Websites Made Simple: How to have a successful website design business

Hosted by Holly Christie (Website Design Business Mentor)

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Nov 2026

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Welcome to Websites Made Simple, a podcast helping you become more successful in your website design business. Most small website design business owners are working hard. Really hard. At the same time they feel like they’re winging it. And their online presence isn't helping them. This podcast is here to change that for you. Holly Christie is founder of website companies, This Demanding Life and Simply Sites. Holly will walk you through the common factors that are stopping you from making a success of your website design business, and how to overcome them, in a way that feels authentic to you. If you’d like to learn more about Holly and her work you can find her at: https://thisdemandinglife.com/ or connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollycchristie/

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November 2, 202617 min

What to Do When Your Website Design Client Ghosts You

Check out my new offer: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/sparks-group-mentoring/ It's a supportive group mentoring session for website designers and developers to bring their questions, roadblocks, ideas, and "is it just me?" moments. Sent the walkthrough video, chased twice, and still nothing back from your client? You're not on your own, and there's plenty you can do about it. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode, I'm talking you through how to get a website project back on track when a client is ghosting you. I'm explaining why it happens (it's usually overwhelm, not rudeness) and the boundaries I use so it rarely happens to me any more. We get into: Why getting everything up front makes a website project so much easier Why gathering content is a whole extra job for your clients Agreeing a content deadline, and the check-in email I send a couple of weeks before it Why I ask for feedback within two working days of every walkthrough video My sunset clause: what happens after two weeks of silence, and the friendly email I send Archiving a project, reactivation fees, and why you should always build on a staging site Re-quoting when a project goes past three months What to do if your existing clients never signed a terms of service Being firm, and still being genuinely helpful If you've ever had a project stall because your emails are disappearing into the ether, this one's for you. Come and find out more at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk or email me at hello@websitesmadesimple.co.uk Got a ghosting story? Email me or leave me a voicemail through the contact form on my website. I might even read some out on the show. Mentioned in this episode: Website Designer's Contract Pack: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/website-designer-contract-pack/ And here's the link if you want to learn more about Neal and Podknows: https://podknows.co.uk/ Skip to the good bits: 00:00 When your website client ghosts you 01:51 Why clients go quiet (it's not you) 04:16 Step 1: Terms of service and a content deadline 07:24 Step 2: Set a feedback window 08:45 Step 3: The sunset clause 11:55 Step 4: Re-quote, and what if you don't have terms yet 14:23 Step 5: Be firm, be kind

October 19, 202618 min

Website Design Doesn't Need To Be Feast Or Famine

If you've had a quiet month and you're tempted to drop your prices, please don't. There's usually money sitting in places you haven't looked yet. Check out my group - https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/sparks-group-mentoring/ It's a supportive group mentoring session for website designers and developers to bring their questions, roadblocks, ideas, and "is it just me?" moments. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode, I'm helping you work out a plan to make more money in your web design business right now. Some of it brings in cash quickly, and some of it builds a steadier pipeline, so web design doesn't have to be feast or famine. We get into: Why the website is only one part of what your client is paying for, and why you still stand firm on your prices My payment terms, and why content deadlines stop you building next year's website at last year's prices Why your previous clients are your quickest win, and when to ask them for a testimonial and a referral How hosting and maintenance bring me steady monthly income, and what to offer if you design on Squarespace, Wix, Webflow or Shopify Whether your niche is so tight that people can't find you Why I tell web designers not to work at an hourly rate What to charge for a power hour, and why mine often turn into website builds How I deliver website audits, and my website glow-up If you want more money coming in without cutting your prices, this one's for you. Come and find out more at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk or email me at hello@websitesmadesimple.co.uk Mentioned in this episode: Website Designer's Contract Pack: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/website-designer-contract-pack/ My Website Clinic: https://thisdemandinglife.com/website-clinic/ Mike Cottam, WordPress specialist (white label site care): https://mike-cottam.com/ Jo Lott: https://joannalottcoaching.com/ And here's the link if you want to learn more about Neal and Podknows: https://podknows.co.uk/ Skip to the good bits: 00:00 Feast or famine? It doesn't have to be 04:18 Your quickest win: past clients 05:41 Recurring revenue from maintenance 07:47 Is your niche too tight to be found? 11:31 Price properly, and show your prices 13:08 Power hours, and what to charge 15:17 Website audits and the glow-up

October 5, 202620 min

When Your Bills Hinge On Your Website Design Clients Saying "Yes"

Check out my new offer: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/sparks-group-mentoring/ It's a supportive group mentoring session for website designers and developers to bring their questions, roadblocks, ideas, and "is it just me?" moments. If you've ever had a client say yes, pay the deposit, and then go quiet for weeks, it's rarely because you did something wrong. It's usually because they weren't quite ready to work with you. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode, I'm talking about how to attract the clients who come to you ready to buy, so you can save yourself all that back and forth. I also tell you the story of the time I was the person who wasn't ready, why I was never Hinge's ideal customer, and why it did not go well. We get into: Why niching means the right clients find you when they're ready, not just shopping around The huge gap between "not quite ready" and "sign me up, here's the money" What happens when a client pays the deposit and then goes quiet Why I was never Hinge's ideal customer, and what that teaches us about clients who aren't ready Why long, specific search phrases beat "web design London", and how I found a holiday cottage with ChatGPT Three questions to ask your past clients about how they found you How FAQs and blogs answer people's questions so you don't have to Why you shouldn't hide your prices, and what to say about hosting, licences and renewals Why case studies reassure the clients who are about to say yes Why getting clear on your messaging takes patience, and why you shouldn't keep changing it If you want clients who are ready to say yes and a lot less back and forth, this one's for you. Come and find out more at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk or email me at hello@websitesmadesimple.co.uk Mentioned in this episode: SEO F-ing What with Nikki Pilkington, episode 38, "Your Portfolio Page Title Is KILLING Your SEO": https://seofuckingwhatpodcast.co.uk/episode/your-portfoilio-page-title-is-killing-your-seo And here's the link if you want to learn more about Neal and Podknows: https://podknows.co.uk/ Skip to the good bits: 00:00 Why ready-to-buy clients make life easier 02:34 The gap between 'not ready' and 'sign me up' 04:16 My Hinge story: the day I wasn't the ideal customer 07:26 How your ideal clients actually search 11:03 Answer their questions before they ask 12:52 Don't hide your prices (or what's included) 16:24 Case studies that reassure 17:49 Anchor your messaging

September 21, 202617 min

Website Designers: The Only Thing Stopping You Earning More Is You

If you're busier than ever, marketing harder than ever, and still turning over the same money year after year, it's usually not because you need a new skill. It's because the thing holding your web design business back is you — the price you drop before the client has even spoken, the £38 jobs you're doing at £150 an hour, and the evenings you're working for free. My Sparks group is a supportive group mentoring session for website designers and developers to bring their questions, roadblocks, ideas, and “is it just me?” moments. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode, I'm getting real about money mindset: why so many website designers get stuck at the same figure, how we quietly become the bottleneck in our own business, and what it actually takes to level up without burning out. We get into: Why “learn a new skill” is rarely the answer when your income has flatlined The one thing to do the moment you've said your price: pause What to say when a client says “that's more than I was expecting” Why payment plans for hosting and maintenance are the recurring revenue most designers miss Why £3,000 coming into the business is not £3,000 you've earned How a £38-an-hour VA frees you up for £150-an-hour work Just because you can do everything in your business doesn't mean you should How working every evening quietly halves your hourly rate Why letting go is how you build a business that runs without you If you want to charge what you're worth, stop undercutting yourself, and finally get out of your own way, this one's for you. Come and find out more at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk or email me at hello@websitesmadesimple.co.uk Skip to the good bits: 00:58 Inspired by the Sparks and Phoenix mentees 01:25 The money boundary 01:51 It's money mindset, not skillset 02:52 Hands up if this sounds like you 03:13 Dropping your price mid-call 04:29 Put the price out there and pause 05:36 What to say when it's more than they expected 06:27 Earning a bit more vs properly levelling up 07:04 Payment plans: the recurring revenue you're missing 07:47 Big jumps: higher prices, more sites, white labelling 08:07 Quick break 08:15 What's really stopping us is us 09:10 You quoted £3,000. That isn't your salary 10:17 Invest money to make money 10:54 The £38 VA vs the £150 hour 12:21 Just because you can doesn't mean you should 13:00 Working every night halves your hourly rate 14:10 Mentors, VAs and getting out of your own way 14:54 Letting go: a business that runs without you 15:24 Get out of your own way 15:41 Work with Holly

September 7, 202613 min

Why Web Design Stopped Being Fun (And How to Get It Back)

If you've started to fall out of love with web design, it's usually not the design that's the problem. It's the invoices, the contract wording, the awkward client emails, and all the other bits that crept in and took over your week. Let's fix that. Check out my new offer: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/sparks-group-mentoring/ It's a supportive group mentoring session for website designers and developers to bring their questions, roadblocks, ideas, and “is it just me?” moments. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode, I'm talking about how to work out which parts of your web design business you actually love, how to hand over the parts you don't, and why that usually costs a lot less than you think. We get into: Why getting stuck “in the weeds” makes good designers fall out of love with the work How to identify the parts of the business you genuinely enjoy Why not every web designer loves designing, and why that's completely fine How designers and developers work brilliantly hand in hand What to do if you're a techie who struggles with the design side Why outsourcing makes you money rather than costing you money Whether you're selling the website, or selling you as the person who builds it How to bring team members onto a project without the client feeling dropped Why there's a hard ceiling on how many websites you can build in a year The five income streams I run, and the freelance team behind them How to map what you love, what you don't, and what you could delegate If you're busy but no longer enjoying it, this one will help you get the good bits back. Come and find out more at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk or email me at hello@websitesmadesimple.co.uk And here's the link if you want to learn more about Neal and Podknows: https://podknows.co.uk/ Skip to the good bits: 00:00 How to do more of what you love 00:38 When you fall out of love with web design 01:40 Work out which parts you actually love 02:25 Not every designer loves designing 02:53 Why designers and developers need each other 03:44 What to do if design isn't your strength 05:22 Outsourcing is how you make more money 06:28 “But I don't charge enough to outsource” 06:54 Are you selling the website, or selling you? 07:49 Bringing in your team without losing the client 09:40 The ceiling on building websites alone 10:00 Holly's five income streams 10:43 The freelance team behind the business 11:51 Map what you love, delegate the rest 12:29 Where to find Holly

August 24, 202629 min

Website Designers - Your Clients Could Be Getting Sued Over This

If accessibility has never really come up in your work, it isn’t because you’re careless — it’s because almost nobody teaches it. Not the courses, not the diplomas, and definitely not the platforms we all build on. Check out my group offer: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/sparks-group-mentoring/ It’s a supportive group mentoring session for website designers and developers to bring their questions, roadblocks, ideas, and “is it just me?” moments. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode of Websites Made Simple, I'm joined by Rachel Mess of The Inclusive Design Company, a website designer and trainer who specialises in accessible websites. Rachel got into accessibility because her sister is visually impaired — and was mortified to realise that in years of web design training, not one course had mentioned it. Together we cover the single biggest accessibility failure on the internet, why the drag-and-drop components you trust might be unreadable to both screen readers and Google, why “let the website breathe” is an accessibility decision, the argument that finally brings a reluctant client round, why “click here” hurts you twice over, and the free tools you should be running on every site before you hand it over. 🔗 Rachel Mess — The Inclusive Design Company: https://inclusivedesigncompany.co.uk 🔗 Sparks group mentoring: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/sparks-group-mentoring/ 🌐 More from Holly: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk ✉️ Email Holly: hello@websitesmadesimple.co.uk 🎙️ Podcast produced by Podknows Podcasting: https://podknows.co.uk/ Connect with Holly on LinkedIn: Holly Christie. Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn: Rachel Mess Chapters: 00:00 Meet Rachel Meess, accessible web design specialist 01:08 How Rachel got into accessibility 01:50 Why accessibility never came up in her training 02:46 “I can’t charge for a website somebody can’t access” 03:09 Web design is a self-taught industry 03:40 Why the platforms are part of the problem 05:21 Accessibility has to be front of mind as you design 05:39 Colour contrast is the biggest issue on the internet 06:14 Dropdowns, div blocks and what a screen reader hears 07:03 If Google can’t read it, nobody sees your content 07:45 Holly’s pet hate: emojis as bullet points 09:07 When industry experts quietly ignore best practice 10:57 Lived experience is good for business 12:49 Consulting with Diversity Scotland 13:38 DEI, blog images and seeing yourself on a website 14:44 Accessibility is the infrastructure inclusion sits on 17:32 Accessibility in your blog posts 17:58 Let the website breathe 20:46 How to bring a reluctant client round 21:32 Why Shopify sites keep coming up 22:42 The contrast checker every platform should build in 24:06 Why “click here” is a problem 25:30 Stop stuffing keywords into alt tags 26:29 Test with Lighthouse and WAVE 27:36 Graphic designers are not website designers 29:04 Where to find Rachel

August 10, 202618 min

The Website Manual Hack That Ends "How Do I Log In" Forever!

If your clients keep coming back with “How do I log in?” and “How do I change an image?”, it isn’t because they’re difficult. It’s because nobody ever handed them a manual for the thing you just built them. Check out my group offer: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/sparks-group-mentoring/ It’s a supportive group mentoring session for website designers and developers to bring their questions, roadblocks, ideas, and “is it just me?” moments. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly how I create a website user manual for every single client: what goes in it, how it’s built, and how it went from a job that ate my time to a template I barely have to touch. There’s a free template to go with this episode, so you can start your own straight away: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/website-manual We get into: Why a user manual is the difference between a delighted client and endless “how do I…” emails How to build yours in Canva and send it as a PDF, and why I never host it on my own site What to tell clients about themes, plug-ins and premium licences before they’re your problem The front page details that protect you months down the line The five minute “Welcome to Your Website” screen recording that shows them the back end Why a page speed screenshot on handover day saves you an argument with an SEO later The dedicated log-in page that kills half your support emails How to record your tutorial videos once and reuse them on every single website The troubleshooting page that says “clear your cache” in ten different ways Where to point clients for extra help, and how you want them to contact you afterwards If you want fewer support emails, happier clients, and a handover you can repeat without thinking about it, this one will sort you out. Come and find out more at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk or email me at hello@websitesmadesimple.co.uk Skip to the good bits: 00:00 How to create a website user manual 00:46 My confession about website handovers 01:33 Why user manuals became my biggest win 02:16 How web designers actually hand over websites 02:58 Why video and written content work best together 03:25 Build it in Canva, send it as a PDF 04:22 Themes, plug-ins and licensing 05:05 What clients need to know about premium licences 06:21 The front page: logo, date and screenshot 07:32 The table of contents 07:57 The “Welcome to Your Website” video 09:01 Page speed screenshots that protect you later 10:06 The log-in page everyone forgets 11:07 Keeping the site updated, and key things to remember 12:01 Record once, use everywhere 14:03 The troubleshooting page 14:53 Additional resources and knowledge centres 15:37 How clients get in touch after handover 16:21 Grab the free template Mentioned in this episode: Join my Sparks Group Mentoring Programme

July 27, 202624 min

Want to build a sustainable website design business? Here's how.

If you’re overworked, underpaid, and doing every single part of your web design business alone, the problem usually isn’t your skills. It’s that no one ever showed you how to build the business around the work: how to price it, structure it, and share the load so it actually lasts. In this episode I mention my Sparks mentoring community. You can join here: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/sparks-group-mentoring/ Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode, I’m talking about how to build a sustainable web design business, one that pays you properly, doesn’t burn you out, and works for you and your clients, whatever stage of your career you’re at. We get into: How undercharging and “building a portfolio for free” quietly stalls your business Why collaboration, not competition, with designers, copywriters and SEO specialists grows your income Why every website project really starts with copy and brand, not the build How to work out your offer and review it so it keeps working for you Why going limited and separating your finances protects you through feast and famine months Why the money from a website build is business income, not your salary Where to outsource so you stop overworking and stop burning out Why you have to step off the tools and spend time working ON your business How to spot the money gap between what you charge and what you actually want to earn Why a mentor is the single biggest lever for growing your business If you want a business that earns well, runs smoothly, and doesn’t leave you exhausted, this one’s for you. Come and find out more at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk Email me at hello@websitesmadesimple.co.uk Chapters (So you can skip to the relevant bits): 00:00 Building a web design business that lasts 00:20 The undercharging trap 01:31 Collaborate, don’t compete 03:41 Why copy and brand come before the build 05:49 Inside Sparks Group mentoring 06:53 Work out your offer, and review it often 08:35 Go limited and separate your finances 10:24 Website payments are income, not your salary 11:13 Outsource what isn’t worth your hourly rate 14:15 Work ON your business, not just in it 18:54 Mind the money gap Mentioned in this episode: Join my Sparks Group Mentoring Programme

July 13, 202620 min

You're Not Doing Web Design Wrong — You Just Weren't Told This

Nobody handed most of us a manual for this. Web design is a self-taught industry, so we all arrive from different angles, with different tools, and it's far too easy to decide you're "doing it wrong" the moment a louder voice tells you their way is the only way. *whispers in your ear* - if this episodes sparks your interest, check out my mentoring group: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/sparks-group-mentoring/ It's a supportive group mentoring session for website designers and developers to bring their questions, roadblocks, ideas, and "is it just me?" moments. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie . In this episode, I'm talking directly to designers and developers in their first few years, sharing the practices that helped me build confidence, better websites, and a stronger business, without pretending there's one "right" way to do it. We get into: How investing properly in your setup (themes, insurance, compliant contracts) slowly builds your confidence Why "spend money to make money" applies to web design more than you think Picking one area to go all in on each year, from accessibility to SEO Building a rigid onboarding process so content arrives before the build starts Getting known for one or two things instead of being "just another designer" Why staying in your lane beats watching the competition Collecting reviews properly (and actually following them up) Why a mentor pays dividends long before you feel you can "afford" one If you're early in your web design journey and just want a bit more support in your corner, this one's for you. Come and find out more at - https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk Or email me at hello@websitesmadesimple.co.uk If you'd like to talk about mentoring for new website designers and developers, come and say hello. Skip to the good bits (Chapters): 00:00 Who this episode is for 00:33 Web design is a self-taught industry (and tech shaming) 02:02 Invest in your web design business 05:57 Pick one area to master each year 08:54 Get your onboarding right — content up front 11:29 Marketing yourself and the know, like, trust factor 12:17 Get known for one or two things 14:36 Stay in your lane, ignore the competition 15:59 Collect reviews and actually use them 17:17 Why you should get a mentor

June 29, 202620 min

How to sign off a website project properly: a free checklist

A messy sign-off leaves a messy memory — and it’s one of the easiest things to fix with the right checklist in place. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. Check out: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/sparks-group-mentoring/ It’s a supportive group mentoring session for website designers and developers to bring their questions, roadblocks, ideas, and “is it just me?” moments. In this episode, I’m walking you through my full website sign-off process — the checklist I use every single time to make sure projects end cleanly, clients are set up properly, and I can actually close the project and move on. We get into: Holly’s website “pack-down” checklist and why you need one Cookie notices, GDPR, and what to check before you go live Why you should run a Page Speed Insights report and screenshot it every time Setting up admin accounts (the step Holly has forgotten more than once) Website manuals: why every client should get one and how to create them Hooking up analytics, pixels, and code tracking before handover How to test on incognito browser and mobile before you call it done Getting written sign-off from your client — and the wording that matters Migration, SSL certificates, and enforcing HTTPS after moving a site Contact form testing, SMTP, and GDPR-compliant database saving How to organise client training and what Holly’s personalised video manuals look like Setting up client logins and making sure they know how to run WordPress updates Asking for reviews at exactly the right moment What is and is not your responsibility once a project is signed off If you want every project to end with a clean, confident handover — this one will help you build that process. Grab Holly’s sign-off checklist at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/sign-off-checklist Come and find out more at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk or email me at hello@websitesmadesimple.co.uk And here’s the link if you want to learn more about Neal and Podknows: https://podknows.co.uk/ Skip to the good bits: 00:00 The sign-off feeling and making sure clients come back for the right reasons 01:46 Build your website pack-down checklist 02:50 Cookie notices and GDPR compliance 03:53 Run a PageSpeed Insights report and save the results 06:20 Create an admin account for the client 06:55 Website manuals and why every client needs one 07:37 Hooking up code tracking before handover 08:48 Testing on incognito browser and mobile view 10:27 Getting written sign-off from your client 11:10 Tying sign-off to payment 11:35 Migration, SSL certificates and enforcing HTTPS 14:21 Contact forms, testing and GDPR compliance 15:39 Organising client training 16:17 Holly’s personalised video walkthrough manuals 17:12 Getting the client logged in 17:58 WordPress updates and making sure clients know how 18:40 Ask for a review at the right moment 19:09 Your responsibilities after sign-off