One of the things I think is so important in the entrepreneurial space is generosity and building true community. It’s easy to fall into the mindset of competition—especially in saturated industries—but what I love about today’s guest, Bailey (Honeywave Creative), is how she breaks that mold.

Now technically, you could say we’re competitors—we’re both website designers (though we use different platforms)—but instead of gatekeeping her success, Bailey is sharing her knowledge about Website in a Days with other designers. She’s seen firsthand how this service model has transformed her life and business, and she wants to help others experience that too.

I just so appreciate that mindset of collaboration over competition, and I’m thrilled to have this conversation with her today!

Another reason I’m so grateful for this conversation is because I got really vulnerable in this interview—sharing what I’ve been doing wrong when it comes to Website in a Days. Bailey was so generous with her insight and experience, and she offered incredibly helpful suggestions for how I can improve my process. From streamlining the day to better surprising and delighting my clients, she gave me tangible ways to refine my workflow so that clients walk away even happier—and I walk away a lot less overwhelmed.

So thank you, Bailey, for your transparency and your heart for community. This was exactly the encouragement and clarity I needed!

If you are an entrepreneur or website designer wanting to incorporate VIP days into your business model, this interview is everything you need to know BEFORE you start offering design days!

CHECK OUT BAILEY’S WEBSITE + LEARN MORE ABOUT HER SERVICES

How Bailey Builds High-Converting Websites in Just One Day

Behind the Scenes of VIP Day Web Design: Systems, Strategy, and Scaling with Bailey from Honey Wave Creative

Why We’re Talking About VIP Days (And Why You Might Want One)

As a Showit and Squarespace website designer who offers “Website in a Day” services, I know how game-changing this model can be—not just for us as designers but also for the business owners we serve.

That’s why I invited Bailey from Honey Wave Creative to chat with me on the YouTube channel. She’s a fellow VIP Day website designer—but she works in WordPress. And even though we could technically be considered competitors, I’m a big believer in community over competition.

In this blog post, I’m pulling the best nuggets from our convo—everything from client prep and pricing, to how she avoids burnout while doing 3-4 full websites a week. If you’re a web designer thinking about offering design days or a small business owner considering booking one, keep reading.

From COVID Pivot to Creative Powerhouse: Bailey’s Journey

Bailey launched her design business, Honey Wave Creative, about five years ago at the height of the pandemic. Like many of us, she started by following the process taught in the course she took: a two-week website timeline and a one-week branding process.

But soon enough, she ran into the bottleneck many service providers hit—being booked out for months with no wiggle room for life or flexibility. That’s when she re-evaluated and leaned hard into VIP Days.

“I realized I couldn’t leave for a weekend without disrupting someone’s timeline. Design Days gave me my freedom back.”

Why She Chose WordPress—and Stuck With It

Bailey designs primarily on WordPress using Elementor, a drag-and-drop builder that gives her total creative freedom without needing to code. She started on WordPress because it was free to use, and as it turns out, that happy accident led her to a super flexible platform.

“Our clients can ask for anything—and 99% of the time, we can do it without custom code.”

While she occasionally designs on Shopify for e-commerce brands, WordPress is where she shines. Her sites are fully custom—not templated—and built from scratch in a single day.

READ MORE: Shopify Website Designers for All Budgets

READ MORE: Need a WordPress Website? Here Are My Top Designer Recommendations

(MINUTE 4:00)

The Power of Systems: What Makes a VIP Day Actually Work

If you’ve ever wondered how a custom website can be built in a single day, the answer is simple: systems.

Bailey’s process starts long before the design day itself. Once a client books, they’re added to a Trello board that holds everything they’ll need—from content guides and branding prompts, to curated website inspiration links.

Here’s a look at some of the prep steps:

• Brand Assets: If the client isn’t paying for a mini branding package, they need to supply logos, fonts, and colors. If Bailey doesn’t love their font choices, she’ll ask if she can tweak them.
• Content Strategy: Clients are given a DIY content workbook that includes outlines and ChatGPT prompts to guide strategic copywriting.
• Style Direction: A categorized list of example websites helps clients identify the aesthetic and functionality they love.
• Prep Call: One week before the Design Day, they meet for a prep call to review the Trello board and create a checklist of anything missing.

“Every single client finishes the prep work—because we walk through it on the call and make it feel manageable.”

A Peek Into the Design Day Timeline

• 8:00 AM: Bailey sends a Starbucks gift card and a welcome message. Clients know they’re in good hands from the start.
• Morning: Full-speed design mode. Bailey and her in-house designer, Kyle, build out the full site—usually without checking in with the client.
• 3:00 PM: She sends a 15-minute walkthrough video showing the client the homepage and site structure, explaining her design decisions.
• 3:30–5:00 PM: Clients add revision requests to a Google Doc. Bailey and Kyle implement the changes, marking them off as they go.
• 5:00 PM: Done and dusted. The client gets access to a training video library (not a long custom recording!) so they can easily update their site moving forward.

Training Clients Without Overwhelm

One of the biggest stressors for DIY business owners is the idea of managing their own site. Bailey addresses that head-on.

She used to create long personalized videos after each design day, but clients weren’t watching them. Now she’s created bite-sized videos covering basics like:

• How to log in
• How to update text or photos
• How to create a blog post

This approach makes the website feel more accessible and user-friendly, even for non-techy clients. Definitely taking her tip into action! (Minute 23:23)

“Once you get the same question 3x, it’s time to make a video.”

What She Charges (And How That’s Evolved)

Bailey’s current pricing for a VIP Day website is $3,800, and yes—it includes:

• A fully custom WordPress site (not a template!)
• Full setup and optimization
• Personalized training library
• Revisions during the same day

Clients can add:

• Blog setup: +$200
• Mini brand package: +$500

She started at $800, so this was a gradual evolution—but totally worth it for the value packed in.

“One of my first clients made $40k the month after launch. That’s when I realized—this model works.”

Managing Client Expectations + Preventing Overwhelm

Client overwhelm is real—especially when you’re working with newer business owners who might not have clarity yet on their offers or audience. Bailey’s ideal client is someone 1–3 years into business, with a clear understanding of what they offer.

“Clarity makes everything easier—design, copy, color palette. It’s the foundation.”

She also uses psychology-backed techniques to create a smooth experience:

• Start with delight: Starbucks gift card.
• Clear middle: Video walkthrough + time for revisions.
• End on a high note: Launch graphics, farewell email, and even a handwritten birthday card with a QR code linking to client-only freebies.

The Support Behind the Scenes

Bailey doesn’t do it alone. Her design assistant Kyle helps build pages during VIP Days, and she recently brought on another designer to manage retainer clients.

• I asked her how she found someone who can work at that pace. It seems like it takes a special kind of person to do VIP days… Don’t miss what she has to say! This is why you hire for character and fit on your team and not necessarily experience (minute 20:00)

She also has a VA who records onboarding videos and helps streamline admin.

“Hiring help gave me back my sanity. Now the business runs even when I step away.”

So…How Does She Avoid Burnout Doing 3–4 Sites a Week?

Bailey compares it to marathon training—you don’t start with four VIP Days per week, you build up to it.

Thanks to her repeatable systems, client education, and team support, she can knock out multiple websites each week without burning out.

“Going from zero to a finished site in one day? It’s addictive.”

Final Takeaways for Designers (Or Business Owners Looking to Book a Day)

If you’re a designer:

• Don’t skip the client prep process—it’s the foundation for a smooth VIP Day.
• Record bite-sized training videos to reduce handholding.
• Build systems once (like content prompts and style boards), then reuse.

If you’re a small business owner considering a VIP Day:

• Come in with clarity on your offers, audience, and goals.
• Trust the process—it’s fast, but when done right, it works.

Thanks for this (basically) coaching call Bailey! I took SO MANY NOTES and am ready to implement these changes to my Website VIP Days:

1. Consider using a Trello Board instead of just the emails as their reminder system
2. Create a Google sheet (and send it in the email sequence) with website examples list (whimsical, masculine, professional) and then everyone can use the same one.
3. Shorten the questionnaire and provide them with DIY content writing guide to help with their copywriting.
4. Do a prep call the week before the design day. If things aren’t done, send an email prior that says “on this call we will be discussing XYZ, so you need to finish it.” On the call go through everything and make them a to-do list. 
5. Change Revision Process: don’t show them website until the very end of the day. 3:00 pm send them recording of me talking them through everything and letting them see what it looks like. Send them video and I do responsiveness while they are reviewing. Then they go to Google Doc where they added the words and they list out all the changes they want and then go back in and highlight when it is done. Wrap up around 5:00 (which means I will be extending my VIP days by a few hours).
6. No 45 minute live training at the end. Create a Training Video Library in ThriveCart (how to change out image, text, etc.)
7. Personal video + Starbucks gift card morning of to prep their day! Sandwich in the good experience!
8. Send them birthday cards with a QR code with goodies like free resources and discount on hourly rate (you are literally BRILLIANT Bailey!)

Free Resources for Aspiring Website Designers

MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO:

Connect with Bailey on Instagram HERE

Paige Brunton’s course, Square Secrets Business.

If you’re a web designer who’s ready to turn that into a profitable business, joining Paige Brunton’s Free Profitable & Productive Web Designer Bootcamp is the perfect next step. She will walk you through exactly how to position yourself, find clients, and make web design your dream career—without burnout. Grab your spot here! 🚀 (She hosts this event 2 times a year + opens doors to her SIGNATURE COURSE – Square Secrets Business, so get on the waitlist if it isn’t open right now.)

Rebekah Read’s resource for wannabe website in a day designers: Website in a Day Playbook – My Exact Workflow in Dubsado – copy and paste

• My DIY Squarespace SEO Course may also be a good fit if you are want to offer sEO services to help your clients rank right out the gate

I’m all about empowering you with both the strategy and the support. So whether you’re a business owner ready to book a day, or a designer dreaming of faster timelines, I hope this behind-the-scenes look gave you the insights you need.

Here’s to websites that convert and keep your sanity intact. ✨

Learn More About Our Website VIP Days