We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jonathan Santini a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jonathan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

Before Swiftkick Web, I started off just as a one-man show—it was all me at the beginning. I was piecing together small projects, really getting into the gritty details of building a business from scratch. This included keeping the clients I already had happy, figuring out ways to promote myself, and going to business groups like BNI to get my name out there. Those days were a little nerve-racking along with exciting, especially as I ventured alone into the competitive world of web development.

The first person I brought on board was a close friend who was just starting out as a junior developer. Bringing him in wasn’t just about growing the numbers; it was about building a team grounded in trust and shared vision. Knowing each other’s personalities so well made this phase of team-building really unique and rewarding.

Then the dynamics changed when I teamed up with another friend who already had his own team. He needed help with his own projects, and since I had just gone out on my own, it worked perfectly. This wasn’t your typical recruitment where you sift through resumes—it was more about merging with an existing team that had its own set of skills and dynamics.

Looking back, if I were to start over today, one major thing I’d focus on from the get-go is the process documentation. Early on, we operated on a lot of informal processes and adaptability. But as we grew, the need for structured processes and standard operating procedures became clear. Tools like Confluence or Notion would have been game-changers, helping us document the ‘headcanon’—those essential insights that you usually keep in your head. Having these processes down on paper would have made training new hires and scaling operations much smoother.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve always been someone who likes to build things. When I was younger, in high school and early college, I started creating little websites just out of curiosity and a desire to tell stories. Originally, I wanted to go into filmmaking—I even earned a Bachelor’s degree in Cinema Studies. But as I learned more about the technical side of storytelling, I realized that technology and building websites allowed me a different avenue to tell stories, which really fascinated me.

At Swiftkick Web, we provide various web development services. We start with clients from the ground up, creating new sites, or we help grow and maintain existing ones, particularly in the e-commerce space. It’s all about making sure our clients’ websites not only look great but also function well and comply with all current regulations, like ADA standards for accessibility.

What sets us apart is our agile approach. We know that web development can be unpredictable, so we keep our processes flexible to accommodate changes as we learn more about our clients’ needs. This way, we make sure we’re always providing the most effective solutions.

We’re honest and straightforward, which really helps because the web development industry can sometimes lack transparency. When you work with us, you’re getting many years of combined experience, all focused on getting the best results for your project.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I met my business partner, John Hutchinson, back when we were both working at Estée Lauder. We collaborated on various projects over the years, and there was an immediate trust and respect for each other’s work ethic and expertise. John was always ahead of the curve, especially when it came to understanding the importance of web accessibility—a topic he was championing long before it became a mainstream concern.

This foresight and his proactive approach to trends in the web development industry really solidified my trust in him. After years of working together at Estée Lauder on some significant projects, John landed a large client on the side with his own company Swiftkick Web and needed a hand. That’s when I decided to step in and help out.

This collaboration eventually evolved into the current partnership, and we’ve been working together at Swiftkick Web ever since. It’s been an amazing journey, building on the mutual respect and trust we established early on in our careers.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What really helped us build our reputation at Swiftkick Web was word of mouth. We’ve always prioritized honesty and integrity in all our dealings, and that approach has set us apart in an industry that sometimes struggles with transparency. People know they can trust us because we’re upfront about what we can deliver and always strive to meet their expectations.

We haven’t relied much on traditional advertising; instead, we’ve let our work speak for itself. The positive feedback and referrals from satisfied clients have been crucial in establishing and growing our reputation. It’s about building long-term relationships where clients feel confident not just in the quality of our work but also in our ability to guide them through the complexities of web development with clear communication and reliable support.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.swiftkickweb.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swiftkick-web/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPspz5q0D_r1DJ23cbOHbJw/featured

Image Credits

Junior Viegas