How to Create a Profitable Website (with Ashley Kaplan): Episode 089

Today I'm interviewing Ashley Kaplan! She spends her time crafting customized WordPress websites with Elementor, and she teaches other entrepreneurs and bloggers to do the same. When she’s not sitting behind her computer, she loves traveling with her husband, eating and drinking locally wherever she goes, playing with her dog, and reading. Get ready for a really great episode full of all things WEB DESIGN!! Take some notes, and ENJOY!!

Takeaways:

Ashley says that once she left the corporate world, she didn’t have a safety net. She was all in, and knew it was make it or break it time. Sometimes once that safety net is gone we really force ourselves to get it done and make it happen. Take risks- they’re worth it.
She talks about the importance of a website. Sure social media is great, but if Instagram or Facebook changes and you lose engagement, you want to have a place people can connect with you that you OWN. Your website allows you to have those emails and people on your side if they know your website, because you own it.
Let’s talk website design. Ashley is amazing at this and says the number one tip is having a big, bold call to action. Who you are, what you do, how you’re going to help them, and how they can be a part of it. Short, sweet, to the point.
Another key point Ashley shares is that in people’s first few seconds on your website, they should be able to know the value you’ll add to them if they choose to work with you. Sell them on that final transformation, because like she says, they don’t really care about all the steps or the whole process, they care about RESULTS! Speak directly to your ideal client.
Ashley says main pages or sections you want to make sure you have on your site are: Home page, an about me, Work with me (freebies, courses, etc) and then a blog page! These 4 are crucial, but minimize your options so people aren’t overwhelmed.
Don’t let yourself get stuck in tasks that you aren’t good at. OUTSOURCE! Why let yourself get stuck and stressed out to do something you’re not good at? You need to invest and give yourself the time and space to focus on the things you are meant to be doing in your business.
Ashley swears by WordPress, because you own 100% of your website. It allows you full access to your code files, and all of your content. WordPress gives you the flexibility to have several plugins, unlike other sites. Even though the design factors can be cool on Squarespace, you can’t quite customize it the way you can on WordPress.

Highlights:

(01:32) A little more about Ashley Kaplan
(01:59) How Ashley got started as an entrepreneur.
(03:34) What it was like leaving the corporate world for entrepreneurship.
(04:32) Why you shouldn’t solely rely on social media for your business.
(07:12) Design tips for a killer website.
(08:25 The power of speaking directly to your ideal clients…and writing how you speak!
(12:01) What pages should you have on your website?
(13:03) Creating content that shows up on google.
(14:10) How often should you create content?
(17:09) Common mistakes Ashley sees people making when building and designing their websites.
(18:40) The power of NICHING DOWN- and how it helped Ashley’s business.
(19:18) Ashley’s top tips for redoing your website.
(22:39) How much should you budget to spend on your website? What is too much, what is too little to pay someone?
(26:06) What are Ashley’s favorite website themes on WordPress?
(27:01) Plugins- which ones should you have, can you have too many?
(28:40) Why WordPress? Why not Squarespace or Wix?
(31:10) What can you do to speed up your website time?
(32:07) The best book Ashley’s ever read.
(33:09) The best investment Ashley has ever made into her business.
(34:45) Ashley’s course- why it’s an amazing investment if you’re in need of a website.
(35:58) What does it mean for Ashley to make an impact?
(36:49) What’s next for her?
(37:20) Where can you connect with Ashley?

Quotes:

“They want to know how you’re going to help them”
“Sell them on the transformation that they are going to experience when they work with you.”
“Text on a website is not academic…be YOU”
“Write how you would speak”
“You want your visitors on your website to have to burn as few calories as possible”
“Less is more”
“If you’re doing it yourself, you can do it so so cheap”
“The best is yet to come”

Resources:

Connect with Ashley:

Website- ashleykaplan.com
Facebook group: Worry-Free WordPress
Ashley’s Course- Worry Free WordPress Academy
Instagram- @wordpresswithashley

Plugins for Building Your Website:

Books:

Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller

Watch Full Interview:

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Rachel Ngom is an entrepreneur passionate about the nations, having lived on three continents.

She hosts the Christian Entrepreneurs Rise Up podcast with over 500 episodes, empowering faith-driven entrepreneurs to build profitable businesses that serve God’s Kingdom.

Starting her first online business in 2012 and serving over 10,000 students, she grew it into a seven-figure company. In 2023, God called her to lay down that business and dedicate herself fully to ministry, exposing the dangers of New Age and worldly strategies in the Christian marketplace.

Now studying at the Global School of Supernatural Ministry and Global Awakening Seminary, she has witnessed Jesus’ healing power firsthand.

Her mission is to help Christian entrepreneurs fund the Kingdom, give generously, go on missions, and follow God’s call to make a lasting impact.

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