The Lone Stack Freelance Web Developer

The Lone Stack Freelance Web Developer Effortless, sustainable, and eco-friendly websites that help your small business stand out. Fast, secure, and managed for you.

I've never been great at doing things "the way they're supposed to be done." Turns out, that's worked out pretty well fo...
15/03/2026

I've never been great at doing things "the way they're supposed to be done." Turns out, that's worked out pretty well for me over 37 (almost 38) years.

Sometimes you just want that project and so you consider discounting to win clients. Nowadays, I'd rather work with fewer people who genuinely value what I do.

Life's too short and so is your customers' patience, therefore a slow and overcomplicated websites will lose you business.

Accessibility should be non-negotiable in 2026. The web should work for everyone, full stop.

Saying no to the right things has given me more control over my work, better clients, and honestly a lot more self-respect.

The one thing I will always say yes to is building websites that are fast, inclusive, and don't cost the earth. Literally.

(Oh, and Crocs. Still a hard no.)

Are you with me on any of these, or am I on my own? 😄

11/03/2026

For a long time I said yes to pretty much everything.

Not because I was greedy or didn’t care about the work, but because I didn’t have enough clients to be picky.

Every enquiry felt like one I couldn’t afford to turn down.

The problem was, saying yes to the wrong projects meant less time and energy for the right ones. I was busy, but not in a way that felt good.

What changed was getting really clear on who I actually want to work with. Not a vague ideal client profile but sitting down with the question of what kind of projects light me up.

Once I had clarity, it became much easier to spot which enquiries weren’t the right fit and let them go.

I’m not saying the quiet months don’t still feel uncomfortable.

But they hit differently when you know you’re building something intentional.

Have you ever been in the “can’t afford to say no” phase? Are you still in it? Drop a comment, I’d love to know where you’re at.

Making sure every website I build is accessible and inclusive is hugely important.The digital world touches every part o...
08/03/2026

Making sure every website I build is accessible and inclusive is hugely important.

The digital world touches every part of modern life and everyone deserves equal access to it.

Making this a priority means accessibility isn’t an afterthought and is baked in from the very start of a project.

If this doesn’t matter to you, we’re likely not a good match. Overlooking accessibility doesn’t just affect how a site performs, it excludes real people with real needs.

When you work with me, you’ll see this reflected in every decision I make.

Everyone deserves access to the web and that’s not something I’m willing to compromise on.

If you had to guess, what would you have thought was the most important thing to me?

05/03/2026

I’d been calling myself a web designer for years, working both in full-time employment and as an agency, but the work I was actually doing wasn’t always satisfying.

Quoting new clients for their web design project and then putting together the design has never filled me with joy.

My enthusiasm and technical mindset find me the most engaged when I am coding web pages, and getting geeky making tech work, both in performance and sustainability.

I thought making the shift to focus on being a developer would limit my work and the opportunities that I would get access to.

However, since making the shift and slowly changing my website wording and the content I share, I have seen more enquiries and more opportunities come my way.

I am now working and partnering with incredibly talented designers, copywriters, and marketers, and helping them turn their work into the beautiful designs on the web.

I am definitely sticking with the shift I have started, and I cannot wait to see where it takes me.

If there are parts of what you do that you find boring or a chore, find ways around it and give it a try, even for a month or two, and see how that changes your perspective.

Have you evaluated your situation and shifted what you do? Did it work?

02/03/2026

Up until a couple of years ago I used to think that WordPress was the only way to build a website.

Back then it felt right because it is free, widely used, documentation is vast, there are lots of themes to choose from and plugin developers are always creating new ways to extend the platform.

Over the years I have worked with three types of client.

The ones that just need a simple brochure website which is rarely updated.

Then there are clients who want to be able to update their own website and still ask me to do it.

Finally you have clients who end up using a WordPress and install all the plugins under the sun to mould it into the solution they really need.

Square peg in a round hole springs to mind.

Because I have seen so many WordPress sites in a huge mess, I always interrogate clients to truly understand their needs and whether they will actually update their website themselves.

The chance to ask questions gives me the answers I need to decide whether a website will be fine on WordPress, whether a Static Site will be suitable or if something more bespoke is required.

It is important to use the right platform from the start to avoid issues later.

Would you consider giving an alternative platform for your website a try?

24/02/2026

Do you keep delaying your website launch?

It’s always “after this client project” or “once things calm down”.

You think it’s because you’re too busy or because you just need more time. But most of the time, it has nothing to do with time.

It’s feeling overwhelmed and frustrated because you don’t have a clear structure or the right message you feel confident putting your name to.

So building the website feels heavy and exposed, and if that root issue doesn’t change, here’s what keeps happening:

You keep tweaking your Instagram bio.
You keep explaining your offer differently in DMs.
And your website stays “coming soon” for another six months.

Some of my clients didn’t start by building a website; they tightened their positioning, clarified what they actually sell and who it’s for.

The site came after that — and it felt easy.

Here’s the truth: clarity doesn’t magically appear because you’re busy. It only changes when you decide to address it.

Did you know it wasn’t actually a time issue holding you back?
👇 Tell me what you’ve been blaming it on.

D hadn’t planned on owning a barbershop quite so soon, but when he was somewhat forcefully thrown into a situation sudde...
22/02/2026

D hadn’t planned on owning a barbershop quite so soon, but when he was somewhat forcefully thrown into a situation suddenly he wasn’t just cutting hair anymore… he was responsible for everything.

With a new location, new services and now a reputation to build D knew he needed a website.

He knew he needed something that showed off the new shop properly and made it clear what services he offered and helped people find him locally while looking clean and professional.

D didn’t have time to learn about domains, hosting, SEO, performance or any of the technical stuff that comes with “just building a website.” What he knew is he needed someone to do it for him, and someone who knew what they were doing.

Before we started, he felt the pressure most new owners feel of "If I’m doing this, I need to do it properly.”

Over a glass of wine (don't mind if I do) and a couple of hours we discussed having clear messaging and a clean and modern design that was fast-loading, with a strong local presence.

A website that would and has been growing with the shop.

Instead of feeling like he was scrambling to catch up, he had something solid behind him. A proper digital home. A base to promote from. Something he could confidently share on social and in person.

A good developer helps by supporting a business owner who is stepping into something bigger, doesn’t have time to “learn web development on the side”, and wants it done properly the first time.

You don’t need more pressure on your plate when you’re already building something new.

👉 Save this for when you (or someone you know) steps into a new chapter and needs the foundations sorted.

People rush into building a new website because they’re frustrated.Having a site that feels outdated, attempts to make f...
19/02/2026

People rush into building a new website because they’re frustrated.

Having a site that feels outdated, attempts to make fixes don't work, constant stress working with technical jargon they don't understand and a brand that’s evolved but isn’t reflected online.

So they think, “Right. Let’s rebuild it.”

In that rush to get a visual refresh the foundations get missed. A website is a business asset and if the structure, performance, long-term thinking isn't right you’re just recreating the same problems in a nicer wrapper.

Knowing this upfront changes everything because you start asking better questions, you're choosing support more intentionally and you focus on outcomes, not just aesthetics.

From my perspective, the build is only one part of it. The planning before the build is what makes the difference.

So before you jump into a redesign or new project, pause.

Make sure the person or option you’re considering isn’t just promising something that looks good, but something that will actually support where you’re heading next.

Save this as your reminder to pause before you invest in a website build.

17/02/2026

If you’re second-guessing every decision about your website, this is a very good sign that you need to find some support.

When you’re juggling the design, copy, technology, performance, and SEO all at once, you’ll find yourself spending your evenings tweaking instead of working on ways to move your business forward.

And speaking from experience, even when it’s live, it still doesn’t feel finished.

Once you get the proper support in place, you’re no longer guessing what matters and what doesn’t.

You can hand over the decisions to the expert, knowing that actions are made faster and correctly with the confidence that your website is heading in the right direction.

Your site is built with intention and structure, not trial and error.

This change brings less friction, less overwhelm, and more momentum, clarity, and trust in the process, stopping the website from being a blocker.

Your website should support your business, reflect your brand, and grow with you while passing trust and validation to your potential customers.

Don’t spend this year feeling the same way you did in 2025.

03/02/2026

If working on your website is your goal for 2026, don’t start with the website.

Before a single page gets built, I’d be focusing on the stuff that actually makes not just your business but also your website work:

1. Branding
Not just a logo, it is colours, its fonts, it tells people what you stand for, who you’re for, and why someone should choose you over the next option.

2. Content
What do people need to know before they trust you? What questions are you answering? What do you actually want them to do when they land on your site? Good content, written by you or a copywriter is important.

3. Design
Having the right structure, hierarchy, and page flow is important. Design should guide people, it isn’t about slapping some words and images on a page for the sake of it.

I’ve seen it so many times: people rush to build, then get stuck rewriting, redesigning, or rebuilding months later because the foundations weren’t there.

When you get these pieces clear first, the build itself becomes quicker, cleaner, and far less stressful. The end result actually does what it’s supposed to do.

Start here now, by sharing this with a friend who can hold you accountable.

PS - if you need help finding designers and copywriters I know a few amazing ones.

Tag someone whose site needs some intervention 👀
30/01/2026

Tag someone whose site needs some intervention 👀

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