Stop Waiting for Client Content from your Web Design Clients!
No More Content Collection: Sam Crawford's Revolutionary Approach to Web Design
💡 In this article, learn:
How to build websites without waiting for client content
A simplified client onboarding process that actually works
Why fancy client portals might be hurting your business
The art of seamless project handover
How to find and close web design clients
Pricing strategies that convert
Watch the Live Interview:
In my recent interview with Sam Crawford, the mind behind award-winning design firm By Crawford and creator of Six Figure Design Club, he shared his groundbreaking approach to web design that's transforming how designers work with clients.
With over 450 websites in his portfolio and a thriving education platform, Sam has developed a process that eliminates one of the biggest headaches in web design: content collection.
The Traditional Content Collection Problem
For years, web designers have followed a seemingly logical but deeply flawed approach: gather all content from clients before starting design work. This typically involves requesting every image, word, and comma upfront, often stressing clients out and creating significant project delays. As Sam points out, this traditional approach fails to recognize a fundamental truth: clients often don't know what they want until they see it.
"If they could think of all that and conceptualize where all of that would go, then they could just build the site," Sam explains. This insight led him to develop a more fluid, client-friendly approach that puts design first and lets content follow naturally.
The "Design First" Revolution
Sam's approach flips the traditional process on its head. Instead of waiting for content, he:
Creates the design framework first
Uses placeholder content (lorem ipsum, royalty-free images)
Allows clients to see the structure and flow
Lets them fill in content that fits the design
This method preserves the creative flow of design while making it easier for clients to understand exactly what content they need and where it will go.
A Streamlined Client Process
Perhaps most impressive is the simplicity of Sam's client onboarding process. Where many designers create complex systems with multiple touchpoints, Sam keeps it remarkably straightforward:
A brief discovery call (15 minutes)
A simple onboarding form
Google Drive for content sharing
Clear proposal with straightforward pricing
The Power of Simplicity
One particularly interesting aspect of Sam's approach is his use of Google Drive instead of fancy client portals. "If you think about the client portal, it looks great and sounds amazing," he says, "but if you're a web design client... you just want to say do that and then it gets done. You don't want to have to log in to a dashboard."
The No-Contract Approach
Perhaps most surprisingly, Sam doesn't use contracts with his clients. In over 450 projects, he's never had a significant issue that a contract would have prevented. His approach relies on:
Taking a 50% deposit upfront
Maintaining control of the site until final payment
Building trust through transparent communication
Focusing on client education and support
Client Training and Handover
Sam's approach to training and handover is equally revolutionary. Instead of providing generic tutorial libraries, he creates customized training videos for each client, showing them exactly what they need to know about their specific site. This personal touch typically takes just 15 minutes but provides immense value to clients.
"It's a slap in the face to a client if you're like, here's a link to a Squarespace help article," Sam explains. "I've just paid like, you know, some sites could run you up, and you won't spend fifteen minutes doing a video on the site?"
Finding and Converting Clients
For those interested in implementing similar processes, Sam shared valuable insights on client acquisition:
Focus on platforms where clients are already looking for Squarespace designers
Use LinkedIn's search function effectively
Leverage Upwork for initial clients
Build inbound systems through content creation
Keep sales calls brief and focused
The Six Figure Design Club
This methodology forms the foundation of Sam's Six Figure Design Club, where he teaches designers how to scale their businesses to six figures annually. The program includes:
80+ video lessons
Complete process documentation
Templates and frameworks
Active community support
Regular in-person events
Ongoing mentorship
Key Takeaways
Sam's approach demonstrates that successful web design isn't just about technical skills or creative ability—it's about creating processes that work for both designers and clients. By simplifying the traditional web design process and eliminating common pain points, he's created a more efficient and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
The results speak for themselves: happy clients, successful projects, and a thriving business that's helping other designers achieve similar success.
Looking Forward
As the web design industry continues to evolve, Sam's methodology offers a compelling blueprint for designers looking to scale their businesses while maintaining high-quality work and client satisfaction. His approach proves that sometimes the most revolutionary solutions come not from adding complexity, but from thoughtfully removing it.
For designers interested in learning more about Sam's approach, you can find him at bycrawford.com or explore the Six Figure Design Club for comprehensive training on implementing these methods in your own business.
This article has been edited for clarity and length. Watch the full video here.
Follow Sam:
Website: bycrawford.com
Course: sixfiguredesignclub.com
