachel, you’re next on my screen.

Hey, I am Rachel Clark from Rachel, Jane Design. So I do websites in a design day intensive method, and I do SEO so you’ll get my talk after this as well.

But yeah, super excited to join in and talk all things strategy and it’s like Emma just said, I think I kind of, you just do it anyway when you’re, when you’re building your website.

So looking forward to the questions.

Awesome, thank you Rachel.

And last but not least, Lou.

Hey everyone. I’m so stoked to be here. What a cool topic. I am a WordPress web designer. Um, been doing websites for about 13 years now, but I’m actually just massive on simplicity as Emma knows ’cause we chat about it all the time.

I’m super passionate about how simple things could actually be. I’m a course creator with my simplicity course as well, which helps web designers chill everything out basically.

So really happy to be here and to chat about this with you all.

Awesome, thank you ladies.

78
00:03:24.385 –> 00:03:26.475
Well, we will dive into some questions

79
00:03:26.745 –> 00:03:29.315
that I have already pre-prepared, uh,

80
00:03:29.455 –> 00:03:31.875
but anyone watching, if you have any questions

81
00:03:32.535 –> 00:03:34.835
for the whole panel for a specific speaker,

82
00:03:36.035 –> 00:03:38.315
anything you wanna add, please pop them in the comments

83
00:03:38.495 –> 00:03:40.355
and we will try to get to as many

84
00:03:40.375 –> 00:03:41.995
as we can throughout this panel.

85
00:03:42.695 –> 00:03:44.795
Uh, so just drop them in there at any time

86
00:03:44.935 –> 00:03:46.915
and I’ll sort of scan through as we go

87
00:03:46.935 –> 00:03:50.025
and hopefully, hopefully we’ll get to yours.

88
00:03:50.335 –> 00:03:54.735
Okay. So first off, I thought this one was a good one

89
00:03:54.735 –> 00:03:59.375
to start with to try to define really what strategy is.

90
00:03:59.635 –> 00:04:03.615
So what do you feel separates a strategic designer from

91
00:04:03.615 –> 00:04:06.015
someone who just delivers a website?

92
00:04:06.485 –> 00:04:09.215
Does anyone wanna kick things off with this one?

93
00:04:10.455 –> 00:04:11.555
No pressure. ’cause I can go,

94
00:04:14.105 –> 00:04:15.105
I’ll go.

95
00:04:15.815 –> 00:04:17.835
Go, right. Um, I think as well,

96
00:04:17.995 –> 00:04:19.795
’cause I, I get a lot of DIYs come to me

97
00:04:19.795 –> 00:04:21.115
that have made their own websites.

98
00:04:21.115 –> 00:04:23.155
You can really visually see the difference of someone

99
00:04:23.155 –> 00:04:25.315
that’s got training and done it as a web designer.

100
00:04:25.775 –> 00:04:28.235
And for me, I think it’s all about understanding the user

101
00:04:28.235 –> 00:04:31.595
experience and actually driving people to an action to take

102
00:04:31.615 –> 00:04:32.635
and being intentional

103
00:04:32.715 –> 00:04:35.355
with the content rather than just using it

104
00:04:35.355 –> 00:04:36.875
as a vanity project to display

105
00:04:37.015 –> 00:04:38.235
all your information visually.

106
00:04:38.695 –> 00:04:40.955
Um, so that’s what I thought was the, the biggest,

107
00:04:41.585 –> 00:04:42.715
biggest one in my head.

108
00:04:43.865 –> 00:04:47.515
Yeah, totally. I think, um, a big thing for me,

109
00:04:48.015 –> 00:04:50.675
and one thing that helped me realize that I was kind of

110
00:04:51.475 –> 00:04:53.675
offering strategy anyway in a way

111
00:04:53.695 –> 00:04:55.155
and thinking more strategically

112
00:04:55.155 –> 00:04:59.075
around websites was really understanding the why behind

113
00:04:59.935 –> 00:05:01.355
why a client might want something.

114
00:05:01.585 –> 00:05:03.355
Like they might say, oh, I need a website.

115
00:05:03.745 –> 00:05:05.395
It’s like, well, why do you need a website?

116
00:05:05.395 –> 00:05:08.035
Even just asking that simple question is making you

117
00:05:08.965 –> 00:05:12.915
think more strategically so that you are

118
00:05:13.655 –> 00:05:17.635
giving them what they need, not just what their friend

119
00:05:17.635 –> 00:05:20.635
or their uncle or you know, some person has told them

120
00:05:20.865 –> 00:05:22.955
that they they need to have in their business.

121
00:05:24.685 –> 00:05:27.005
I know that’s something that Yeah, I was gonna say

122
00:05:27.005 –> 00:05:30.005
that’s something Lou uh, so Lou works with me

123
00:05:30.385 –> 00:05:32.325
and helps me out massively.

124
00:05:32.465 –> 00:05:34.405
And one of the things that she really helps me with,

125
00:05:34.525 –> 00:05:36.125
I might do it for clients, but I don’t do it

126
00:05:36.125 –> 00:05:38.645
for myself sometimes and I might get shiny object syndrome

127
00:05:38.745 –> 00:05:41.325
and Lou’s like, hold up, why do you wanna do that?

128
00:05:41.765 –> 00:05:43.685
What’s the actual goal here? And love

129
00:05:43.685 –> 00:05:45.085
The question. Yeah,

130
00:05:45.195 –> 00:05:46.195
Love the question.

131
00:05:48.035 –> 00:05:49.525
Yeah, I think it’s, I think it’s massive.

132
00:05:49.805 –> 00:05:51.325
I think like what you’re saying with like,

133
00:05:51.875 –> 00:05:53.365
what do you need a website for?

134
00:05:53.825 –> 00:05:55.965
Um, but having that initial brief form

135
00:05:55.985 –> 00:05:57.245
or wherever you first collect

136
00:05:57.245 –> 00:05:58.925
that information from clients saying like,

137
00:05:59.225 –> 00:06:00.365
who are you actually talking to?

138
00:06:00.385 –> 00:06:02.125
You know, who do you want to be talking to?

139
00:06:02.545 –> 00:06:04.205
Um, where are those people hanging out?

140
00:06:04.505 –> 00:06:05.965
You know, what do you want ’em to do

141
00:06:06.215 –> 00:06:07.565
after they come to your website?

142
00:06:07.565 –> 00:06:09.405
Like understanding all of that.

143
00:06:09.905 –> 00:06:12.125
Um, I think it’s so easy for us to figure out

144
00:06:12.125 –> 00:06:14.445
that the people we work with often have no clue

145
00:06:14.545 –> 00:06:17.445
and they’ve just seen pretty websites in places

146
00:06:17.545 –> 00:06:19.325
and they’re like, oh, I like the way they’ve done that.

147
00:06:19.345 –> 00:06:21.005
But it’s for a completely different audience.

148
00:06:21.505 –> 00:06:24.605
So from the get go asking those questions, like, yeah,

149
00:06:24.745 –> 00:06:26.005
who, who are you talking to?

150
00:06:26.505 –> 00:06:28.765
Who do you actually want to attract to your business?

151
00:06:29.075 –> 00:06:31.285
There’s no point having an awesome website if you’re

152
00:06:31.285 –> 00:06:32.805
attracting their own crowd of people with it.

153
00:06:33.195 –> 00:06:35.965
Knowing those things from the get go is huge.

154
00:06:36.105 –> 00:06:37.165
And then when they, you know,

155
00:06:37.195 –> 00:06:39.325
make little comments along the way, you can say, well,

156
00:06:39.825 –> 00:06:41.645
you know, I know you wanna attract this person,

157
00:06:42.145 –> 00:06:44.565
so let’s look at how we can really focus in on that.

158
00:06:44.745 –> 00:06:47.125
And so instead of getting, you know, interrupted

159
00:06:47.125 –> 00:06:49.125
or distracted by shiny things.

160
00:06:50.385 –> 00:06:51.805
Yes, absolutely.

161
00:06:53.005 –> 00:06:54.405
I saw you nodding along there,

162
00:06:54.405 –> 00:06:55.605
Shannon, did you have something to add?

163
00:06:55.715 –> 00:06:59.285
Yeah, I think, you know, from, from my perspective,

164
00:06:59.485 –> 00:07:04.245
I think it’s just an, an identity that, you know, you

165
00:07:04.265 –> 00:07:08.565
as the designer have, you know, I love the practical things

166
00:07:08.865 –> 00:07:12.165
of, you know, how you’re leading them through the project,

167
00:07:12.865 –> 00:07:17.845
but really just embodying in yourself that

168
00:07:18.785 –> 00:07:23.005
you aren’t just, you know, bringing their,

169
00:07:23.015 –> 00:07:24.565
their design vision to life.

170
00:07:24.715 –> 00:07:27.525
That truly you are a strategic partner

171
00:07:28.345 –> 00:07:30.325
in their business.

172
00:07:30.715 –> 00:07:34.765
It’s your role to find out, um,

173
00:07:35.425 –> 00:07:37.765
you know, all of the the practical, logistical,

174
00:07:38.245 –> 00:07:39.805
customer journey, all of those pieces,

175
00:07:40.025 –> 00:07:44.245
but also like their vision, their value, their deeper why

176
00:07:45.105 –> 00:07:49.845
and marry those two things together for them.

177
00:07:50.825 –> 00:07:55.285
And when you start to understand, like you all said

178
00:07:55.285 –> 00:07:57.925
before, like we’re, you’re already doing this,

179
00:07:58.145 –> 00:07:59.845
you just probably don’t realize

180
00:08:00.475 –> 00:08:01.845
that you’re already doing this.

181
00:08:02.745 –> 00:08:06.485
And when you can make that shift internally,

182
00:08:07.195 –> 00:08:09.685
it’s not like your process has to change that much.

183
00:08:10.035 –> 00:08:11.125
It’s not like what you’re doing

184
00:08:11.125 –> 00:08:13.205
or what you’re delivering has to change that much.

185
00:08:13.435 –> 00:08:15.765
It’s how you talk about it, how you think about it

186
00:08:15.765 –> 00:08:17.645
and how you communicate it to your clients.

187
00:08:19.185 –> 00:08:20.765
That’s the biggest shift.

188
00:08:20.785 –> 00:08:25.325
And so I think it’s really when you see yourself that way,

189
00:08:25.745 –> 00:08:27.925
the way you talk about what you do changes

190
00:08:28.145 –> 00:08:30.405
and you paint that picture for

191
00:08:31.025 –> 00:08:32.805
the client every step of the way.

192
00:08:34.395 –> 00:08:36.085
Yeah, I think that’s brilliant.

193
00:08:36.085 –> 00:08:38.165
And I actually realized I’ve got a question here

194
00:08:38.165 –> 00:08:40.085
that’s was submitted and it’s like perfectly

195
00:08:40.235 –> 00:08:41.845
perfect follow on question.

196
00:08:42.025 –> 00:08:43.765
So let me just write this in.

197
00:08:44.865 –> 00:08:45.085
Um,

198
00:08:49.625 –> 00:08:50.195
Here we go.

199
00:08:50.775 –> 00:08:54.875
So Sarah Lisa sent this one saying she has this long,

200
00:08:55.035 –> 00:08:57.365
this is an abbreviated version of what she sent through,

201
00:08:57.425 –> 00:08:59.565
but she’s saying that she charges way too much

202
00:09:00.185 –> 00:09:01.605
for her service.

203
00:09:02.345 –> 00:09:06.245
Uh, which where she really goes into, um, you know,

204
00:09:06.255 –> 00:09:10.165
their why and she says her clients feel really seen

205
00:09:10.165 –> 00:09:11.485
and heard and all that, you know,

206
00:09:11.485 –> 00:09:15.285
so she’s really diving deep when she goes with, um, works

207
00:09:15.285 –> 00:09:18.005
with clients, but she knows she’s charging way too low.

208
00:09:18.625 –> 00:09:20.805
And she said, I’d like a way

209
00:09:20.805 –> 00:09:23.405
to package this holistic web design so

210
00:09:23.405 –> 00:09:25.525
that people see the value of paying for it,

211
00:09:25.625 –> 00:09:28.525
but how I can’t see it clearly because I’m right in it.

212
00:09:29.145 –> 00:09:33.325
So she really wanting to know how she can communicate that

213
00:09:33.385 –> 00:09:34.605
and package it up so

214
00:09:34.605 –> 00:09:37.405
that clients can see the value in what she does.

215
00:09:40.075 –> 00:09:42.415
Can I, um, can I start by asking too,

216
00:09:42.495 –> 00:09:45.135
I think it’s super important when we recognize maybe

217
00:09:45.135 –> 00:09:46.415
we’re charging too low for something.

218
00:09:46.795 –> 00:09:47.975
Why are we charging too low?

219
00:09:48.225 –> 00:09:50.855
Often there’s like some kind of mindset thing going on

220
00:09:50.855 –> 00:09:52.415
where you don’t think you’re not good enough.

221
00:09:53.115 –> 00:09:55.375
Um, like so many of us have been through this, right?

222
00:09:55.795 –> 00:09:58.735
Um, like me being on this call right now, like, how do I get

223
00:09:58.735 –> 00:10:00.055
to be here with these incredible people?

224
00:10:00.235 –> 00:10:03.415
But once we know like, why are you having that thought?

225
00:10:03.565 –> 00:10:06.135
Like why are you charging too low? That’s massive.

226
00:10:06.595 –> 00:10:09.655
Um, mm-hmm. That’s what I wanted to say before we jumped in.

227
00:10:11.305 –> 00:10:13.375
Thank you. Yeah, no, that’s really important.

228
00:10:13.515 –> 00:10:16.215
And also watching Shannon’s talk from the other day too

229
00:10:16.215 –> 00:10:17.575
with the anchor high pricing

230
00:10:17.675 –> 00:10:20.935
and you were talking about like staying out

231
00:10:20.935 –> 00:10:22.055
of other people’s wallets,

232
00:10:22.055 –> 00:10:24.855
like don’t impose your money beliefs on someone else.

233
00:10:25.715 –> 00:10:30.015
Um, and also, uh, I really liked how

234
00:10:30.995 –> 00:10:34.895
you talk about offering those different services, like

235
00:10:34.895 –> 00:10:36.975
but letting the clients decide, like you,

236
00:10:36.975 –> 00:10:39.335
you’re just offering it and then it’s sort of on them.

237
00:10:42.295 –> 00:10:45.265
Yeah. The, the thing that I think about with like,

238
00:10:45.365 –> 00:10:47.025
in addition to mindset

239
00:10:47.365 –> 00:10:51.345
and really like, um, like

240
00:10:51.345 –> 00:10:52.745
how do I position this so

241
00:10:52.745 –> 00:10:54.665
that people see the value of paying for it?

242
00:10:54.665 –> 00:10:56.545
Like, one, do you see the value?

243
00:10:56.885 –> 00:10:59.785
Are you sold, are you truly sold on the value

244
00:10:59.785 –> 00:11:01.425
that you want to charge for it?

245
00:11:01.445 –> 00:11:02.585
And if not, why not?

246
00:11:02.585 –> 00:11:04.425
And what steps do you need to take to get that?

247
00:11:05.245 –> 00:11:08.505
And in the swag bag, I ha shout out to the swag bag

248
00:11:08.705 –> 00:11:10.585
’cause I have like a whole like audio training

249
00:11:11.115 –> 00:11:12.745
about selling yourself first.

250
00:11:13.405 –> 00:11:17.745
Um, the second thing that is like a logistical thing,

251
00:11:18.165 –> 00:11:21.865
but we break that holistic strategy piece out as like a,

252
00:11:21.985 –> 00:11:25.705
a paid discovery step, uh, like in our process.

253
00:11:25.845 –> 00:11:29.065
And we’re like, we use that as like part

254
00:11:29.065 –> 00:11:32.065
of the sales process to really be able to paint the picture

255
00:11:32.965 –> 00:11:35.425
and then make the offer of the implementation

256
00:11:36.125 –> 00:11:37.705
off, off of the backend.

257
00:11:37.805 –> 00:11:42.145
So it’s like, you know, you’re, you’re charging

258
00:11:42.525 –> 00:11:43.985
for the strategy

259
00:11:44.605 –> 00:11:46.425
and then you’re making the offer of like, here’s

260
00:11:46.425 –> 00:11:48.065
what it looks like to implement this strategy.

261
00:11:48.845 –> 00:11:53.285
And so that is, that’s one way

262
00:11:53.785 –> 00:11:56.765
to do that when, and,

263
00:11:56.785 –> 00:11:58.165
and it’s a lower price

264
00:11:58.985 –> 00:12:01.365
for the way we teach it is like a lower price for

265
00:12:01.365 –> 00:12:02.885
that strategy, right?

266
00:12:03.185 –> 00:12:06.445
But once you have like gotten one foot in the door

267
00:12:06.445 –> 00:12:08.165
and the buy end for that, and then you make the offer

268
00:12:08.165 –> 00:12:09.765
for the implementation off the back end,

269
00:12:09.765 –> 00:12:12.405
you end up making making up for it, right?

270
00:12:12.545 –> 00:12:15.965
So that’s just a logistical way to, to do that,

271
00:12:16.145 –> 00:12:20.205
but you have to be sold on the value that you bring

272
00:12:20.305 –> 00:12:23.045
before anyone else will buy from you,

273
00:12:23.825 –> 00:12:25.205
you know, at that price.

274
00:12:25.945 –> 00:12:29.085
110 I think as well, being confident with that price.

275
00:12:29.185 –> 00:12:32.725
So I put my prices up for my day rate about a year ago,

276
00:12:32.955 –> 00:12:34.005
emailed all my leads,

277
00:12:34.065 –> 00:12:36.845
and I got more bookings now than I ever did before

278
00:12:36.845 –> 00:12:40.085
because I value what I do, I’m confident in what I offer,

279
00:12:40.345 –> 00:12:42.605
and then because I’m confident in explaining

280
00:12:42.665 –> 00:12:43.845
why it’s that value.

281
00:12:44.195 –> 00:12:46.245
Yeah, I, and then people also see the value

282
00:12:46.245 –> 00:12:48.285
because it is more expensive

283
00:12:48.365 –> 00:12:49.405
because they’re not gonna,

284
00:12:49.425 –> 00:12:50.885
the cheapest designers they expect

285
00:12:50.885 –> 00:12:52.685
to get the extra strategy as well.

286
00:12:53.185 –> 00:12:56.525
And my sales pages for my, just my web design businesses,

287
00:12:56.985 –> 00:12:59.805
it explains the kind of, not the things that are included,

288
00:12:59.905 –> 00:13:02.885
but the, the things that I understand about website design

289
00:13:03.545 –> 00:13:05.805
and that, that strategic stuff I am providing,

290
00:13:05.905 –> 00:13:08.885
but also case studies that show the return on investment

291
00:13:09.025 –> 00:13:10.525
for clients that I have worked with

292
00:13:10.525 –> 00:13:12.565
that are now getting the inquiries now ranking on

293
00:13:12.565 –> 00:13:13.645
Google and things like that.

294
00:13:15.195 –> 00:13:16.605
Yeah, I really loved

295
00:13:16.605 –> 00:13:18.245
what you said about the return on investment

296
00:13:18.245 –> 00:13:20.685
because that is a question that I’ve been asking

297
00:13:21.425 –> 00:13:24.925
in my discovery calls for the last six months

298
00:13:24.945 –> 00:13:28.125
and I’ve really found higher conversion rates with

299
00:13:28.125 –> 00:13:30.885
that is I ask, well, what is the value of a customer to you?

300
00:13:31.195 –> 00:13:35.325
Because if it’s, if their service is, you know,

301
00:13:35.485 –> 00:13:37.205
a $20 little service

302
00:13:37.345 –> 00:13:39.445
or product, then it’s gonna take a lot

303
00:13:39.465 –> 00:13:40.805
to get that investment back.

304
00:13:40.805 –> 00:13:43.125
Whereas if it’s somebody that’s got, you know,

305
00:13:43.245 –> 00:13:44.325
a thousand dollars

306
00:13:44.865 –> 00:13:48.685
or, you know, uh, maybe 1200

307
00:13:48.785 –> 00:13:50.725
or something like that, then they’re like, oh, okay,

308
00:13:50.725 –> 00:13:54.245
well if I just get two clients, then my website is paid for.

309
00:13:54.265 –> 00:13:55.885
So they kind of start talking themselves

310
00:13:56.035 –> 00:13:57.325
into it almost a little bit.

311
00:13:57.585 –> 00:13:59.325
So I always like to ask that, because again,

312
00:13:59.325 –> 00:14:01.965
if you’re dealing with somebody that has a a $10 product,

313
00:14:02.395 –> 00:14:05.725
they’re thinking, oh wow, this is gonna take a lot for me

314
00:14:05.725 –> 00:14:07.365
to get back and then the product

315
00:14:07.465 –> 00:14:08.925
and I have to subtract, you know,

316
00:14:08.925 –> 00:14:09.965
like they’re doing all this math.

317
00:14:09.965 –> 00:14:11.925
But it’s, it feels more attainable if you go

318
00:14:11.925 –> 00:14:14.605
after the service providers that have

319
00:14:14.995 –> 00:14:16.365
that higher ticket offer

320
00:14:16.365 –> 00:14:18.565
because they’re like, oh, okay, well, you know, two

321
00:14:18.565 –> 00:14:20.325
or three clients and my investments back

322
00:14:20.325 –> 00:14:22.845
and then I have a, you know, beautiful website and it works.

323
00:14:22.945 –> 00:14:26.685
So I think anchoring it in their mind, they kind

324
00:14:26.685 –> 00:14:27.965
of can talk themselves into it.

325
00:14:29.675 –> 00:14:32.525
Yeah, absolutely. That’s such a good point.

326
00:14:32.585 –> 00:14:33.645
And I thought something else

327
00:14:33.675 –> 00:14:35.685
that maybe you could talk about Alexia,

328
00:14:35.715 –> 00:14:38.765
because your, your presentation was all about creating

329
00:14:38.765 –> 00:14:41.125
that amazing brand experience, right?

330
00:14:42.345 –> 00:14:45.645
And something that it sounds like Lisa Marie is struggling

331
00:14:45.645 –> 00:14:48.725
with is that she has that brand experience in a way.

332
00:14:49.135 –> 00:14:51.605
She’s, she’s going above and beyond for clients

333
00:14:51.625 –> 00:14:53.525
and building this beautiful relationship with them,

334
00:14:54.025 –> 00:14:56.125
but she’s struggling to really talk about it

335
00:14:56.265 –> 00:15:00.685
and kind of in a way put it in her package, like communicate

336
00:15:00.715 –> 00:15:03.165
that value in her packages and her services.

337
00:15:03.745 –> 00:15:05.725
And I’m wondering if you have any tips on that?

338
00:15:07.425 –> 00:15:10.845
Um, I think showing people, like a lot,

339
00:15:11.475 –> 00:15:12.965
showing people what they’re getting.

340
00:15:13.025 –> 00:15:14.405
You know, if you go into a place

341
00:15:14.465 –> 00:15:16.605
and you don’t know, like I’m one of those people that

342
00:15:16.625 –> 00:15:18.485
before I go anywhere or look at

343
00:15:18.585 –> 00:15:20.405
or go into a restaurant, I’m looking up their menu.

344
00:15:20.405 –> 00:15:21.405
Like I’m wanting to see

345
00:15:21.405 –> 00:15:22.885
what it’s like, where am I gonna sit?

346
00:15:22.885 –> 00:15:24.805
What kind of like, what is the,

347
00:15:25.185 –> 00:15:27.205
the whole thing first before I go?

348
00:15:27.385 –> 00:15:28.805
So that I know when I get in there,

349
00:15:29.045 –> 00:15:30.565
I have like that sense of ease.

350
00:15:31.105 –> 00:15:33.445
And that’s the same way with showing your process online,

351
00:15:33.475 –> 00:15:36.805
your experience online, you show from, okay, so what happens

352
00:15:36.815 –> 00:15:38.045
after the inquiry?

353
00:15:38.355 –> 00:15:41.085
What happens after the strategy? What happens after this?

354
00:15:41.085 –> 00:15:43.205
And I walk through that a lot in my discovery calls.

355
00:15:43.205 –> 00:15:46.965
I’ll literally walk through the process of my design,

356
00:15:46.995 –> 00:15:49.965
I’ll tell them, yes, every Friday I will send you a,

357
00:15:49.985 –> 00:15:51.645
an email, like a quick update.

358
00:15:51.725 –> 00:15:52.925
I don’t care if we talked Thursday

359
00:15:52.925 –> 00:15:54.165
night, I’m sending you that Friday.

360
00:15:54.505 –> 00:15:56.285
And it gives them that reassurance.

361
00:15:56.745 –> 00:15:59.045
So I’m thinking maybe that’s what she needs

362
00:15:59.045 –> 00:16:01.005
to incorporate if she has anything like that.

363
00:16:02.615 –> 00:16:03.665
Awesome. Thank

364
00:16:03.665 –> 00:16:04.665
You. I am wanted

365
00:16:04.665 –> 00:16:05.745
to add in there too.

366
00:16:05.905 –> 00:16:07.785
I think it’s so cool for us to have a think about

367
00:16:08.205 –> 00:16:09.305
how we actually want people

368
00:16:09.405 –> 00:16:11.865
to feel when they interact with us, right?

369
00:16:12.205 –> 00:16:15.625
So when they’re, like, for me, I, I use really casual,

370
00:16:16.015 –> 00:16:17.425
like I use slang in real life.

371
00:16:17.425 –> 00:16:19.945
This is who I am. I’m a pretty rough Australian

372
00:16:19.945 –> 00:16:21.225
person, but I own it.

373
00:16:21.375 –> 00:16:22.825
Like I, this is who I am.

374
00:16:23.445 –> 00:16:24.705
Um, and because I’m

375
00:16:24.705 –> 00:16:28.265
so massive on making things really simple, all

376
00:16:28.265 –> 00:16:31.505
of my wording is making sure in my packages even I’m like,

377
00:16:31.695 –> 00:16:33.505
it’s going to feel really easy for you.

378
00:16:34.135 –> 00:16:35.545
It’s gonna feel breezy for you.

379
00:16:35.885 –> 00:16:37.345
I’m gonna look after everything technical.

380
00:16:37.645 –> 00:16:40.105
So knowing how we want our people to feel

381
00:16:42.105 –> 00:16:43.975
while they’re reading through our web packages

382
00:16:43.975 –> 00:16:45.015
while they’re working with us.

383
00:16:45.235 –> 00:16:48.015
Um, and how can you communicate that in your package,

384
00:16:48.115 –> 00:16:49.775
you know, because at the end of the day,

385
00:16:49.775 –> 00:16:50.815
we’re all web designers

386
00:16:50.815 –> 00:16:52.815
and we can probably all do a lot of the same things,

387
00:16:52.955 –> 00:16:55.415
but we massively set apart by how we look

388
00:16:55.415 –> 00:16:56.855
after our people, um,

389
00:16:56.855 –> 00:16:58.295
and what kind of people we wanna work with.

390
00:16:58.655 –> 00:17:01.335
I wanna work with people if we’re happy to keep things

391
00:17:02.255 –> 00:17:03.655
cruisy and happy to trust me.

392
00:17:03.755 –> 00:17:06.215
So I’m really, um, deliberate in my wording

393
00:17:06.315 –> 00:17:07.855
to attract those people.

394
00:17:08.885 –> 00:17:10.705
Mm-hmm. That’s a great point.

395
00:17:14.545 –> 00:17:16.985
I will move on to another question.

396
00:17:17.645 –> 00:17:21.665
Um, where are we, I like this one.

397
00:17:21.855 –> 00:17:24.425
What are some questions web designers can ask in the early

398
00:17:24.425 –> 00:17:26.505
stages of a project that help

399
00:17:27.115 –> 00:17:29.225
guide the project more strategically?

400
00:17:30.525 –> 00:17:32.905
My big one that I mentioned

401
00:17:32.905 –> 00:17:35.505
before is just asking those why questions,

402
00:17:35.855 –> 00:17:39.025
like really probing when clients say

403
00:17:39.025 –> 00:17:42.225
that they want something, just asking why, figuring out

404
00:17:42.225 –> 00:17:45.195
what the goal is behind anything they’re asking

405
00:17:45.255 –> 00:17:46.675
for at any stage of the project.

406
00:17:47.695 –> 00:17:49.165
And I think you ask lot, lot

407
00:17:49.165 –> 00:17:52.085
of those pertinent questions in like your initial discovery

408
00:17:52.155 –> 00:17:54.205
call or brief forms or whatever it might be.

409
00:17:55.145 –> 00:17:57.805
Do you ladies have any particular questions

410
00:17:57.915 –> 00:17:59.245
that you like to ask clients?

411
00:18:00.885 –> 00:18:02.855
Yeah, well I, similar in the discovery call,

412
00:18:02.895 –> 00:18:04.095
I ask ’em why they want a website,

413
00:18:04.095 –> 00:18:07.065
but I find a lot of clients don’t really know and answer.

414
00:18:07.145 –> 00:18:09.505
They’ll say, because I should have one. Yes.

415
00:18:09.605 –> 00:18:12.825
So my, my startle questionnaire, I, I then have a

416
00:18:13.215 –> 00:18:14.785
what would it take to make you feel like

417
00:18:14.785 –> 00:18:15.905
your website is a success?

418
00:18:15.905 –> 00:18:16.985
Because then I find,

419
00:18:17.145 –> 00:18:18.865
I find out what’s actually really important to them

420
00:18:19.085 –> 00:18:21.585
and the turns out it’s the fundamental reason they want a

421
00:18:21.585 –> 00:18:22.665
client, a website, whether it’s

422
00:18:23.165 –> 00:18:25.225
to get people in their email marketing like

423
00:18:26.165 –> 00:18:28.425
or to get the product bought, that kind of thing.

424
00:18:28.425 –> 00:18:30.665
But yeah, I find they find it hard to articulate sometimes.

425
00:18:30.685 –> 00:18:31.865
So that’s one of my favorites.

426
00:18:31.865 –> 00:18:33.785
What does it say to make your website a success? So,

427
00:18:33.785 –> 00:18:34.785
Mm-hmm.

428
00:18:35.215 –> 00:18:37.145
Yeah. And I also ask about

429
00:18:37.215 –> 00:18:39.225
what common questions they get from clients because,

430
00:18:39.805 –> 00:18:42.305
and that helps me understand their pain points

431
00:18:42.325 –> 00:18:45.105
and then articulate that back to them like, your,

432
00:18:45.135 –> 00:18:48.145
your clients are having this problem that they don’t,

433
00:18:48.145 –> 00:18:49.825
they don’t really even think about the problem so much,

434
00:18:49.825 –> 00:18:51.145
they’re just thinking about what they’re selling

435
00:18:51.165 –> 00:18:52.385
or what they want to give to someone.

436
00:18:52.385 –> 00:18:53.905
They’re not thinking about why the

437
00:18:53.905 –> 00:18:55.265
client wants to work with them.

438
00:18:56.085 –> 00:18:57.545
Mm. Yeah.

439
00:18:59.065 –> 00:19:01.585
Piggybacking off of what Rachel said about like,

440
00:19:02.575 –> 00:19:05.545
what would make this project a success for you?

441
00:19:06.245 –> 00:19:09.505
The a question I love to ask, like after that

442
00:19:09.645 –> 00:19:11.305
or have our students ask

443
00:19:11.305 –> 00:19:15.065
after that is, if we were to accomplish those things, then

444
00:19:15.065 –> 00:19:16.505
what would be possible for you,

445
00:19:16.735 –> 00:19:17.985
like in your business, in your life?

446
00:19:17.985 –> 00:19:22.705
Like taking that one step further into like that deeper

447
00:19:23.405 –> 00:19:25.585
why they are going

448
00:19:25.635 –> 00:19:28.465
after this, whether it’s a business goal, a personal goal,

449
00:19:28.615 –> 00:19:32.225
it’s usually something related to, um, you know,

450
00:19:32.415 –> 00:19:33.945
more capacity, more freedom,

451
00:19:34.095 –> 00:19:35.945
more autonomy, something like that.

452
00:19:36.125 –> 00:19:40.925
And really understanding that bigger piece

453
00:19:42.065 –> 00:19:46.205
can help you redirect them when they wanna go off on these

454
00:19:46.205 –> 00:19:50.125
little tangents of all of these extra stuff, all

455
00:19:50.125 –> 00:19:51.125
of these extra things

456
00:19:51.475 –> 00:19:53.845
because now you understand their core values

457
00:19:54.625 –> 00:19:58.765
and you can help stay,

458
00:19:58.835 –> 00:20:03.365
help them stay the course when they want to be a squirrel

459
00:20:03.745 –> 00:20:06.725
and chase every like, new thing

460
00:20:06.725 –> 00:20:08.645
that they came across in their Instagram feed.

461
00:20:08.745 –> 00:20:11.765
So that’s another question that I love

462
00:20:11.765 –> 00:20:16.005
to a like have you all ask in your, um, in the early stages.

463
00:20:17.065 –> 00:20:18.605
And I have a just, uh, to back

464
00:20:18.605 –> 00:20:20.965
and forth on that one, I have one that I have that, that

465
00:20:20.965 –> 00:20:22.765
what are your fears about having a website?

466
00:20:22.765 –> 00:20:25.685
Because even though it’s not so much about the strategy

467
00:20:25.745 –> 00:20:28.285
of the design and layout themselves, I, the amount

468
00:20:28.285 –> 00:20:30.245
of times I have clients say they worry about getting too big

469
00:20:30.265 –> 00:20:32.485
and they worry and it all comes down to imposter syndromes,

470
00:20:32.485 –> 00:20:35.805
it’s then understanding that some of their own kind

471
00:20:35.885 –> 00:20:37.005
of values again, on,

472
00:20:37.065 –> 00:20:38.845
on why they want a website and where they want it to go.

473
00:20:40.745 –> 00:20:42.105
Hmm. I love those.

474
00:20:42.245 –> 00:20:43.985
I’m making mental notes of these questions.

475
00:20:44.845 –> 00:20:45.845
Me too. Um,

476
00:20:46.265 –> 00:20:49.205
I was gonna say kind of it ties in with both

477
00:20:49.205 –> 00:20:51.965
of those questions is like,

478
00:20:52.095 –> 00:20:54.245
where do you wanna be in a year from now?

479
00:20:54.245 –> 00:20:56.525
Where do you wanna be in five years? That bigger picture.

480
00:20:56.525 –> 00:20:59.685
Because if they can visualize where they want to be,

481
00:20:59.685 –> 00:21:03.245
sometimes people can either get too focused on the now

482
00:21:03.305 –> 00:21:05.645
and like what’s going on in their business now

483
00:21:06.025 –> 00:21:08.685
and it doesn’t completely align with where they want to be.

484
00:21:09.025 –> 00:21:12.005
So, and also you can strategically set their site

485
00:21:12.065 –> 00:21:13.565
up for those bigger things.

486
00:21:13.565 –> 00:21:16.525
So if, you know, in the future they want some e-commerce on

487
00:21:16.525 –> 00:21:17.965
their site, then you know, okay,

488
00:21:17.965 –> 00:21:19.485
well I need a platform that can do that.

489
00:21:20.065 –> 00:21:22.525
Or, um, if they’re wanting to eventually do courses

490
00:21:22.665 –> 00:21:26.045
and things, you can set up their site foundationally

491
00:21:26.465 –> 00:21:27.845
for those bigger things in the future.

492
00:21:27.945 –> 00:21:30.085
And then when they get on that track, it’s like,

493
00:21:30.505 –> 00:21:32.805
it almost prepares you for future work too,

494
00:21:32.805 –> 00:21:36.165
because you know what their, their main goal is.

495
00:21:36.165 –> 00:21:38.205
So then you can say, okay, well this is like phase one,

496
00:21:38.745 –> 00:21:40.205
so then, you know, in a year

497
00:21:40.205 –> 00:21:41.925
or two, maybe we can add some of this

498
00:21:42.105 –> 00:21:45.085
or maybe we can, you know, evolve it that way.

499
00:21:45.145 –> 00:21:47.205
And then you also become a long-term partner too,

500
00:21:47.205 –> 00:21:49.765
because if you know them, their goal inside and out,

501
00:21:49.785 –> 00:21:53.685
and you can be there for that, you know, 3, 4, 5, 10 years,

502
00:21:54.345 –> 00:21:55.525
you’re an asset to them.

503
00:21:56.225 –> 00:22:00.085
And that becomes super important, especially in the world

504
00:22:00.085 –> 00:22:03.205
of like AI and being just another web designer.

505
00:22:03.265 –> 00:22:06.965
If you’re an asset to your clients, they love you.

506
00:22:06.965 –> 00:22:08.325
They want every project

507
00:22:08.795 –> 00:22:10.725
that they can work on possible with you.

508
00:22:10.885 –> 00:22:13.125
I mean, I’m one of my clients who always sends me stuff,

509
00:22:13.125 –> 00:22:15.885
she’s like, Hey, like I, I really wanna work on this.

510
00:22:15.885 –> 00:22:17.925
Like, can we work on this? Does this go with the thing?

511
00:22:17.925 –> 00:22:20.085
Like I know her business inside

512
00:22:20.085 –> 00:22:22.565
and out, so I’m able to help her make those like consulting

513
00:22:22.565 –> 00:22:25.405
higher picture decisions for her brand.

514
00:22:27.025 –> 00:22:28.045
And I also know too

515
00:22:28.045 –> 00:22:29.965
that you’re there when they are ready to expand.

516
00:22:29.965 –> 00:22:31.365
They’re like, oh yeah, I’ll go back to her.

517
00:22:31.385 –> 00:22:32.845
She knows what she’s doing. Yeah,

518
00:22:35.965 –> 00:22:36.965
Absolutely.

519
00:22:37.765 –> 00:22:39.565
I was gonna add another with the terms of style.

520
00:22:39.725 –> 00:22:40.965
I, I obviously ask what,

521
00:22:40.965 –> 00:22:42.525
what makes ’em different from competitors,

522
00:22:42.625 –> 00:22:44.565
but um, also I have one at the end that says,

523
00:22:44.595 –> 00:22:46.285
what do you want people to say to their friends

524
00:22:46.285 –> 00:22:47.445
after they visit your site?

525
00:22:47.445 –> 00:22:49.445
Because then like their vibe as well,

526
00:22:49.865 –> 00:22:51.245
how they want their site to feel.

527
00:22:52.585 –> 00:22:54.925
That’s awesome. I like how you’ve got a whole bunch

528
00:22:54.925 –> 00:22:59.205
of questions and almost it’s, it’s different ways

529
00:22:59.205 –> 00:23:01.605
of asking the same question a lot of the time as well,

530
00:23:01.605 –> 00:23:03.805
because some people they might,

531
00:23:03.805 –> 00:23:04.885
they might just give you a yes

532
00:23:04.885 –> 00:23:06.205
or no answer for one question,

533
00:23:06.265 –> 00:23:08.845
but another one they might really elaborate.

534
00:23:08.945 –> 00:23:10.485
So I think asking it a whole bunch

535
00:23:10.485 –> 00:23:13.975
of different ways is quite helpful as well to get them

536
00:23:13.975 –> 00:23:18.015
to really think about what they want and what they need.

537
00:23:21.155 –> 00:23:24.045
Yeah. A la a last thing, um, I wanted to say on

538
00:23:24.045 –> 00:23:27.405
that too is back about, about like how people feel, right?

539
00:23:27.505 –> 00:23:30.165
So asking people like, how do you actually want the user

540
00:23:30.165 –> 00:23:31.365
to feel when they’re on your website?

541
00:23:31.905 –> 00:23:35.045
Um, because it’s, it’s like this incredible thing

542
00:23:35.045 –> 00:23:36.445
that we can forget facts.

543
00:23:36.545 –> 00:23:38.445
The human brain forgets facts so easily,

544
00:23:38.945 –> 00:23:41.245
but we often will remember how we were made

545
00:23:41.245 –> 00:23:42.565
to feel by someone.

546
00:23:43.265 –> 00:23:46.085
So when they are on your website, like, you know,

547
00:23:46.585 –> 00:23:47.845
do they, do they feel calm?

548
00:23:47.905 –> 00:23:50.085
Do they like, what, what, what is going on?

549
00:23:50.185 –> 00:23:53.045
Um, what do they want? And that’s a massive thing.

550
00:23:53.245 –> 00:23:54.925
’cause sometimes our clients can be like,

551
00:23:55.405 –> 00:23:58.085
I want like this loud, you know, website

552
00:23:58.085 –> 00:23:59.885
with all these different bells and missiles going on,

553
00:24:00.265 –> 00:24:03.125
but then maybe it’s like some kind of, um, you know,

554
00:24:03.205 –> 00:24:04.925
like a holistic therapy company

555
00:24:05.065 –> 00:24:07.085
or something where it’s like they actually want their people

556
00:24:07.145 –> 00:24:09.485
to feel so calm and relieved

557
00:24:09.485 –> 00:24:10.845
and grateful that they found this service.

558
00:24:11.025 –> 00:24:13.005
So understanding that as well,

559
00:24:13.105 –> 00:24:16.005
how they actually want their their clients to feel, um,

560
00:24:16.425 –> 00:24:17.485
can be a really powerful thing

561
00:24:17.485 –> 00:24:18.805
with directing website as well.

562
00:24:20.555 –> 00:24:22.685
Yeah. Awesome. I’m so glad you added that.

563
00:24:22.705 –> 00:24:23.765
That’s such a great point.

564
00:24:25.985 –> 00:24:27.965
Um, I have another question here.

565
00:24:28.755 –> 00:24:32.845
Have you ever had a project where doing what the client asks

566
00:24:33.375 –> 00:24:34.605
would have been a disservice?

567
00:24:34.825 –> 00:24:36.445
And if so, how did you handle it?

568
00:24:39.675 –> 00:24:44.315
I had a really bad client that wanted to be a premium, um,

569
00:24:44.835 –> 00:24:46.555
property broker, and he sent me his logo

570
00:24:46.615 –> 00:24:49.075
and it looked a little bit like an at strip club.

571
00:24:49.715 –> 00:24:51.555
I just didn’t know what to do with it.

572
00:24:52.135 –> 00:24:55.915
Um, so when he’d given me his brief of he wanting to be seen

573
00:24:55.915 –> 00:24:57.595
as all this and all this, and then he sent the logo

574
00:24:57.595 –> 00:25:00.195
and I said, look, so I’m always really just

575
00:25:00.195 –> 00:25:01.355
very honest with my clients.

576
00:25:01.615 –> 00:25:04.395
If I can, I’ll send a link to research

577
00:25:04.395 –> 00:25:05.835
that backs what I’ve said.

578
00:25:06.335 –> 00:25:07.715
So again, this client was a bit older,

579
00:25:07.775 –> 00:25:10.835
he wanted the full width justified text on his website

580
00:25:10.895 –> 00:25:13.435
and I explained why, but also sent a link on research on

581
00:25:13.435 –> 00:25:15.635
how the eye works as it reads website.

582
00:25:15.855 –> 00:25:17.715
Um, yeah, it’s always good

583
00:25:17.715 –> 00:25:19.795
to tell them rather than take it on

584
00:25:19.855 –> 00:25:21.435
and then they regret it down the line.

585
00:25:22.835 –> 00:25:23.915
Absolutely. Absolutely.

586
00:25:23.915 –> 00:25:25.475
Because you are, you’re doing ’em a disservice

587
00:25:25.615 –> 00:25:28.715
and they’re paying you to be the expert, right?

588
00:25:28.815 –> 00:25:31.195
So it’s great that you push back on that

589
00:25:31.735 –> 00:25:33.875
And a compliment sandwich, learn how to mask your face

590
00:25:33.875 –> 00:25:36.675
and run a call when you see the logo and you’re like, ugh.

591
00:25:41.515 –> 00:25:44.355
I would say in my early days, I did not handle it well.

592
00:25:44.795 –> 00:25:46.035
I just did what they asked

593
00:25:46.175 –> 00:25:47.635
and then I was like, uh,

594
00:25:47.635 –> 00:25:50.035
this is not going in my portfolio, you know?

595
00:25:50.035 –> 00:25:53.395
Mm-hmm. So because I had an employee mindset, I thought

596
00:25:54.215 –> 00:25:56.595
the client is my boss, I have to do what I,

597
00:25:56.595 –> 00:25:58.275
they say I have to keep them happy.

598
00:25:58.475 –> 00:26:02.035
I just had like a whole that, that mindset

599
00:26:02.145 –> 00:26:04.275
that I was operating my business as an employee

600
00:26:04.275 –> 00:26:06.435
that was taking orders from, from my clients.

601
00:26:06.535 –> 00:26:09.035
And that does not work very well for those of you

602
00:26:09.135 –> 00:26:10.715
who have experienced that, that.

603
00:26:11.535 –> 00:26:16.155
Um, and so, you know, at the shift

604
00:26:16.335 –> 00:26:18.795
for me, there were lots of shifts,

605
00:26:18.815 –> 00:26:19.835
but like shifting out of

606
00:26:19.835 –> 00:26:22.035
that employee mindset is really like kind

607
00:26:22.035 –> 00:26:24.315
of just digging into basically like,

608
00:26:24.745 –> 00:26:26.955
help me understand why you want that.

609
00:26:27.785 –> 00:26:32.475
Here are the, here are the, um, potential pitfalls

610
00:26:32.815 –> 00:26:35.795
or unintended consequences of of doing that.

611
00:26:36.415 –> 00:26:38.435
Here’s what I recommend instead.

612
00:26:39.375 –> 00:26:41.355
And ultimately it is your decision.

613
00:26:42.055 –> 00:26:44.685
And if you’re going to make the wrong decision,

614
00:26:46.305 –> 00:26:49.555
like I’ve already given you your, you know,

615
00:26:49.825 –> 00:26:51.475
what could potentially happen.

616
00:26:52.495 –> 00:26:56.155
And then later on if you want to go back and change that

617
00:26:56.155 –> 00:26:57.835
and be like, I’d love to change that for you,

618
00:26:57.835 –> 00:26:59.595
would you like me to give you a quote for

619
00:27:00.315 –> 00:27:01.475
changing that back?

620
00:27:01.855 –> 00:27:04.915
You know? And so my whole way

621
00:27:04.915 –> 00:27:07.115
of handling things now is just like,

622
00:27:07.115 –> 00:27:09.715
choice is better than no choice.

623
00:27:10.055 –> 00:27:12.235
You know, unless it’s something that’s like,

624
00:27:12.975 –> 00:27:15.275
if they’re very adamant about it, I’m gonna be like,

625
00:27:16.045 –> 00:27:17.385
here’s my recommendation

626
00:27:17.845 –> 00:27:22.225
and you know, when you realize that I was right along,

627
00:27:22.485 –> 00:27:23.585
I’m not gonna fix it for free.

628
00:27:23.965 –> 00:27:27.345
So that’s kind of my, my, uh, mo

629
00:27:27.925 –> 00:27:30.545
And also on that, get it in writing, like I had one

630
00:27:30.645 –> 00:27:32.265
and it was SEO based, they want

631
00:27:32.265 –> 00:27:34.745
to not follow the SEO strategy that I’ve put together.

632
00:27:35.165 –> 00:27:38.185
So I said, you are aware that this may affect your rankings.

633
00:27:38.185 –> 00:27:40.665
You might not show and make sure they reply

634
00:27:40.665 –> 00:27:43.465
and say, yes, we, but we prefer, they want to use words

635
00:27:43.465 –> 00:27:45.025
that they want to project rather than

636
00:27:45.025 –> 00:27:46.785
what words clients are actually searching for.

637
00:27:47.125 –> 00:27:49.225
So yeah, get it in writing so when it doesn’t work out for,

638
00:27:49.405 –> 00:27:51.425
for them, they know it’s not your fault.

639
00:27:52.895 –> 00:27:55.345
Yeah. I’m massive on in writing only,

640
00:27:55.585 –> 00:27:58.585
I think I stopped doing any other communication like

641
00:27:59.365 –> 00:28:02.905
10 years ago because that just, I feel like you see people

642
00:28:03.205 –> 00:28:06.185
for me anyway, and I’m so much about like working as less

643
00:28:06.205 –> 00:28:09.025
as I can, you know, I, I don’t wanna be glued to my laptop.

644
00:28:09.365 –> 00:28:12.065
Um, but also things would just come up in meetings where

645
00:28:12.845 –> 00:28:16.585
it could have been a 32nd email, like absolutely.

646
00:28:16.765 –> 00:28:20.305
And I could have given them a really easy, concise,

647
00:28:20.405 –> 00:28:23.065
direct answer to their question, um,

648
00:28:23.095 –> 00:28:24.545
that they can so easily follow.

649
00:28:24.605 –> 00:28:26.185
But yeah, paper trail is massive.

650
00:28:26.425 –> 00:28:28.785
I love all communication by email, um,

651
00:28:28.875 –> 00:28:31.145
which is clearly stated on my website, so they know

652
00:28:31.145 –> 00:28:32.785
what they’re getting when they start working with me.

653
00:28:32.925 –> 00:28:37.625
But I’ve definitely had so many of these, um, these clients

654
00:28:37.635 –> 00:28:41.025
where like, like you were saying Shannon, in the early days,

655
00:28:41.105 –> 00:28:42.705
I was like, I’ll do whatever you want me to do.

656
00:28:42.965 –> 00:28:44.705
I’m just so stoked to be here. Let’s do it.

657
00:28:44.705 –> 00:28:46.905
Like, oh my gosh, I’ve got a client, this is so exciting.

658
00:28:47.485 –> 00:28:49.665
Um, but then after a few years,

659
00:28:50.005 –> 00:28:53.265
and that really comes back to being like, I feel like owning

660
00:28:53.385 –> 00:28:55.145
what we’re good at, what strength

661
00:28:55.285 –> 00:28:57.585
as a web designer we are really good at can

662
00:28:57.585 –> 00:28:58.705
give us so much confidence.

663
00:28:58.725 –> 00:29:02.065
But, um, often I’ve, I’ve turned down

664
00:29:02.445 –> 00:29:04.585
so many big website jobs

665
00:29:04.895 –> 00:29:06.585
because I simply just didn’t think,

666
00:29:06.705 –> 00:29:07.785
I didn’t think they needed it.

667
00:29:08.375 –> 00:29:10.705
Like, the amount of times I’ve had someone say, I’m

668
00:29:10.705 –> 00:29:14.105
so excited, I’ve got 20 grand to spend on a website,

669
00:29:14.265 –> 00:29:15.625
I want all the bells and whistles.

670
00:29:16.005 –> 00:29:17.425
And then when I actually, you know,

671
00:29:17.485 –> 00:29:20.425
ask them those questions like, who, who is this for?

672
00:29:20.845 –> 00:29:22.385
You know, what are you doing with this website?

673
00:29:22.385 –> 00:29:26.545
Those things. Um, having that on paper in my brief form

674
00:29:26.605 –> 00:29:29.265
and then saying, you like, I can do that.

675
00:29:29.485 –> 00:29:31.105
If you want me to do it, I’ll do it,

676
00:29:31.285 –> 00:29:33.625
but this is what I would recommend.

677
00:29:33.725 –> 00:29:37.585
And usually it’s like such a simple solution, um,

678
00:29:37.735 –> 00:29:39.065
that looks really good

679
00:29:39.685 –> 00:29:42.605
and it functions way easier for them to look after

680
00:29:42.785 –> 00:29:44.245
and for their user to actually

681
00:29:44.495 –> 00:29:46.045
experience and not get overwhelmed.

682
00:29:46.545 –> 00:29:48.965
So yeah, I I’ve said many times like,

683
00:29:49.125 –> 00:29:50.205
I don’t think you need to do that.

684
00:29:50.365 –> 00:29:51.805
I will if you need, if you want me to,

685
00:29:52.225 –> 00:29:53.685
but here’s what I suggested instead.

686
00:29:54.145 –> 00:29:56.485
Um, and I think if someone, at the end of the day,

687
00:29:56.485 –> 00:29:58.765
like they’re coming to us for help

688
00:29:58.765 –> 00:29:59.965
with their website, right?

689
00:30:00.465 –> 00:30:03.725
So if someone doesn’t, um,

690
00:30:05.225 –> 00:30:06.765
you know, respect the way that I want

691
00:30:06.765 –> 00:30:08.005
to go about it, that’s all good.

692
00:30:08.265 –> 00:30:10.885
But I definitely feel the need to put it out there

693
00:30:10.985 –> 00:30:12.405
to make sure they know the choices there.

694
00:30:14.345 –> 00:30:15.345
I a hundred percent agree.

695
00:30:15.705 –> 00:30:18.345
I I’m similar to like what she had said

696
00:30:18.345 –> 00:30:23.145
and what you were saying, Lou, um, like grow,

697
00:30:23.405 –> 00:30:27.025
for example, growing up, like I was always told like,

698
00:30:29.365 –> 00:30:31.555
don’t, where people around me were always like, well,

699
00:30:31.555 –> 00:30:33.835
don’t ask Alexi’s opinion unless you actually want it,

700
00:30:33.835 –> 00:30:35.195
because she will tell you the truth.

701
00:30:35.425 –> 00:30:38.315
Like, there’s no, like I had a hard time

702
00:30:38.335 –> 00:30:40.835
and I had to learn like, so are you wanting, like

703
00:30:41.535 –> 00:30:43.035
are you wanting to just talk about this?

704
00:30:43.095 –> 00:30:44.315
Or are you wanting a solution?

705
00:30:44.315 –> 00:30:46.195
Because I was always solution minded of like,

706
00:30:46.195 –> 00:30:48.035
if somebody were came, came to me with their problem,

707
00:30:48.135 –> 00:30:49.715
I’m like, well, this, this, and this.

708
00:30:49.745 –> 00:30:51.595
Like, you should just do these things.

709
00:30:51.655 –> 00:30:52.755
And then I realized, okay,

710
00:30:52.755 –> 00:30:55.595
some people don’t actually want the solution, they just want

711
00:30:55.915 –> 00:30:57.235
to feel good.

712
00:30:57.415 –> 00:31:00.795
And I’m not, I will tell you how it is and it’s out of love.

713
00:31:00.865 –> 00:31:04.115
It’s out of I want the best for you, I want,

714
00:31:04.295 –> 00:31:05.475
you know, you to succeed.

715
00:31:05.535 –> 00:31:10.235
But sometimes that can come across as being in control

716
00:31:10.295 –> 00:31:11.475
or being bossy or whatever.

717
00:31:11.535 –> 00:31:14.515
But I try to say it in a way that is respectful,

718
00:31:15.455 –> 00:31:16.595
but also strategic.

719
00:31:16.595 –> 00:31:18.195
That’s why I love strategy so much is

720
00:31:18.195 –> 00:31:21.795
because if I can have that to back me up in the decision

721
00:31:22.505 –> 00:31:24.515
that I’m making and what I’m telling them,

722
00:31:25.145 –> 00:31:26.795
it’s a lot easier than just saying,

723
00:31:27.155 –> 00:31:28.195
I think it should be this way

724
00:31:28.195 –> 00:31:29.875
because I’m the best around here.

725
00:31:29.875 –> 00:31:30.915
And that’s just how it should be.

726
00:31:31.055 –> 00:31:33.155
No, like, there’s actually a purpose behind it.

727
00:31:33.415 –> 00:31:35.555
That’s why I love asking that big picture questions

728
00:31:35.555 –> 00:31:38.555
because if you’re like, okay, well you are wanting,

729
00:31:38.735 –> 00:31:39.995
you say you’re wanting this now,

730
00:31:40.095 –> 00:31:42.675
but you’re wanting to be here in five years, well,

731
00:31:42.675 –> 00:31:44.435
what we’re doing now and piddling around

732
00:31:44.435 –> 00:31:46.075
with this stuff is not gonna get you there.

733
00:31:46.535 –> 00:31:48.235
And so I always like to frame it like that.

734
00:31:48.235 –> 00:31:51.475
And then sometimes they’ll go, oh, okay, yeah, that,

735
00:31:51.475 –> 00:31:52.715
that does make sense now.

736
00:31:52.735 –> 00:31:54.835
But sometimes you just have to roll with it

737
00:31:55.255 –> 00:31:57.155
and they, you just have to do the work

738
00:31:57.255 –> 00:31:59.235
and then not work with them again

739
00:31:59.295 –> 00:32:03.075
or try to filter out the next client so that they’re not

740
00:32:04.255 –> 00:32:06.555
as, um, wanting you to be a pixel picture.

741
00:32:06.695 –> 00:32:09.595
So there’s kind of that situation. Mm-hmm.

742
00:32:10.785 –> 00:32:11.995
Yeah. Absolutely.

743
00:32:12.195 –> 00:32:14.115
I love how you’re renowned for

744
00:32:14.985 –> 00:32:17.355
only ask Alexia’s opinion if you really want it.

745
00:32:18.235 –> 00:32:19.235
I think that’s great. Yeah.

746
00:32:20.475 –> 00:32:22.635
I just add one more thing I was gonna say just

747
00:32:22.695 –> 00:32:25.395
to sometimes if it’s a small design thing, just show them,

748
00:32:25.865 –> 00:32:27.515
like, I’ve had a client where I’ve said, what?

749
00:32:27.745 –> 00:32:29.915
Like, I know what you wanna, I get what you want to do,

750
00:32:29.915 –> 00:32:31.435
but I, I think this way would be better.

751
00:32:31.575 –> 00:32:34.395
And they still wanna see it their way, so charge

752
00:32:34.415 –> 00:32:36.555
for your time, but show them do the design.

753
00:32:36.695 –> 00:32:38.915
Mm. I had one, she went through three of her ideas

754
00:32:38.970 –> 00:32:41.205
before then coming back to my original idea,

755
00:32:41.705 –> 00:32:43.085
so it just cost her a bit of extra time.

756
00:32:43.225 –> 00:32:45.805
So, um, if you’re coming up against someone

757
00:32:45.805 –> 00:32:49.125
that really is adamant, then yeah, go with it, but just try

758
00:32:49.125 –> 00:32:50.925
and bring it back to, to the actual

759
00:32:50.975 –> 00:32:52.325
right way of doing it at the end.

760
00:32:53.705 –> 00:32:54.765
I’m so glad you said that.

761
00:32:55.005 –> 00:32:57.325
Actually, I’ve done that before too with like, you know,

762
00:32:57.485 –> 00:33:00.245
maybe they wanna logo certain way and these combos,

763
00:33:00.245 –> 00:33:02.565
and I’m like, okay, here you go.

764
00:33:03.225 –> 00:33:04.765
Here’s my version. What do you like?

765
00:33:04.905 –> 00:33:07.605
You know, and luckily they choose your ver well,

766
00:33:07.605 –> 00:33:08.725
hopefully they do anyway,

767
00:33:08.785 –> 00:33:11.045
but I think that’s, that’s a really good point.

768
00:33:11.065 –> 00:33:12.685
If sometimes you just need to show it to them,

769
00:33:12.685 –> 00:33:14.005
they might have these ideas in their head

770
00:33:14.025 –> 00:33:15.925
and then they, they actually see it

771
00:33:16.045 –> 00:33:17.125
and they’re like, oh yeah, you’re right.

772
00:33:17.155 –> 00:33:18.405
That doesn’t look very good.

773
00:33:18.715 –> 00:33:20.005
Well, someone has told them that

774
00:33:20.005 –> 00:33:22.205
with this client she wanted for an early bird office,

775
00:33:22.225 –> 00:33:26.965
she wanted this giant, um, like comedy bird on it.

776
00:33:27.025 –> 00:33:29.125
It didn’t match the rest of her website at all.

777
00:33:29.125 –> 00:33:30.685
And I was like, I really don’t think the bird suit she

778
00:33:30.685 –> 00:33:33.085
brand, but I popped it on there

779
00:33:33.225 –> 00:33:35.285
and then yeah, we went, got rid of the bird.

780
00:33:36.025 –> 00:33:39.645
Oh, good. Um,

781
00:33:39.965 –> 00:33:44.245
I have this next question which, um, sorry.

782
00:33:44.345 –> 00:33:47.325
It says, when you started including strategy in your office,

783
00:33:47.705 –> 00:33:49.965
did you change how you priced your services

784
00:33:50.505 –> 00:33:53.325
and how did you package or communicate the value

785
00:33:53.625 –> 00:33:55.965
or how do you package and communicate the value?

786
00:33:56.105 –> 00:33:59.005
Now, does anyone wanna jump in on that?

787
00:33:59.145 –> 00:34:00.565
Who started offering strategy?

788
00:34:06.075 –> 00:34:09.055
Alexia, I know you can answer this one. I’m you,

789
00:34:10.635 –> 00:34:12.575
Do you want me to be or do you wanna feel good?

790
00:34:13.275 –> 00:34:17.575
Yes. Um, I’ve always seen websites

791
00:34:17.575 –> 00:34:21.295
as strategic, so I, I can’t pinpoint a time where I’ve

792
00:34:22.885 –> 00:34:24.695
like made something really pretty,

793
00:34:24.915 –> 00:34:26.655
but there wasn’t a reason behind it.

794
00:34:26.685 –> 00:34:29.615
Like that’s, and so I think maybe some web designers

795
00:34:29.615 –> 00:34:31.135
or some people in the chat maybe thinking, well,

796
00:34:31.135 –> 00:34:32.535
strategies is whole other thing.

797
00:34:33.085 –> 00:34:34.975
It’s really not. Strategy can be as simple

798
00:34:34.995 –> 00:34:37.815
as looking at competitors’ websites, analyzing them

799
00:34:37.835 –> 00:34:39.495
and saying, okay, well this is working,

800
00:34:39.555 –> 00:34:42.375
but this isn’t, maybe I wanna incorporate a little bit

801
00:34:42.375 –> 00:34:44.095
of this, but stay far away from that.

802
00:34:44.635 –> 00:34:45.815
And that’s strategy.

803
00:34:45.815 –> 00:34:47.215
You’re making decisions based

804
00:34:47.215 –> 00:34:48.295
on what’s best for your client.

805
00:34:48.395 –> 00:34:52.375
So it’s not like it’s this whole other big piece.

806
00:34:52.805 –> 00:34:54.975
It’s, I guarantee you you’re already doing it.

807
00:34:54.975 –> 00:34:57.655
Most likely, especially the web designers here,

808
00:34:57.655 –> 00:34:58.655
they care about their clients,

809
00:34:58.655 –> 00:35:00.055
they want their clients to get results.

810
00:35:00.815 –> 00:35:03.055
I don’t think that they’re, um,

811
00:35:04.555 –> 00:35:06.635
I think you guys are already doing strategy probably.

812
00:35:06.815 –> 00:35:08.915
And so I think you just need to own that

813
00:35:09.215 –> 00:35:11.595
and really put yourself in the strategist position,

814
00:35:12.125 –> 00:35:14.155
which can go into some of the mindset stuff

815
00:35:14.155 –> 00:35:15.355
that Shannon was saying.

816
00:35:15.975 –> 00:35:18.555
Now as far as pricing your services differently, again,

817
00:35:18.555 –> 00:35:19.955
I’ve always included it, so I’ve never

818
00:35:19.955 –> 00:35:21.195
thought of it separately.

819
00:35:21.775 –> 00:35:24.315
Um, but again, as you get those high ticket clients

820
00:35:24.335 –> 00:35:25.835
or maybe projects more that you wanna work

821
00:35:25.835 –> 00:35:27.435
with than raising your prices that way.

822
00:35:28.135 –> 00:35:31.675
Um, but yeah, I always communicate strategy values, like

823
00:35:32.215 –> 00:35:34.915
having client wins is one of my favorite things.

824
00:35:34.935 –> 00:35:37.765
So I’m anything to like get them to win.

825
00:35:37.785 –> 00:35:39.205
And that all starts with strategy.

826
00:35:39.745 –> 00:35:41.805
Mm-hmm. Yeah, I was thinking the same.

827
00:35:41.965 –> 00:35:44.765
I can’t pinpoint when I think ever since I always did web

828
00:35:44.765 –> 00:35:47.205
design on the side of, I had another, another company.

829
00:35:47.825 –> 00:35:50.885
So maybe that was like my learning curve of doing it, um,

830
00:35:50.885 –> 00:35:52.725
before, but it just was always included.

831
00:35:52.785 –> 00:35:54.645
So I think it was more coming back to

832
00:35:54.645 –> 00:35:55.885
that original question about price,

833
00:35:56.045 –> 00:35:58.725
I think it was more realizing that value myself

834
00:35:58.985 –> 00:36:01.725
and then owning that the price should be higher.

835
00:36:02.145 –> 00:36:03.965
And I get so many clients say, oh, you’ve thought

836
00:36:03.965 –> 00:36:05.245
of everything you’ve made everything easy

837
00:36:05.265 –> 00:36:07.645
and streamline all these bits I’ve never thought of.

838
00:36:07.645 –> 00:36:08.725
And that’s all strategy too.

839
00:36:08.725 –> 00:36:09.925
It’s all stuff they haven’t thought of.

840
00:36:09.925 –> 00:36:11.365
So I, I really identify, well,

841
00:36:11.365 –> 00:36:12.645
I don’t just do it it extra thing.

842
00:36:12.685 –> 00:36:15.005
I say, oh, and I’m now added this for this reason.

843
00:36:15.105 –> 00:36:18.285
And um, making sure they’re aware of all that extra, um,

844
00:36:18.735 –> 00:36:21.245
extra additions as well that that adds that value.

845
00:36:23.645 –> 00:36:27.085
I think one of the things that I see is like as designers,

846
00:36:27.265 –> 00:36:31.565
we put a lot of time, effort, energy, money

847
00:36:32.195 –> 00:36:34.005
into developing our skillset.

848
00:36:34.945 –> 00:36:37.005
And so because we’re so focused there,

849
00:36:37.385 –> 00:36:40.965
and that’s where we are spending a lot

850
00:36:40.965 –> 00:36:43.125
of our time making sure that we have the knowledge

851
00:36:43.265 –> 00:36:47.885
to serve our clients really well, we almost don’t realize

852
00:36:47.885 –> 00:36:52.005
that that’s where we’re placing the value of the project

853
00:36:52.985 –> 00:36:54.645
on our own skill sets

854
00:36:54.665 –> 00:36:57.325
or like what we bring to the table in terms of like

855
00:36:57.325 –> 00:36:59.365
what we know and we know how to do

856
00:36:59.425 –> 00:37:01.805
and do we know how to like push the buttons

857
00:37:01.945 –> 00:37:03.525
to, to do these things.

858
00:37:04.465 –> 00:37:08.525
And so like everyone said, you’re already doing strategy,

859
00:37:08.825 –> 00:37:13.125
but you are looking at the, the wrong thing for

860
00:37:13.125 –> 00:37:14.765
where the value comes from.

861
00:37:15.585 –> 00:37:20.325
And so when you shift to thinking about,

862
00:37:21.545 –> 00:37:25.005
um, what my client is able to create as a result of

863
00:37:25.005 –> 00:37:29.405
what I’m going to build for them in terms of time saved

864
00:37:29.515 –> 00:37:31.965
that can allow them to make more money

865
00:37:32.025 –> 00:37:34.845
or have more freedom, like there’s an exponential impact

866
00:37:35.755 –> 00:37:38.885
that the strategy that you

867
00:37:39.745 –> 00:37:42.365
are already doing has for them.

868
00:37:43.065 –> 00:37:47.705
And so you get to completely reimagine

869
00:37:48.045 –> 00:37:52.825
how you think about what you do and how you value it

870
00:37:52.885 –> 00:37:55.745
and how you talk about it and how, how you communicate it.

871
00:37:55.765 –> 00:37:59.025
And so, um, I think that that is,

872
00:38:00.475 –> 00:38:02.975
that’s the shift to make is

873
00:38:04.045 –> 00:38:07.215
your skills are absolutely valuable and important,

874
00:38:08.065 –> 00:38:11.355
however, that’s not what the client cares about.

875
00:38:12.265 –> 00:38:16.715
They care about what they’re able to create as as a result.

876
00:38:17.335 –> 00:38:22.015
And so, um, I think it’s like a core shift that starts

877
00:38:22.325 –> 00:38:24.855
with you and then once you start to see that,

878
00:38:24.855 –> 00:38:27.575
you’ll be like, oh, of course I can charge more for that.

879
00:38:27.965 –> 00:38:31.535
Like it makes so much sense they are going to easily be able

880
00:38:31.535 –> 00:38:35.965
to 10 x what they paid me over the course of the next one.

881
00:38:36.115 –> 00:38:40.085
What, you know, this timeframe with the changes that I make,

882
00:38:40.155 –> 00:38:42.565
this is a no-brainer when you walk away feeling

883
00:38:42.595 –> 00:38:44.485
like it’s a no-brainer.

884
00:38:44.755 –> 00:38:47.445
Like that’s when everything changes. So

885
00:38:51.865 –> 00:38:52.865
Yeah, definitely.

886
00:38:53.035 –> 00:38:54.235
I was just being quiet there.

887
00:38:54.255 –> 00:38:57.915
So if anyone else wanted to jump in, um, that kind

888
00:38:57.915 –> 00:38:59.315
of leads us, you, you sort

889
00:38:59.315 –> 00:39:01.995
of answered this a little bit already then Shannon with um,

890
00:39:02.025 –> 00:39:03.635
what advice would you give designers

891
00:39:03.635 –> 00:39:05.075
who are doing strategic work

892
00:39:05.415 –> 00:39:08.275
but still charging those sort of execution only rates,

893
00:39:08.375 –> 00:39:09.555
not really charging for it.

894
00:39:10.015 –> 00:39:12.675
And a big thing that you have just mentioned is

895
00:39:12.815 –> 00:39:16.195
how you communicate it really is, is so

896
00:39:17.025 –> 00:39:20.835
important in the way you can really justify the prices,

897
00:39:21.275 –> 00:39:25.385
I guess, um, or allow potential clients

898
00:39:25.485 –> 00:39:27.865
to really see the value in what you are offering.

899
00:39:28.245 –> 00:39:30.905
And it might be the same deliverables,

900
00:39:31.565 –> 00:39:34.905
but it you are communicating that value,

901
00:39:34.905 –> 00:39:38.625
showing them these are the outcomes that you can achieve,

902
00:39:39.135 –> 00:39:40.705
this is what the future could look like.

903
00:39:40.805 –> 00:39:41.825
All those kind of things.

904
00:39:43.535 –> 00:39:45.425
Yeah. And just to add to that really quickly,

905
00:39:45.615 –> 00:39:48.545
then I would say the package matrix strategy

906
00:39:48.545 –> 00:39:50.185
that I taught the anchor high

907
00:39:50.245 –> 00:39:53.505
and like the three options, that’s a really fun way to play

908
00:39:53.505 –> 00:39:58.145
with pricing to, to, to think about like, oh, well

909
00:39:58.145 –> 00:40:02.185
what could it look like if I had an option that costs this

910
00:40:02.245 –> 00:40:05.465
and this and I put these in front of my client

911
00:40:05.525 –> 00:40:07.105
and they’re still one of these, that’s

912
00:40:07.105 –> 00:40:08.305
what I’ve always been charging.

913
00:40:09.005 –> 00:40:13.335
So I feel safe to like see

914
00:40:13.335 –> 00:40:14.855
what they might select

915
00:40:15.115 –> 00:40:17.255
and maybe I’ve been leaving time,

916
00:40:17.405 –> 00:40:19.095
like I’ve been leaving money on the table

917
00:40:19.595 –> 00:40:21.735
and now I’m giving them the option to pay me more.

918
00:40:22.465 –> 00:40:24.535
Maybe they choose what I’ve always been charging

919
00:40:24.675 –> 00:40:28.665
and that’s cool too, but play with it

920
00:40:29.405 –> 00:40:32.265
and put some choices in front of them and see what happens.

921
00:40:33.245 –> 00:40:37.645
If, and I can promise you the first time someone pays more

922
00:40:37.645 –> 00:40:38.725
than you think they ever would,

923
00:40:38.905 –> 00:40:41.165
that’s a fundamental shift that will happen in you.

924
00:40:41.825 –> 00:40:45.485
Um, and it’ll be easier for you to do it again. And

925
00:40:46.235 –> 00:40:47.575
I’m not sure if this would be right,

926
00:40:47.635 –> 00:40:50.535
but if you’re, if you’re already including strategy, use

927
00:40:50.535 –> 00:40:54.375
that great matrix and add in your high one website strategy.

928
00:40:54.555 –> 00:40:57.895
So you’re already doing it, but they’ll pick the high one

929
00:40:57.895 –> 00:40:59.535
because now they think they’re getting that addition.

930
00:41:03.075 –> 00:41:04.405
Yeah. And it might be, I think,

931
00:41:04.405 –> 00:41:06.605
like you were saying Shannon, in your presentation,

932
00:41:06.605 –> 00:41:09.605
it might be a more formalized version of that strategy,

933
00:41:09.825 –> 00:41:12.925
you know, more customized rather than just Yeah.

934
00:41:12.925 –> 00:41:14.365
In the lower package you’re probably

935
00:41:14.525 –> 00:41:15.645
offering some level of strategy.

936
00:41:15.745 –> 00:41:17.325
You are asking those why questions,

937
00:41:17.325 –> 00:41:19.165
you’re doing those kind of things.

938
00:41:19.905 –> 00:41:21.485
But in the first class package,

939
00:41:21.585 –> 00:41:24.365
you might actually have a nice pretty written out document

940
00:41:24.365 –> 00:41:25.685
that has a strategy in it

941
00:41:25.685 –> 00:41:29.585
or something that’s kind of a bit more formalized.

942
00:41:29.895 –> 00:41:32.065
Yeah. The way I think of it is at the high end,

943
00:41:32.275 –> 00:41:35.405
we’re gonna like have just a session based on strategy.

944
00:41:35.545 –> 00:41:37.325
I’m gonna do that competitive research,

945
00:41:37.385 –> 00:41:41.325
I’m gonna put together a custom plan for you at the low end.

946
00:41:41.885 –> 00:41:45.085
I know that you’re a hair salon and here’s the, the tried

947
00:41:45.085 –> 00:41:47.245
and true thing that I would do for a hair salon.

948
00:41:47.285 –> 00:41:48.765
I know the number one thing that you need to do

949
00:41:49.465 –> 00:41:52.045
is get an appointment booked and have your services.

950
00:41:52.745 –> 00:41:56.885
So I’m just gonna tell you what the strategy is, um, instead

951
00:41:56.885 –> 00:41:59.445
of us going through this exploratory process.

952
00:41:59.785 –> 00:42:01.205
So it’s how you communicate,

953
00:42:01.205 –> 00:42:03.405
like you’re getting strategy either way,

954
00:42:03.785 –> 00:42:06.205
but are we like doing a real deep dive

955
00:42:06.465 –> 00:42:09.165
or am I just like giving you what I already know you need?

956
00:42:09.785 –> 00:42:12.805
And so that’s, you know, that’s how you can differentiate.

957
00:42:12.985 –> 00:42:16.605
And then at the mid level it’s like a blend of those two.

958
00:42:17.185 –> 00:42:21.885
So you could absolutely like play with

959
00:42:22.505 –> 00:42:27.085
how do you want to present those options across, um,

960
00:42:27.225 –> 00:42:30.325
across our package matrix strategy if you’re using that.

961
00:42:32.635 –> 00:42:34.805
Yeah, that’s awesome.

962
00:42:35.605 –> 00:42:39.765
I think too, one, um, piece of advice I would give designers

963
00:42:39.905 –> 00:42:41.525
who are sort of stuck here

964
00:42:41.525 –> 00:42:45.325
and they know they’re doing that strategic thinking, um,

965
00:42:45.545 –> 00:42:49.045
but not charging for it, is like

966
00:42:50.705 –> 00:42:54.405
really understanding that that that is so valuable.

967
00:42:54.415 –> 00:42:58.525
There are so many web designers, web developers out there

968
00:42:58.705 –> 00:43:01.325
who yeah, can just like throw up a templated website

969
00:43:01.325 –> 00:43:03.205
and at the end of the day the client gets a website.

970
00:43:03.985 –> 00:43:08.495
But, and, and often they could be charging more than us.

971
00:43:08.495 –> 00:43:11.735
Like I, there’s so many designers coming through my orbit,

972
00:43:11.835 –> 00:43:15.055
you know, and I will see some incredible designers

973
00:43:15.315 –> 00:43:16.535
who are charging a pittance

974
00:43:17.155 –> 00:43:19.535
and like I look at their work and it’s amazing.

975
00:43:19.715 –> 00:43:22.135
But it all comes down to obviously mindset is

976
00:43:22.245 –> 00:43:23.495
like we’ve been talking about.

977
00:43:23.765 –> 00:43:27.175
It’s like you don’t see the value so much in

978
00:43:27.175 –> 00:43:28.895
what you’re doing or you feel

979
00:43:28.895 –> 00:43:30.215
guilty about not charging that.

980
00:43:30.215 –> 00:43:32.895
Like whatever it is, whatever beliefs that you have

981
00:43:35.195 –> 00:43:38.655
Is forcing those, like keeping those prices low.

982
00:43:39.755 –> 00:43:43.215
And so I, yeah, I see some designers

983
00:43:43.215 –> 00:43:44.735
that are amazing, they’re charging low.

984
00:43:44.815 –> 00:43:47.375
I see some designers that I’m like, oh, like they’re okay

985
00:43:47.435 –> 00:43:50.655
and they’ve got massive prices, you know, so it really,

986
00:43:51.955 –> 00:43:54.055
it needs to, it needs to sort of come from within

987
00:43:54.315 –> 00:43:55.415
to really see that value.

988
00:43:55.595 –> 00:43:59.815
And I think really just exploring how what you offer

989
00:44:00.475 –> 00:44:03.175
really helps your clients, how much difference that makes,

990
00:44:03.175 –> 00:44:05.415
look at the awesome positive feedback that you get.

991
00:44:05.515 –> 00:44:09.495
All of those things can really help boost your, um,

992
00:44:10.325 –> 00:44:12.895
your perception of like how much you’re worth

993
00:44:12.895 –> 00:44:14.375
and how much clients are willing to pay.

994
00:44:14.915 –> 00:44:17.215
Um, but then also, yeah, go watch some of the,

995
00:44:17.315 –> 00:44:20.655
the awesome talks from this summit, you know, on pricing

996
00:44:21.075 –> 00:44:25.295
or strategy or whatever it is that will really help you, um,

997
00:44:26.145 –> 00:44:27.815
shift that, that mindset

998
00:44:27.995 –> 00:44:29.615
and allow you to start charging more.

999
00:44:30.275 –> 00:44:31.375
And just why don’t,

1000
00:44:31.375 –> 00:44:33.815
why not just up up your prices and just see what happens.

1001
00:44:34.365 –> 00:44:36.335
Just see, yeah, just experiment.

1002
00:44:36.845 –> 00:44:39.375
Just see what happens. I think it’s really interesting too

1003
00:44:39.375 –> 00:44:41.735
because the times that I’ve upped my prices,

1004
00:44:42.075 –> 00:44:43.215
do you know who I’m left with?

1005
00:44:43.515 –> 00:44:47.515
The clients I really enjoy working with? Absolutely.

1006
00:44:47.815 –> 00:44:49.115
And it’s so interesting

1007
00:44:49.115 –> 00:44:51.595
because the people who, like if I say, oh my, you know,

1008
00:44:51.825 –> 00:44:55.275
this is my price, those people don’t wanna work with me most

1009
00:44:55.275 –> 00:44:57.755
of the time they’ve got, they’re just so out of alignment

1010
00:44:58.105 –> 00:44:59.275
with how I do things.

1011
00:44:59.815 –> 00:45:03.435
Um, so know that if you do up your prices, it’s,

1012
00:45:03.435 –> 00:45:05.715
it’s like 95% that you’re going to end up

1013
00:45:05.715 –> 00:45:07.235
with people you really love to work with

1014
00:45:07.435 –> 00:45:08.755
’cause they appreciate you.

1015
00:45:09.655 –> 00:45:10.815
I, that’s who we wanna work with.

1016
00:45:10.975 –> 00:45:12.215
I would rather be charging more

1017
00:45:12.215 –> 00:45:13.215
and work with less people

1018
00:45:13.595 –> 00:45:15.455
who really love me and value my skills.

1019
00:45:15.995 –> 00:45:18.255
Um, but I also wanted to mention to the power

1020
00:45:18.255 –> 00:45:21.535
of community when these kind of self-doubt things come up,

1021
00:45:21.535 –> 00:45:23.055
like WP Mavens for example,

1022
00:45:23.285 –> 00:45:25.935
what they’ve got is this incredible community

1023
00:45:25.945 –> 00:45:27.855
where you’ve got other designers around

1024
00:45:28.595 –> 00:45:30.055
who help lift you up.

1025
00:45:30.555 –> 00:45:33.055
So you absolutely know, yes, you are valuable.

1026
00:45:33.275 –> 00:45:35.095
Yes, you are amazing. Look what you’re doing.

1027
00:45:35.525 –> 00:45:37.735
Like you have so much to val to offer.

1028
00:45:38.355 –> 00:45:42.335
Um, and having people around you who just believe in you is

1029
00:45:42.845 –> 00:45:44.535
huge, huge.

1030
00:45:44.595 –> 00:45:47.255
So maybe you don’t get that from, you know, friends

1031
00:45:47.255 –> 00:45:49.455
and family because they don’t understand what you do.

1032
00:45:49.765 –> 00:45:50.975
Like they’re not a web designer.

1033
00:45:51.475 –> 00:45:54.815
Um, so our community is so powerful, gives you

1034
00:45:54.815 –> 00:45:57.175
that extra self-confidence that sometimes we just need

1035
00:45:57.435 –> 00:45:59.975
and making decisions like this is way easier when we know

1036
00:45:59.975 –> 00:46:02.135
that people are around us, cheering us on.

1037
00:46:02.135 –> 00:46:03.535
It’s huge. Mm-hmm.

1038
00:46:03.845 –> 00:46:06.855
Yeah. Yeah. When you see someone else doing it, it’s like,

1039
00:46:06.995 –> 00:46:09.495
oh, well if she’s doing it, I can do that.

1040
00:46:09.605 –> 00:46:10.605
Totally.

1041
00:46:11.275 –> 00:46:14.815
That’s so true. I wanna speak to the mindset shift

1042
00:46:14.815 –> 00:46:16.535
that literally blew my mind

1043
00:46:16.675 –> 00:46:18.175
and I have not stopped thinking about,

1044
00:46:18.635 –> 00:46:21.335
so I think it was like a couple months ago, Shannon,

1045
00:46:21.475 –> 00:46:24.415
you did, uh, a talk at the W DP Con

1046
00:46:24.875 –> 00:46:27.575
and one thing you said full credit to you 100%.

1047
00:46:27.635 –> 00:46:29.015
And it has, it has shifted.

1048
00:46:29.195 –> 00:46:31.615
The way I’ve thought about money was

1049
00:46:32.235 –> 00:46:34.655
if you wouldn’t take the money out of your wallet

1050
00:46:34.835 –> 00:46:36.575
and give it to your clients, like,

1051
00:46:37.325 –> 00:46:39.415
like you are discounting yourself, that’s

1052
00:46:39.415 –> 00:46:41.815
what you’re doing is you’re taking money out

1053
00:46:41.815 –> 00:46:43.735
of your own wallet and you’re giving it to your clients

1054
00:46:43.755 –> 00:46:46.135
to go use wherever if you’re discounting your services.

1055
00:46:46.795 –> 00:46:48.495
And ever since that I was like,

1056
00:46:49.585 –> 00:46:51.645
so now when I think when I get in those modes

1057
00:46:51.645 –> 00:46:54.485
and I’m like, well, but they could probably only afford

1058
00:46:54.485 –> 00:46:55.845
this, or I could probably only do that.

1059
00:46:56.225 –> 00:46:57.965
I’m literally, I have that mental, I’m like,

1060
00:46:58.025 –> 00:46:59.205
I’m taking money out

1061
00:46:59.205 –> 00:47:02.165
and I’m handing them cash every time I think about that.

1062
00:47:02.165 –> 00:47:03.445
And I’m like, I wouldn’t do that.

1063
00:47:03.985 –> 00:47:06.165
And just for them to go to somebody else

1064
00:47:06.165 –> 00:47:08.045
because that’s, you know, just never know.

1065
00:47:08.045 –> 00:47:11.485
And that blew my mind every time I, I think about that,

1066
00:47:11.645 –> 00:47:14.685
I think of I mentally picture it taking cash out

1067
00:47:14.685 –> 00:47:16.445
and giving it to ’em and I’m like, if I wouldn’t do that,

1068
00:47:16.445 –> 00:47:17.765
then why am I discounting myself?

1069
00:47:17.965 –> 00:47:19.725
’cause that’s essentially exactly what I’m doing.

1070
00:47:20.265 –> 00:47:23.205
So like I have not stopped thinking about that. Thank you.

1071
00:47:24.405 –> 00:47:25.405
A good visual.

1072
00:47:26.085 –> 00:47:29.045
I love that. I’m so glad that, that, that helped you.

1073
00:47:29.145 –> 00:47:31.685
And the, the thing other thing I was thinking

1074
00:47:32.465 –> 00:47:34.805
was like there are absolutely clients out there

1075
00:47:34.825 –> 00:47:38.925
who only wanna hire pixel pushers and that’s totally fine.

1076
00:47:39.625 –> 00:47:42.365
And maybe they’re like, I don’t need your strategy,

1077
00:47:42.805 –> 00:47:44.085
I don’t need this, I don’t need that.

1078
00:47:44.505 –> 00:47:47.205
You do not have to sell them on that.

1079
00:47:47.785 –> 00:47:50.485
Or Alexia, I love that that stuck with you.

1080
00:47:50.875 –> 00:47:54.245
Like you also don’t have to like

1081
00:47:55.645 –> 00:47:57.605
discount yourself and meet them where they are.

1082
00:47:57.715 –> 00:48:01.005
They can go find someone else that is perfectly acceptable.

1083
00:48:01.185 –> 00:48:03.805
It does not have to be you, you’re not for everyone.

1084
00:48:04.345 –> 00:48:08.085
And they will go find someone who is happy to push pixels

1085
00:48:08.085 –> 00:48:09.885
around for them because not everybody wants

1086
00:48:09.885 –> 00:48:11.085
to be a strategist either.

1087
00:48:11.495 –> 00:48:14.845
There is a lock for every key and,

1088
00:48:15.225 –> 00:48:17.085
but you don’t have to be that, you know,

1089
00:48:17.345 –> 00:48:19.245
so I thank you for sharing that.

1090
00:48:19.405 –> 00:48:21.365
I love that that had such a big impact on you.

1091
00:48:22.545 –> 00:48:24.245
And if you are being pushed back on price,

1092
00:48:24.245 –> 00:48:26.805
like I found I got it fun enough from friends

1093
00:48:26.805 –> 00:48:28.045
and family more than anyone else,

1094
00:48:28.045 –> 00:48:29.765
which I’m sure everyone else could been there

1095
00:48:29.875 –> 00:48:31.325
because they don’t realize, like

1096
00:48:31.345 –> 00:48:32.445
for me, it’s my full-time job.

1097
00:48:32.545 –> 00:48:34.085
I’m the, I’m the main owner in our family.

1098
00:48:34.505 –> 00:48:37.565
So whenever I’ve had someone push back on price, I,

1099
00:48:37.725 –> 00:48:40.605
I would say, you know, this is like, it’s my full-time job,

1100
00:48:40.605 –> 00:48:41.845
this is what my charge is,

1101
00:48:41.845 –> 00:48:45.405
but I can refer you to if I know of other designers

1102
00:48:45.405 –> 00:48:47.285
or even referring ’em to Squarespace,

1103
00:48:47.505 –> 00:48:48.685
um, to do it themselves.

1104
00:48:48.745 –> 00:48:50.965
But if you’re not looking for a strategic website

1105
00:48:50.965 –> 00:48:52.965
that will actually get you results, I would recommend going.

1106
00:48:53.155 –> 00:48:55.725
Okay. Okay. Um, so they’re, they’re understanding

1107
00:48:55.725 –> 00:48:57.645
that your price is higher for a reason

1108
00:48:57.825 –> 00:48:59.725
and there are of other options out there,

1109
00:48:59.725 –> 00:49:03.005
but it makes them sort of think about, think about that.

1110
00:49:04.315 –> 00:49:07.285
Yeah. Yeah, I think too, it’s a good, um,

1111
00:49:07.715 –> 00:49:10.285
it’s a good thing to mention too, hey,

1112
00:49:10.345 –> 00:49:12.885
if you just want a pixel pusher job sometimes,

1113
00:49:13.235 –> 00:49:15.045
then you can totally do that too.

1114
00:49:15.045 –> 00:49:17.765
Like some of my favorite jobs that I do is

1115
00:49:18.145 –> 00:49:20.045
for my other summit,

1116
00:49:20.675 –> 00:49:22.925
Anna will design these beautiful sales pages

1117
00:49:23.025 –> 00:49:25.725
and all I have to do is whip them up in divvy.

1118
00:49:25.795 –> 00:49:27.685
Like, and that is like my happy place.

1119
00:49:28.045 –> 00:49:29.725
I don’t have to think strategically.

1120
00:49:29.775 –> 00:49:31.565
She’s mapped it all out like it’s all good.

1121
00:49:32.225 –> 00:49:33.965
I’m just like sitting in divvy

1122
00:49:33.965 –> 00:49:35.845
with my headphones on having a fun time.

1123
00:49:36.465 –> 00:49:39.285
Uh, so sometimes those jobs are awesome too.

1124
00:49:39.625 –> 00:49:42.325
So I think as long as you’re just charging appropriately,

1125
00:49:42.475 –> 00:49:45.765
like you just don’t wanna be doing the strategic stuff

1126
00:49:45.765 –> 00:49:47.485
and charging those pixel pusher rates.

1127
00:49:51.265 –> 00:49:53.565
Um, okay, well we’re coming up to it.

1128
00:49:53.665 –> 00:49:57.165
So I might, I’ll do some closing thoughts in a second.

1129
00:49:57.345 –> 00:49:59.485
So if everyone wants to sort of like think about

1130
00:50:00.105 –> 00:50:02.405
if there’s any last little tips or advice

1131
00:50:02.625 –> 00:50:05.805
or anything like that that you wanna share with people, um,

1132
00:50:06.065 –> 00:50:07.845
I’m just gonna have a quick look in the chat

1133
00:50:07.845 –> 00:50:09.085
to see if there’s any questions,

1134
00:50:09.265 –> 00:50:12.085
but I’m pretty sure that it’s just people

1135
00:50:12.995 –> 00:50:16.405
sharing some love saying they like, um,

1136
00:50:18.235 –> 00:50:19.525
they’re loving your answers.

1137
00:50:20.345 –> 00:50:23.365
Um, here’s one. Yes, love that Alexia strategy.

1138
00:50:23.505 –> 00:50:25.845
And we don’t necessarily clock what’s,

1139
00:50:26.615 –> 00:50:28.005
that’s what we are doing.

1140
00:50:29.425 –> 00:50:34.205
Um, yeah, Haley said I started formalizing it.

1141
00:50:34.235 –> 00:50:37.405
They have to sign off on strategy before we start designing.

1142
00:50:37.625 –> 00:50:42.245
So every design decision is justified and less feedback’s.

1143
00:50:42.395 –> 00:50:45.225
Great point. Um,

1144
00:50:47.535 –> 00:50:50.465
says as said, 10000% Lou,

1145
00:50:50.845 –> 00:50:53.145
the last few clients have happily paid more

1146
00:50:53.205 –> 00:50:54.665
and they have been dream clients.

1147
00:50:55.405 –> 00:50:56.405
So there you go.

1148
00:50:57.425 –> 00:51:00.945
I think, um, we were talking about maybe touching on some

1149
00:51:00.945 –> 00:51:04.065
kind of like how AI now verse

1150
00:51:04.525 –> 00:51:05.525
Yes. Strategy as

1151
00:51:05.525 –> 00:51:06.865
well. And obviously we don’t, um,

1152
00:51:06.865 –> 00:51:10.305
have much time left, but if we have any thoughts on that.

1153
00:51:10.545 –> 00:51:11.745
’cause I think that’s obviously such a

1154
00:51:11.745 –> 00:51:12.785
hot topic at the moment too.

1155
00:51:13.375 –> 00:51:15.945
Totally, yeah. Transition happening in the industry.

1156
00:51:16.645 –> 00:51:20.305
Um, but just remembering how, like, the thing I think

1157
00:51:20.305 –> 00:51:24.505
that’s interesting with AI is that if you’ve got someone

1158
00:51:24.685 –> 00:51:28.505
who has no experience in website strategy at all

1159
00:51:28.505 –> 00:51:29.745
and they’ve just got all the tools

1160
00:51:29.805 –> 00:51:33.145
and they’re just going, make me this thing, um, you know,

1161
00:51:33.405 –> 00:51:36.745
AI just goes, okay, here’s all the things, you know,

1162
00:51:36.805 –> 00:51:41.105
it has zero, it doesn’t work with who they wanna attract,

1163
00:51:41.335 –> 00:51:43.105
like what they’re doing with their website,

1164
00:51:43.205 –> 00:51:44.945
how they want them to feel, any of those things.

1165
00:51:45.445 –> 00:51:47.705
And I think that’s a really cool thing to keep in mind

1166
00:51:47.845 –> 00:51:49.105
as AI keeps evolving.

1167
00:51:49.645 –> 00:51:53.305
Um, like working out what that thing is that separates you.

1168
00:51:53.865 –> 00:51:57.545
I I know mine is simplicity now. That is what people love.

1169
00:51:57.705 –> 00:52:00.105
I want people to go, oh, this is so easy working

1170
00:52:00.135 –> 00:52:01.985
with Lou, I felt so at ease.

1171
00:52:02.045 –> 00:52:03.305
She just took care of everything.

1172
00:52:03.685 –> 00:52:05.625
You know, her emails were really short and concise.

1173
00:52:05.745 –> 00:52:08.345
I didn’t have to go like emotionally prepare

1174
00:52:08.345 –> 00:52:10.065
myself to open her email.

1175
00:52:10.705 –> 00:52:12.425
Um, you know, that’s just important to me.

1176
00:52:12.625 –> 00:52:15.145
’cause I hate when I see a mammoth email come in

1177
00:52:15.145 –> 00:52:16.865
and go, I don’t have the capacity

1178
00:52:17.445 –> 00:52:18.945
to reply to this right now.

1179
00:52:19.405 –> 00:52:22.625
Um, so knowing those things that set us apart with

1180
00:52:22.725 –> 00:52:24.225
how we can yeah.

1181
00:52:24.325 –> 00:52:27.305
Own our skills, um, is the thing

1182
00:52:27.305 –> 00:52:30.305
that’s gonna help us feel even more confident as AI keeps

1183
00:52:31.085 –> 00:52:33.185
coming in different ways into our industry, knowing

1184
00:52:33.185 –> 00:52:37.545
that you can’t get that personalized touch in that same way.

1185
00:52:37.725 –> 00:52:39.745
You can’t get all the experience, um,

1186
00:52:40.125 –> 00:52:42.225
and you can’t, like I love knowing

1187
00:52:42.225 –> 00:52:44.345
that my clients feel good when they work with me.

1188
00:52:45.095 –> 00:52:46.515
You know, you don’t get that from ai

1189
00:52:46.535 –> 00:52:51.255
and if someone wants to spend $5 on Fiverr for a logo, then

1190
00:52:51.255 –> 00:52:53.255
that’s all if that even exists anymore.

1191
00:52:53.255 –> 00:52:55.135
I know it used to when I used to do graphic design,

1192
00:52:55.155 –> 00:52:56.175
but you know,

1193
00:52:56.315 –> 00:52:58.735
let let those people have that if they want to.

1194
00:52:58.975 –> 00:53:00.695
’cause I know my strategy

1195
00:53:00.795 –> 00:53:03.735
and my way of working can offer them so much more.

1196
00:53:04.395 –> 00:53:06.695
Um, yeah, I think it’s a really interesting topic.

1197
00:53:07.055 –> 00:53:11.255
Probably could do a whole other hour On strategy and ai.

1198
00:53:11.685 –> 00:53:14.335
I’ll leave it with you guys what points you have about that.

1199
00:53:15.945 –> 00:53:18.675
Yeah, I think that AI answers every question

1200
00:53:18.825 –> 00:53:21.955
that you ask it, but it never questions your questions

1201
00:53:22.535 –> 00:53:24.995
and is never like, Hey, why are you asking that?

1202
00:53:25.305 –> 00:53:26.565
Why are you asking me for that?

1203
00:53:26.715 –> 00:53:30.325
Like, it doesn’t, it’s just gonna take the direction

1204
00:53:31.195 –> 00:53:32.325
that you give it.

1205
00:53:32.585 –> 00:53:36.485
And so when that’s the difference that you bring

1206
00:53:37.265 –> 00:53:39.005
is you’re like the check

1207
00:53:39.005 –> 00:53:42.565
and balance of like, as we were talking earlier,

1208
00:53:43.745 –> 00:53:47.635
you know, tying the things

1209
00:53:47.635 –> 00:53:50.235
that a client wants back to their bigger vision

1210
00:53:50.235 –> 00:53:52.635
and value, helping them see some blind spots

1211
00:53:52.635 –> 00:53:54.475
or opportunities that they may not see.

1212
00:53:55.255 –> 00:54:00.235
And so that’s where the human is important to be like,

1213
00:54:00.235 –> 00:54:02.435
well why are we even asking AI for that?

1214
00:54:02.665 –> 00:54:04.715
Like, and so you,

1215
00:54:06.815 –> 00:54:09.955
that’s a key piece of it is, you know,

1216
00:54:10.495 –> 00:54:12.235
you’re just gonna get whatever you ask for.

1217
00:54:12.495 –> 00:54:16.285
So be sure you’re, you’re aware of that.

1218
00:54:16.745 –> 00:54:18.925
And I always think DIYers are gonna diy.

1219
00:54:19.065 –> 00:54:23.285
I’m not gonna convince anybody to not do that.

1220
00:54:23.415 –> 00:54:25.565
Eventually they’ll get to the point where they’re ready

1221
00:54:25.585 –> 00:54:28.525
for more and that’s when they can become your client.

1222
00:54:28.825 –> 00:54:33.305
So, and leveraging AI as a strategic partner for you

1223
00:54:33.405 –> 00:54:34.865
to like speed up your process

1224
00:54:34.965 –> 00:54:39.305
and give your clients, um, like even better outcomes.

1225
00:54:39.585 –> 00:54:41.145
’cause you know the questions to ask

1226
00:54:41.145 –> 00:54:44.865
and you’re the intermediary stopping them from like just

1227
00:54:45.615 –> 00:54:48.185
like going along with whatever AI tells them to do.

1228
00:54:48.485 –> 00:54:49.865
So those are my thoughts.

1229
00:54:50.935 –> 00:54:52.945
Yeah. Most of my clients, they’re so busy.

1230
00:54:53.055 –> 00:54:54.785
Like they want their website, they’re also working

1231
00:54:54.785 –> 00:54:57.905
and they don’t have time to learn all the different aspects

1232
00:54:57.905 –> 00:55:00.105
of AI that help to build a website.

1233
00:55:00.105 –> 00:55:01.225
So I use a lot of different tools,

1234
00:55:01.365 –> 00:55:04.625
but I, you know, as web designers, we are taking all of

1235
00:55:04.625 –> 00:55:07.625
that off their, off their burden to keep doing

1236
00:55:07.625 –> 00:55:09.065
what they’re doing, which is make their own money

1237
00:55:09.125 –> 00:55:10.785
and they trust us to bring it all together

1238
00:55:10.785 –> 00:55:11.785
and provide them with a product.

1239
00:55:14.895 –> 00:55:17.145
Yeah. And that, so that like service

1240
00:55:17.215 –> 00:55:20.305
that you are doing is part of what you’re offering as well.

1241
00:55:20.455 –> 00:55:22.105
Just that, that peace of mind

1242
00:55:22.245 –> 00:55:24.465
and that, you know, doing a lot of that heavy lifting

1243
00:55:24.565 –> 00:55:25.705
and things like that as well.

1244
00:55:26.205 –> 00:55:29.915
And I feel like a lot of, a lot

1245
00:55:29.915 –> 00:55:31.955
of designers get quite fearful of AI

1246
00:55:31.955 –> 00:55:33.875
and Oh, it’s coming for your jobs, that kind of thing.

1247
00:55:34.255 –> 00:55:36.715
But I always take it back to like, Canva

1248
00:55:36.815 –> 00:55:38.675
and when that first came along, you would’ve thought, oh,

1249
00:55:38.795 –> 00:55:40.395
graphic designers are all gonna be out of work.

1250
00:55:40.535 –> 00:55:42.835
And at the end of the day, like Shannon said,

1251
00:55:43.505 –> 00:55:44.675
DIYs are gonna DIY.

1252
00:55:44.785 –> 00:55:45.955
They’re always gonna do it.

1253
00:55:45.955 –> 00:55:47.355
There’s always gonna be people out there

1254
00:55:47.355 –> 00:55:49.115
and hey, some of them might do a decent job,

1255
00:55:49.775 –> 00:55:53.155
but it’s usually that first iteration of their business.

1256
00:55:54.335 –> 00:55:56.795
And just like a Canva template might look pretty.

1257
00:55:56.945 –> 00:55:59.875
It’s not strategic, it’s not specific for that business.

1258
00:55:59.905 –> 00:56:02.115
There’s not, it’s not differentiated.

1259
00:56:02.235 –> 00:56:03.755
A lot of people are using that template.

1260
00:56:03.775 –> 00:56:04.995
And it’s the same with ai.

1261
00:56:06.065 –> 00:56:10.485
Like, unless you know the prompts to give it

1262
00:56:10.665 –> 00:56:15.005
and you have that strategic brain behind it, then

1263
00:56:16.125 –> 00:56:18.745
as a client you’re not gonna get out of ai.

1264
00:56:19.095 –> 00:56:24.085
What we as strategic web designers with all our, you know,

1265
00:56:24.135 –> 00:56:25.325
years and years of knowledge

1266
00:56:25.325 –> 00:56:27.125
and expertise are gonna get out of it.

1267
00:56:27.385 –> 00:56:29.925
So, um, it’s definitely a tool

1268
00:56:30.275 –> 00:56:33.325
that we can totally utilize to benefit

1269
00:56:33.865 –> 00:56:35.205
our businesses and our clients.

1270
00:56:35.945 –> 00:56:38.445
Uh, and I don’t, we shouldn’t be scared of it,

1271
00:56:38.555 –> 00:56:40.765
like definitely should be embracing it.

1272
00:56:41.045 –> 00:56:43.645
I always say it’s not AI that’s come up for your job,

1273
00:56:43.715 –> 00:56:46.085
it’s web designers who know AI that are coming

1274
00:56:46.105 –> 00:56:47.805
for your job. So,

1275
00:56:48.345 –> 00:56:49.345
Yes. Yeah. It,

1276
00:56:49.345 –> 00:56:52.005
it’s such an incredible thing if you, if you learn

1277
00:56:52.025 –> 00:56:54.605
how to lean into it to best suit you

1278
00:56:54.945 –> 00:56:56.685
and your unique way of doing your business.

1279
00:56:57.305 –> 00:56:58.805
Um, it comes back to to,

1280
00:56:58.805 –> 00:57:01.885
when we were talking earlier about when customers want a

1281
00:57:01.885 –> 00:57:04.045
certain thing, they might write you a me mammoth email,

1282
00:57:04.385 –> 00:57:06.765
all these things, and it’s completely out of alignment with

1283
00:57:06.765 –> 00:57:08.085
what they’ve asked for previously.

1284
00:57:08.665 –> 00:57:13.165
Um, sometimes using chat GPT for example, I’ll go in there

1285
00:57:13.165 –> 00:57:14.925
and I’ll say, okay, this is what’s going on

1286
00:57:14.945 –> 00:57:16.685
and it will help me write an email

1287
00:57:16.685 –> 00:57:19.285
because it takes all the emotion out

1288
00:57:19.285 –> 00:57:20.565
of it if I wanted to Right.

1289
00:57:20.825 –> 00:57:22.125
And keep it really professional

1290
00:57:22.185 –> 00:57:24.005
and concise, which is what I like.

1291
00:57:24.105 –> 00:57:27.245
I’m like, I wanna get my point across in a short thing

1292
00:57:27.585 –> 00:57:31.085
and I want my client to feel, you know, at ease, um,

1293
00:57:31.185 –> 00:57:33.445
you know, loved whatever it is I want my people to feel.

1294
00:57:33.465 –> 00:57:36.485
And sometimes we might not have the capacity in that moment

1295
00:57:37.025 –> 00:57:40.205
to write that best thing, even though we know it within us,

1296
00:57:40.265 –> 00:57:41.765
but our brains just fold from

1297
00:57:41.765 –> 00:57:43.085
doing a thousand different things.

1298
00:57:43.585 –> 00:57:46.765
Um, so I, yeah, I use AI tools a lot not

1299
00:57:46.765 –> 00:57:49.525
to replace the things I know I’m really good at,

1300
00:57:49.825 –> 00:57:52.125
but the stuff I know I can do.

1301
00:57:52.305 –> 00:57:54.485
But, you know, I don’t wanna spend all day doing it.

1302
00:57:56.685 –> 00:57:58.245
Absolutely. It’s a great point.

1303
00:57:58.795 –> 00:58:00.885
Well, we have just come up to the hour

1304
00:58:00.985 –> 00:58:03.365
and Rachel’s presentation would’ve just gone live.

1305
00:58:04.105 –> 00:58:07.165
Uh, so after this we have Rachel’s presentation

1306
00:58:07.185 –> 00:58:08.365
and then we have Lou’s.

1307
00:58:08.785 –> 00:58:10.645
Uh, so hopefully some of you guys

1308
00:58:10.945 –> 00:58:12.165
who are watching can join us

1309
00:58:12.165 –> 00:58:13.525
for those q and as and go watch those.

1310
00:58:14.185 –> 00:58:17.445
Um, but I wanted to thank all you ladies for being here

1311
00:58:17.465 –> 00:58:19.565
for all the awesome advice that you’ve given,

1312
00:58:19.745 –> 00:58:21.965
not just on the panel, but in your amazing

1313
00:58:21.995 –> 00:58:23.325
presentations too.

1314
00:58:24.105 –> 00:58:27.765
And for anyone who wants to learn more from these ladies,

1315
00:58:27.855 –> 00:58:29.765
there are will be links under this video.

1316
00:58:30.665 –> 00:58:33.445
I’m sure there’s this five links under the video each

1317
00:58:33.445 –> 00:58:36.365
to our website so you can go check out more about all of us.

1318
00:58:37.065 –> 00:58:40.005
Um, but thank you, thank you all for being here. Thank you.

1319
00:58:40.005 –> 00:58:44.685
I really appreciate it. Thanks.