Web Design Success: Insights from Paige Brunton
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What We Discussed:
💻 Platform choice: Squarespace often beats WordPress for ease and cost-effectiveness
🚀 Start from scratch: No degree needed, self-learning is key
🎯 Niche is crucial: Specialize beyond just "Squarespace designer"
💰 Pricing: Beginners can start at $2-3k, pros earn up to $20k per project
🧠 Mindset shifts: Value your work, formal education isn't necessary
🌟 Client experience matters: Great results + smooth process = referrals
📊 Business planning: Set goals, stay organized (Asana is your friend)
🧘♀️ Embrace simplicity: "Lazy efficient strategy" for a lifestyle-friendly business
🎓 Free bootcamp: 3-day event to learn profitable web design strategies
🤝 Community: Connect with other designers for support and insights
Summary:
Are you considering starting a web design business? Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your existing web design career, this interview with Paige Brunton offers valuable insights into the world of web design, particularly focusing on Squarespace. Paige, an expert in teaching people how to become successful web designers, shares her knowledge on various aspects of the business, from choosing the right platform to pricing your services.
Platform Choice: Squarespace vs. WordPress
One of the first topics discussed is the choice of platform for web designers. Paige conducted an interesting experiment comparing Squarespace and WordPress. She moved her entire website, including hundreds of blog posts, from Squarespace to WordPress to test if it would improve her site's performance and SEO.
Key points:
The WordPress site scored better on page speed tests but showed no significant difference in actual traffic.
WordPress ended up being more expensive and time-consuming to manage.
Squarespace proved to be easier to use, cheaper, and equally effective for SEO.
Paige concludes: "Squarespace, I think for most people in most situations, for what most people want on websites, is probably going to be cheaper, most of the time."
Starting from Scratch: Can You Really Begin with No Experience?
A common concern for aspiring web designers is whether they can start without prior experience. Paige reassures that it's entirely possible to begin a web design career from scratch.
Key points:
You don't need a computer science degree to be a website designer.
Many successful web designers are self-taught.
Focus on learning about creating quality websites, conversion strategies, and design best practices.
Paige shares: "The vast majority of people did not do anything to do with like websites and marketing and whatever beforehand. And so a lot of them were like self-taught like I was."
The Importance of Niche Selection
Choosing a niche is crucial for success in web design. Paige emphasizes that while Squarespace alone is no longer enough of a niche, specializing in a specific industry or client type can significantly boost your business.
Key points:
A niche makes it easier to market yourself and find clients.
Examples of niches include Squarespace websites for interior designers or authors.
Your niche can be based on industry, design style, or even personality.
Paige explains: "If you pick something, one specific thing, it makes a lot easier. So in terms of if you're trying to figure out, well, where should I do my marketing? Okay, I've picked, I want to say Facebook groups is like your marketing strategy that you've chosen, for example. And that's like, okay, well, which Facebook group do I join? It's very hard to pick if you're just like, I'm a Squarespace designer or something."
Pricing and Earning Potential
One of the most pressing questions for new web designers is how much they can earn. Paige provides insights into pricing strategies and potential earnings.
Key points:
Beginning designers can start at $2,000-$3,000 per project.
Experienced designers can charge $10,000-$20,000 per project.
Projects typically take 2-3 weeks, sometimes up to a month.
Paige notes: "There are past students of mine who are doing like 10, 15, 20k per project, and these projects typically take between two to three weeks, sometimes a month."
Mindset Shifts for Success
Paige identifies two crucial mindset shifts that new designers need to make:
Understanding the value of your work and pricing accordingly.
Recognizing that formal education isn't necessary to succeed in web design.
Paige advises: "What you price yourself at is basically what salary you're going to get at the end of the year. It's a huge factor in that."
The Importance of Client Experience
A key insight from the interview is the significance of providing an excellent client experience. Paige reveals that designers who get many referrals typically excel in two areas:
Producing a great end result (a beautiful, functional website).
Providing an excellent client experience through efficient business operations.
Paige explains: "If people are getting a lot of referrals, it's typically because, one, they produced a great end result, and two, you have, like, the back end of your business. You know your process, you know your timeline, you know your pricing, you're maybe serving one client at a time, you are consistently meeting deadlines, you're like, you've gone above and beyond."
Business Planning and Simplicity
While Paige doesn't advocate for formal business plans, she emphasizes the importance of setting goals and being intentional about your business. She also stresses the value of simplicity in business operations.
Key points:
Set annual goals and revenue targets.
Use project management tools like Asana to stay organized.
Focus on simplicity and efficiency in your business processes.
Paige shares: "I definitely designed what I would call like a lifestyle first business. So it's like my life comes before the business, not the other way around. And so I think in order to do that, I take a, what I call a lazy efficient strategy."
Upcoming Free Bootcamp
The interview concludes with information about Paige's upcoming free three-day bootcamp, the "Profitable and Productive Web Designer Bootcamp." This event covers:
Day 1: Basics of setting up a web designer business
Day 2: Ensuring profitability in your business
Day 3: Finding clients
This bootcamp offers valuable insights for both new and experienced web designers, providing a platform for learning, networking, and potentially winning web design tools and software worth $1,500.
In conclusion, this interview with Paige Brunton offers a wealth of information for anyone interested in starting or growing a web design business. From platform selection to pricing strategies, niche selection, and the importance of client experience, Paige's insights provide a roadmap for success in the competitive world of web design.
