Let me take you back to a time when I thought I could figure it all out on my own.
I had a vision. I had determination. I even had a Canva subscription and a late-night Pinterest board full of “website inspiration.”
What I didn’t have? Strategy, clarity, or support.
So I dove into DIY mode with all the enthusiasm in the world… and ended up spending over $3,000 on tools, templates, and tech that looked pretty but didn’t do much else.
Here’s what I learned the hard way—and what I now help my clients avoid completely.
Lesson 1: Pretty Doesn’t Pay the Bills
Listen, I love a beautiful website as much as anyone. Clean fonts, curated color palettes, stunning visuals—they’re great.
But if your site doesn’t convert visitors into leads or clients? It’s just digital decor.
Your website should have one job: guide your dream client toward taking action.
That might be booking a call, filling out a form, downloading a freebie, or making a purchase. If it’s not clear, obvious, and easy to do, you’re losing potential business.
What I did: Picked a trendy template and filled in the blanks.
What I should have done: Started with strategy. Who is this for? What do they need? What do I want them to do?
Lesson 2: Templates Don’t Know Your Business
I bought multiple “drag-and-drop” templates promising to be the solution to my website woes. And yes, they were pretty. But they weren’t strategic.
They didn’t:
- Reflect my unique offers
- Speak to my ideal audience
- Guide people through a journey
So even though the site looked good, it didn’t do its job. And I was left wondering why I wasn’t getting any leads.
Templates can be a great starting point—but only if you know how to customize them to your goals. Otherwise, they’re just filler.
Lesson 3: Tech Can’t Replace Clarity
Here’s what no one tells you: You can have all the right tools—Kajabi, Showit, WordPress, Squarespace—and still end up with a website that doesn’t work.
Why?
Because tools don’t make decisions. You do.
I wasted hours learning platforms, testing plug-ins, watching tutorials… all without really understanding what my site was supposed to do.
Now I help clients get crystal clear on:
- Their primary goal for the site
- What journey they want the visitor to take
- How their site supports their business model
Tech is great. But clarity is better.
Lesson 4: DIY Isn’t Free (It’s Just Sneaky Expensive)
One of the biggest myths in online business is that DIY saves money.
Yes, it might be cheaper up front. But it often costs more in the long run through:
- Lost time
- Missed opportunities
- Redoing things that weren’t done right the first time
Looking back, I didn’t save money—I just delayed results.
If I’d invested in a strategic, simplified approach from the beginning, I’d have saved time, booked clients sooner, and avoided the mental exhaustion of trying to do everything myself.
Lesson 5: You Don’t Need to Do It Alone
This is the biggest one.
I thought I had to prove something by figuring it out solo. But the truth? Getting support doesn’t make you less capable—it makes you smart.
Since then, I’ve worked with countless small business owners who were where I was—stuck, overwhelmed, and second-guessing everything.
And every time, I see the same shift: when you get support and clarity, things start working. Not because you did more, but because you did the right things.
So If You’re Stuck in DIY Mode Right Now…
I get it. Truly. You’re resourceful, determined, and trying to make smart choices with your time and money.
But if your website isn’t working for you, it’s time for a reset.
Your website should:
- Make it clear who you help
- Highlight the value you bring
- Guide people to the next step
- Reflect the heart and voice of your brand
And that’s exactly what I help you build.
Ready to stop guessing and start getting results?
I offer strategy-first website audits and simplified design support for small business owners who want to grow with clarity (not chaos).
Don’t waste another $3K spinning your wheels.
Let’s simplify it together.
You’ve got this,
Christina
Simplify UR Biz