The Subscription Web Design Podcast: Recent Episodes
Steve Schramm
Are you sick and tired of the "feast or famine" grind of website design? Or, are you looking for a profitable side hustle that will lead you to fulltime self-employment so you can finally do life on your terms? In this podcast, Steve Schramm will show you how to build the life and business of your dreams using the subscription web design model. Featuring value-packed training sessions and success stories of others who've been where you are and built a stable web design business that fuels their lifestyle.
What's the most important role in your business? You might think it's web design, marketing, or something like that. But what if it wasn't? In fact, what if YOU get to decide what it is, so you separate yourself from the competition and deliver an amazing result every time?
In this episode of the Subscription Web Design Podcast, we're diving into my unique 18-month lease-to-own web design model. I'll share an in-depth piece from a training I did, which you can find more about on subscriptionwebdesign.com/five. Plus, I have two more valuable resources for you, including a blog post detailing the nitty-gritty of what's involved in this model. Whether you're looking for the timelines, expectations, or the individual elements of a managed website, it's all here for you. Consider this podcast a teaser, and check the links below for a full view of the picture.
https://northmacservices.com/managed-website-expectations-terms/
https://subscriptionwebdesign.com/five
If you've been in business for any period of time, you've probably fallen victim to the trap of comparing yourself to other people. This is a deadly trap that can and will shut your business down if you're not careful. Here are some things to think about.
In this episode of the podcast, I discuss why one of the biggest myths in subscription web design is the idea that it's for cheap websites only. The fact is I felt my entire business by building Wes Parker, custom websites, many of which are extremely advanced. Listen in as this myth is debunked, and I share why subscription web design is powerful even when you're building custom websites.
On today's episode I'll be discussing the power of using a flywheel framework for marketing and business growth. A flywheel is a continuous process where each phase naturally feeds into the next, building momentum over time.
I'll explain how I discovered the flywheel concept from Jim Collins' book "Good to Great". I'll discuss my research into applying a marketing lens to the flywheel approach, by dividing it into components like process, vehicles, phases, and improvement opportunities.
Modeling your business and marketing as a flywheel can help provide a visual roadmap for building sustainable growth over time. Tune in to learn how to apply this framework to your own business and marketing strategy.
In this episode, I discuss how I successfully transitioned from project-based web design to a sustainable subscription model. I share these tips from my own experience in the hopes they provide practical strategies you can implement to build a subscription-based business and income over time. If you want to transition away from project work and towards subscriptions, this approach could help you get started.
In this episode, I discuss add-on services web designers can offer clients to provide more value and increase revenue. I cover how focusing just on technical skills is not enough and clients need marketing tools to see business results and provide a list of 7 add-on services like email lead boosters, SEO boosting, review management, conversion optimization, marketing strategy sessions, and copywriting. I recommend starting with the few services that address your clients' biggest needs and working with partners if you lack expertise. The goal is to provide higher value and scale your business while removing yourself from all of the implementation work. Enjoy!
In this episode, I discuss the fifth and final of the five M's - the method - for running your subscription web design business sustainably long term. Key insights I share include creating systems early even as a solopreneur to cover yourself in case of illness or emergency, running the numbers to stay profitable by setting limits on project scope and being profitable within three months, and planning for weird situations like e-commerce, one-off work, and white label to show up with honesty and confidence in sales calls. I encourage listeners to join the subscription web design mentorship program to access materials and have their questions answered.
In this episode of the Subscription Web Design podcast, we discuss the critical role marketing and sales play in subscription web design services.
We cover 4 key topics:
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Nicheing down versus staying general. The most important question to ask is "who is your who?" - Define your target customer personality and demographic to make marketing and sales much easier.
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The sales pitch: Honesty, confidence and partnership are the 3 pillars of any successful sales pitch. Be honest about what you know and don't know. Show confidence in your abilities. Form a long-term partnership with your customer.
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The "who" question: Asking yourself who your ideal customers are will open up opportunities and help you enjoy working with clients you love. Even potentially lower-paying niches may work if you can reach enough of the right customers.
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Showing up and following up: Don't ghost your customers. Communicate, update them regularly, follow up proactively and show you care. This builds trust and loyalty over the long run.
In this episode, I discuss the importance of managing your finances well when running a subscription web design business. I cover three main points:
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Budgeting - I recommend using the YNAB method and Profit First book as frameworks to help you create a budget and get your expenses under control. Without money coming in and proper financial management, your business will not survive.
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Building a financial runway - If you currently have a full-time job, I recommend using it to build up recurring income from your subscription web design clients to transition to being full-time. This may take a few years of hustling on the side.
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Foundation clients - The fastest way to build that financial runway is by landing higher-paying, longer-term retainer clients who need consistent work from you. I recommend focusing on either white-label relationships with other agencies or direct clients who need 2-5 hours of work per week.
I also share how I personally transitioned to working full-time in subscription web design and the financial hit I took when one of my first foundation clients scaled back. But with a diverse base of clients, the impact was manageable.
Overall, this episode urges subscription web designers to value themselves and charge fairly for their work while also getting a handle on the money side to build sustainable businesses.
In this episode, we continue our series on the five models of subscription web design. We dive into the model, which comes after establishing the right mindset. The model you choose depends on your business and financial situation.
The first model is a “lease to own” model where customers pay a monthly fee for 18 months, after which they own their custom website. The second is a “lease with buyout option” where customers pay monthly for 12 months and then either continue paying monthly, buy the website outright, or stop paying and lose the site.
The third model is “same as cash” where you charge the same as your traditional web design, just broken into monthly payments. There’s no assumption of continuity, but it provides monthly income. The fourth model uses templates to provide lower-cost, niche websites, often as an add-on service. The last model is “maintenance only” where you charge a monthly fee to maintain an existing website.
You’ll have to decide how to work a model into your business based on your financial situation and risk tolerance. You can start small by offering it as a downsell, or “burn the boats” and go all-in. Think about whether you want to dabble or fully commit. I went all-in, but you have to do what’s right for your business.
Choose a model, determine how to implement it, and decide on your level of commitment. Getting the model right will give you the confidence to dive into subscription web design. Please like, share, and comment to help others find the podcast. Thanks for listening!
In this episode, I'm launching a new series focused on "The Five M's" for success in subscription web design: Mindset, Model, Money, Marketing, and Method. Today, we're diving into Mindset.
Understanding why we use the subscription model is crucial. I believe that the 'why' always shapes our actions - a concept I learned from entrepreneur Myron Golden. In our case, the 'why' is the steady cash flow that subscription web design brings.
We must approach client relationships with an Assumption of Continuity, intending to work together long-term. Moreover, it's important to think in terms of Lifetime Value, where we measure a client's worth over time rather than a single project's worth. This gives us a better idea of how much we can invest in acquiring new clients.
Remember, it's all about the mindset. Get that right, and the rest will follow.
How should you work website redesigns into your Subscription Web Design Model? In this episode, I'll cover some considerations you need to think about and practical ways to implement this!
Do you resent clients because they ask for a deal? Do you have money mindset issues? Do you think it's IMPOSSIBLE to charge more for your work? This is the episode for you. We'll talk about how to crush limiting beliefs and create a practical plan for charging more.
Many of us are stuck in the "technician" mindset. In this episode, we'll talk about how you should spent your time as a BUSINESS owner to be more effective.
Is it wise to move to subscription web design? What if it's just a fad that will phase out over time? In this episode, I deal with that tough question and talk through why I (spoiler alert!) do NOT think SWD is just a fad.
In this episode, I play an advanced training for you discussing the 5 different models of subscription web design. This one's PACKED with value and I know you're going to love it!
The Subscription Web Design model is the future of web design, for a few VERY important reasons. In this episode, we discuss those reasons and a couple of practical tips for making this work in your marketing.
So how in the world do you start making subscription web design work once you decide it's time to give it a try? In this episode we'll talk through the financial and business considerations you need to be aware of so you can make it happen!
CONTRACTS. I know, bummer subject, but trust me when I tell you, you NEED to have them. In this one, we cover all about why you need contracts, what should be in them, and more. To get my contract templates and save you loads of time, grab my Getting Started course at https://steveschramm.co/swd and use code PODCAST for a 20% discount.
Traditional website pricing is dead. That's a bold claim, but I don't see how you could beat the advantages of Subscription Web Design in any traditional model. Here are my thoughts!
It took me 7 years to learn these 5 lessons. Take them to heart, act on them now, and you can shortcut the time it takes to build a well-rounded subscription web design business.
Ok, so you want to try out subscription web design, but you're not sure how or where to get clients. I've got you covered in this episode!
Subscription web design has changed EVERYTHING - literally - about my life. There are so many awesome possibilities, and I can't wait to share them with you in this episode!
I was able to quit my job by designing client websites on a subscription model. Here's how I did it!