The phenomenon of scope creep is a pervasive challenge that besets web developers, often arising from the desire to appease clients. I share my strategies for mitigating this issue, ensuring that projects remain true to their original parameters. It's imperative to establish clear boundaries at the onset of any project, thereby preventing the gradual expansion of client demands that can lead to disarray.

You'll need effective communication and structured processes, which not only safeguard the integrity of the project but also foster a positive relationship with clients.

By adopting these practices, we can maintain both the quality of our work and the satisfaction of our clients, ultimately leading to a more successful and enjoyable web design career.

Listen to hear my advice on how to handle client scope creep in your website design business.

Links referenced in this episode:

• websitesmadesimple.co.uk

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Websites Made Simple
• Wix
• Squarespace

Mentioned in this episode:

Websites Made Simple Courses

Check out our Websites Made Simple courses!

Websites Made Simple Courses

Welcome to “Websites Made Simple.” I’m Holly Christie; website designer, mentor, and the host of this podcast.

In this episode I’m pulling back the curtain on the real cost of free website tools.

I’ll be sharing my personal insights and experiences, helping you figure out when those tempting free tools are actually a smart move - and when they’re more trouble than they’re worth.

As someone who loves WordPress and has tried just about every option out there, I’ll explain why some free platforms are industry favourites, and why investing in premium themes and plugins could actually save you a ton of time and help your business grow.

I’ll also walk you through the practical side: how to budget for tools, price your projects right, and invest in what really matters for your workflow and your clients.

Whether you’re starting out or looking to take your web design business to the next level, I’m here to give you honest, actionable advice from inside the industry.

00:00 Free Websites Can't Generate Income

05:55 Yearly Learning vs. Tools Limitations

07:06 Invest in Premium Web Tools

Mentioned in this episode:

Websites Made Simple Courses

Check out our Websites Made Simple courses!

Websites Made Simple Courses

Welcome to another episode of Websites Made Simple!

I’m Holly Christie, your host, and I’m thrilled to have you here. As someone who’s been in the website design game for over a decade, I know how tricky—and sometimes overwhelming—the world of web design can be, especially when it comes to protecting yourself with the right contracts.

In this episode, I’m explaining what you absolutely need to include in your website design contracts.

I share the essentials from my own real-world experience: how to create agreements that keep both you and your clients accountable, why you need detailed terms of service alongside your contract, and the must-have clauses to avoid headaches like scope creep, project delays, or ghosting clients.

I’ll walk you through practical strategies for outlining timelines, handling changes, protecting your intellectual property, and making sure your liabilities are clear—plus, I’ll offer friendly tips on navigating cancellations and abandoned projects.

Whether you’re brand new to contracts or looking to shore up your existing ones, this episode will give you the tools and confidence you need to run your web design business smoothly.

So, let’s get started and make sure you—and your clients—are always on the same page!

00:00 Essential Website Design Contract Elements

05:29 "Showcase Client Testimonials"

08:18 Website Build: Quote and Timeline Management

12:42 Project Cancellation and Abandonment Guidelines

15:21 Web Design Project Terms & Conditions

18:28 Send Terms Before Project Start

Mentioned in this episode:

Websites Made Simple Courses

Check out our Websites Made Simple courses!

Websites Made Simple Courses

Stuck staring at a half-finished client homepage, and wondering why your carefully planned timeline has melted?

Hi, I'm Holly Christie, and in this straight-talking session, I'm sharing website design business tips for small-business owners who keep hitting the same wall.

You’ll learn the simple test that reveals whether your block is a process gap or a mindset trap, along with workflow and productivity hacks for web developers that restore momentum in minutes.

Quick win you can try today: set a 15-minute timer, tackle the easiest unfinished task on your current build and watch how fast clarity returns. Ready for more? Hit play and get the practical moves that will unstick your web-design projects—starting now.

Links referenced in this episode:

• websitesmadesimple.co.uk
• thisdemandinglife.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Websites Made Simple Courses

Check out our Websites Made Simple courses!

Websites Made Simple Courses

Turn Negative Feedback Into a Winning Website

Have you been tasked with rebuilding a website? Is the idea of destroying the SEO filling you with dread? This is the episode for you.

Website rebuilding necessitates a meticulous approach, particularly with respect to SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).

There are a heap of challenges you'll stumble across when transitioning from an old website to a new one, especially concerning the existing URLs that search engines have already indexed.

I always emphasise the critical importance of not discarding the old website prematurely; rather, there are effective techniques I use to construct the new site and safeguard SEO integrity. I'll share them all with you in this episode.

Links referenced in this episode:

• courses.thisdemandinglife.com
• screamingfrog.com
• websitesmadesimple.co.uk

Tools mentioned in this episode:

• Screaming Frog
• Elementor (sorry, not sorry)

Mentioned in this episode:

Websites Made Simple Courses

Check out our Websites Made Simple courses!

Websites Made Simple Courses

Welcome to another episode of "Websites Made Simple." I’m Holly Christie, your host, and in today’s episode, I’m sharing what best practices in website design truly mean based on my own journey as a website designer and mentor.

Over the years, I’ve learned that creating stunning websites is just one piece of the puzzle—discovering higher standards and focusing on accessibility are what really boosted my confidence and helped my clients trust me, too.

I’ll walk you through some of my go-to strategies, starting with simple accessibility wins, like choosing the right font sizes and making sure every website is easy for everyone to use.

I’ll talk about how to structure content for good SEO, the benefits of using quality tools over just the cheapest options, and why keeping your websites lightweight and mobile-friendly matters more than ever.

And, because I know how overwhelming client projects can get, I’ll share some hard-won advice on setting boundaries and keeping communication clear, so everyone enjoys the process from start to finish.

Whether you’re new to web design or looking to fall back in love with your business, this episode is full of insights you can start using right away. Let’s make your design business not only better—but more enjoyable, too.

Websites Made Simple Courses

Links referenced in this episode:

• courses.thisdemandinglife.com
• websitesmadesimple.co.uk

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Reddit
• LinkedIn
• Yoast
• Divi
• Elementor
• Avada

Mentioned in this episode:

Websites Made Simple Courses

Check out our Websites Made Simple courses!

Websites Made Simple Courses

How can you create an ideal website design business that not only aligns with your aspirations but also alleviates the stress often associated with running such an operation? That's what this episode is about.

Welcome to Websites Made Simple. I'm your host, Holly Christie.

Scroll for the link to my courses as mentioned in the episode

This episode, we're examining the critical aspects of client management, emphasizing the importance of identifying and avoiding challenging clients who may impede our progress.

We'll talk about those people who ghost us, or push the limits and boundaries, ultimately leading to scope creep.

We'll also talk about a practical way to avoid those customers who are lacking clarity in their preferences or those prone to shifting demands without consideration of process or costs.

We'll also explore strategies for fostering a collaborative relationship with clients who respect the design process, thereby enhancing both our creative output and professional satisfaction.

Click play now, and enjoy the episode which serves as a comprehensive guide to navigating the complexities of client interactions while building a fulfilling and sustainable website design practice.

Links referenced in this episode:

• courses.thisdemandinglife.com
• thisdemandinglife.com
• websitesmadesimple.co.uk

00:00 Web Design Autonomy

04:02 Managing Indecisive Design Clients

07:12 Managing Website Features & Expectations

12:21 Website Builder Challenges and Best Practices

16:16 Attracting Ideal Web Design Clients

18:54 Personalised Web Design Collaboration

21:19 Enhancing Client Relationships

Mentioned in this episode:

Turn Negative Feedback Into a Winning Website

Websites Made Simple Courses

Check out our Websites Made Simple courses!

Websites Made Simple Courses

In this episode, we're going to talk all about those must have website design tools.

Welcome to Websites Made Simple. I'm your host, Holly Christie.

Scroll for the link to my courses as mentioned in the episode

There are some crucial tools that every website designer should have to efficiently run their business.

As a seasoned website designer and mentor, I wanted to share with you some of the more essential platforms and software that not only streamline processes but also enhance client relationships.

Some of these are free.

From file-sharing solutions to design apps and project management, I'm covering it all.

Whether you're a novice or an experienced designer, I'm hoping this episode will help you elevate your website design business by simplifying the administrative and creative elements of website creation.

• My courses - courses.thisdemandinglife.com
• My LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollycchristie/

Tools mentioned in this episode:

• wetransfer.com
• canva.com
• trello.com
• vimeo.com
• tidycal.com
• zoom.us
• freeagent.com
• gocardless.com
• stripe.com
• screamingfrog.co.uk
• thisdemandinglife.com
• linkedin.com/in/hollychristie