Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa McKenzie
Hi Melissa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey as a web designer began in a whirlwind. I graduated with a 4 year graphic design degree and web design minor then quickly got married a week later. Within the first year of my marriage, I had twin babies, which completely turned my world upside down. I started my business as a way to pursue my passions, but it left me feeling stressed and distanced from my family.
Fast forward a bit, my twins were four years old, I had a two-year-old son, and I had just discovered I was pregnant again – a total surprise. I was exhausted trying to manage the household, get enough sleep, be a good wife, run my business, and find new clients. Meanwhile, my husband was also in online graduate school. The idea of another baby seemed impossible, and I fell into a deep prenatal depression, which forced me to stop working.
After the baby was born, I was unsure how to manage financially without working. In March 2019, a previous client offered me a graphic design job, and from that moment, I was consistently booked with custom website work.
What many don’t know is that for an entire year before my pregnancy, I was struggling with the demands of balancing three kids under three and my business. I was stressed, staying up late, and constantly obsessing over getting more clients. I knew I had to make a change but was reluctant to let go of my business, fearing it would feel like a failure and a loss of identity. The turning point came when I was forced to step back due to my pregnancy.
Since returning to work, I’ve approached my business differently. I distilled my Web flow strategy into a streamlined process, which I’ve infused into my website templates. This allows me to offer high-quality designs at a lower cost than custom website work, helping others build beautiful, functional websites that bring them clients.
We’ve now launched a range of website templates, incorporating all the expertise and insights I’ve gained over the years. If you’re in need of website help, I invite you to check out our website template shop and see how our designs can make a difference for you.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Certainly, there have been struggles along the way!
Learning to run a business in just three hours a day, on average, has been a blessing in disguise. This approach has taught me to focus on truly income-generating activities and to ignore what others might be doing, especially since they often have more than eight hours a day to devote to their businesses.
Consistent small steps towards the goal are crucial. This practice builds persistence, resilience, and strength—qualities I didn’t realize I could develop.
After more than 10 years in the game, I’ve seen many who initially grew faster than me quit. This longevity has been my true success. Being able to provide for my family while staying home with my five children has been one of the greatest blessings.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in creating strategic, affordable websites. While I still occasionally take on custom web design projects, my primary focus is on helping those who cannot afford a $7,000+ website. I have distilled my custom web design strategy into user-friendly Squarespace website templates. These templates not only look great but also guide users through an optimized experience designed to convert website traffic into leads and sales.
My templates and accompanying course provide clear instructions on what to place on each page of your site and how to write your high-converting website copy in under two hours.
I saw a gap in the template industry with how website template shops offer little support after the sale. To address this, all my templates come with 6 months of monthly Q&A calls and email support. It’s high touch support where you can share your screen and I can hop into your site to help you during the live video call. I haven’t seen any other template shop offer that.
If you get stuck, my team is just an email away.
I am dedicated to serving my clients and helping them attract more customers with their websites, allowing them to spend more time with their families while their website works tirelessly on finding the next client for them.
Pricing:
- DIY Squarespace Website Template (with high-touch support): $197
- Done-for-you Template Setup in 5 days: $1800
- Custom Website: $7000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carbonandclay.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carbonandclay
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carbonandclay
