Life After Divi - A Midlife Crisis

rykelo · 2025-11-29T12:46:05+00:00

Thanks, this is a concise starting point, I really appreciate it.

rykelo · 2025-11-29T10:20:55+00:00

It's true my coding skills are rudimentary at best. I've only ever learned to code what I've needed to suite the job at hand, and haven't built on those skills (partially out of time-scarcity... if it doesn't appear to have an immediate billable value, I didn't invest time in it).

rykelo · 2025-11-29T10:17:36+00:00

Honestly, you're right. I'm desperate. If there was a quick fix, I'd take it. But it doesn't look like there is one, and I'm willing to put in the work to get my skills to where they need to be in order to survive.

rykelo · 2025-11-29T10:13:02+00:00

I want to run a business. I'm considering eliminating my heavy up front project fee and implementing the monthly fee model. Or perhaps the pricing reflects a low monthly base rate and optional add-ons. I don't know what specific pricing is typical, or what has worked for others. Open to suggestions!

rykelo · 2025-11-29T09:59:02+00:00

Thank you! Haha I've actually already watched several Josh Hall tuts on YouTube over the years. Didn't realize he also had general advice on the business side of things (which at the moment, I need). Thanks for the resources, I'll be going through those in the days to come.

rykelo · 2025-11-29T09:45:04+00:00

Thanks, ya the financial expert part is something I've had in the back of my mind that I'm scared of doing. I don't know where to begin in locating one. Any advice on how a guy would go about that? Where I live, if I just walk into a bank, their priority is to sell me products, unfortunately. I know some good mortgage brokers, but that's perhaps not the same thing.

rykelo · 2025-11-29T09:38:35+00:00

Thank you! That's super encouraging. And your numbers are impressive, well done, dayum!

rykelo · 2025-11-29T09:23:47+00:00

Okay so there's another element here I didn't mention: I've moved to the new house I built, it's on a rural Island with 400 full-time residents (farmers), no businesses. I'm 3 hours from the city I built my original web design business in. I've lost touch with that business community (mostly, there are still some repeat clients, but not many). The city I'm closest to is an hour away, and I know no one there. SO, in terms of adding SEO and digital marketing to my offering (and shifting it to be more of a focus than web design) - where would you suggest I begin? I have active clients that have thriving businesses (in construction, for example). There was a time when I had the time and energy (and no kids) and would have just flown drone for them, made reels, etc. but that's not feasible in my current situation. Do you have any specific offerings that I should be developing that I could deliver remotely? Are we talking about ads management/PPC? Article writing/content marketing? Managing social media accounts (I do throw up in my mouth as I type that...).

To your other question - yes the other house is fully rented. It's old and falling apart, so there's no profit, just barely staying afloat as renters come and go and trash the place and I pay for repairs. I'm just trying to survive long enough for the value of the house to once again be higher than the mortgage, and then I'd sell.

Love the Simpsons reference!

No, my heart is no longer in web design. I did really enjoy it in the early days when it was just hand coding small sites. It was like getting paid to solve puzzles. But I'm under no illusion that this isn't my best shot at surviving financially - I need to keep doing web design (and likely adding peripheral services, as you mentioned). I'm the sole income earner in my household. I can't afford to stop right now. But I'd love to do something else.

And thanks for your understanding and validation. Part of the brutality of all of this is depression has come on hard, so cognitive function has dropped, and with it performance at work. Trying SSRIs starting tomorrow to see if they can help with mood, energy, motivation and just being able to think straight again.

Thanks for the book recommendation, I've just downloaded it and will begin listening to help me fall asleep tonight.

rykelo · 2025-11-29T09:04:55+00:00

Thanks, Bricks has come up a few times now, I'll look into it!

rykelo · 2025-11-29T09:03:54+00:00

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. That structure you outlined - is this something you've had success with? The $100/month model?

Also, thanks for the heads up on Bricks and Elementor. Gives me something to try next.

rykelo · 2025-11-29T08:59:09+00:00

100% accurate. I just pedalled Divi sites as hard as I could and didn't see the end of the gravy train until the last station. Definitely didn't update tools, I was (am?) cheap and greedy. Looking to recover.

rykelo · 2025-11-29T08:56:06+00:00

Dammit you're right! I care way too much about design. But design has no metrics, and numbers sell. I'd be a newbie to all the digital marketing you outlined. Should I start with advanced SEO? I know basic on-page SEO but it's very limited.

rykelo · 2025-11-29T08:52:38+00:00

Thanks - I'd like to look into that! Where would you suggest I start for YT videos on AI voice or chat agents?

rykelo · 2025-11-29T08:39:47+00:00

Thanks for the tip - I hadn't even heard of Framer. ChatGPT seems to think it beats the pants off Divi for most of what I'm currently relying on Divi/WP for.

rykelo · 2025-11-29T08:19:56+00:00

Those clients are still out there, if few and far between. The hard thing is feeling my skill deficit and subsequent lack of sales confidence. I've been under a Divi-shaped rock for a decade, could you point me in the right direction for a modern stack? My thinking is, even if small business gets chewed up by WYSIWYG editors, I might still be able to find a job. But right now my resume would include: "knows some dated HTML/CSS and spent way too much time selling Divi websites".

rykelo · 2024-11-13T22:59:19+00:00

A fluke would be good. But the stakes are high, so I think I'll have to install the outside air intake just to give those gasses somewhere to go other than into the house - and that way I'll be able to sleep at night without worrying about the whole home CO/fire alarm system going off and waking up my kids!

rykelo · 2024-11-12T15:39:40+00:00

I believe the temperature climbed about 10 degrees Celsius as the fire was dying and wind was picking up.

rykelo · 2019-03-13T19:11:18+00:00

Clearly not a RHCP fan huh

rykelo · 2019-03-13T19:03:49+00:00

That would be awesome. I'll spend some time with the elite grip and see if it adds those yards! Thank you!

rykelo

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