Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: This episode of Pulse of the Bluff podcast is sponsored by a web solutions introducing the Build it, brand it, launch it. DIY Website Design Workshop. Tired of expensive web design quotes? Join this hands on in person workshop and walk away with a fully branded, ready to sell website built by you with expert help every step of the way. Only 15 spots available, lunches included, and afterpay is available. To make it even easier to join, save $50 with early bird registration now at websitedesignworkshop.com okay, so you know that feeling.
[00:00:33] Speaker B: You need a website, a professional one for your business, your art, whatever it is.
[00:00:38] Speaker C: Absolutely. It's pretty much non negotiable these days.
[00:00:40] Speaker B: Right. But then you see the price tags for custom Design starts around what, $900 easily.
[00:00:45] Speaker C: And if you need things like automation.
[00:00:47] Speaker B: Bookings, forget about it. You're looking at $2,500, maybe more. It's. It's a lot.
[00:00:53] Speaker C: It really is. It's a major barrier for so many people just starting out or even establish folks wanting an upgrade. Finding that balance between looking legit online and, well, not going broke.
[00:01:04] Speaker B: Exactly. Which is why this DIY Website Design workshop from A plus Web Solutions caught my eye. The promise is like huge. Walk away after two days with a fully branded, ready to sell website. Built by you.
[00:01:18] Speaker C: Built by you. That's the key phrase, I think.
[00:01:20] Speaker B: Yeah. It's not just farming it out, it's hands on.
So for this deep dives, we're really going to unpack what this workshop is all about. How does it actually empower someone to build their own site using tools that you know, aren't super complicated?
[00:01:33] Speaker C: Sounds good.
[00:01:33] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:01:34] Speaker C: Because owning that process, understanding your own site, that's powerful. Long term outsourcing can feel a bit like a mystery box sometimes. Let's see how they plan to demystify it.
[00:01:45] Speaker B: Okay, so the structure seems pretty clear. Build it, brand it, launch it. Makes sense.
[00:01:50] Speaker C: Simple, direct.
I like it.
[00:01:53] Speaker B: It's an in person thing. Over two days, Saturday June 21st and then Sunday June 29th.
[00:01:59] Speaker C: Okay, so not back to back weekends. A little breathing room maybe?
[00:02:02] Speaker B: Looks like it, yeah. Both days are 10 000am to 3.30pm and they really stress this. You got to be there for both days to get the full result. The finished website that tracks.
[00:02:14] Speaker C: For something this intensive, you're building a whole site.
[00:02:16] Speaker B: Oh, and they throw in lunch both days.
[00:02:18] Speaker C: Always a plus. Keeps the energy up.
[00:02:20] Speaker B: And get this, they explicitly say no tech skills needed.
[00:02:23] Speaker C: That's a big hook. Right, because that's the fear for so many People, I'm not techie.
[00:02:28] Speaker B: Totally. Now here's where it gets really interesting, I think. The tools they focus on.
[00:02:33] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:02:33] Speaker B: Canva for the design aspects and ChatGPT for content creation, but also for like boosting productivity.
[00:02:39] Speaker C: Wow. Okay, that's very current. Using Canva and ChatGPT together, that's smart, right?
[00:02:45] Speaker B: Canva makes design accessible, we know that. But pairing it with ChatGPT for the.
[00:02:51] Speaker C: Words, the ideas, that's the fascinating part. Canva's great for visuals, anyone can make something decent. But ChatGPT tackles that blank page problem for website copy.
[00:03:02] Speaker B: Exactly. Think about generating initial descriptions, maybe brainstorming headlines.
[00:03:07] Speaker C: Yeah. Or even outlining sections. It doesn't write the final thing necessarily, but it gets you started fasting so you can focus on your unique message. That's a really practical application of AI for, you know, the average small business owner.
[00:03:21] Speaker B: And they don't just teach the tools, they also focus on crafting your brand message for the website.
[00:03:26] Speaker C: Crucial. Absolutely crucial. Your site needs to say something clear about who you are and what you offer. It's not just pictures and buttons.
[00:03:32] Speaker B: Yeah, that message is like the foundation, isn't it? It guides the design, the words, everything.
[00:03:37] Speaker C: It's the core. Teaching that alongside the how to is is really important for making an effective site, not just a functional one. That's the brandit part come into life.
[00:03:46] Speaker B: And it's not just a static website they're aiming for. They mention using features on the a web solutions platform itself.
[00:03:55] Speaker C: Things like CRM, customer relationship management.
[00:03:58] Speaker B: Yeah, right. And bookings, email marketing. So it sounds like more of a business hub.
[00:04:03] Speaker C: That's a significant step up from just an online brochure incorporating CRM, bookings, email marketing. Right from the build stage.
That sets people up to actually run their business through the site, manage customer.
[00:04:16] Speaker B: Interactions, take appointments and newsletters.
[00:04:19] Speaker C: Exactly. It makes the website an active tool, not just a passive presence. That's quite forward thinking for a DIY workshop.
[00:04:27] Speaker B: So who's this really aimed at? They call out entrepreneurs, creatives, small business owners.
[00:04:31] Speaker C: Makes sense. The people who need a great online presence but maybe can't swing that multi thousand dollar custom build.
[00:04:37] Speaker B: Or maybe you just prefer to have direct control.
[00:04:39] Speaker C: You know that too. People who like to understand how things work.
[00:04:42] Speaker B: They also mentioned it's good for hands on learners, which for building something seems obvious.
[00:04:47] Speaker C: Yeah, you learn by doing, especially with website stuff.
[00:04:49] Speaker B: And interestingly they say it's even for people thinking of switching from another platform.
[00:04:55] Speaker C: Oh, that suggests they're pretty confident in their platform's ease of use. And the workshop's effectiveness. Come see how easy it is here.
[00:05:02] Speaker B: Yeah. And they keep coming back to no big bucks needed, no tech genius required. Try to make it super accessible.
[00:05:10] Speaker C: Which is the whole point, I suppose. But you do wonder, for someone really struggling with tech, how deep does the support go during those two days? That's always a feature in hands on workshops.
[00:05:20] Speaker B: Good point. Okay, let's talk logistics. What do you actually need? Your laptop, obviously. Charger. A notebook.
[00:05:26] Speaker C: Standard stuff.
[00:05:27] Speaker B: They provide a handbook you useful something.
[00:05:29] Speaker C: To refer back to later when you're tweaking things.
[00:05:31] Speaker B: And it sounds like you don't just show up cold. They send out pre workshop assignments and checklists once you sign up.
[00:05:37] Speaker C: Smart. Get people thinking. Maybe gathering some content or images beforehand.
[00:05:41] Speaker B: Yeah. The idea is to make sure you can actually get the website done during the workshop time. Maximize those hours.
[00:05:47] Speaker C: That prep work can make a huge difference. In a short intensive workshop like this, you hit the ground running.
[00:05:54] Speaker B: The actual location. They keep that under wraps until you sign up.
Sent via email and shared in a private community.
[00:06:01] Speaker C: Okay. In that private community.
Does that stick around after the workshop?
[00:06:05] Speaker B: It seems like it. They mention it as a place for support.
[00:06:08] Speaker C: That's valuable post. Workshop questions always come up. Having a community space to ask them is a definite plus. Peers helping peers. Maybe instructors chiming in.
[00:06:17] Speaker B: Now a really key practical point. What if you can only make one of the two days?
[00:06:22] Speaker C: Ah, the scheduling conflict question.
[00:06:24] Speaker B: Yep. Their answer is pretty firm. Payments are non refundable and you absolutely need both sessions to finish the website. It's a package deal.
[00:06:32] Speaker C: Okay. So it's a real commitment. Both days locked in. Good to know up front.
[00:06:37] Speaker B: Definitely. Okay. Cost. The workshop itself is regularly $399. But there are a couple of other things to factor in.
[00:06:44] Speaker C: Right. The workshop fee usually isn't the only cost with websites.
[00:06:48] Speaker B: First, your domain name if you don't have one. And they actually suggest waiting until the first session to buy it.
[00:06:53] Speaker C: That's interesting advice. Maybe to make sure the name really fits after clarifying the brand message.
[00:06:58] Speaker B: Could be lets you marinate on it during that first day.
[00:07:01] Speaker C: Makes sense. Don't rush the domain.
[00:07:03] Speaker B: The other cost is ongoing hosting. You need to sign up for a plan on their a web solutions platform after a two week free trial runs out.
[00:07:12] Speaker C: Standard practice. The workshop teaches you on their platform. So naturally hosting is through them. The trial lets you kick the tires before paying recurring fees.
[00:07:21] Speaker B: Exactly. So skills and the initial build are covered by the workshop fee. But keeping it live costs extra month to month or annually.
[00:07:30] Speaker C: Good transparency There people need to know.
[00:07:32] Speaker B: The full picture now about support beyond just the workshop days. They mentioned that private Facebook group again. Access starts before the workshop even begins.
[00:07:40] Speaker C: Oh, that's useful. Ask setup questions, maybe get clarification on the pre work.
[00:07:44] Speaker B: Yeah, helps ease any pre workshop jitters, I bet. And then continues afterwards for ongoing help and community.
[00:07:50] Speaker C: That continued access is a big selling point, I think. Reduces that feeling of being left adrift after the class ends.
[00:07:56] Speaker B: Okay, let's talk payment. How do you actually sign up? They take all the usual debit and credit cards. Standard.
[00:08:02] Speaker C: Yep, expected.
[00:08:03] Speaker B: But they also specifically highlight afterpay.
[00:08:06] Speaker C: Ah, the buy now, pay later option. Tell me more about how that works in this context.
[00:08:11] Speaker B: So if you have an afterpay account, you can use it for the workshop fee. Basically, afterpay splits the the $399 into four payments.
[00:08:20] Speaker C: Interest free.
[00:08:20] Speaker B: Typically yes, interest free. You pay the first chunk upfront and then the rest usually every two weeks over about six weeks total.
[00:08:28] Speaker C: Okay, so instead of $399 hitting your account all at once, Right.
[00:08:31] Speaker B: It's maybe just under a hundred dollars initially, then three more similar payments. It definitely spreads the cost out.
[00:08:37] Speaker C: That's a really significant option for accessibility, isn't it? Especially for entrepreneurs or creatives watching their cash flow very carefully.
[00:08:45] Speaker B: Absolutely. It makes that initial investment feel less daunting. You can get the skills, get the website started without that immediate big hit to the wallet. It lowers the barrier.
[00:08:54] Speaker C: It's a smart move to offer that kind of flexibility. It acknowledges the financial realities many potential attendees face.
[00:09:00] Speaker B: Definitely broadens the potential audience for sure. Finally, two more things. Scarcity and savings. They're only taking 15 people for this workshop.
[00:09:08] Speaker C: Fifteen?
It's a small group. Suggests potentially more personalized attention, more Q and A time.
[00:09:13] Speaker B: Exactly. And there's an early bird special. Save $50 if you register before May 19th.
[00:09:19] Speaker C: Bringing it down to $349.
[00:09:21] Speaker B: Yep. So limited spots and a reason to sign up sooner rather than later.
[00:09:24] Speaker C: Classic incentives, but effective, especially with that small class size.
[00:09:28] Speaker B: Okay, so let's wrap this up. The DIY website design workshop by a web solutions.
And it looks like a pretty structured hands on way to get a website built in two days built by you.
[00:09:40] Speaker C: Using tools like Canva and ChatGPT, which are pretty powerful and importantly accessible.
[00:09:45] Speaker B: Right. You learn the skills, build the site on their platform, get branding guidance. All potentially saving you a lot compared to custom design.
[00:09:52] Speaker C: Plus the in person guidance, the handbook that community support afterwards. And options like afterpay to make the cost more manageable.
[00:10:00] Speaker B: It really seems geared towards empowering people, demystifying the process.
[00:10:04] Speaker C: Exactly. Taking away the tech fear, giving them control over their online space.
[00:10:09] Speaker B: So thinking about this for you listening, what could that kind of digital self sufficiency unlock? If you had total control over your website, your online presence built with your own hands, what new doors might that open for your business, your art, your projects?
[00:10:25] Speaker C: It's a powerful thought, isn't it? Maybe it's time to think about really owning that piece of your digital world.
[00:10:31] Speaker D: Memphis always has a story worth sharing, and that's where Pulse of the Bluff comes in. Tune in daily for real conversations, good vibes, and the heartbeat of the Bluff city.
We bring you the people, places and moments that make Memphis special. So whether you're a local or just love its spirit, hit, subscribe and join us Pulse of the Bluff because there's always something good to talk about.
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