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

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 [email protected] 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

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 [email protected] 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

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 [email protected] 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

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: [email protected] 🎙️ 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

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 [email protected] 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

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 [email protected] 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

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 confidenceWhy "spend money to make money" applies to web design more than you thinkPicking one area to go all in on each year, from accessibility to SEOBuilding a rigid onboarding process so content arrives before the build startsGetting known for one or two things instead of being "just another designer"Why staying in your lane beats watching the competitionCollecting 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 [email protected] 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

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 oneCookie notices, GDPR, and what to check before you go liveWhy you should run a Page Speed Insights report and screenshot it every timeSetting up admin accounts (the step Holly has forgotten more than once)Website manuals: why every client should get one and how to create themHooking up analytics, pixels, and code tracking before handoverHow to test on incognito browser and mobile before you call it doneGetting written sign-off from your client — and the wording that mattersMigration, SSL certificates, and enforcing HTTPS after moving a siteContact form testing, SMTP, and GDPR-compliant database savingHow to organise client training and what Holly’s personalised video manuals look likeSetting up client logins and making sure they know how to run WordPress updatesAsking for reviews at exactly the right momentWhat 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 [email protected] 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

If you’ve ever been made to feel that your tech stack is wrong, or that using a page builder makes you less of a “real” developer, this episode is here to give you a reality check. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode, I’m talking about tech stacks, tech shaming, and why the platform you build on matters a whole lot less than what you’re actually delivering. We get into: What we’re actually being hired to deliver — and why the tools are irrelevantWhy client ease of use should drive every tech decision you makeThe difference between a proper handover and abandoning your client at the doorWhy locked-down websites cause problems for everyone, including youHow imposter syndrome fuels tech shaming in the web design industryWhy personality and trust win clients over tech stack every single timeThe disappearing developer problem and how to be the designer clients return to If you’ve been tech shamed, or you’ve been second-guessing your tools, this will help you refocus on what actually builds a sustainable web design business. Check out my mentoring 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. Come and find out more at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk or email me at [email protected] Skip to the good bits: 00:00 What really matters about your tech stack 00:36 Welcome to Websites Made Simple 00:50 Holly’s experience of tech shaming on LinkedIn 01:50 Sparks Group Mentoring explained 02:36 It’s not about the platform — it’s about the results 03:41 Why client ease of use should come first 04:24 Page builders, locked-down sites, and client access 05:26 Clients should always be able to access their own website 06:25 The disappearing developer problem 07:11 How to sign off a website properly 07:48 Client training, Zoom handovers, and user manuals 08:24 Building for two people: your client and their visitors 09:11 Why tech shaming is really just imposter syndrome 10:03 Why clients choose you for personality, not tools 11:30 “In 20 years, I’ve never gone back to the same designer twice — until now”

If you're putting in the work, showing up, doing everything you can — and still turning over the same amount of money year on year — this episode is for you. Check out my popular group mentoring programme: 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. Hi and welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode, I'm talking about the money mindset patterns that can sometimes keep web designers stuck, what it actually means to outsource and invest in your business, and how to get out of your own way so you can finally start earning what you deserve. We get into: Why so many web designers drop their prices before the client has even had a chance to respondThe power of the pauseWhy payment plans for hosting and maintenance are non-negotiable recurring revenueWhat a money mindset ceiling looks like, and why it keeps you stuck at the same figureThe real maths behind outsourcing to a VAWhy website designers bottleneck their own businessesMy personal story of working every evening after the kids went to bedHow to get out of your own way, stop doing everything yourself, and start running a business that actually works for you If you're working hard but not seeing the financial results to match, this episode will show you exactly what's holding you back — and it might just be you. Come and find out more at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk or email me at [email protected] Skip to the good bits: 00:00 What's really holding back your web design business 01:17 Turning over the same money year on year — why it happens 02:00 What levelling up really means 02:44 Self-sabotaging behaviours — do any of these sound like you? 05:47 Why even getting a client on a call earns your seat at the table 07:27 Money mindset ceilings: stuck at the same income figure 10:03 Outsourcing to a VA: the real numbers 12:19 "You're halving your hourly rate" — the hard truth from a good friend 13:55 Get out of your own way and earn what you deserve Mentioned in this episode: Remember to sign up for our blogging masterclass! Go to https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/masterclass Blogging masterclass

If a client has ever asked you "When will my website be found on Google?" — and you didn’t quite know how to answer — this episode is for 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. Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple with me, Holly Christie. In this episode, I’m talking about where your role as a web designer ends and where an SEO specialist’s begins — and why knowing that difference could genuinely change the quality of the websites you deliver and the reputation you build. We get into: The difference between building an SEO-friendly website and delivering SEO servicesWhat you ARE responsible for in every build (and where the line is)How to find an SEO specialist you actually like working withWhy you should bring them in before the build starts, not afterWhat an SEO specialist actually produces and how to show clients the valueHow to handle clients who don’t want to pay for SEO supportWhether to build the SEO cost into your website priceWhy the relationship goes both ways — and how SEO specialists can become a referral source for you If you’ve ever felt unsure about where SEO fits in your process, this will help you get clear, get confident, and start building better websites with the right people around you. Come and find out more at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk or email me at [email protected] And here’s the link if you want to learn more about Neal and Podknows: https://podknows.co.uk/ Skip to the good bits: 01:15 “When will my website be found on Google?” 01:41 What web designers ARE responsible for in SEO 02:34 SEO-friendly ≠ SEO services 02:57 Nikki Pilkington 03:44 Find an SEO specialist you vibe with 04:44 Bring them in before the build starts 05:03 What your SEO specialist will actually produce 06:14 When the client won’t pay for SEO 07:03 Build the SEO cost into your website price 08:24 It goes both ways: the referral relationship Mentioned in this episode: Remember to sign up for our blogging masterclass! Go to https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/masterclass Blogging masterclass

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 [email protected] 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 Mentioned in this episode: Remember to sign up for our blogging masterclass! Go to https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/masterclass Blogging masterclass

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 [email protected] 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 Mentioned in this episode: Remember to sign up for our blogging masterclass! Go to https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/masterclass Blogging masterclass

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: [email protected] 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollycchristie/ Mentioned in this episode: Remember to sign up for our blogging masterclass! Go to https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/masterclass Blogging masterclass

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 [email protected] 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: Remember to sign up for our blogging masterclass! Go to https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/masterclass Blogging masterclass Join my Sparks Group Mentoring Programme