Today we’d like to introduce you to April Wier.
April, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I owned a house painting company 14 years ago. I created a site using my hosting company’s website builder. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to make it do what I wanted it to do. I realized I could learn how to design a proper website in the time it took me to figure out that system. So, that is what I did. It took me quite a bit longer than I had anticipated, though. After that site was up, I decided I would become a blogger. I would build a blog, put up a couple of posts, and then grow bored. I would then spin up a new site and start over. Rinse and repeat. It took me embarrassingly long to realize I don’t like blogging. I like building sites.
When I found out I was pregnant in early 2010, I decided to get serious about making a living online. I wanted to spend as much time with my child, as I could. By the time we relocated to the Atlanta area, from the Hudson Valley, NY in 2013, I had turned pro. I immediately joined several local WordPress meetups. I didn’t just need work friends…I needed any friends. Luckily, at those meetings, I found my people. Finding like-minded people in your industry is a force multiplier for your skill set. My work quality jumped dramatically and my business began to grow. When you show up, learn and participate, people notice and want to do business with you.
I now have a thriving web design business. I’ve added strategy and project-based coaching to our offerings. I also speak regularly on how to build your referral network. It is such a mystery to so many people. The secret really is to serve your fellow business owners with no agenda. Meet people and find out how you can encourage them. Opportunities just begin to appear.
Has it been a smooth road?
My biggest struggle was learning to price appropriately. Like many people, I began by competing on price. I learned the hard way I was much better off competing on value. When I began to focus on giving the greatest value I could, pricing became much easier. The surprise was that it was more comfortable for my clients, too. They didn’t want the cheapest site, they wanted the site that was going to meet their needs.
There was a time last year, when my son was having some health issues. I had to spend more time with him, than in my business. This forced me to evaluate my processes and find more efficient ways to accomplish my goals. I stopped doing busy work and focused completely on loving on my business network and producing quality work. The result was that I not only became more efficient, but my revenue increased. My boy is much better, and I have a greater understanding of the activities that drive my success.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Sugar Five Design story. Tell us more about the business.
Sugar Five Design offers web design, strategy, coaching and SEO for high-performing businesses and individuals. I am a digital strategist, but most people don’t know they need a high-level plan for their online business presence. They think they need a new website, or to rank higher in the search engines. Web design is the door most people walk through to engage with me. The longer we are in relationship, though, the deeper the business connection becomes. That is when my greatest impact occurs. When I have earned a client’s trust, and they can be real and vulnerable, I feel like there is nothing we can’t accomplish together.
I am most proud of the human connections I’ve made through my business. As a designer, my gift lies in being able to read my clients. Paying attention to what they say…and what they don’t, allows me to deliver a site that not only performs, but represents the client’s personality and taste. Some business owners have never experienced another professional truly seeing them. It allows them to open up, try new things and set goals they previously thought impossible.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The Internet of Things is going to have the greatest impact on our industry. Everything we know about interacting with media and each other is changing. People that love learning are going to have a distinct advantage over those that want to just maintain their lane. Curiosity is going to be the greatest asset someone wanting to work in the digital space can have.
Pricing:
- Custom web design starting at $2200
- Business coaching and consulting at $125 an hour, with a two-hour minimum
- SEO is quoted by the project, but I offer a DIY Jumpstart package for $925
Contact Info:
- Address: 225 Creekstone Ridge, Suite 119
- Website: sugarfivedesign.com
- Phone: 4703310177
- Email: april@sugarfivedesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilwier/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/sugarfivedesign/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/WierApril
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sugar-five-design-woodstock
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilwier/
Speakers, sponsors, volunteers and attendees gather for WordCamp Asheville 2016 #WCAVL
Speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees, gather at WordCamp Atlanta 2016 #WCATL
Image Credit:
Kari Leigh London
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
