Serving a Local Niche While Traveling -A Web Designer’s Guide to Digital Nomading
Prefer to watch?
Here’s the video!
Rather read all about it?
Ever wonder if you can run a location-specific web design business and still work from anywhere in the world?
Well my past student Janessa from JPK Design Studio has truly cracked the code on this one!
She started in corporate event production, dreaming of a more meaningful, flexible business.
Today, she’s a fully booked web designer, charging up to $7,500 per project!
Janessa serves her Portland-based client niche, all while embracing that digital nomad lifestyle she dreamed of.
From discovering little-known tricks to rank in SEO to perfecting a quick-turnaround, one-week website package, Janessa has truly created a business that works around her life.
In today’s interview, she’s spilling the tea on how she got there!
So if you’re curious about creating your own flexible, high-value business, stick around—this is one conversation you won't want to miss!
Journey to Web Design
What were you doing before web design?
Answer: Before I was a web designer, I worked as a freelance event producer, mainly with corporate clients. I’d been doing that for years, and it was a dream setup—I could travel, set my own schedule, and it was everything I’d ever hoped for.
But over time, I felt this pull to work more closely with people, to help small business owners bring their dreams to life. I know it sounds a bit cheesy, but that was one of my core values.
I wanted to make a real impact on people who were just starting out or making big changes.
How did you end up choosing web design?
Answer: That’s such a good question, and honestly, I didn’t know right away.
At first, I thought about starting a collective, gathering people with different skills to work together. But I quickly realized that I needed more skills myself if I wanted to do something impactful.
That’s when I started exploring web design—I’d had a blog on WordPress since 2008, so I already knew a bit about websites.
Once I found Squarespace, I just kept going deeper into it, learning more every day. And then, about three months later, I looked up and thought, “Oh, I guess I’m a web designer now!”
Building a Client Base
*Thats an affiliate link!
How did you announce your business, and what was the response?
Answer: I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I wanted to have everything set up properly before making it public.
I built my own website and even reached out to a friend—who I saw as my ideal client—to offer a free website in exchange for feedback and practice.
By the time I was ready to announce it, I knew I could deliver. I also set myself up with HoneyBook* to handle client management professionally right from the start.
Once I felt ready, I announced it on Facebook to my personal network first, and then on LinkedIn.
The response was amazing—friends and connections flooded in, saying they needed a website.
I think I got about ten inquiries initially and landed four clients from that first announcement.
They were mostly busy professionals who needed a website but hadn’t had the time to set one up. It was a great start and made me realize there’s room in the industry, even though it sometimes feels saturated.
Who were your first clients?
Answer: It was a fun mix! One client was a digital marketer, another was a housing design specialist, there was an artist with incredible work, and someone from the restaurant industry, which I knew a bit about from my own past.
They were all small business owners, and I loved getting to work with them, especially because they were people I already knew and felt comfortable with.
Managing Imposter Syndrome
Did you experience imposter syndrome, and how did you handle it?
Answer: Absolutely! I still feel it sometimes, to be honest. But I knew I was willing to put in the work.
I told myself that if I kept pushing through and learning, eventually, I’d feel confident. When I first announced my services, I was so nervous, but having those initial clients helped a lot.
I completed their websites, got testimonials, and that social proof was a big confidence boost. It was like, “Oh, you actually liked what I did? Okay, great!”
One thing that really helped was taking your courses.
I knew there’d be moments when I’d feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed, but I prepared myself to work through that discomfort. I made a plan to just keep going, even if I felt like quitting on tough days. That mindset of “just keep pushing” was essential. I think being your own cheerleader is sometimes half the battle.
Choosing Squarespace as a Specialty
Why did you choose Squarespace?
Answer: Honestly, I can’t even say there was one clear reason—it just kind of happened. I was on a mission to find something that would let me help small businesses, and I started researching platforms.
I kept coming back to Squarespace; it felt user-friendly, and I realized it could be the right fit.
By January 2023, I was fully in on Squarespace and had watched tons of tutorials, read blog posts, and studied everything I could. I think it just “clicked,” and I felt like, “Yeah, I can do this.”
Do you think specializing in one platform is enough?
Answer: I think you absolutely can be successful with just Squarespace.
In fact, I think it’s better to focus on one platform and really master it. If I offered Wix or another platform, I’d have to learn it from scratch, and I wouldn’t be able to leverage all the skills I’ve already built.
Staying focused on one platform makes me faster and more effective.
Of course, if I decide to expand to another platform in the future, that’s always an option, but for now, specializing in Squarespace feels right.
Developing Service Offerings
What are your main service offerings?
Answer: Sure! I work quickly, so I’ve structured my services around that.
My main offerings are:
One-week websites
For the one-week website build, I usually handle 3 to 5 pages. It’s perfect for clients who need a streamlined website quickly.
Two-week websites
If someone needs more features or pages—up to 10 pages—I offer a two-week build. That gives us more time for things like strategy and additional customizations.
VIP day sessions
The VIP day sessions are for clients who want specific tasks handled in one day.
They can give me a list of updates or requests, and I tackle as many as I can within that timeframe. It’s a great option for people who need smaller changes or a one-page site set up quickly.
Template customizations
I recently started offering template customizations too, where a client buys a template and I help them fine-tune it to make it their own.
Digital Products
What digital products do you offer, and how did you come up with the ideas?
Answer: My favorite digital product is the website workback schedule.
It’s something I brought over from my experience in corporate event planning, where you look at the event date and plan backwards.
I realized it could be super helpful for people building websites too. When I was starting out, the whole process felt overwhelming, so I created a Google Sheet that breaks down everything step-by-step.
You just enter your launch date, and it tells you what to do each day leading up to it. It’s customizable, so you can assign tasks to team members or adjust based on your needs. It’s been really popular as a resource.
Here’s a quick overview of the digital products I currently offer:
Website Workback Schedule: A Google Sheet that helps people plan their website launch by working backwards from the launch date.
Website Workbook: A simpler planning sheet in Google Docs that covers basics like domain setup and client information gathering.
Blog Templates: Pre-made structures for informational blog posts and affiliate blog posts to help people quickly create content.
Blog Tracker Template: A tool for tracking blog post details, including dates, links, and SEO descriptions—just like I use for my own content.
Which of these products has been the most popular?
Answer: My one-week website build service is probably the most popular offering overall, likely because I talk about it the most.
But in terms of digital products, my blog templates have actually been the best-sellers.
I think that’s partly because I offer the website workback schedule in bundles as a freebie to grow my email list, so people tend to get that one through other avenues.
The blog templates, though, seem to be a big hit on their own!
Marketing Strategies
How are you marketing yourself and attracting clients?
Answer: Building my email list has been a top priority, and I’ve used bundles as a way to do that.
Basically, a bundle is a group of resources that people can get for free or at a low cost, and in return, they join your email list.
For example, I might contribute my website workback schedule to a bundle, and anyone who wants it can sign up for my email list to get it.
It’s a win-win—people get helpful resources, and I get to reach a wider audience.
Here are some main ways I’m attracting clients:
Email List Building through Bundles: Participating in resource bundles has been a great way to grow my email list, although it sometimes brings in subscribers who aren’t always my ideal long-term clients.
Networking and Referrals: My first clients came from my personal network and word-of-mouth referrals, which I didn’t have to incentivize. The work itself created enough interest.
Content Strategy through Blogging: Since May last year, I’ve committed to a consistent blogging schedule. I started with two posts per week and now send weekly emails, which have helped me reach nearly 100 blog posts. Consistency has been key in growing traffic.
How else are clients finding you?
Answer: One strategy I love is using SEO to attract local clients. I realized that while I couldn’t rank for a broad term like “Squarespace web designer,” I could target “Squarespace web designer Portland” since I’m based in Portland, Oregon.
I created a landing page with that focus, linked to it in my site footer, and quickly climbed to the top of local search results.
Targeting a local SEO term has brought in highly interested clients who are actively searching for my services, even though it may only get a handful of searches each month.
It’s a great reminder that even small, targeted SEO strategies can make a big impact!
Running a Business as a Digital Nomad
How do you manage running a business while traveling?
Answer: I started traveling full-time right after I left my corporate job in November 2019.
I’d always wanted to work remotely and see the world, so I set out with a one-way ticket and decided to figure things out as I went.
My travels have taken me everywhere from Croatia to Turkey, and I’ve been able to keep the business running along the way. For me, it’s ideal—I get to work in the morning, take afternoons off to explore, and then work again in the evenings if I need to.
One thing that makes it possible is having a flexible approach to time zones and communication with clients.
I let clients know I might be in a different time zone, so my “office hours” won’t necessarily match theirs. I’m clear about response times and meeting availability, and it works well because I’ve structured my life to prioritize flexibility.
What are your top tips for others who want to work and travel?
Answer: Here are a few things that have really helped me:
Stay Flexible with Hours: I don’t keep a strict 9-to-5. If a launch needs to happen at 11 p.m. my time, I’m willing to do it. This flexibility has allowed me to keep my client commitments, even while traveling.
Use Month-Long Airbnb Stays: If I’m staying somewhere longer than a week, I usually book a month-long Airbnb, which often gives a substantial discount. Even if I leave a bit early, it’s generally cheaper.
Be Clear with Clients: Communication is key. I let clients know about any differences in time zones and set clear expectations around response times and availability.
Consider the Cost of Living: Traveling can actually reduce your cost of living. In many places, groceries, accommodation, and day-to-day expenses are significantly lower than in the U.S.
Reflections on Perseverance
You’ve said that perseverance is key to success. Can you talk more about that?
Answer: I really believe that perseverance is the biggest differentiator between those who succeed and those who don’t.
I’ve learned that if I just keep pushing through imposter syndrome or moments of self-doubt, I’ll reach the other side. When things get tough, it’s easy to feel like giving up or deciding that you’re “not good enough.” But I’ve seen that if I keep working and learning, the rewards come.
I often think about the story from Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. There’s a scene where someone is digging for gold and gives up just a few feet short of hitting the jackpot.
Someone else comes along, digs a little further, and finds the gold.
For me, it’s a reminder that you never know how close you are to success until you get there, so it’s worth pushing a little longer. As long as my mental energy allows, I’ll keep going and avoid getting lost in negative thoughts.
What motivates you to stay determined, even when things are difficult?
Answer: I think determination and consistency are what keep my business moving forward.
I know I’m not the absolute best at every part of my work, but I also know that if I stick with it, I’ll keep improving. My husband even pointed out that determination is probably the biggest reason my business has succeeded.
It’s not about intelligence or talent; it’s about showing up every day and being willing to learn.
There’s so much value in finding an industry where your natural skills align with the work. For me, things like project management, strategy, and organization come easily, so I build on those strengths and focus on getting better every day.
In the end, intelligence doesn’t guarantee success, but resilience and dedication do.
AI as a Content Creation Tool
How are you using AI to streamline your content creation?
Answer: AI has been a helpful tool for me, especially as a solo entrepreneur. Sometimes I treat ChatGPT almost like a brainstorming buddy—it’s like having someone to bounce ideas off, even though I work alone.
For things like blog post titles or email subject lines, I often get stuck staring at a blank page. With ChatGPT, I can say, “I need five ideas for a blog title about this topic,” and it gives me a starting point to work from.
Over time, I’ve even customized it a bit. I’ve taught ChatGPT the types of words and phrases I prefer, so when I’m short on inspiration, it can suggest options that feel more like my style.
I don’t use the results directly, but it definitely helps with those initial brainstorming sessions when I’m feeling creatively blocked.
Growth through Learning
As a student of my web design courses, how did they impact your business?
Answer: I came into your courses with no formal background in web design, so they were invaluable to me.
I started as a total beginner, and the course content was exactly what I needed to get my footing.
Having a structured approach to everything—from building sites to managing clients—was such a relief.
The templates provided a solid starting point and helped me feel like I was starting ahead rather than from scratch.
For someone like me, who can get overwhelmed with where to begin, the step-by-step guidance was huge.
What would you say to someone considering taking a course but feeling hesitant?
Answer: If you’re serious about diving into web design, your course is a fantastic resource.
The detail is incredible, and everything is laid out so clearly. Plus, I really appreciated that it’s updated regularly to keep up with platform changes.
For someone on the fence, I’d say that if you’re ready to put in the work, the course gives you everything you need to succeed.
It provided a roadmap for structuring my services and pricing, which gave me the confidence to launch and grow my business.
Janessa’s story is a perfect example of how consistency and hard work at the start can truly pay off, and that your ideal work-life balance might not be as far off as it seems.
Now, traveling the world while designing websites might sound like a dream, but if you’re going to pull it off, you’ll need your client process down to a T.
So, make sure to watch this video next, where I break down my exact client process, step by step, so you can skip the common mistakes and go straight to effortless, silky-smooth project timelines, that get done on time, and have you closing the laptop early on Fridays so you can get to enjoying your weekend!
