We recently connected with Erin Pratt and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Erin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Too often the media represents innovation as something magical that only high-flying tech billionaires and upstarts engage in – but the truth is almost every business owner has to regularly innovate in small and big ways in order for their businesses to survive and thrive. Can you share a story that highlights something innovative you’ve done over the course of your career?

I am a mother of two girls who gave birth to both of them 17 months apart during the Covid-era, My girls were born in 2020 and 2021, and my world was shifting in a major way during that time, both internally and externally. I was working in a remote corporate job 40+ hours/week while trying to navigate unreliable childcare and the challenges that come with being a working mom of two. Finally, I hit a breaking point. I realized that life is too short to operate under such stress. I had always had an entrepreneurial streak, with several side hustles over the years (travel blogger, yoga instructor, website designer) and I knew it was time to take a chance on myself. I quit my job with no real savings to back me up within two years of us buying our first home. I decided to launch my own website design business to support other aspiring entrepreneurs like me and help them create a life they truly love. I also knew I didn’t want to replace one full time job with another one — I wanted to be really present in the stage of motherhood I was in. In my first year of business, I worked an average of 16 hours/week and was able to book 44 website and branding clients which helped me match my full time corporate salary on a very part time schedule. I knew I found something that was going to work for me, my family, and my amazing clients!

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?

I am a self-taught website designer with experience in WordPress, Showit, Wix, Square, and Squarespace. I initially taught myself website design to start up my own travel blog back in 2011 when I was studying abroad in Europe. I am a lifelong learner, and love picking up new hobbies and sharing them to help benefit others.

What sets me apart from other designers, which is also true for each and every one of you reading this, is ME. We each bring our own unique gifts, personality and essence to whatever we do. There are a lot of other website designers out there, but none of them are the same. I know that my clients most enjoy working with me because I am passionate about bringing out the best in them, and always take care to get to know them on an individual level.

I seek to bring feelings of peace, empowerment, and comfort to each and every client I have the opportunity to work with by blending my unique background in yoga and wellness with the creative side of web and graphic design. For many people websites can feel daunting, overwhelming, and frustrating. It is my mission to build beautiful websites that truly represent the heart and soul behind each of my clients’ businesses, through an efficient and seamless process.

I want to help other entrepreneurs showcase their gift to the world and help them make an impact that only they can make while also unapologetically generating wealth for themselves and their family.

I offer website design, branding, and SEO packages to mission-driven entrepreneurs who are here to make a big impact.

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

I truly believe the best way to grow your clientele is through authenticity and kindness. This can’t be overstated. It may take time, but building relationships and offering value up front is the number one way I’ve been able to grow my business. I primarily gain new clients through referrals now, because I aim to provide a superior experience to each and every one of my clients. The other ways I’ve been able to grow my business has been through offering freebies (free workshops, downloadables, and website audits) to grow my email list. I also am active on social media, local business facebook groups, and started my own in person networking group here in Charleston, SC. Because I’ve been so effective and building relationships and booking clients, I created an online course to help new entrepreneurs learn the strategies that will help their business grow which can be found on my website. I believe in sharing knowledge, not gatekeeping!

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

A few years ago, I discovered human design. Human Design is a system that helps provide people with insights into their personalities and decision-making based on the positions of celestial bodies at the time of their birth. It serves as a roadmap for how to best use your energy to experience a life of ease and fulfillment. There are five “types” in human design, as well as unique birth charts for every person. After learning that I am a projector, so many things started to make sense in my life. I learned that I am supposed to operate out of a place of rest, and I’m not designed to be working all that much (hence why 16 hours/week works for me!) It has guided me on how to attract the right clients my way, and shows me how to best use my energy and internal magic to pursue a path of true peace. If you haven’t looked into human design yet, especially if you’re a business owner, I highly recommend you do!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ivylynnestudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivylynnestudio/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/ivylynnestudio/
• Other: My online course: https://ivylynnestudio.com/tboe-course

Image Credits
Olivia Quinn Photography Lauren Bri Photography