Web Design: Why I Hate It (But Do It Anyway)
I’m going to say it: I hate web design.
Yes, I offer it. Yes, I’m damn good at it. And yes, I’m saying this on my own website.
But here’s the deal: I don’t hate the work.
I hate the misconceptions. The shallow requests. The “just make it pretty” emails.
The belief that slapping a logo on a template is the same as having a strategy.
That’s what drives me nuts. That’s what wastes your money.
And that’s why I almost quit web design entirely.
Almost.
Let me show you why — and ‘what’ changes everything.
The “Pretty” Trap: A Story of Digital Crickets
Meet Maya, a brilliant massage therapist. She’s booked solid through referrals, and she finally decided it was time to build a website — to stop building on “rented land”.
She picked a popular DIY platform, chose a calming template, added some photos, wrote a few lines about her services, and hit publish.
And then… nothing.
No inquiries. No bookings. No traffic.
Just digital crickets. 🦗
She thought the hard part was over. And honestly? That’s not her fault.
She believed the myth that having a website equals having a web presence.
That once you’re online, the leads will magically appear.
Some platforms even throw around slogans like “a website makes it real.” 🙄
But Maya didn’t need a website. She needed a strategy.
Web Design Isn’t the Job — It’s a Tool
Here’s what most business owners miss.
A website is not a brochure. It’s not a box to check. And it’s definitely not your marketing strategy.
It’s just one piece — one visible layer — of your business’s trust architecture.
Without:
Strategic copywriting that speaks to your audience
Smart page structure that guides users to act
On-page and local SEO so you can be found
Reputation signals like testimonials and reviews
Calls to action that actually convert
Follow-up systems like email to nurture leads
…your site is just digital decor— pretty, but pointless.
You don’t need a decorator.
You need a strategic partner — someone who thinks like a marketer and builds like an engineer.
The Real Problem: Misaligned Expectations
Here’s what really gets me:
I work with incredible people — dentists, designers, wellness pros, hairstylists, coaches — who are brilliant at what they do.
But when it comes to their website, they’re asking the wrong questions:
“Can you make it match my logo colours?”
“Can we just keep it simple — like three pages max?”
“I just want it to look clean.”
That’s like hiring a chef and saying, “Just make it taste like food.”
Good design matters (obviously). But so does copy that ranks. And structure that converts. And backend setup that doesn’t make Google roll its eyes.
When you hire the right web designer, you shouldn’t just be buying pixels — you should be buying perspective.
My Wake-Up Call Came Early
I got lucky.
Early in my business journey — long before I ever opened a design tool (but not before I had miserably failed with my first business 🥹) — I found myself reading folks like Dan S. Kennedy and Ken Evoy — These weren’t flashy influencers. They were results-first marketers who built businesses by solving real problems, not chasing followers.
That’s where I learned that business success starts with positioning, not plugins. With strategy, not software.
So when I say I “hate web design,” I guess what I really mean is:
I hate having to pretend — just to keep a client happy — that web design is enough.
BTW, The AI Revolution: Not a Magic Wand
It’s 2025, and AI tools are everywhere — cranking out instant websites with stock images and placeholder copy.
And sure, AI can stitch together templates. But can it:
Capture the emotional nuance of your brand — your story, your voice, your experience?
Ask the kind of questions that shape real positioning?
Build a website around strategy instead of decoration?
Not yet. Not well.
I’ve spent a lot of time testing these tools — including some of the AI-powered website builders. And honestly? A lot of what they produce feels so interchangeable, I could swap out your logo for your competitor’s and hand them the exact same site. No one would notice.
Now, can AI help business owners with their digital marketing?
Absolutely — if you know how to use it.
AI is a part of my workflow now. It’s a constant companion — whether I’m brainstorming messaging, mapping strategy, or helping clients shape clearer content.
But that doesn’t make it automatic.
It still takes skill to ask the right questions, give the right prompts, and guide the tools toward smart outcomes.
AI is a tool — not a strategist.
Expecting it to build your online presence is like expecting a beautifully printed menu to run your restaurant.
So, I Do This Work … for the Right Clients
Here’s the thing, I don’t build websites because I need to. I build them when the project feels like a partnership — not a transaction.
I do strategy. I build clarity. I help serious business owners turn their online presence into an actual business asset.
For the right client — the one who sees their website as a growth engine, not a digital sticker — I’m all in.
Because when the mindset aligns, the work is actually fun.
It’s not (just) about making something pretty.
It’s about making it perform.
Thinking About a Website? Ask These First.
Before you hire a designer — or even start the project — take a minute to ask better questions.
These will save you time, money, and months of second-guessing.
🧠 Questions to Ask Yourself First
You don’t need to have every answer — but you should at least know these are the right questions.
What is the actual job of my website — to inform, convert, build trust, or something else?
Do I know what I want my visitors to do on each page?
Am I treating my website like a growth tool, or just a digital business card?
Who is my ideal client — and does my site speak to them, not just about me?
What do I want this investment to achieve in the next 6–12 months?
Am I ready to collaborate — or just hoping someone else figures it out?
🎯 Questions to Ask a Web Designer Before You Hire Them
The good ones will welcome these questions. The wrong ones will squirm.
How do you approach copy and content — do you help shape it, or do I have to provide everything?
Can you walk me through how your websites support visibility (SEO, local search, etc.)?
How do you define success for a project — and how do you know it’s working?
Do you help with positioning and messaging, or just layout and visuals?
What happens after the site is live — do you help with analytics, testing, or performance review?
How do you make sure the design actually supports business goals — not just aesthetics?
Bottom line …
If Your Website’s Going to Exist — Make It Matter.
I don’t take on every project.
I’m not the cheapest.
And I won’t nod along if what you want won’t help your business.
Because here’s the truth:
Even the most talented designer can’t save a project with the wrong mindset behind it.
“No strategy survives a client who just wants ‘something simple and pretty’.”
But when you come to the table with clarity, curiosity, and a willingness to build something meaningful — that’s when things click.
That’s when your site stops being a placeholder…
…and starts becoming an engine for trust, visibility, and growth.
So yes — choose the right designer.
But more importantly, show up ready to think like a strategist.
That’s the part most people miss.
And it’s the part that changes everything.
It’s what makes a project fun, impactful — even energizing.
And in the past? It’s exactly what made me want to quit.
Not the design.
The disconnect.
I keep doing this work because I’ve learned to spot the right clients — and because when the mindset’s aligned, web design becomes something I can love doing again.
