Behind-the-Scenes of PRO CON 2026 (thoughts after hosting our second in-person event)

Jacob Cass recently had a post on LinkedIn go semi-viral, all about whether or not designers are cooked with the recent release or Claude Design and Chat GPT Images.I think it went viral because many designers are worried and scared. But I also think it went viral because many designers are not worried or scared.Jacob took some time with me to dig into both of these mindsets and how designers (in brand, graphic and web) can thrive in today’s age of inevitable design/AI integration.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/427P.S. if you want to stay on the leading edge of what’s going on in design, be sure to get your early access ticket to Jacob’s 2026 Brand Builder Summit happening in September!

This episode is our first ever greatest hits episode. I'm doing this for a couple reasons:Number one, I am getting caught up on some podcast interviews because I've been a little busy with Pro Con recently and some other stuff going on, and number two…I wanted to dig up some episodes from the past that I think are very relevant and more applicable than ever today in 2026. And that is definitely the case with this interview, which was with Amy Porterfield.For new listeners to the show, you're coming into the podcast in the 400s and you may not know about what episodes are back in the hundreds or the two hundreds or three hundreds, even before that. So the ones that are really good, I want to make sure they continue to live on. And that's definitely the case with this conversation with Amy because it’s more relevant than ever, all about trusting yourself and preparing yourself to do this sustainably and do it for the long haul.Plus, she laid down one of my favorite quotes in the podcast to date:“you can't believe everything you think.”True in good times and bad times, and in this age of change and flux and everything that's going on in all markets with AI and abroad, this conversation could not be more timely. In this one, we cover:Amy's path from corporate security (including 7 years at Tony Robbins) to going all-in on online businessWhy the early dip happens and how to push through itShifting from one-on-one service work to digital courses — and why that change saved her businessGetting through rough seasons by leaning on your support system and mentorsThe mindset motto that keeps Amy grounded: "You can't believe everything you think"How transparency in online business has changed — and the "scab vs. wound" method for sharing authenticallyWhat building an online course used to look like vs. todayWhy your "why" evolves over time — and how that fuels longevityHustle as a short-term season, not a long-term identityHow Amy moved her whole team of 20 to a four-day workweek — and what changedOwning your calendar as the boss (including Hobie's legendary line)The simplicity move: doubling down on what works and cutting what doesn'tThis was originally episode 185, so head to the OG show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/185

👉 View this newsletter entry🙏 Check out SiteGround's new Coderick AI** sponsored **Links mentioned:AprilRayCreative.comPRO CON 2026 Behind the ScenesWeb Designer Pro Mastermind

→ Apply for the WDP Mastermind hereFirst round applications open now through Sunday, May 10th, 2026Closed until it opens up again and depending on spots available5/12 spots currently filled (at time of this release)First-come, first-servedAny questions, head here!- Josh

In this special edition episode of the Web Design Business Podcast, I’m sharing a recent live interview I did with my mate from down under – James Barnard – one of the most prolific designers in the graphic, branding, and logo design space.James invited me into his Designerrrs community for a live Q&A session which turned into a masterclass chat about how to build, grow, and scale a freelance design business.He was kind enough to let me repurpose this interview for you! Whether you’re a web designer, graphic designer, or brand designer, this one digs into my experience from starting out to scaling up with a big emphasis on how to SCALE YOUR WAY.Gosh doesn’t that sound like a good course?!? In this episode, we cover:My full career trajectory in web designThe key stages of building and growing a design businessWhat scaling actually looks like (and when to do it)How to start thinking about team building and hiringWays to get everything off your shoulders as a solo designerMindset shifts required to grow beyond freelancingHead to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/426Your special offer:Get 3 days free access to my scale your way course (actually, my entire course suite) inside Web Designer Pro® here!Claim my 3-day trial to all Web Designer Pro Courses →After trial, continue access to all courses for only $49/mo.

Here's a recap of our recent PRO CON 2026 event with a behind the scenes look of putting on an event of this scale, takeaways, lessons and tips for you to help you grow your web design business!Full recap post to come soon...Thanks to our PRO CON 2026 sponsors:17hatsSiteGroundTermageddonLocalSEOAcademyDesign Day BlueprintWP Umbrella (use code JOSHHALL for a full free month)Links mentioned:Marc's post on LinkedIn about the power of having "your people"Austyn's agency - our PRO CON event assistant & coordinatorAlexia's agency - our PRO CON brand & design strategistCircle which kept our community connected during the entire weekend! Special episode coming later this week about how I'm using Circle for Web Designer Pro®Join Web Designer Pro® Also, be sure to check out hashtag #PROCON2026 on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook to see all the posts around the event!

We're in a trust recession. Anything in real life and in person (networking events, meetups, workshops, etc) have become a web designer's edge.In this special solo episode, I share how important this is in 2026 with getting clients and building relationships that last for years, especially in the age of AI, social influencers, and scattered online overwhelm.Links mentioned:See the latest posts from our PRO CON 2026 this past weekend on my Instagram, LinkedIn and FacebookSign up for my free newsletterJoin my community Web Designer Pro®

Over the last several months, I’ve seen more and more chatter in my community Web Designer Pro about WP Umbrella – a new platform making quite the dent in the WordPress site manager space.Personally, I wondered how there was even room for a new tool for managing WordPress sites (updates, optimizations, backups, reporting, etc) when it’s already a crowded market with tools like Manage WP, Main WP, Infinite WP, and many hosts that offer automatic backups, updates, reporting, etc.But it just goes to show…when you have a new, fresh, innovative tool that’s customer-focused and is designed with best, modern UX practices, it can absolutely start to make waves in the market.That’s been the story of WP Umbrella so far and in this exclusive interview, I got to sit down with their CEO and co-founder Aurelio Volle.We covered a lot in our time together, including:The opportunity that he saw which led him to start a WordPress website management tool in an already competitive landscapeHow they made it past the first phase of growth where most SASS companies dieWhy UX design and customer focus are more important than EVER beforeAuerlio’s personal philosophy for vision and goal settingHow to run a successful online business of any size in today’s marketAnd a whole lot more.It’s not every day you get to sit down with the CEO of a major SASS product in the WordPress space so it was so cool to see and hear how thinks about vision, goals, customer service and product-market fit in today’s competitive web design space!P.S. Big thanks to WP Umbrella for being a sponsor of our upcoming Web Designer PRO CON 2026 event! I took notice when members of my community started talking about the tool and their experience with the team/support behind Umbrella and I can tell you, they are the real deal! Great team and a SOLID product that I’m excited to keep a close eye on moving forward.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/425

🔗 View the newsletter with all linksSponsored by:SiteGround's new AI StudioOther links mentioned:Mark Syzmanski's free AI Crash Course videoAI SEO for Web Designers - ep 401 with Michelle Bourbonniere

Morning routines, air-tight calendar blocks, calls at 5pm, hustle and grind culture…all very doable. Unless you have kids..That is, if you want to be a fully present parent > a hustling entrepreneur.We’re getting into that in this conversation with my good friend Kady Sandel who’s been on the podcast before and even did a training inside my Web Designer Pro community talking about niching, pricing and agency building, but in this chat, we’re diving into what’s going on via the other side of the keyboard…the family side.With two young children of her own, and with three under 7 on my side, the way we run our businesses looks different than it did even a few years ago. Our challenge? Being fully present parents while also balancing being a driven entrepreneur. And good news, we’ve both found a sweet spot in work-life balance.We’re sharing what’s working for us and what DOESN’T work for us, which led me to the topic of this chat…who the heck do parent-entrepreneurs follow?Like, seriously? I want to know where the entrepreneur thought-leaders/influencers are who have at least three children and, in my case, ones who are specifically parents of special needs as well. If you know if any, drop them in the comment section below.Otherwise, I’ll continue turning a blind eye to hustle culture, morning routines and things that absolutely don’t work in our season of life and enjoying working 20-30hrs per week and not missing these years with young kids.Head to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned, along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/424