Success thanks to welshy and my wa friends!
I just love y'all more than anything on this planet! Here's what happened....
I'd been with WA for four months and spent every working hour learning how to make money online. I LOVED the process of turning into a geek and enjoy the work more and more everyday. About 2 months ago, I decided that I wanted to do web design and optimization as a full time career.
I created a referral program for friends because Heaven forbid I actually talk to people in person anymore. I did sales for 17 years and I'm so looking forward to not having to do that dance. The day came and my phone rang. It was a friend with a referral for web design and content management. This was going to be a nice upfront fee plus monthly residual. YAY! I called the new client and began discussing his online presence needs.
Now, this client had an existing website but the only thing he liked about it was the domain name. Of course, I said I could keep his domain name and redo everything else including moving his DNS. His site is an online store and he gets tons of customers each day.
Naturally, the first thing I did was switch hosting over to WA so I could get to work. I picked a theme and clicked install and activate. That's the first thing we do, right? WRONG! The first thing I should have done is backed up the original site. Most folks would know this but I was so excited to have my first customer that I lost all sense of commonality that day.
Of course, I immediately realized what I had done. I had taken down the client's site, he was loosing money, and it would take me days to rebuild it. YIKES! I freaked out to say the least.
As I was shaking, I typed a desperate blog for help to my WA family. Within 2 minutes I had friends calming me down, and within 10 minutes my prayers were answered. Welshy responded and followed up with a PM to me. He not only got the site back up immediately but took the time to forward the links to tell me how to do it should it ever happen again. I couldn't believe it. I was so thankful that I just sat down and cried tears of joy. HUGE LESSON LEARNED!
That afternoon, I called the client. I felt I needed to let him know what happened and that for about 45 min. his site was down. The last thing I wanted was for him to hear it from a customer that they couldn't get on his site. I also offered compensation for those sales lost. He was very understanding and didn't really give me any grief. Shew!
I finished his site late last week and he approved the final draft. I got paid and was thankful that I got my "first" out of the way. Which by the way, I wouldn't have if it weren't for Welshy!
I got a call this morning from a national company needing 8 separate regional websites. They said, we are friends with "your client" and really like the look of his site. We discussed specifics over a conference call and they just paid my deposit into my credit card account!
If Welshy and the rest of y'all didn't come to my rescue that day, I would have never even finished the first guy's site! Now I have 14 clients (counting the 8 regional ones from this morning) and I can't believe it! I'm so out of my league but I'll take it one day at a time and figure it out.
The education at WA is truly worth more than any traditional industry education and the added bonus is definitely the talented folks we have here. Everyone is so willing to help and I appreciate it every day!!!
THANKS WELSHY AND ALL THE OTHERS WHO CAME TO MY RESCUE!
Recent Comments
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I remember you first sharing about your intention a while back to do this work. And I remember you going at it with a no fail attitude as well, you had a confidence that has proved true for you Tracy, because you executed your idea. I am happy for you. You are a great role model to others.
Sincerely Mike
Hi Mike! I remember when you sent me a message saying to focus and keep my eye on the prize. I bookmarked your blog "Shit happens on the way to success" and I've read it probably 20 times. You may not have known it but you've inspired me every day on my journey. You are amazing and I appreciate you tons!
I was going to say 'what a happy ending to your story', but of course it's more like a beginning. You'll have your work cut out but at least you are getting paid, learning more while you are doing it and becoming more skilled all the time.
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS and many good wishes.
--Isabella
This is incredible, Tracy. I envy you. I dont see myself having the guts to do one thing like that. I feel i still dont know anything about webdesign. It is a great responsability. and i feel i have to be almost 2perfect" in what i do. Congratulations.
You've only been here for 6 months and you have 2 other jobs! I've was fortunate enough to be able to spend 9 hours a day learning this stuff. It's so true what other's have said... just when you are ready to give up, you "get" it. Something just clicks. Can't wait to hear your success stories!
Web designing is a goldmine, there are people who earn more than $2k per custom design. In a way you got yourself a story to tell to your grandchildren :P
I know, it's crazy! One guy told me that Yelp quoted him $250/month just for content management and they had to sign a two year contract.
Wait a minute! is that how much they pay for just copy pasting the content they give in the WP editor?
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Congratulations Tracy! You have quite a success story! It really did take guts to put yourself out there and it's paying off, very inspiring!
Not sure if it is guts or stupidity but either way, I'm excited to see what the future holds. Regardless, I am positive of one thing... I LOVE this work!