Web Design Business with Josh Hall

440 - From Freelancer Stuck at 70k to Multi-6-Figure Agency Owner | Marc Hyde

In 2021, Marc Hyde was stuck at around 70k per year as a freelancer… In 2026, Marc is now growing and scaling a multi-6-figure web agency with a lean team and getting more time back in his schedule. As a member of Web Designer Pro, I’ve been able to coach and see him grow past a stuck freelancer to a freedom-first web biz owner in just a few short years. Marc pulls the curtain back in this episode about what he did to get to the 6 and multi-6-figure revenue range, how his focus on recurring revenue through support and growth plans changed the game for him, how he’s grown a small support team to free him up and why he felt my coaching inside Web Designer Pro was what he needed to help him, quote “bust through the next ceiling” in his business. What an honor to be a part of his journey to this point…and we’re just getting started! Head to the show notes to get all the links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/440 Get 2 Free Termageddon Licenses Protect client sites with auto-updating privacy policies. Get 2 Termageddon licenses free for life. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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439 - Why We're Sticking with Divi 5 with Ania Romańska

When Divi came onto the scene and introduced the visual builder (in 2016), it became THE most popular visual builder for WordPress. But now, it’s a decade later, and what was revolutionary back then isn’t cutting it in 2026. Divi has been in a transition over the last couple of years since the announcement of Divi 5, which was a complete, modern rebuild. Many others and I, who were early adopters (I started using it in September 2024), have had to show patience, persistence, and perseverance through the many updates, bug fixes, UX and builder changes. Many Divi designers didn’t last through the transition and abandoned the Divi ship for other WordPress page builder alternatives…, but like me, many Divi designers have grown to embrace and even love the new Divi 5 experience, for many reasons. One of those designers is my good friend Ania Romanska with Divi Lover. In this episode, we dug into our experience with transitioning from Divi 4 to Divi 5, what we love about it, what we’re excited about, and what we’re still frustrated with/hoping they address soon. And speaking of Ania, she is one of THE BEST Divi designers I know and has a real knack for not only designing websites, but creating a “Design System” that you can replicate and build on site after site after site after site, making website builds faster, more efficient, and more fun. She’s hosting the next Divi 5 Design System Workshop Sept 7th-9th, 2026! The value you get for only $97 is absolutely wild, but as a listener of the show, you can use my code JOSHHALL at checkout for 30% OFF! Only $67 to learn how to master Divi 5 with a complete, workable design system that you can use over and over again. Head to joshhall.co/workshop to secure your seat Again, use coupon code JOSHHALL at checkout for 30% off. P.S. I’ll be there learning right beside you because I’m taking this workshop as well as promoting it! I know Divi 5 pretty well but have not kept up with the recent updates so I’m excited to learn from someone who may know Divi 5 better than anyone I know. Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/439

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438 - Why I Moved from ManageWP to WPUmbrella

It's official. I recently moved from ManageWP to WPUmbrella for managing my WordPress sites. This episode covers in detail why I left ManageWP and why I personally feel I can trust WPUmbrella for the long term. This is the audio from the full new video so to see all the visuals, head to the full video at: https://youtu.be/Z-kTkGKld7w Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/438

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437 - Creating an AI Policy for your Web Design Biz

In my community, Web Designer Pro, we’re wrapping up a challenge on “Creating an AI Policy” for our web businesses. This is based largely off of frustrations and challenges that members have been having with clients bringing them AI designs that they want them to code and host, or taking their hard-earned and human-first designs, then using AI to manipulate them into generic slop. That’s what led us to recently kick off this community challenge, and in this episode, I’ll walk you through the AI Policy starter template that we came up with so you can use it for your web design business! It’s below. Completely free, on me. Again, please do not copy and paste it verbatim…use it as a starting point and add your own flare without using AI, ideally!! Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/437

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436 - Will Courses Survive with AI? with Chris Badgett of Lifter LMS

This episode is sponsored by SiteGround's new AI Agent for Wordpress → In an age of AI overwhelm, noise, distraction and behavioral change, I know we all wonder, can courses survive? What will online education look like in 5, 10, shoot, 2 years?!? Well, in times like these, I need a voice of reason. A calming voice of optimisim and hope. And for me, that’s Chris Badgett. CEO of Lifter LMS. Hands down the best LMS for WordPress. And I’m pumped to have him back on the podcast today to talk all things landscape change (and future) with courses and online education. Yes I’m an online course creator but I’m also an online course taker and so many online courses have changed my life so I’m very protective of the A-Z, results-based experience but I’m also a realist and I know learning behavior is changing with AI. But as always, after a chat with Chris, I feel better. I hope you will too 🙂 Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/436

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Bailey's "Process Like a Pro" Challenge (register now)

Jump into Bailey's Collins' "Process Like a Pro Challenge" → joshhall.co/challenge use my link for 50% OFF (only $47!) Runs Aug 10-14, registration closes Aug 9. Learn from the BEST IN THE BUSINESS when it comes to building websites in a day. After all, she's done 500+ now. You can take her process, make it your own and speed up your website builds, take on more clients, be more profitable and enjoy life more as a web designer :) All for only $47. Crazy steal of a deal here, friends! Josh P.S. you can use this challenge to improve your process for website in a day, website in a week or fully custom builds!

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435 - 500+ Website Design Days Done with this Process with Bailey Collins

If you’re catching this episode the week it drops, be sure to check out Bailey's “Process Like A Pro” challenge happening live, Aug 10-14! Use my link → joshhall.co/challenge to get 50% OFF the challenge (only $47)! ------ I tried. I really did. I tried to find a chink in Bailey Collins’ process armor…but I failed. She really does have the most thorough, well-thought-out, and proven process for building websites in a day. And in this episode, she’s back on to tell us the ins and outs of how she’s built over 500 websites in a day using this process. Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/435

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What's Working Now (in web design) 2026 Workshop this Thursday!

Join me this Thursday, July 30th from 12pm - 1:30pm EST for my What's Working Now (in web design) 2026 Workshop! RSVP for free → No theory. No guessing. No endless AI ideas that lead to overwhelm and uncertainty... Just proven examples of pricing, offers, models, marketing, and sales strategies that are working TODAY for Web Designer Pros killing it in 2026. Save my seat →

434 - Offering AI Search (a Web Designer Pro Coaching Call) with Shane Vigeant

Want to know something that’s working great for web designers today? Offering AI Search + Local SEO. Especially if you’re working with local service providers in blue-collar industries. Back that up with solid, conversion-based website design (plus hosting & maintenance) and you’ve got a winning recipe of growing monthly recurring revenue and results-based for years to come. That’s exactly what Web Designer Pro member Shane Vigeant of tonewoodmarketing.com has discovered, because even though he’s building up his web design business on the side, it’s growing so much that he’s seen the light of going full-time in the near future. Especially at this rate. That’s exactly what we discussed on a recent coaching call inside Pro that Shane was kind enough to allow me to repurpose for you here! It’s a great convo to tune into if you want to know what’s working today for a web designer early in the journey with a focus on AI search + local SEO. Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/434 P.S. Our resident SEO/Copy expert Michelle Bourbonniere also joins this one halfway through! P.S.S. joshhall.co/workshop to register for my free, upcoming “What’s Working Now (in web design)” workshop happening Thursday, July 30th! P.S.S.S. webdesignerpro.com/coaching to lock in the current rate before we move to an application-only model Aug 3

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My coaching is changing...jump in by Aug 3 to lock in the current rate!

The Web Designer Pro® Coaching Tier has some important upcoming changes happening on Monday, August 3, 2026! → Join here to lock in the current rate $199/mo or $1,999/yr (if you want a 1:1 coaching call with me) before Mon Aug 3. This solo/audio only episodes gives you an in-depth look at the changes, expanding on why now is the time and to hear directly from a handful of Coaching Tier members on how my personal coaching has helped their businesses. In short, Coaching Tier Changes (Mon Aug 3) Open/Closed Model - we’ll move to opening the coaching tier every quarter Application - we’ll have a new application process to apply for coaching Annual Only - new billing cycle is annual-only with a new price-point of $2,999/yr which includes a 1:1 60min coaching call with me Member Cap - we’ll move back to having a cap at 150 coaching tier members due to my personal bandwidth and capacity (at 103 currently) Join here to lock in the current Coaching Tier rate →

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Greatest Hits: How Jason Gracia Built a 7-Figure Productized Web Design Business

This episode is one of our Greatest Hits interviews, originally released about two and a half years ago with my close colleague and good friend, Jason Gracia. Jason has built one of the most incredible productized web design businesses I’ve seen through his company, SWYFT Sites. Since this conversation first aired, he has sold the same core website more than 700 times and generated nearly $2.5 million through the system he created. He’s also shared this model inside Web Designer Pro and recently presented his $2 million sales system at one of our ProCon events. This original interview was the conversation that first introduced his system to the world, which is why I wanted to bring it back as one of our Greatest Hits. And the timing couldn’t be better. Jason is hosting a completely free Million-Dollar Website Workshop on Thursday, July 16 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern, where he’ll pull back the curtain and walk you through the entire system behind SWYFT Sites. I’m a proud partner of Jason’s, and this model has helped so many web designers move away from being stuck in daily production and step into the role of business owner. This is especially helpful if: You’re tired of being the person doing every part of every website project You already serve a specific niche—or want to choose one Websites are only one part of a broader marketing or digital agency You want to build a productized wing of your existing services You’re looking for a more scalable and repeatable business model Jason’s approach is one of the best examples of how to turn web design into a systemized offer that can be sold and delivered repeatedly without reinventing every project. In this one, we cover: How Jason built a seven-figure productized web design business How SWYFT Sites sells the same proven website system repeatedly Why choosing a niche made the model possible How he moved from custom projects into a scalable service The systems behind selling and delivering websites at volume How productization can help you step out of daily fulfillment Why this model works for both web designers and broader agencies How Jason generated nearly $2.5 million from one core system The difference between owning the business and being the web designer How to create a productized division without changing your entire company This was originally Episode 312, so head to the original show notes for all links and resources mentioned, along with the full transcription at joshhall.co/312.

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433 - Selling a Web Design Business with Hans Skillrud, Jake Kramer and John Wooten "Buy or Sell" series pt. 2 of 2

This is part 2 of our “Buy or Sell” series! In part 1 (ep 432), we focused on what it looks like to acquire/buy a web business or their book of clients. In this one, we’ll step into the selling shoes and dig into what it looks like to create a sellable web design business. Hans Skillrud is back on and has experience selling his agency in order to go full-time with Termageddon. Jake and John Wooten are building one of the most “sellable” agencies I’ve seen and have a wealth of experience with creating a productized/systematized web agency. Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/433

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432 - Buying a Web Design Business with Jake Kramer and Hans Skillrud - "Buy or Sell" series pt. 1 of 2

Ever thought about acquiring (i.e. buying a web design business) or their book of business as a way to get clients and grow your biz fast? Well, you'll be thinking about it after this conversation with Hans Skillrud, now co-founder of Termageddon, but previously an agency owner who acquired a large book of business, which helped catapult his agency's growth and revenue. We also have Jake Kramer with Artillery Media, who, on the podcast recently, shared that they're in the web business acquisition game, having just purchased a book of business from a web design freelancer. This is part 1 of 2 of our "Buy or Sell" series. Next episode, we'll focus on selling a web design business and what it takes to make your web design business "sellable" one day. Show notes and all links mentioned at joshhall.co/432

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it all started 10 years go today...

My fateful meeting with Nathan, at the time, the content manager of Elegant Themes. I shared what I was up to with Divi and building my little web studio to 100k/yr. He asked me if I'd like to contribute to the Elegant Themes blog. That cemented my passion for teaching what I was building and was the beginning of joshhall.co, this podcast and Web Designer Pro® 🙏 Links mentioned: All my ET blog posts are still alive and kick'n at: elegantthemes.com/blog/author/josh-hall Join LocalSEOAcademy now to get access to the upcoming SEO Sales Call Bootcamp (normally $149) for only $99 joshhall.co/lsa

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431 - Hot Dog, I just made 1 million with community

Well, I’ll be. I just recently crossed 1 million in lifetime revenue to date with my community Web Designer Pro. While it was never an exact goal and there was no rush to get to the 7-figure mark, it is a cool milestone and boy howdy have I learned a lot. And that’s what I’m sharing with you here in this solo episode of the podcast. More specifically, 7 secrets (and 1 important bonus), that helped me get to the Milly Mark in 5 ½ years. Note, these are not community builder-specific secrets. They’re important for all entrepreneurs, web and brand designers in 2026. Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/431

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430 How to Sell Branding & Web Design with Alexia Lynn

Alexia Lynn is a brand strategist, world-class designer, and rock star Web Designer Pro® member who 10x’d her revenue last year after going full-time in August 2025. A huge aspect of her success (other than being an amazing designer and an awesome person) is how she’s learned to offer and sell both brand and web together. In this chat, she shares her exact sales process and mindset around how leading with strategy makes selling design, branding and web so much easier. Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/430

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Official ProCon 2026 Recap (with lessons, stories and your special offer)

👉 head to the full ProCon 2026 recap post Links mentioned: Join the WDP Community Tier (50% off your first month) Join the WDP Coaching Tier (50% off your first month) Watch Bailey Collin's free Website in a Day training Why I've trusted SiteGround for 10 years video Thanks to our PRO CON 2026 sponsors: 17hats SiteGround Termageddon LocalSEOAcademy Design Day Blueprint WP Umbrella (use code JOSHHALLWPU for a full free month) Be sure to check out hashtag #PROCON2026 on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook to see all the posts around the event!

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429 - Exactly how Eric found and hired In Transit Studios Team

I look to Eric Dingler – CEO of my agency In Transit Studios – often for advice, wisdom and as a guiding light for hiring, team building and delegating. And in this special podcast chat, you’re gonna find out why. Eric walks us through exactly the steps he took in finding, hiring and managing the current In Transit Studios team which is comprised of a couple of full-time team members and a few contractors. Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/429

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Josh checking in (on vacay this week)

Josh here checking in as this week, I'm at the beach with my wife and kiddos. We'll resume interviews next week, but in this one, I'm covering: • a quick ProCon 2026 highlight tease and why IRL community hits different • why in-person networking is surging again and how it builds trust fast • the difference between networking groups and referral groups • building referral partners adjacent to web design services • ProCon 2026 workshop replays now live inside Web Designer Pro • headline strategy wins that turn into real client work • wealth building and retirement planning for business owners • why SEO fundamentals still work and how story-based content boosts results • moving from ManageWP to WP Umbrella and what prompted it • the rise of buying and selling web design businesses and what to watch for • next week’s interview on hiring and team building with Eric Dingler • the Web Designer Pro Mastermind and the six pillars: revenue, profit, team, time, offers, leadership Links mentioned: Join Web Designer Pro® My new SiteGround video My Scale Your Way free masterclass WP Umbrella (code JOSHHALLWPU for one month free) Connect with me on Instagram or LinkedIn

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428 - She gets clients without social media, here's how with Michelle Bourbonniere

You need social media to get web design clients in 2026, right? Isn’t that what they say? Well, Michelle Bourbonniere missed that memo. She’s booked out consistently with her SEO & copy services despite not being active on ANY social media. We dive into how she’s done it. Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/428

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