listen to my latest podcast episode:
Managing Your Web Design Business Finances with Rocky Lalvani EP 88
byShannon Mattern
WDA Live Strategy Call 01/30/24


Summary + Transcript

Chat

00:01:34 Anika Loewen: Win: Zombie client on the way out!
00:01:42 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Two things:
1) went to my first in-person networking event in over a year
00:01:55 Kim Blake: Reacted to “Win: Zombie client o…” with 👏
00:02:03 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “Two things:
1) went …” with 🎉
00:02:04 Kim Blake: Reacted to “Two things:
1) went …” with 🤩
00:02:07 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “Two things:
1) went …” with 🎉
00:02:10 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “Win: Zombie client o…” with 👏
00:02:16 Kim Blake: 1. After my milestone call with Shannon, I sent my improved matrix to a prospect yesterday. 🤞 And I got the Loom video I included down to 5 min. LOL!
2. Still setting those boundaries with great pleasure. Woot! Woot!
00:02:35 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “1. After my mileston…” with ❤️
00:02:36 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “1. After my mileston…” with ❤️
00:02:51 Chantel Rudden: Yay ill steal Traceys lol, I did two networking events last week

One was with my niche too called “coffees with creatives”
00:03:15 Leigh Scott: I had a retainer client end their agreement with me. I initially took it very personally and now I can see it had nothing to do with me. So I guess my win is being able to see it through a constructive perspective
00:03:25 Anika Loewen: Replying to “1. After my mileston…”

Boundaries are amazing! So needed!
00:03:26 Kim Blake: Reacted to “Yay ill steal Tracey…” with 👍
00:03:32 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Reacted to “Yay ill steal Tracey…” with ❤️
00:03:34 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “Yay ill steal Tracey…” with ❤️
00:03:53 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “I had a retainer cli…” with ❤️
00:03:56 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “I had a retainer cli…” with ❤️
00:04:05 Diana Richards: Sent a current client a proposal to do web maintenance, and vowed to myself that I would NOT do any more random plug-in updates until we sign a contract and she pays for it
00:04:08 Anika Loewen: Replying to “I had a retainer cli…”

I hear you, soooooooooooo much on this one!
00:04:24 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “Sent a current clien…” with 🎉
00:04:34 Leigh Scott: Reacted to “I hear you, sooooooo…” with ❤️
00:04:48 Angelica Hidalgo: Woo hoo!
00:05:05 Ruby Javaid: I created an email deliverability package on the fly (bc of all the new changes) and pitched and a couple of clients took me up on it immediately! Nice quick wins 😀
00:05:16 Kim Blake: Reacted to “Sent a current clien…” with 👏
00:05:18 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “I created an email d…” with ❤️
00:05:19 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “I created an email d…” with ❤️
00:05:31 Angelica Hidalgo: I posted my first Tik Tok eep!
00:05:32 Kim Blake: Reacted to “I had a retainer cli…” with 👏
00:05:32 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “Sent a current clien…” with 👏🏻
00:05:34 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Mine is a friend of mine who is Mary Kaye consultant – she knows a TON of people and knows of LOTS of networking events in the area
00:05:41 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “I posted my first Ti…” with 🎉
00:05:54 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “Mine is a friend of …” with ❤️
00:05:57 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “Mine is a friend of …” with ❤️
00:05:59 Kim Blake: Reacted to “I created an email d…” with 🤩
00:06:05 Kim Blake: Reacted to “I posted my first Ti…” with 👍
00:06:08 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “I posted my first Ti…” with 🎉
00:06:13 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “Mine is a friend of …” with ❤️
00:06:18 Chantel Rudden: Networking events, I just hear them through the grapevine, also my chamber of commerce, the creative I follow hosts them 🙂 sometimes you can find them on eventbrite
00:06:50 Kim Blake: Replying to “Networking events, I…”

Yes, chambers!
00:07:18 Shannon Mattern: 1. What’s your current focus and what steps are you taking daily to reach your goals?
2. What are you learning or want to learn?
3. What is one piece of advice you would offer to yourself this time last year?
00:09:43 Amy K Ogden: Everyone goes through it like 4 times. Lol! YOu’re in good company.
00:09:52 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “Everyone goes throug…” with 💯
00:10:12 Kim Blake: My mom and I are close too. I’m always asking her for advice.
00:10:43 Angelica Hidalgo: Preach it!
00:12:06 Amy K Ogden: I think the Patrick is something that for the most part is ever-evolving anyway.
00:13:01 Kim Blake: Replying to “I think the Patrick …”

Yes, it is. I keep adding to it as I develop it.
00:13:48 Shannon Mattern: @Cheyenne Skye Hi! We’re having a round table discussion on these questions:
1. What’s your current focus and what steps are you taking daily to reach your goals?
2. What are you learning or want to learn?
3. What is one piece of advice you would offer to yourself this time last year?
00:13:52 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “My mom and I are clo…” with ❤️
00:13:54 Angelica Hidalgo: Erica I also have a question if we have time after everyone please 😊
00:14:02 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “I think the Patrick …” with ❤️
00:14:04 Shannon Mattern: Replying to “Erica I also have a …”

For sure!
00:14:10 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “For sure!” with ❤️
00:14:10 Cheyenne Skye: Reacted to “@Cheyenne Skye Hi!…” with ❤️
00:16:06 Anika Loewen: Professional Development Day!!!
00:17:15 Angelica Hidalgo: Hahaha parents always know
00:17:18 Anika Loewen: YESSSSSSSSSS! My Mom does the same!!
00:17:41 Anika Loewen: Replying to “YESSSSSSSSSS! My Mom…”

I get the stink-eye and know I dun messed up!
00:18:31 Kim Blake: Replying to “YESSSSSSSSSS! My Mom…”

🤣
00:18:47 Kim Blake: Reacted to “Hahaha parents alway…” with 🤣
00:18:58 Kim Blake: Reacted to “Professional Develop…” with 👍
00:19:14 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “Hahaha parents alway…” with 🤣
00:20:13 Kim Blake: Small steps are a must so you don’t get overwhelmed.
00:20:20 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Reacted to “Small steps are a mu…” with 👆🏻
00:20:23 Anika Loewen: And if you put up the boundaries, you have to be ok with them walking away because they realize they cannot use you anymore.
00:20:31 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Replying to “Small steps are a mu…”

absolutely!
00:20:53 Kim Blake: Reacted to “And if you put up th…” with 👍
00:21:01 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “And if you put up th…” with ❤️
00:21:55 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Replying to “And if you put up th…”

Yep. Interestingly enough even when they go away, it’s usually a relief. AND it frees you up to help others who understand boundaries and are SO happy they have us to help them!
00:21:56 Angelica Hidalgo: Shiny object syndrome hahahahaha
00:22:02 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “Shiny object syndrom…” with 😂
00:22:16 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “Yep. Interestingly e…” with 👏🏻
00:22:24 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Reacted to “Shiny object syndrom…” with 😂
00:22:48 Kim Blake: Reacted to “Yep. Interestingly e…” with 👏🏻
00:23:53 Anika Loewen: Replying to “Shiny object syndrom…”

Isn’t there an old proverb that says:

Fools think they know everything, the wise know they know little.
00:24:02 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “Isn’t there an old p…” with ❤️
00:24:03 Kim Blake: I firmly believe that if you say “I don’t know” to a client it shows you’re honest.
00:24:10 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “I firmly believe tha…” with ❤️
00:24:20 Kim Blake: Replying to “I firmly believe tha…”

add adds trust.
00:24:28 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “Isn’t there an old p…” with ❤️
00:24:29 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “I firmly believe tha…” with ❤️
00:24:31 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “Shiny object syndrom…” with 😂
00:24:40 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Reacted to “I firmly believe tha…” with ❤️
00:24:58 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Replying to “I firmly believe tha…”

I always say “that’s a great question – I’ll see what I can find out about this.”
00:25:17 Kim Blake: Reacted to “I always say “that’s…” with ❤️
00:25:20 Angelica Hidalgo: Doctors still google things when they’re unsure! I had one do it on Monday
00:25:21 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “I always say “that’s…” with ❤️
00:25:29 Amy K Ogden: Reacted to “Doctors still google…” with 👍
00:25:32 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “Doctors still google…” with 👍
00:25:34 Kim Blake: Reacted to “Doctors still google…” with 🤣
00:26:24 Amy K Ogden: YOu’re in the exact right place for that @Cheyenne
00:28:18 Cheyenne Skye: Woohoo, so happy to be here!!
00:28:23 Cheyenne Skye: Reacted to “YOu’re in the exa…” with ❤️
00:28:29 Kim Blake: Amy’s dog 🥰
00:28:33 Anika Loewen: If you need a posting buddy to keep you accountable….
00:28:37 Amy K Ogden: Reacted to “Amy’s dog 🥰” with ❤️
00:28:49 Cheyenne Skye: Reacted to “Amy’s dog 🥰” with ❤️
00:29:08 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: You are anything but an idiot… just sayin’

And people like to see “real” as in being yourself on camera – mistakes and all
00:30:34 Cheyenne Skye: We figure it out so they don't have to 😂
00:30:41 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “Woohoo, so happy to …” with ❤️
00:30:53 Kim Blake: Replying to “We figure it out so …”

So true.
00:31:10 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Replying to “You are anything but…”

@Angelica Hidalgo 👆🏻
00:31:18 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Might need to adjust the pan
00:31:21 Kim Blake: The pancake analogy is great!
00:31:59 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “You are anything but…” with ❤️
00:32:46 Anika Loewen: Let us know what you set up so that we can follow you!
00:32:54 Cheyenne Skye: Reacted to “Let us know what y…” with ❤️
00:33:56 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “Let us know what you…” with ❤️
00:36:01 Anika Loewen: ChatGPT is an amazing tool for that
00:37:34 Amy K Ogden: Great advice, thanks Erica!
00:38:31 Amy K Ogden: That’s amazing!!
00:38:31 Shannon Mattern: Amazing, I love it
00:38:34 Amy K Ogden: Love it!
00:40:00 Amy K Ogden: That’s a good one.
00:40:54 Angelica Hidalgo: Yeah I want to see!
00:42:01 Amy K Ogden: Subcontract out more services
00:42:07 Amy K Ogden: Like contracting, branding etc.
00:42:23 Anika Loewen: Replying to “Like contracting, br…”

I totally do this if I need help
00:42:44 Amy K Ogden: It’s not about deliverables
00:43:26 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Rush charge!
00:43:28 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: 🙂
00:43:46 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “ChatGPT is an amazin…” with ❤️
00:44:30 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Cheap + Fast = low quality
Good + Cheap = too slow
Fast + Good = expensive
00:44:56 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “Cheap + Fast = low q…” with ❤️
00:45:02 Ruby Javaid: Reacted to “Cheap + Fast = low q…” with ❤️
00:46:00 Kim Blake: Reacted to “Cheap + Fast = low q…” with ❤️
00:46:01 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: YES – I always forget that – they come to ME because, in their world, I’m the expert.
00:47:19 Amy K Ogden: Also this is a great video on not punishing yourself for being efficient.Don’t punish yourself for being efficient!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/DHoK5FD5vDdurYJf/?mibextid=KsPBc6
00:47:38 Amy K Ogden: @Cheyenne Skye you have a baby dog too!
00:48:50 Amy K Ogden: Reacted to “Haha that's Piper! T…” with 😂
00:48:53 Amy K Ogden: Reacted to “Haha that's Piper! T…” with ❤️
00:48:56 Cheyenne Skye: Replying to “@Cheyenne Skye you…”

Haha that's Piper! There's a fly buzzing around in here and she's scared of it so needed me to baby her 😅
00:49:02 Kim Blake: This landed in my inbox last week and resonated with me on different levels. “The obvious way to buy back your time is to pay someone to do something for you. The less obvious way to buy back your time is to say no. ”
00:49:47 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Reacted to “This landed in my in…” with ❤️
00:50:01 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: and the onboarding, and the training, etc., etc.
00:52:04 Chantel Rudden: Not sure if I should post It here, or in the fb group, was wondering if anyone can help me walk through Shannons marketing <3
00:52:28 Shannon Mattern: Replying to “Not sure if I should…”

We can chat about that after Angelica’s question if you want!
00:52:35 Chantel Rudden: Reacted to “We can chat about th…” with ❤️
00:52:36 Kim Blake: Great overall advice on the call; now we need to remember to give the advice to ourselves.
00:52:42 Angelica Hidalgo: I love Chris Do!!!!
00:53:18 Chantel Rudden: Replying to “I love Chris Do!!!!”

Same!
00:53:48 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: sometimes – depends on the project.
00:53:54 Ruby Javaid: I can usually run 2-3 at a time depending on the projects
00:53:58 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “sometimes – depends …” with ❤️
00:53:59 Shannon Mattern: Replying to “sometimes – depends …”

This
00:54:02 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “I can usually run 2-…” with ❤️
00:54:11 Kim Blake: Reacted to “I can usually run 2-…” with ❤️
00:56:13 Amy K Ogden: I don’t want to work on more than one or two at a time which is why I’m focusing on upping my maintenance clients to consistently cover my expenses then I can focus on gaining and working with one premium client or two mid-level clients etc.
00:56:32 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “I don’t want to work…” with ❤️
00:56:42 Cheyenne Skye: Reacted to “I don’t want to w…” with ❤️
00:56:55 Anika Loewen: Sorry! Yeah! That’s what works for me!
00:56:55 Kim Blake: Reacted to “I don’t want to work…” with ❤️
01:01:12 Anika Loewen: Does anyone use a support ticket service at all?
01:01:45 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Replying to “Does anyone use a su…”

not in my business (yet) – i used to use one when I worked at Intel years ago
01:01:52 Amy K Ogden: I gotta run! Sorry, good luck Chatenl!
01:01:52 Angelica Hidalgo: Ooh sorry Chantel! That took a while
01:02:35 Kim Blake: Replying to “Does anyone use a su…”

I have looked into this and haven’t found anything yet.
01:03:00 Anika Loewen: Replying to “Does anyone use a su…”

I’m debating getting one of these for my business. Especially if I create a website, and they didn’t purchase a maintenance package, but things break. Something that I can add billing on .
01:03:10 Anika Loewen: Replying to “Does anyone use a su…”

I did find this… https://woo.com/products/support-ticket-system-for-woocommerce/
01:03:23 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “I’m debating getting…” with ❤️
01:03:35 Kim Blake: Reacted to “I did find this… htt…” with 👍
01:08:01 Angelica Hidalgo: Hello I have a question

With the people we’re contacting, I feel like I don’t know anyone directly with a fashion brand just people in the fashion industry, and I feel resistance to messaging these people incase I seem too “salesy”

I only know these people from modelling so I’m finding it hard to shift from them knowing me as a model to being like I do websites!

How do I get past this?
01:08:53 Kim Blake: I have to head out. Thanks, everyone.
01:11:08 Chantel Rudden: Thank you guys!!