Every now and then somebody asks me:
“Can I see some websites you’ve built?”
And I get it.
You want to know if I know what I’m doing before you trust me with your business.
The funny thing is, the website itself is rarely the most important part.
The real question is:
Can this person listen?
Can they take what’s in my head and turn it into something real?
Can they understand my business, my goals, my audience, and then build something that actually helps me move forward?
A Website Is Just Where Everything Meets
A website isn’t just a collection of pages.
It’s strategy.
It’s communication.
It’s psychology.
It’s sales.
It’s branding.
It’s storytelling.
The website is simply where all of those things meet.
When I look back at the projects I’ve worked on, they’re all different.
Some are nonprofits trying to increase impact.
Some are entrepreneurs building personal brands.
Some are fitness coaches looking to generate leads.
Some are wellness brands creating experiences.
Some are trying to sell products.
Some are trying to grow communities.
Some are trying to change lives.
The job is never to build a website.
The job is to understand the mission and create a digital experience that supports it.
A Few Recent Projects
Here are a few of the more recent projects I’ve had the opportunity to design and develop:
DIG Development Program
https://digdp.org
Supportive Housing Communities
https://supportivehousingcommunities.org
Brandon Sistrunk Fitness
https://bfitness365.com
Jeffery L. Williams
https://jefferylwilliams.com
Ms. Unicorn Storytime
https://www.msunicornstorytime.com
There Yesterday
https://thereyesterday.com
Just Aligned
https://justaligned.com
A Vibe Called Yoga
https://avibecalledyoga.com
JT in DC
https://jtindc.com
Hey Shannon Rae
https://heyshannonrae.com
Websites Are Only One Piece Of Puzzle
Looking at that list, it’s easy to assume websites are what I do.
They’re not.
Websites are simply one of the tools I use.
At my core, I’m a marketer.
I’m a strategist.
I’m a creative.
I’m often brought into organizations to help clarify messaging, strengthen brands, create marketing strategies, improve customer experiences, launch initiatives, build systems, and help teams move ideas from concept to execution.
Sometimes that work results in a website.
Sometimes it results in a campaign.
Sometimes it results in a content strategy.
Sometimes it results in a new brand direction.
Sometimes it reveals that the solution has nothing to do with a website at all.
The website is often the visible outcome.
The strategy behind it is where the real work happens.
Why Every Project Requires A Different Approach
Every organization is different.
Every founder is different.
Every audience is different.
Every goal is different.
That’s why I don’t believe every business should get the exact same solution.
A website should feel like the organization behind it.
Not like the designer who built it.
The best compliment I can get is:
“That website feels like us.”
Because if I’ve done my job right, the design disappears.
The mission becomes clear.
The audience becomes clear.
The call to action becomes clear.
The next step becomes obvious.
Why I Start With A Discovery Call
This is also why I like to start every project with a discovery call.
The goal isn’t to talk about colors, fonts, or what platform we’re going to use.
The goal is to understand the business.
I want to learn what you’re trying to accomplish.
I want to understand where you are today, where you’re trying to go, and what success looks like for you.
I want to understand what phase of business you’re in and whether a website is actually the right investment right now.
Sometimes that conversation reveals that a new website is exactly what you need.
Sometimes it reveals that your next investment should be somewhere else first.
I’d rather help someone make the right decision than sell them the wrong solution.
The discovery call also gives both of us a chance to determine whether we’re a good fit.
Can I genuinely help you get where you’re trying to go?
Do I understand the mission?
Do I understand the audience?
Can I bring value to the vision you’re building?
And just as importantly, do we communicate well enough to enjoy working together?
The best projects I’ve been part of started with alignment long before they started with design.
Advice Before You Hire Any Creative
If you’re hiring a designer, agency, or creative partner, here’s my advice:
Don’t get caught up in colors, animations, or how flashy a website looks.
Ask whether they understand your vision.
Ask whether they understand your audience.
Ask whether they understand what success looks like for your business.
Ask how they plan to help you achieve the goals that actually matter.
A beautiful website that doesn’t help you generate leads, increase sales, attract donors, book appointments, build awareness, or move your mission forward is just an expensive decoration.
Before you invest, get clear on what the website is supposed to do.
Then find a partner who can help you build toward that outcome.
Whether you work with me or someone else, that’s the goal.
Build something that serves the mission.
Build something that supports the business.
Build something that helps you get where you’re trying to go.
#FreeGame
People often think they’re investing in a website.
What they’re really investing in is clarity.
The website is just one of the ways that clarity shows up.
