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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Why Web Design Stopped Being Fun (And How to Get It Back)
Episode 68
Monday, September 7, 2026 • Duration 13:52
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.
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.
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
Website Designers - Your Clients Could Be Getting Sued Over This
Episode 67
Monday, August 24, 2026 • Duration 29:25
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.
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.
The Website Manual Hack That Ends "How Do I Log In" Forever!
Episode 66
Monday, August 10, 2026 • Duration 18:08
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.
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.
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
(So you can skip to the relevant bits):
You're Not Doing Web Design Wrong — You Just Weren't Told This
Episode 64
Monday, July 13, 2026 • Duration 20:22
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.
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 -
How to sign off a website project properly: a free checklist
Episode 63
Monday, June 29, 2026 • Duration 20:25
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.
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.
Stop Tech Shaming: What Actually Matters in a Website Build
Episode 62
Monday, June 15, 2026 • Duration 11:59
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 irrelevant
Why client ease of use should drive every tech decision you make
The difference between a proper handover and abandoning your client at the door
Why locked-down websites cause problems for everyone, including you
How imposter syndrome fuels tech shaming in the web design industry
Why personality and trust win clients over tech stack every single time
The 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.
Why you need to outsource in your website design business
Episode 61
Monday, June 1, 2026 • Duration 16:26
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.
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 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 respond
The power of the pause
Why payment plans for hosting and maintenance are non-negotiable recurring revenue
What a money mindset ceiling looks like, and why it keeps you stuck at the same figure
The real maths behind outsourcing to a VA
Why website designers bottleneck their own businesses
My personal story of working every evening after the kids went to bed
How 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.
Website Designers - You Think You've Got SEO Covered? Think Again!
Episode 60
Monday, May 18, 2026 • Duration 11:07
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.
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 services
What you ARE responsible for in every build (and where the line is)
How to find an SEO specialist you actually like working with
Why you should bring them in before the build starts, not after
What an SEO specialist actually produces and how to show clients the value
How to handle clients who don’t want to pay for SEO support
Whether to build the SEO cost into your website price
Why 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.
Cheap £99 website builds are killing your website design business
Episode 59
Monday, May 4, 2026 • Duration 16:55
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 up
The burnout that comes with trying the model
Why ongoing payment plans are bad news
The hidden costs that slowly erode client trust
What 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.
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