Think you have to wait for your slow season to start your website?

Not true.

Your best website doesn’t actually start in Showit (or Squarespace… or WordPress).

It starts way earlier — in the middle of your everyday client work.

In this episode, I’m sharing 7 simple things you can prep now — even if you’re fully booked and nowhere near “website build mode” — so when you do sit down to design, you’re not starting from scratch.

Because the truth is:

The difference between a stressful DIY website and a strategic one usually comes down to what you gathered ahead of time.

These small, behind-the-scenes habits will help you:

1. write your copy faster
2. design with more clarity
3. attract better-fit clients
4. and build a site that actually converts

…without scrambling for content at the last minute.

If you’re in a busy season but know a new website is coming someday, this episode is your game plan.

🧭 In this episode, we cover:

1. Why your website prep starts long before you open your builder
2. How to collect stronger, more specific testimonials
3. Noticing your “sweet spot” projects (and what to stop showcasing)
4. Easy ways to capture behind-the-scenes process photos + videos
5. How to gather real-world design inspiration (not just Pinterest)
6. Using your clients’ exact words to write better copy
7. Turning past posts and content into evergreen website assets

🔗 Resources mentioned

✨ Free Website Planner

Plan your pages, organize your ideas, and design with strategy — not guesswork

dearkatebrandstrategy.com/planner

If you're waiting until your slow season

to finally build that new website,

2

here's what you can be doing right

now while you're deep in busy season.

3

That will make your site convert

better later because your next great

4

website doesn't start in your builder.

5

It starts with the things you're

doing in your business right now.

6

First up is collecting testimonials

while you're working with clients and

7

their experience is fresh on their mind.

8

You wanna get their words?

9

You want more though

than just, it was great.

10

I loved it.

11

You want something that

is a little more visceral?

12

What was it like before

they worked with you?

13

What's it been like after?

14

What's the transformation

that they received from that?

15

You can ask leading questions to

help get those words out of them.

16

Um, but pull those into clean testimonials

that you can use later on your website.

17

Those will be so helpful for helping

other people see what it was really like.

18

Number two is finding

your business sweet spot.

19

I want you to notice which projects

or clients made you say, oh my

20

gosh, I wish every project felt

like this, and which ones didn't?

21

Which ones do you not wanna work on?

22

Again, that's your

direction for your new site.

23

Your website should reflect the kind of

work and the people you want more of.

24

Not just everything you've done.

25

When you design and copy lean into your

favorite projects, your site naturally

26

attracts more of those dream clients.

27

Number three, share how you work.

28

Take those photos in short clips of your

process, your workspace, your notes, your

29

client calls, or even your coffee fueled

30

brainstorms.

31

Those behind the scenes moments helped

you show your process and your personality

32

on your about or your service pages.

33

People connect with how you do what

you do, not just the finished result.

34

Number four.

35

Inspiration.

36

Don't wait until your slow

season to start collecting ideas.

37

Start while you're inspired by your work.

38

And don't limit yourself to

Pinterest boards or template sites.

39

Maybe it's the colors on a thank you

card you just got in the mail, the

40

typeface on a new coffee shop sign,

or how a piece of art makes you feel.

41

Keep a folder or a Creative

Notes album on your phone.

42

When you're ready to build your

site, you'll have the real world

43

inspiration that helps your site

feel authentic, not cookie cutter.

44

Number five, speak client language.

45

The best website copy comes

from your client's mouths.

46

Listen to the words they use

to describe what they need or

47

what they loved about your work.

48

That's your messaging.

49

Gold.

50

Sprinkle their phrases throughout your

site so when someone new lands on it,

51

they instantly feel, yep, this is for me.

52

They feel seen.

53

They feel like you totally get

them because you're using the

54

words of past clients there.

55

Number six, showcase your

best as you wrap up projects.

56

Save screenshots before and afters or

notes about what made them special.

57

Create a portfolio ready folder

now so you're not digging later.

58

A well curated portfolio makes your DIY

site feel more professional and helps

59

visitors quickly see your expertise.

60

And then number seven,

evergreen content gold.

61

I want you to look back at your

recent social posts or marketing

62

moments, the ones that got great

engagement or sparked conversations.

63

Those are gold mines for your website.

64

Turn those short posts into

blog content, FAQs, or service

65

page sections that go deeper.

66

You've already tested.

67

What resonates.

68

Now let's expand it into long

form content that builds trust

69

and drives traffic all year long.

70

Every small step you take now is

setting you up for a smoother,

71

more strategic website build later.

72

So when slow season hits, you're

not starting from scratch,

73

you're starting from momentum.

74

If you're ready to start

planning your DIY site the right

75

way, grab my website planner.

76

It'll help you outline your pages,

organize your ideas, and design

77

with strategy, not just aesthetics.

78

You can download it using the

link in the description below.

79

It's at dearkatebrandstrategy.com/planner