Why Create an Online Course & Community for Women

As a WordPress designer and developer for over 15 years, I’ve created websites for businesses across many industries — from schools and med spas to electricians and artists.

And again and again, I saw the same thing with business owners that had a vision for their business, but when it came to building a website, they felt overwhelmed, intimidated, or completely stuck. The joy in my business came from showing clients that with my guidance I could get them the website their business needed and teach them how to maintain it on their own.

Over time, I also realized it wasn’t just those who hadn’t built a website who struggled with the tech it was also those who had.

These clients had pieced together a site just to get something online, but it either didn’t truly reflect their brand or they were just overwhelmed by the task. Ultimately their website ended up in what I call “website purgatory,” the place that sites go to never be seen or taken care of simply because the owner wasn’t happy to share it with others or just couldn’t finish it. Again, my joy was taking a clients site, giving it life and then educating them on how to keep it working for their business.

So where did it all start? In spring 2024 my course creation journey began when I enrolled in Bonnie Christine’s course called Immersion with no clear end goal.  I was exploring ways to expand my skillset and possibly make a career shift. I’d been interested in surface pattern design, and I was curious to see where it might lead me.

But what I didn’t expect was the clarity it gave me about what I was already doing and how I could use the skills that I had honed over the last 15 years to serve others.

During a Q&A session in her course, someone asked:

“Will there be any advice on how to make a website for the first time?”

Bonnie replied:

“There could be an entire course on how to design and publish a website.”

That one sentence lit something in me. I paused and thought:

“I could do that. I already do that. And women like me need that.”

Later in the course, while discussing portfolio setup, Bonnie shared this about WordPress.org:

WordPress.org is by far the most capable and customizable website platform there is. However, it comes with a bit of a learning curve and for anything very custom, you’ll probably need to hire a designer + developer (unless you know how to code). Expect for this to cost $2,000 – $10,000.

That confirmed my thoughts — this is where I can make a real difference.

My years of building websites, my experience as a creative, and my love of teaching all came together. What if I could create a course designed specifically for women in the creative and service-based industries? What if that course could take away the tech overwhelm, help them create a website that not only is a reflection of their business, but also gave them full control and ownership?

I had spent years making WordPress more approachable for those not comfortable with tech. I understand the behind-the-scenes struggles that results in outdated or abandoned sites, including confusion over tech jargon and the paralysis that sets in when a website just doesn’t feel right or a true reflection of the business.

So many women building businesses they love are discouraged by the very thing that’s supposed to empower them…their website. They think they have to either spend thousands on professionals or give up control to someone else. I want to change that.

The next step in the journey came in Fall 2024, when I enrolled in Amy Porterfield’s Digital Course Academy. I knew that I needed to learn how to take what I know and turn it into a teachable, approachable, and supportive learning experience. I am still in the beginning stages, but it has been instrumental in the progress.

The latest step was taking a workshop with Stu McLaren who is an expert in the “community” space. Through his workshop I realized that I needed to have community as a part of the course experience. A place where the members could support each other in the process and afterward. Which is why I have decided to host the course and community on the membership.io platform.

Lastly and most importantly, is the group of women that have been apart of this journey over the last year. In developing this course I received the support and inspiration from a group of incredible women that I connected with through the Immersion course. Being a part of that creative circle not only gave me clarity, but also the encouragement to pursue this new direction. They shared their ideas, personal experiences, insight, and reminded me that I don’t have to have it all figured out. I can not thank these women enough for their input and because of their support this course and community will exist.

This year long journey has lead to the creation of  Website Foundations, a step-by-step course designed to teach women how to create (or recreate) their website with clarity and confidence. Whether just starting from scratch or rebuilding something that has been abandoned, this course will provide structure, support, and guidance to move forward without the tech overwhelm.

It’s not just about getting a website online.  It’s about building something you’re proud to share…a site that reflects your business, your purpose, your goals, and your vision..

AND doing it with other women entrepreneurs.

If you’ve ever asked, “Can I really do this myself?”
The answer is yes!

And with the creation of Website Foundations it is completely in your control.