We were lucky to catch up with Alida Lee recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alida, thanks for joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

When I had the idea for Web Momster I was working in a wellness clinic. I was the patient experience manager, but also built and managed the website, and was heavily involved in marketing strategy and execution. I was a jack of all trades employee – if something needed to be done, I just did it. I am a very detail-oriented perfectionist, and having job in which I felt pulled in many directions made me feel like I wasn’t doing a very good job at any one responsibility. I felt stuck, but there was no way I could leave the clinic and let everyone down. I desperately wanted a career that would allow me to focus on one thing instead of 1000 things!

When I had the idea for Web Momster, I worked in a wellness clinic. I was the patient experience manager, built and managed the website, and was heavily involved in marketing strategy and execution. I was a jack-of-all-trades employee – if something needed to be done, I just did it. I am a very detail-oriented perfectionist, and having a job in which I felt pulled in many directions made me feel like I could have done a better job at any responsibility. I felt stuck, but there was no way I could leave the clinic and let everyone down. I desperately wanted a career that would allow me to focus on one thing instead of 1000 things!

Then, Covid happened. My job became remote so that I could stay home with my four kids. I felt even more overwhelmed because now I was juggling a full-time managerial position AND schooling my kids. I started to wonder if I could take my side hustle, web design, and turn it into a business. So in August 2020, I resigned from my job at the wellness clinic and started running full force toward launching a web design business.

I jumped in head first and took my first client before I had any administrative systems in place. They paid me by check because I couldn’t accept online payments yet. We didn’t have a contract, which was a big mistake. We conducted all of our communication through email for the entire project, leading to a giant email chain and many miscommunications. The project turned out fine in the end, but it was incredibly stressful.

When I started Web Momster, I was fully confident in my web design abilities; I just needed to learn how to run a business. I needed intake forms, invoices, contracts, email templates, client communication, and project management systems. That first year I invested a great deal of time in learning how to run my business. I watched every small business webinar I could find. I enrolled in a mentorship program for women web designers. Slowly, and through a lot of trial and error, I figured out what systems work best for me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Most small business owners get so bogged down in day-to-day operations that they have little time and mental energy to devote to marketing. Often, my clients start their business with a DIY website, a staff member running their social media accounts, and no plan to consistently collect online leads. Yet, most of the time, they will reach out to me to build a website when they need an overall marketing strategy that includes a website.

Having an engaging, high-converting website is fantastic, but how are you going to get people to your website? How are you getting them from your website into your store/office? How can you keep engaging them once you have your first contact? How will you ensure they leave you a Google review and refer you to their friends? I offer my clients coaching to figure out the best strategies for their unique business, tools to help them implement those strategies (including a custom website), and ongoing support to ensure those systems run smoothly.

Holistic marketing is the foundation for building a successful business. The five C’s of holistic marketing are Connection, Customer Experience, Cohesion, Contact, and Collection. I provide strategies that help small business owners authentically connect to their target customers, create a fantastic customer experience, keep all online messaging cohesive, keep contacting them after the initial contact, and collect reviews and referrals.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The best and most successful pivot I’ve made in my professional life is the choice to concentrate on working with local businesses in my community. When I started this business, I envisioned working with people all over the country, building a website and newsletter funnel, then moving on to the next client. I quickly realized that this was not fulfilling for me. I thrive on making authentic connections with people, which is much easier to do when you meet with them face-to-face and watch their business grow in person.

I am a local small business enthusiast! Everything changed when I stopped wondering how I would acquire clients country-wide and started gearing my messaging toward local small businesses in my community. Business owners saw me as a genuine cheerleader (which I certainly am!) rather than someone trying to get their business. My interactions with them are not transactional. I genuinely care about their success, whether they are my client or not.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I prioritize the client experience in all my business practices, leading to referrals. I create opportunities for authentic connections by attending every networking event I can. I rarely hand out business cards. Instead, I ask business owners questions about their businesses, get to know them, then ask if we can connect on Instagram. Once we connect on Instagram, I comment and like their posts. I love celebrating their successes and learning about the cool things they are doing in the community! Because I live in a smallish town, many small business owners know each other. If a business owner in my area thinks they might want to work with me, they often reach out to my past clients. If I’ve done my job right, my past clients will recommend me to their friends enthusiastically. That’s an example of a referral loop.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.webmomster.net
• Instagram: @webmomster
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/webmomster.net
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/webmomster/

Image Credits
Todd Bagley Photography