Does this sound
like you?
As you were starting your business, you took the DIY approach to crafting your website and marketing materials.
Now your business is growing, but your website isn't keeping up.
You know you need back end organization, but you can’t wrap your head around how to sort it all out.
A dream scenario is being able to share ideas and desires, but have someone else figure out how to make it a reality.
Conceptually you know you can’t be good at all the things and you need professional support.
What if you could have…..
a creative partner who “gets” you and your work
guidance with copy writing and content
marketing that doesn’t feel “sales-y” and is unique to you
a visually pleasing website
help with honing your gifts and presenting your services
confidence and clarity about what you have to offer
emails, payments, and scheduling automated
regular back end tasks taken care of (by someone else!)
“I can’t recommend Katie highly enough!”
If I had to describe her working style in two words - she was personable and knowledgeable. Personable: Katie was so friendly and put me at ease. Throughout the whole process Katie was calm and approachable - a real joy to work with! She was available on video call, email and phone. Knowledgeable: Katie knew everything about the website build process but was able to explain it to me in simple, memorable terms. She has a brilliant way of drawing the right information from you, and working collaboratively on ideas. She made what HAD seemed a daunting process (building/designing a new site) into a fun, calm experience with a fantastic end result.
-Sarah Clarke
“Katie gave such exceptional support when designing my website. She made the whole process so straightforward and so much fun!
She is so approachable and helpful that I felt I got so much more than a webpage. She offered super helpful advice with the planning and layout of my pages, I feel I would have been lost otherwise. I highly recommend!
-Claire Hester
A little about me….
I’ve been self employed for 17+ years -- first as a birth doula. That evolved over time, and now I’m a business doula! About 5 years ago I transitioned into prioritizing freedom and travel and I now work behind the scenes supporting woman-owned small businesses. I love the intimacy of long-term partnerships where I’m really able to get to the heart of someone’s business and help them shine.
I’ve discovered my zone of genius is creating a path of least resistance between you and your ideal client.
For you, this will mean getting clear on what you offer, simplifying your pricing strategy, and streamlining your backend admin experience. For your client, it means welcoming them into your online space and creating an effortless path to get to you.
How does it work, you ask?
Here’s the general flow….
Website + Social Media Audit
We will unlock the full potential of your online presence with a comprehensive audit of your website and social media. I will ensure that every aspect, from flow and link functionality to content clarity and user experience, is finely tuned to perfection. I will come up with an action plan that elevates your online presence and maximizes user engagement.
Client Flow
Let’s refine your client flow to create a user-friendly experience from your emails to your website to your social media accounts. We'll first identify your goals for your audience: scheduling, making a purchase, clicking a link, etc. I'll then immerse myself in the perspective of potential clients, ensuring your message is clear and facilitates their journey towards achieving that goal effortlessly.
Marketing + Automation
Let's optimize your workflow with the power of automation! We'll work together to implement payment processing, scheduling systems, and administrative practices to make your day-to-day tasks effortless. From designing email marketing that nurtures leads to creating efficient sales funnels to setting up scheduling reminders and confirmations that save you time - every detail will be thoughtfully sorted out.
Business Coaching
I will help you streamline your message and simplify your offerings, making everything crystal clear for your current and future clients. We'll refine the presentation of your services, ensuring it resonates effortlessly. We will also go through your site content, making sure it serves the purpose of deepening a connection with your audience that is authentic and true to your heart.
Copy + Content Editing
Together we will craft compelling and captivating copy that truly resonates with your audience. This includes editing and enhancing your existing copy while seamlessly integrating additional content where necessary. Whether it's refining your website's messaging, creating engaging email campaigns, crafting informative blog posts, or attention-grabbing podcast descriptions, I've got you covered.
Look + Launch
Once the core components of your business processes and website are integrated, it's time for you to see your vision come to life. Together we’ll review the design, content, and overall workflow. Once you're delighted with the result, we'll take the exciting step of making your website live, marking the culmination of our collaborative journey toward a new and imrpoved online presence!
Investment
$4,500
This opportunity isn't open to the general public. This is a private, unlisted link and if you've arrived here - it's because I've personally shared it with you. This is an invitation to collaborate with me on something special. I'm passionate about my work, and I only partner with people I feel a connection with and who share my enthusiasm. Life is too short for anything less! And please know this isn’t a high pressure sales pitch. There’s no deadline and this offer doesn’t expire. And if this isn’t a heck yes, that's perfectly okay! However, if you are interested — keep scrolling for more details and FAQs!
What does this fee include?
Full audit of your website, social media, and back end workflow
Business coaching - this will be via phone and video chat and our communication is unlimited. Keeping track of communication minute by minute feels very limiting, so I love having an all-inclusive fee that gives us freedom to connect as often as we want.
A complete redesign of your website based on the audit and our coaching sessions - we will redesign all the pages on your website + add additional pages as needed. This includes copy writing, copy editing, photo editing and sourcing stock photos and other graphics as needed.
Redesigning blogs and/or podcasts
Mobile friendly site design
Back end reorganization based on the workflow audit - setting up all the automations with regards to scheduling, payments, etc.
email marketing - list setup, newsletter signup forms, automated replies, automated email sequences (a welcome email, another email a week later, a third email two weeks later, etc.)
Social media audit - as part of the audit, I’ll take a look at your social media profiles (TikTok, YouTube, Threads, X/Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook) and we can discuss making changes that improve the audience experience. This can include making bespoke “link in bios” for the various platforms, cover photos for your profiles, utilizing “unlinked” pages on your website to make sharing your offerings easier, and anything else to improve access to you.
Unlimited phone + email contact - I really want to emphasize this again, I love having open communication. I don’t ever want a person to feel like they don’t want to reach out because they’ll be charged by the minute or something. With a creative process like this I like to stay connected so if either one of us is inspired, we can try to capture the moment.
A recorded screen share where I can demonstrate the back-end of your website platform, and show you how to add/delete content, create new posts, interpret the various analytic tools and website metrics, and answer any other questions that you have.
I do my best to fully test the website, the forms, the links, etc. prior to launch, but I’ll also be available to you after launch for a fourteen (14) day warranty period from the day the website goes live, meaning if you find anything missing, links broken, etc. I would of course remedy for you right away.
“Katie saw what I couldn’t see, and she knew how to make this vision a real thing.”
Working with Katie made me fee like I had a true ally in sharing my work in this way, someone who really gets me. She would share ideas and invite discussion, but never once made me feel inferior if I didn’t understand something or hurt if I rejected a suggestion. I had no idea how much I needed this. Having my business and my website in her hands, I truly felt shepherded, held, supported, and put at ease. Katie used to be a doula, and it shows.”
-Dr. Denniz Zolnoun
Here are a few examples of “Upgrade Your Business” clients - I love these before & after transformations!
Building a business online is like building a house
A virtual home for your offerings
If you were building a brick & mortar space -- you’d hire a profesional(s). If you tried to DIY the building process, you could almost guarantee it would not be up to code because you are not a professional. It’s the same with a website.
In terms of building a house, just as with building a website -- there are certain basic elements each house needs regardless of how fancy it is. It doesn’t matter if we’re building you a tiny studio or Buckingham Palace -- you will need walls, a ceiling, electrical outlets, plumbing, doors and keys.
It’s the same with your online presence
It doesn’t matter how big or fancy a website is or isn’t -- they all need custom domains, security, hosting, and basic functionality. We need to make sure when people visit your virtual home that “all the lights come on”, everything is where it should be and they experience a feeling of ease when visiting. Not only do they want to stay, they also want to come back for more.
Like with building a house -- you could fry your brain sourcing all the materials, learning all the building codes and city planning shiz, and you could watch DIY videos until the cows came home. You could do it and it might be good enough for a little while….
Or you can hire someone and invest in their professional service and have a much smoother experience and a nicer outcome.
It is a one-time cost for something that you will use for the life of your business. The return on investment is basically a guarantee.
FAQs
Q: Is the cost of my domain included in your fee? Are there other monthly/annual fees should I plan for?
A: The cost of your domain is not included in my fee. Domain fees (approx $20 per year), email hosting fees (approx $60 per year), and website hosting fees ($100-$300 per year) are paid directly to the service providers.
If you choose to utilize any of kind of automation, there are fees associated with that as well: scheduling automation, payment automation, and email automation costs vary and are based on volume.
All accounts will be setup in your name and you will own them. I will do all of the initial setup for you and all you will have to do is stay up to date with payment — renewing them either monthly or yearly.
How is your fee calculated?
I've been doing this for many years and I'm sure you know (being self-employed yourself) that you have to factor in the unseen as well - not just the project at hand, but the hundreds of hours of learning, the technical expertise, the knowledge of human psychology and marketing, all the sales and business knowledge....which ultimately equates to not just an aesthetically pleasing online presence and website, but a highly functional and engaging user experience. One where everything has a purpose and everything is designed to move the user where you want them to go.
So in the end, I thoughtfully set my pricing based on all of these elements, including the intangibles that go above and beyond the deliverables. I'm confident it matches the quality of work that I do.
How long does this process usually take?
There are 3 main factors that determine the length of a project:
Number one by a long shot is how long it takes the client to get back to me. If a client is generally available and good with communicating, the project will go much quicker. This is by far what causes the biggest delay to the whole process.
The size of the project: how many pages need to be built, how much automation needs to be setup, how many products are for sale, etc.
How much content needs to be sourced. For example, if you have a bunch of copy and photos already it will go a lot quicker than if we need to source everything from scratch.
Can I update my own website? Or is that something you do?
Yes, you can make edits. You will be in full control of the site. I am also happy to do updates, edits and additions to your website.
How does payment work?
My fee is a flat rate. Payment is normally made up front, in full via Zelle or Paypal. You can also send me a check if you’d prefer. You will receive confirmation of payment and a receipt.
Do I own my website and its contents?
Yes. Once your site is complete, I will transfer ownership to you and you will own the site and all of the photos, visual content, and words contained within the site. You of course own your domain, your email address and any other services we utilize as they will all be setup in your name.
How tech savvy do I need to be to go thru this process?
Not very. I will teach you anything you need to know. And for the most part -- I am building everything for you so all you'll have to do going forward are small updates and edits. And with automations or outside integrations -- I will do the initial setup of everything and you'll just do very simple maintenance.
Do I need any special equipment?
At minimum, you need a phone, an internet connection, and a computer (a tablet or iPad will not suffice).
Can I use my own photos?
Yes. Photos can be difficult though (unless they were professionally done) because they have to be high resolution and the right orientation to properly render on the desktop version of your site as well as the mobile version of your site. And of course, they would have to be photos that you owned - we can't use other people's photos without permission.
How much input do I have with the design process?
As much as you’d like!
Have a question that’s not listed? Just ask!
Lastly, I’d like to leave you with a reflection…
This is from an “Upgrade Your Business” Client, who is also a writer, hence her ability to articulate:
“Earlier today, I had a coaching session with a client in North Dakota. We meet for just 30 minutes a month, with no agenda. And yet during these brief, intermittent calls, something always emerges and becomes clear.
It’s the sweetest thing to get to be part of someone else’s process.
I’m thinking a lot today about process, in no small part because of this very website, this brand new, very in-depth, very beautiful website. It is technologically and aesthetically not only what I’ve been wanting for a couple of years now, but so much more. There are things going on behind the scenes here I didn’t even know I needed.
Then along came Katie.
A certain serendipity led to us working together on this new site. I want to give you a tiny bit of the background, since so often when we see something in its completed form, it’s easy to think something magical occurred, something materialized overnight. And while for sure magic played a role in the makings of this new online home, the truth is, it was a lot of work. We’re talking probably 100 hours of Katie’s time, countless emails exchanged, and in-depth conversations that pushed me to get really clear on some of the things I offer.
What I expected and hoped for:
A beautiful new website, user-friendly, easy to navigate, visually pleasing, with a “flavor” that would fit with who I am and what my work is in this world.
What I feared:
That the website would not feel like “me.” That people would feel like I was less accessible somehow. In other words, growth.
What I had no idea how to do: A million things.
I’ve become pretty adept over the years at DIYing my business. I was able to continue adding to my old website. I had some basic skills — and I am not talking about html or code here, just skills like how to create new pages, edit things, etc. I used MailChimp for my newsletter and figured out the most basic way of integrating that with my website, but beyond that, I was mystified about anything with the word “funnel” in it. Sales funnel, marketing funnel, ugh.
Katie never once used the word “funnel” during the creation of this website. (Thanks, Katie!)
However, she did ask me the most amazing questions about how I wanted things to work, what kinds of things were sucking up my time (for example, adding people to a list once they were signed up for a group), and what kind of experience I hoped folks would have when they come to peruse my offerings.
Things I had found totally intimidating — using an online scheduler for coaching calls, for example — Katie introduced in way I could not only understand but would be able take the reins on when we were done with the project.
Seemingly small things that had eluded me for so long, like following up with people after they sign up for my newsletter, became doable and even exciting.
I would send Katie a bunch of copy and she’d essentially translate the content in a way that made it sing. I already knew she was an amazing writer, but in this process, I saw that she is also an amazing reader and editor herself; she could take what I had already written and zero in on the essence, the heartbeat of what I most wanted to convey.
I also learned, much to my utter delight, that she’s an incredible business coach. She asked me questions about my own coaching business that forced me to clarify things I’d long been going in circles about. Now, instead of three packages, I am offering just one. I feel like I’ve recovered something dear to me in this process — my confidence and clarity about what I have to offer.
Working with Katie made me feel like I had a true ally in sharing my work in this way, almost like a creative partner, someone who really gets what the groups and all the rest of it are about — practice, connection, creative freedom, permission to suck and encouragement to show up, no matter what, over and over again. She would share ideas and invite discussion, but never once made me feel inferior if I didn’t understand something or hurt if I rejected a suggestion. I had no idea how much I needed this.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve tiptoed up the doors of a couple of other web people. I spent around $250 on a consult with one of them, and got a lot of value from that single conversation but didn’t feel a “click” when it came to moving forward. It just felt like too big of a commitment.
I would not have needed this a few years ago. I wouldn’t have been ready for it. It is only because I’m fully immersed in this work now that I could take this step.
When I first started coaching, my sister designed a website for me (this was in 2003). When I first started offering groups, I just added bits and pieces to my blog and called it good enough. Now, as I move into my fifth year, I feel ready for this new space. But the timing had to be right, and the process had to feel easy even though it consisted of such much newness.
The inner critic and impostor syndrome never go away. “Well, aren’t YOU fancy?” they say, afraid it will look like I’m not me anymore.
No, I want to say back to them, I just took a shower and put on something other than yoga pants.
It’s still me.
If you’re reading this and you’re someone who writes, maybe you know that feeling of buying a book and thinking, it’s so beautiful. I could never do this. But what you don’t see is the murk, they mess, the confusion, the drafts, the boredom, the doubt, the recycled pages, the entire sections cut, the rearranging, the painstaking time and care that went into the making of that book.
We don’t hear nearly enough about what goes on behind the scenes, especially given that that’s where we spend most of our time, whether with writing, activism, parenting, exercise, or just about any other part of life.
Any creative process is complicated, messy, long, exciting, bewildering, and a whole lot of work.
We are so lucky to find creative partners, people whose skills complement our own, people who can see something we can’t yet see.
It is a privilege to get to do this with writers, and I am in awe that this is exactly what Katie has done for me. She saw what I couldn’t, and she knew how to make it a real thing in the world. Having my website — which of course is on the one hand, “just a website,” and on the other hand, so so much more than that — in her hands, I truly felt shepherded, held, supported, and put at ease.
Katie used to be a doula, and it shows.
What is the point of this long, rambling post?
I might have a few.
Never, ever underestimate the value of working with a professional web designer, or think that it’s just a matter of making things look prettier.
Next time I’m afraid to admit I am stuck, I will remember this experience and how much it got things moving for me again, in terms of my own excitement about my work.
It’s ok to need and ask for help.
Good help costs money and is worth investing in, just the way good health costs money and is worth investing in. That’s not always an option. Having money is NOT a requirement of doing good work, but neither should we expect anyone to do good work for free. (Oh jeez, I feel like this one could become its own blog post!)
Oops, now I’m really digressing. But really point is, this website? It’s SO PRETTY.
And it’s so much more than pretty.
It’s years and years of writing, creating, throwing darts, missing, putting stuff out there, some of which has stuck and some of which never landed. It’s working long hours with no guarantees of anything. It’s so much fear alchemized into presence. It’s one foot in front of the other and it’s both feet on the ground.
And it’s Katie. It’s her expertise, heart, vision, and insight.
* For those of you interested in the nitty-gritty of what Katie set up behind the scenes, here’s a partial list:
Outside integrations: Email marketing, Gmail, Acuity, Moonclerk, and Stripe (some of these would’ve made my head explode a month ago)
46 photos sourced for the site, all containing individual image descriptions/alt tags for SEO optimization
All social media accounts integrated
A home page
A footer
9 extra large index pages
7 regular pages
7 small pages
5 contact forms
2 application forms (one long and one short)
17 payment forms that are automatically linked with a payment processor that is linked to my bank account. They are also integrated with 7 different email marketing forms
A blog set up with a subscription form that is integrated with my email marketing and set up with an automation sequence
A newsletter form that is integrated with email marketing and set up with an automation sequence
A feature to schedule a free introductory call with me that’s integrated with an automated online scheduler
A 3-tiered coaching package that is linked to a payment processor and an online scheduler with a 10-step email automation sequence for automated scheduling of the whole 3-month process
100% mobile friendly
Custom domain, hosting & security
Google analytics
Fully SEO optimized
Join me to see the before and after shots of JenaSchwartz.com. Her old site was through Wordpress and the new site is through Squarespace. There are automations in place utilizing MoonClerk (payments), Acuity (scheduling) and Mailchimp.