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

Holly Christie (Website Design Business Mentor)

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/

  1. Cheap £99 website builds are killing your website design business

    6D AGO

    Cheap £99 website builds are killing your website design business

    If you’ve been tempted to move to a £99 a month website model — or you’ve been quietly cutting your prices just to get work through the door — this episode is a direct intervention. Psst! 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 why the £99 website model isn’t the sustainable business move it might look like on paper — and what to do instead when the market feels slow. We get into: How the maths of volume pricing simply don’t add upThe burnout that comes with trying the modelWhy ongoing payment plans are bad newsThe hidden costs that slowly erode client trustWhat to do instead If you’re a web designer wondering whether dropping your prices is the answer, this episode will give you the confidence to hold firm. 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 Why the £99 website model doesn’t work 00:35 Meet Holly: Websites Made Simple 00:46 Who this episode applies to 01:45 The volume problem: you’d need 30 clients for £3,000 04:14 Burnout is baked into this model 04:38 Scope creep and the ongoing payment trap 06:32 Hidden costs and eroding client trust 08:34 Email hosting, DNS, and the chaos that follows 11:19 Content collection in a low-cost model 12:26 Hold your nerve: panic pricing makes it worse

    16 min
  2. How AI and Vibe Coding Puts Your Website Design Business At Risk

    APR 27 ·  BONUS

    How AI and Vibe Coding Puts Your Website Design Business At Risk

    AI is everywhere — and so is everyone telling you to use it for everything. But when it comes to your website, your plugins, and the work you ship for clients, the wrong AI shortcut can quietly become a serious liability. Check out my Sparks Group Training for anyone and everyone involved in the publishing of websites, from copywriters to SEOs: 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 a special bonus episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. (Quick note — my podcast mic was misbehaving for this one, so the audio is not quite up to our usual standard. My producer Neal at Podknows has worked his magic to clean it up, so please do stick with it. The conversation is genuinely worth your time.) I am joined by senior developer Rob Fisher to talk about where AI actually helps in web design, where it absolutely does not, and the security and stability risks nobody is being loud enough about. We get into: Why vibe coding is not a shortcut, it is a stack of technical debt waiting to break How LLMs really work, and why they hallucinate when you let them Why your prompt boundaries matter as much as your prompt The chatbot that gave a customer 85 percent off a 10,000 dollar order What the October 2025 AWS outage tells us about AI first dev cultures Why AI tools are junior developers, not senior ones, and what that means for your business Why vibe coded WordPress plugins are a house of cards How a “safe” plugin can become a Trojan horse with one auto update What is actually changing in WordPress 7 If you are a designer or developer trying to work out where AI fits into your business without putting your clients at risk, this one is 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: 00:00 Bonus episode intro and audio note 01:18 Where AI fits in running a web business 02:34 Vibe coding and why it is a shortcut too far 05:12 The flip side, vibe coding as a learning tool 06:48 Tech debt: your vibe coded site is a liability waiting to break 07:45 What AI cannot do for user journeys and design psychology 09:20 How LLMs actually work, probability engines not brains 11:30 Hallucinations and the suspiciously short prompt 13:05 Prompt boundaries and staying on topic 15:10 What system prompts at OpenAI and Anthropic actually look like 17:00 The chatbot that gave away an 85 percent discount on a 10,000 dollar order 19:40 AI first dev houses and the October 2025 AWS outage 22:15 Microsoft layoffs and the AI replacement myth 24:30 Why generative AI is a junior developer, not a senior one 26:20 Vibe coded plugins, the house of cards problem 28:50 The WordPress plugin ecosystem and what it lets in 31:00 How a safe plugin becomes a Trojan horse overnight 33:15 WP Rocket, All in One Migration and the malicious update problem 34:50 WordPress 7 and the new AI APIs, and why it will not feel revolutionary 37:00 Block editor improvements and the abstraction layer problem 38:40 Final thoughts and how to get in touch

    30 min
  3. Every Website Designer Feels Like a Fraud Sometimes. Here's What To Do About It

    APR 20

    Every Website Designer Feels Like a Fraud Sometimes. Here's What To Do About It

    Imposter syndrome doesn’t care how good you are. It shows up anyway — making you hesitate before you send a contract, stumble over your words on a call, or scroll past someone else’s work and quietly wonder if you’re good enough. In this episode of Websites Made Simple, Holly Christie gets honest about imposter syndrome in web design. Why it hits so hard in a self-taught industry. Why tech shaming on LinkedIn makes it worse. And what you can actually do to push through it, level up, and stop letting self-doubt quietly run your business. We talk about: Why imposter syndrome affects experienced and award-winning designers tooThe problem with tech shaming (and why the tool you use doesn’t define your worth)Why there’s a seat at the table for every web designerHow to stay in your lane and focus on your own growthWhat to do when your processes feel messy or your designs feel staleHow to push outside your comfort zone and keep developingWhy you’re probably doing much better than you think Chapters: 00:00 Imposter syndrome — it comes for all of us 04:28 When LinkedIn chips away at your confidence 07:35 Stay in your lane and look forward 08:20 Tighten up your processes and onboarding 09:30 What to do when your designs feel stale 10:45 Pushing outside your comfort zone 12:05 You’re doing better than you think 💡 Want Holly’s Sparks Group Mentoring? Find out more here: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/sparks-group-mentoring/ 🌐 Website: https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk 📧 Email: hello@websitesmadesimple.co.uk 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollycchristie/

    13 min
  4. The SEO Problem That Popup Plugins Won't Tell You About!

    APR 6

    The SEO Problem That Popup Plugins Won't Tell You About!

    If you keep finding yourself building features your clients ask for that quietly make their websites worse, this one's for you. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode, I'm talking about popups — why they're usually doing the opposite of what your clients think they're doing, what to say when a client is dead set on having one, and what to do instead to keep conversions high without frustrating visitors straight off the page. We get into: Why popups interrupt the user experience in the worst possible wayHow popup design often looks spammy and quietly damages trustThe SEO problem that popup plugins don't tell you about (hint: it's your H1)Why exit intent popups feel like surveillance — and why that's a problemHow caching plugins can break popups entirely anywayWhat slide-ins are and how to use them without being annoyingFloating buttons — how to use them properly (and what not to do on mobile)Dedicated signup sections that convert without the disruptionHow to push back when a client is dead set on having a popup 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. 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 Why popups might be hurting your clients' websites 01:11 Welcome and intro 01:39 Why popups interrupt the user experience 03:26 Popups block content and the SEO problem 06:01 Exit intent, popup frequency and the surveillance feeling 08:11 Slide-ins as a smarter alternative 10:30 Floating buttons done right 12:00 Dedicated signup sections that convert without disruption 14:23 How to push back when clients ask for popups 15:28 Wrap-up and how to get in touch Mentioned in this episode: Join my Sparks Group Mentoring Programme

    17 min
  5. How To Add 404 Pages To Your Websites That DON'T Suck!

    MAR 23

    How To Add 404 Pages To Your Websites That DON'T Suck!

    If you're not including links pages and custom 404 pages in your website builds, you're leaving money on the table — and doing your clients a disservice. 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 two of the most underrated pages in website design: the links page (your on-brand, SEO-friendly alternative to Linktree) and the custom 404 page. Both are quick to build, easy to position as a value add, and a genuinely great way to stand out from designers who aren't sweating the details. We get into: Why Linktree and similar tools can actually hurt your reach on social media platformsHow a links page on your own website works with your SEO and drives traffic where you want itWhat to put on a links page to make it genuinely useful — and how to make it your ownWhy most 404 pages are a completely wasted opportunityHow to design a 404 page that gets visitors back on track (and even puts a smile on their face)Why these pages should be built into your project cost, not offered as an upsellThe one quick check you can do on your own website right nowHow showcasing these pages on your own site helps attract the right clients If you want to impress clients, add real value to your builds, and start standing out from designers who aren't going the extra mile — this one is 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: 00:00 Stop leaving these pages out of your website builds 00:30 Why Linktree and Linke hurt your social media reach 01:02 Build a links page on your own website instead 02:00 What to put on your links page 03:10 Keeping links pages simple but effective on mobile 04:30 Links pages, SEO, and sending traffic to your own site 05:00 How to charge for links pages (don't make it optional) 05:44 The problem with generic 404 pages 06:20 How to check if your 404 page is customised right now 07:20 Adding personality and fun to your 404 page 08:14 Using 404 pages to redirect and re-engage visitors 10:02 Start with your own website first Mentioned in this episode: Join my Sparks Group Mentoring Programme

    12 min
  6. Stop Selling Websites. Sell This Instead.

    MAR 9

    Stop Selling Websites. Sell This Instead.

    If you're wondering why clients aren't buying from you or why the ones who do seem to undervalue your work, the answer isn't always more leads — it's the experience you're creating from the very first touchpoint. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode, I'm talking about what we are really selling when we are selling websites — and it's not the number of pages or the platform. It's the experience. From the first discovery call to the handover manual, every touchpoint either builds confidence or erodes it. We get into: Why discovery calls convert better than email enquiries — and how to structure themHow to follow up after a call so you stop losing warm leadsWhat your contracts should protect you from (and why so many designers get this wrong)How to keep clients informed and feeling involved throughout the buildWhen to refer out — and why knowing your boundaries makes you more professional, not lessWhat good aftercare looks like (hint: it's not a two-hour Zoom dump)Why you should be checking on the results your websites produce for clients If you want better clients, better money, and a process that makes people tell their friends about you, this one is for you. 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. 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 What you're really selling (it's not a website) 01:30 Why discovery calls convert better than email 03:00 Screen sharing and building confidence on the call 03:41 Following up after the call — and why timing matters 05:00 The follow-up email template Holly uses 06:00 How many times to follow up before letting go

    20 min
  7. Stop charging hourly for website design work!

    FEB 23

    Stop charging hourly for website design work!

    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 keep attracting bargain clients, it’s usually not because you need more leads. It’s because your pricing model is less than optimal... mostly because your brand signals are a bit muddled, and your website is not doing enough heavy lifting before someone ever speaks to you. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode, I’m talking about why charging hourly for your web design projects is holding you back — from better clients, better income, and a calmer business. We get into: Why hourly pricing puts you in a race to the bottomHow project pricing builds confidence on both sidesWhy clients feel cheated when hourly quotes run overHow scope creep is easier to manage with project pricingWhat bundled pricing looks like in practiceHow to work with freelancers and white labellers without losing moneyWhy the clients who can't afford you aren't your peopleHow to quote higher and still win the work If you want better clients, fewer arguments over invoices, and more peace of mind about your income, 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:00:00 Stop charging hourly — why it hurts your income 01:09 Why everyone has an hourly rate (and why that's the problem) 02:55 What project pricing actually looks like 03:42 How project pricing helps you prioritise your work 04:34 Scope creep and why hourly makes it worse 05:48 Bundled pricing: what goes into a project quote 07:23 Working with freelancers and white labellers 09:44 If they can't afford you, they're not your people 10:31 How project pricing creates better clients 11:43 Sparks Group Mentoring and how to join Mentioned in this episode: Websites Made Simple Courses Join my Sparks Group Mentoring Programme

    14 min
  8. Why Your SEO-Friendly Website Isn't Ranking

    FEB 9

    Why Your SEO-Friendly Website Isn't Ranking

    If you’ve ever delivered a well built, SEO friendly website and then found yourself being blamed when it doesn’t rank or generate leads, this episode will feel very familiar. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. 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 real questions, tricky client situations, fuzzy boundaries, and those moments where you’re thinking, “This isn’t actually my job, is it?” In this episode, I’m joined by SEO specialist Nikki Pilkington to talk about the difference between SEO friendly and SEO optimised, and why that distinction matters so much for web designers. We dig into how good websites end up being labelled “not working”, how easily expectations drift, and why web designers often carry responsibility for outcomes that sit firmly outside their role. We get into: • What SEO friendly actually means from a web design and build perspective • Why SEO friendly is a baseline, not a ranking strategy • How “just add the keywords” quietly sets you up for problems later • Where your responsibility as a designer genuinely starts and ends • Why selling SEO as a one off is a trap, even when clients ask for it • How blurred roles damage trust between designers, SEOs, and clients • The conversations that protect you before a project even begins • How to stop your work being judged on results you were never hired to deliver If you want clearer boundaries, more confident explanations, and fewer projects where everyone looks bad six months later, this episode will help you put language around things you probably already feel. 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 Why designers get blamed for SEO results 01:21 SEO friendly vs SEO optimised (what you are actually delivering) 02:40 How client expectations quietly drift 03:49 What is and isn’t a web designer’s job 08:10 Why SEO can never be “done” 11:00 Where projects start going wrong 15:24 The danger of saying yes to everything 17:13 What good SEO collaboration looks like 20:40 Protecting trust in your work Mentioned in this episode: Join my Sparks Group Mentoring Programme

    22 min
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About

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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