hiya Reader,

I’ve noticed I've been booking more Design Days and 5-Day Websites lately, and not as many full custom sites. And I’ve seen the same shift from other folks in the online business space, too.

That echoes in your survey responses too. A lot of you mentioned things feeling quieter, more unpredictable, or just a little foggy.

The world is weird right now.

If you're in a slower stretch, here's my take: don't panic, don't slash your prices, and don't burn your business down.

Here are 7 things that you can do instead:

1. Revisit Your Foundations (aka Check Your Business Basics)​
​ Now’s a great time to check whether your back-end set up matches where you’re at now your business, not where you were a few years ago.

• Review your offers: Are they layered enough? Do they meet people at different readiness levels?
• Tidy up your messaging: Is your site clearly saying what you do, and who you do it for?
• Cut what’s unnecessary: Check your subscriptions- what can go?

For example: I recently cancelled Zoom. Not because I don’t like it (I actually love it and have used it for YEARS), but because Google Meet, included in my Workspace plan, does everything I need. So it was see ya later, Zoom!

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2. Don’t Lower Your Prices. Seriously. Don’t.​
​Yep, this one gets its own bullet point.

Slower season? That’s NOT a reason to discount your core offers!

Instead:

• Create or spotlight a smaller engagement: a consult, a one-day project, a mini version of what you already do
• Re-promote something you’ve already built that’s still valuable, even if it’s been on the backburner

Your pricing reflects your experience, your process, and the results you deliver. That hasn’t changed. The economy might be weird—but your value isn’t.

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3. Sharpen Your Skills ​
​Now’s a great time to finally dig into something you’ve been curious about!

A few places to look:

• Branding & Design: ilovecreatives courses always look so fun & creative, and Canva has a free Design School I've heard good things about (might be especially handy after all their new releases last week!)
• Project Management: Platforms like Airtable, Asana and ClickUp offer free trainings to help you use their tools more effectively
• SEO: Grow with SEO* by the seriously smart Kate Scott

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4. Reconnect and Show Up ​
​ If you’ve got a content or visibility strategy- amazing. Keep going.

But if you’re between launches, pivoting, or just not feeling it: Start small.

• Email 2 or 3 past clients. Check in and ask how things are going, just say hey
• Follow up with past leads. It's not always the comfortable, but if you don't follow up, you're leaving potential projects on the table. Just send a friendly nudge, it could be exactly what they need right now
• Share something on the 'gram: a tiny win, a helpful tip, a client testimonial, or a behind-the-scenes peek at what you're working on (showing up as YOU and being real is key in 2025)
• Comment in a Slack group or DM a colleague just to connect with a new biz buddy
• Reply to a newsletter you enjoyed with a thoughtful response (people love hearing from subscribers, trust me!)
• Reshare a favorite piece of content you created (people miss things ALL the time)

Consistency matters more than complexity. You don’t need to go viral or drive yourself crazy trying to be everywhere at all once, just try to show and be present when you can.

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5. Clean up Your Systems ​
Future you will thank you! 🙌

Have some annoying or repeatable tasks? Make one of them smoother:

• Automate folder setup with Zapier or Make (for example: when someone signs a contract, auto-create a Google Drive folder)
• Template your onboarding and offboarding emails—and keep them all in one place
• Build a reusable client dashboard in your fave project management tool like Notion, Trello, or Asana.
• Use Loom to record a short welcome walkthrough you can reuse
• Write a “how to work with me” doc that explains timelines, tools, and boundaries

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6. Finish the Back-Burner Project ​
Pick one thing you’ve been avoiding and move it forward.

It could be:

• Updating your Services page with clearer CTAs
• Turning an old internal doc into a client-facing asset
• Writing the email sequence that’s been half-drafted since January.
  • If you need a jumpstart, grab the free Swipe Swipe Baby* from Liz Wilcox- it’s got a welcome sequence, 3 newsletters, and 52 subject lines (aka: your email writing emergency kit)
• Finishing a product that’s 80% done and hidden in Google Drive (I see myself here and I don't like it)

Set a 45-minute timer.

Remember, done > perfect.

BTW, if you need help updating your Services page or clarifying your copy, this is literally what I do in a Design Day. Hit reply and I’ll send details. Or check my calendar to see my next available spots.

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7. Audit your Website (this one is me being helpful and slightly biased)​
​ When’s the last time you looked at your own website like a visitor?

• Is it clear what you do and who it’s for?
• Is your messaging specific, or just kind of...generic?
• Is your mobile version readable and easy to use? With no weird spacing issues or things overlapping?
• Are you guiding people to a clear next step... or just showing them stuff and hope they find their way?

If it feels off, meh, or you’re too close to see it clearly and know what to do to dix it, I offer strategic website audits sent directly to your inbox.

Want one? Just reply, or click here to learn more.

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And whatever you do, for the love of Pete, don't rebrand AGAIN just because you can. (says the gal who knows better!... but honestly my busy brain just gets unbearably bored of looking at the same colors and fonts after a few months. It's a problem. Do as I say, not as I do 😜)

xo,
Janessa
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P.S. Survey update + winner announcement​
Two weeks ago, I sent out a quick survey about your business, your website, and where you're at in business right now. The responses were so thoughtful and helpful and good to read through - thank you again to everyone who filled one out! You all DA BEST.

⏳ The survey officially closes tonight (Tuesday, April 15)
📦 The free Canva template bundle will be available for download until tomorrow, Wednesday, April 16

Still want to fill it out before it’s gone?
👉 I HAVE a website​
👉 I DON’T have a website​

And finally: the winner of the $50 gift card drawing is Claire Laveaux!

Claire, an email is headed your way today. I hope you treat yourself to something delightful—coffee, books, plants, margs 🍹😉... whatever you love!

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Thanks again for being here. More soon.

Nifty Tidbit

Every week I share a Nifty Tidbit, a fun little trivia fact curated just for you. This week's Nifty Tidbit is about Brazil's biodiversity:

Squarespace web designer and digital strategist helping small business owners navigate marketing, business strategy, web design, and AI without the overwhelm. 15+ years of experience packed into practical templates and strategies you'll actually use.