Be Aligned Web Design

Name: Erin Neumann
Position: Owner
Website: www.bealignedwebdesign.com
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA

I help small business owners reach more clients by creating custom websites that are powerful yet heart-centered. I work with them to transform their business and level up their brand.

With my help they can raise their prices which attracts more qualified leads and their ideal clients.

What products/services do you offer?

Service Based Website

• Up to six pages, with an optional blog included
• Beautifully branded website and curated stock photography
• Full site copy to convert your audience
• Basic SEO optimization
• Social media and newsletter integration
• Favicon and social sharing icons
• Lawyer approved Privacy Policy
• Built-in sitemap
• Optional monthly support plan

E-commerce Website – This includes everything listed above, as well as:

• Up to seven pages, including the optional blog
• E-commerce site with 50 products included

SEO Plus Plan – After creating your awesome new site, it’s time to get it seen on Google!  With this in-depth plan, I’ll get you to the first page of Google and convert those leads into paying customers.

Dubsado Account Setup – Using Dubsado will help you run your business like a boss! It’s been my best tool in growing my business and I know it will help you to succeed. It’s a little labor intensive, which is why I offer to set it up for you:

• Integrate logo and brand settings
• Add packages and create proposal
• Add working contracts
• Set up an invoicing schedule and payment systems
• Integrate a payment processor
• Create custom questionnaires and other forms
• Create canned emails with copy that converts
• Sync your email account
• Get a video walkthrough on how to use the system

Why did you start your business and how long have you been running it?

I’ve owned my own business for 3 years now. I was miserable at my desk job and kept dreaming about starting my own business one day.

I kept working at it on the side and finally the day came when my side hustle surpassed the salary of my day job! I knew I had made it and it’s been a beautiful whirlwind ever since.

What struggles do you think most businesses face in your industry and what would you say they need to do to overcome them?

Not Valuing Themselves Enough – When I look at other businesses similar to mine who are charging less, I think to myself “You’re worth more than that!” I think it’s hard for people to realize their worth and be brave enough to ask for more.

Being Knowledgeable – There are so many things to learn in this industry, and it’s constantly changing. Keeping up with new algorithms or the latest software is a job in itself!

I find myself learning new things almost daily. It would be too easy to tell my clients “I don’t know how to do that.” Instead I say “Yes!” and then work my butt off to figure it out and do it well.

Getting Overwhelmed – There’s SO MUCH that goes into owning and operating your own business. In this case, the devil really is in the details. Keeping on top of all the small stuff is hard when it’s time consuming and you know you have so many more important things you have to be doing. And as a small business owner, all of the responsibilities come down to just you. It can become way too much, way too fast.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?

My greatest accomplishment is honestly starting my business in the first place. It took a lot of time and guts but I’m proud of myself every day for sticking with it.

I’ve accomplished more than I ever thought I could in such a short amount of time and it’s all because I made the decision years ago to leave my soul-draining job behind.

What has been your biggest ‘fail’ so far?

I should have hired someone to help me and business a long time ago. I’m quite the control freak and didn’t trust anyone else but myself around my business. But when things started piling up I knew I didn’t have a choice.

When I finally hired some help, I realized I should have done this years ago! I didn’t have to struggle for as long as I did. Even though it might be scary to bring someone new into the circle of trust, I’d recommend it, you’ll be able to accomplish so much.

What do you love most about your business?

I love helping clients find the confidence to start really growing their business. It’s hard to feel like you’re good enough, but once I deliver their custom site design it changes everything.

They finally feel official and authentic and I love being the one to give them that feeling that they are worthy and that they can definitely do this.

What do you find most challenging?

The most challenging thing for me is being a single mom and managing my business. Both of those roles take up an enormous amount of time.

Trying to find a happy balance and then some time to destress myself is impossible a lot of the time.

How do you promote your business (please include as many details as you can)?

I’m always looking for new ways to get new leads. I rely heavily on maintaining my high SEO ranking so I stay on page one.

In addition to that I’m a part of various Facebook groups where I’m very active in the community.

Recently I was given the honor of being put on Kirsten Martin’s directory which is already getting leads!

What business skills do you have (eg. graphic design, customer service)?

Getting my MBA from West Point gave me a huge advantage when it comes to thriving in the business world.

• Web Design
• SEO Optimization
• Customer Service
• Website Marketing
• Teaching Myself New Things

What software did you/your designer use to create your website (eg. WordPress, Wix)?

I use Squarespace to create my sites, but won’t shy away from a WordPress design or 2.

What are some of your favourite business tools and apps?

• I absolutely love Dubsado ! I wouldn’t be able to run my business as well as I do without it.
• Canva has been essential for all my simple yet custom graphics needs.
• Dropbox is a great tool for sharing photos with my team.
• Slack has become a great way to easily communicate with my clients and team members.

What do you like about your website and what’s not working for you?

I love the consistency of my brand throughout my entire site. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to get it to where it is now and I’m so happy with how it looks.

I would really love to have photos of me instead of stock photography. It looks nice, but I want it to be more personal.

What lessons have you learnt during your time as an entrepreneur?

Everything is figureoutable.

Sometimes taking a break is exactly what I need in order to focus and work harder. When my mind gets a little worn down after a few hours, I’ll go exercise or do the dishes, and when I sit down to work again I find that I can get a lot more done in a small amount of time.

Never give up. It sounds cliche, but I can’t say it enough. Sometimes things get really hard, and a lot of people give up in order to stay in their comfort zone. I was able to break out of mine and am now living my dream life!

What key tips for success in business would you like to share with others?

Always keep learning! Knowledge is truly power, especially in this industry. It’ll help you to overcome your challenges more quickly and efficiently. Also, you’ll sound super smart when talking to clients, because you are!

Find a software that will do tasks automatically for you! You’ve heard me talk about Dubsado a lot, and that’s because it deserves all the praise it can get.

Then find one software that allows you to quickly and easily communicate with a lot of people. It’s very hard keeping track of emails and texts and messages. If you can funnel all communication into one spot, you’ll be much better off.

Find people you trust to help you run your business. I’m sure you’re already aware of how overwhelming it can all be, more so if you’re the only one doing everything. Finding someone to help shoulder some of the responsibilities can be a huge help, and give you extra time to do the things you love. Which is why you started your own business in the first place!

What is the one thing that you want everyone to take away from this post?

Being successful takes a lot of hard, but remember that you are more than capable of doing it. And when things get hard, don’t be afraid to ask for help; you’ll find it’s much easier to come by than you think.

Get in the habit of saying yes to people. Even if you have no idea how to do it, you can always learn, and that way you’ll be prepared for next time.

Take advantage of the knowledge available to you and never stop learning!