There's a version of this business that's bigger than me. I can see it. More clients, more projects, more impact. But here's the thing: I refuse to build that version if it means becoming the kind of web design company I spent years positioning myself against. I'm building WIDEMAN WEB into something that scales without losing the personal, reliable, creative approach that got me here.
Five years from now, WIDEMAN WEB is a studio with a small, sharp team building incredible websites for clients who value partnership over transactions. I'm not chasing some massive agency empire with hundreds of employees and a lobby with a receptionist. That's not the goal. The goal is a tight operation where every client feels like they're the only client, where the work is creative and intentional, and where I'm still hands-on enough to make sure nothing ships that doesn't meet my standard.
The web design world is shifting. AI tools are getting better. Website builders are getting more accessible. Clients have more options than ever. WIDEMAN WEB is leaning into AI, not running from it. It's a tool, and like any tool, it's only as good as the person using it. But here's what AI can't do: it can't sit on a discovery call and ask the right questions to uncover what a business actually needs. It can't build a long-term partnership based on trust and follow-through. It can't care about whether your site is still working for you six months after launch.
The businesses that thrive in this new landscape are the ones that combine technology with genuine human connection. That's the lane I'm building in, and the window to establish that position is right now.
WIDEMAN WEB is a little over two years old as an official LLC, but the experience behind it goes back a decade. I've built sites for e-commerce brands, wellness practitioners, tattoo shops, commercial construction companies, and everything in between. The client base is growing, the processes are getting tighter, and the work keeps getting better.
I've also learned some hard lessons this past year. Pricing was a big one. I used to sell against myself, giving discounts when I should have held firm. I've started understanding that what I have to offer is a good product, and I don't need to apologize for what it costs. I've also shifted toward a partnership model with ongoing support and maintenance, which has been better for clients and better for the business.
WIDEMAN WEB is focused on three things this year: refining processes, growing the right client base, and building systems that let me work smarter without working worse. I'm deep into automating and streamlining operations. I've got task lists, motion calendars, project breakdowns, all designed to keep the trains running on time as the workload increases.
I'm also being more intentional about which clients I take on. The ideal client is someone looking for a reliable long-term web partner, someone who's been burned before and wants to work with somebody they can trust. Medium-sized businesses that don't have web support on staff are the sweet spot, because I can be a fractional web resource for them and actually make a difference.
And I'm launching a new WIDEMAN WEB website. Because even web designers need to eat their own cooking.
I want to at least double my client base, but more importantly, I want them to be the right clients. People who love working with me, understand the partnership model, and value what good web design does for their business. WIDEMAN WEB plans to bring on a small team to handle certain aspects of the business so I can focus more on what I do best: designing and building.
That's the tricky part. I'm the tactician. I'm the builder. Handing off parts of the build is hard because I like seeing it through. But I know it's necessary to grow, and I'm working on getting comfortable with it. Better processes, better systems, and eventually, people I trust to maintain the standard.
I also want to get better at the hats I don't naturally gravitate toward. Sales, networking, operations. These things have taken a back seat to the actual building, and I know that has to change. I'm aware that being a great designer and being a great business owner require different skills, and I'm committed to developing both.
This is where it gets personal. My daughter is the thing I'm most proud of in this world. She tests me, teaches me, and has made me more of an actual person since she came into my life. I think about building something she could be part of one day if she wanted to. A family business. Something that generates opportunity for the next generation.
I'm always a little envious of those travel videos of people in Japan or Korea visiting little shops that have been run by the same family for generations. That grandfather's grandfather started this ramen shop 150 years ago, and it's still going. WIDEMAN WEB is building toward something like that. Maybe not 150 years, but something that has roots. Something that matters beyond just the work.
This isn't just about me. The businesses I work with benefit from a web partner who's invested in their long-term success, not just their next project. The team I eventually build will have opportunities to do creative, meaningful work. And my family benefits from a business that provides stability and options.
To not sell against myself. To keep showing up for clients the way I always have, even as the business grows. To learn the parts of running a business that don't come naturally. To stay honest, stay creative, and stay reliable. To keep things simple even when they get complicated.
I'm committed to building WIDEMAN WEB the right way, not the fast way.
If you're a business owner looking for a web partner who sees this as more than a gig, I want to hear from you. If you're a creative who shares these values and wants to do meaningful work, keep an eye on what we're building. This is a long game, and the best partnerships start early.
Whether you need a website right now or you're just thinking about it, start with a conversation. Visit widemanweb.com, reach out, and let's see if there's a fit. I'm here, I'm building, and I'm not going anywhere.
My dad told me something when I was a kid that I've never stopped thinking about: shoot every shot. Put something down. Even if it's a Hail Mary, you throw it. That's what WIDEMAN WEB is. My shot. I'm making it count.
If you made it this far. just read another one.
