One Nine Design

08/17/2026

Before we go quiet on Facebook, here's why 👇

Since 2017, I’ve tracked how clients find us, and Facebook hasn't sent us a single qualified lead in over a year. Every project has come through referrals, our designer network, or search. I know there's an argument that staying active here helps with SEO, but between the traffic our website already generates and everything else, it's never been enough to justify the time. I also stopped using Facebook personally a while back, so logging in for work became a chore I keep putting off and dreading more and more.

I'm also not thrilled with the direction Meta's headed. Earlier this month, a court ordered Meta to pay $567 million over the harm its platforms have caused to kids' mental health, and the company is facing another major trial over youth app addiction. It's just not a place I want to keep pouring energy into.

None of this changes how the business will run. Our website has everything you need: our services, how to reach out about your project, and links to our template shop and courses. I’ll look forward to connecting with you there.

At its best, social media connects people and good work with the people who need it. I still believe in that. I'll keep showing up where it counts most and trust that those who need us will find their way – our ideal clients are a savvy bunch.

08/10/2026

For the next few weeks, I'm sharing nine things I've learned about building a business that doesn't wreck you in the process. These aren't hacks, and you’ll never hear me telling you to hustle more. This is simply what's worked after years of doing this myself and watching other business owners struggle.

If you're a solo business owner or nonprofit leader who is also raising a family, balancing kids and client calls, or just leaping into a brand new venture and wondering how everyone else makes it look easy, this series is for you.

I’ll drop the first principle later this week!

07/20/2026

If you're running workshops, classes, or offering consultations, you need people to be able to book time with you without a back-and-forth email chain.

I recently set up online scheduling for Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers' Coalition, and now their workshops and classes are all bookable right from their website.

A couple of reasons this is worth considering for your organization:

1️⃣ It saves your staff time. No more emailing back and forth to find a time that works or managing spreadsheets full of maybes and pending commitments. People pick a slot that fits their schedule, and it's on the calendar. They get automatic email confirmations, and you can manage all of the enrollment details on your end.

2️⃣ It makes you look more professional. When someone can book a class or consultation in two clicks instead of waiting on a reply, that builds trust before you've even met them. And removing even a tiny bit of friction can be a game-changer when people are used to booking everything from their phone.

If your website is built on Squarespace, Acuity integrates directly, so your booking page can match your site and pull straight from your existing calendar.

And if you're not on Squarespace, I can set up Acuity scheduling as a standalone service too.

Want online scheduling on your site? Send me a message and let's talk about what that could look like for you.

07/17/2026

Squarespace recently raised its subscription prices, and I've gotten a few questions from clients about whether it's still worth it. Short answer: yes. Here's why.

When you know your website's ROI, the annual cost feels less like an expense and more like an investment. But most people never actually calculate it, so the sticker price feels bigger than it is.

Here's what I mean. My website has three jobs: sell templates from my Nonprofit Template Library, sell seats in my Access for All course, and bring in leads for new web design clients. I track all three. When I add up what those three things generate in a year and compare it to what I spend on hosting, that annual Squarespace bill is a tiny, tiny fraction of my overhead.

Before you make a switch or decide you don’t need a website (big mistake! huge!):

✅ If you're a nonprofit running online fundraising, look at how much of your annual donations come through your website versus other channels.

✅ If you sell a physical product, look at your online sales for the year.

✅ If you offer services, count the leads or bookings that started with someone finding you online.

Once you have that number, compare it to what you're paying for Squarespace. Most of the time, the math makes the decision for you.

If you don't already know this number for your own site, that's the first thing I'd figure out before deciding whether any platform is "too expensive."

💃🏼 Pretty Woman reference for a Friday just feels right 😉

07/13/2026

How many links are too many for your website's main menu?

It's one of the primary decisions in a website build. Everyone on the team has a page they think deserves front-and-center placement, and it's easy to end up with a menu that tries to do too much.

Here's how we decide what makes the cut:

· Stick to 5-6 items max. More choices than that and people tend to freeze up and click nothing at all.
· Not every link needs a spot in the main menu. Save the extras for your footer.
· Think about how your menu wraps on desktop. A menu that looks fine on your monitor can wrap awkwardly on a smaller laptop screen, so always check a few sizes before calling it done.
· Using dropdowns to group pages in a folder? Give them a visual cue, like a small arrow, so people know they're clickable. And skip the hover color change on the dropdown label itself. It's not a link, and it will confuse folks if it looks like one.
· Label external links clearly. A small icon is enough to let people know they're about to leave your site.

And don't forget: order your menu by what your visitors actually need, not what your organization wants to promote most. And make sure dropdowns work with a keyboard, not just a mouse hover, so they're usable for everyone.

What would you add to this list?

07/08/2026

AI tools can write code fast, and more and more designers (and DIYers) are using it to add cool features to their websites. But this doesn't mean it's harmless to the rest of your site.

When you copy a chunk of AI-generated code and drop it into your website, you might inadvertently override existing keyboard navigation, add elements that screen readers read in the wrong order, or break focus management on interactive components. AI doesn't know what's already on your page or have the context to know what might cause interference.

This applies to any code you grab from a plugin, a tutorial, or a third-party widget. "I didn't write it" is not a defense when an accessibility audit (or a lawsuit) rolls around.

✅ Before adding any code you didn't write yourself, ask a few questions:
✅ Does this code use proper HTML elements — like buttons for buttons and headings for headings — or is it just a bunch of generic containers dressed up to look interactive?
✅ Can I still navigate it with a keyboard?
✅ Does it have appropriate ARIA labels, or is it completely invisible to a screen reader?
✅ Does adding this break anything that already worked?

AI is a useful tool, but buyer beware when it comes to making things inaccessible for the sake of design.

07/07/2026

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was this: Don’t take criticism from someone you wouldn’t ask for advice.

Maybe that's why the latest email newsletter from Sarah over at Sarah Moon Consulting really hit home for me. It was called “permission to ignore your critics,” and this line really stood out to me:

“Changing your business to please people who aren’t your customers is a fast track to building a business you despise.”

👏🏻 Yes, and louder for those in the back.

Sarah's point was simple: before you let one complaint send you into a spiral of self-doubt, ask yourself if it's coming from someone who was ever going to be your client in the first place. Feedback from people outside your actual audience isn't a reason to rethink your pricing, your process, or any part of your approach.

Not every complaint holds equal weight. Know who your people are, give their feedback preference, and carry on, my friends.

And to sign up for Sarah’s newsletter and get actionable advice every week, I’ll leave the link below!

06/25/2026

We've all rage-closed a site that made us pinch and zoom just to read it, right?

More than half of all website visitors are browsing on their phones (probably more) and if the mobile version of your website was an afterthought, you've probably lost leads or donors because of it.

Open your website on your phone today and look for these four things:

✅ Text that's readable without zooming in

✅ Buttons and links big enough to tap without frustration

✅ Pages that load fast and images that aren't cropped weird

✅ A navigation menu that's easy to find and use

And a bonus tip: If you have a pop-up turned on, great. Just make sure the close button is visible. Better yet, turn it off on mobile since conversion rates for pop-ups rarely justify the friction they create.

📷 We gave some extra love to the mobile version of the Miller Prosthetics & Orthotics website with a fun background image behind the menu (accessible, of course).

06/22/2026

This is an interesting look at remote work. I'm feeling many of the same things mentioned in the article, after working at home for almost nine years. Lately, I've done better at scheduling in-person meetings when I can for lunches or coffees, and I'm looking at some volunteer opportunities to help get me back into my community more.

I don't want to give up my long mornings of exercise and dog walks or working on my porch some afternoons, but I do think it's important to keep person-to-person contact as a regular part of the work routine.

Any other remote workers have thoughts?

[Gift Link]

Despite its advantages, work-from-home arrangements have significantly deepened Americans’ isolation and distress.

06/18/2026

Embedding your social media feed on your website might sound like a good idea at first, but it actually works against you.

Your social media feeds should help drive people TO your website. Once they land there, you want them to take action. That might mean filling out a form, booking a call, donating, or browsing your services. The moment they start scrolling your social feed on your site, you've given them an easy exit. (Or worse, your social media feed connection is broken and there’s just a big error where it should be on your website.)

Take a look at your website and ask yourself — does every section on this page point visitors toward an action? If not, it might be time for an audit. Remove the feed and replace it with a clear call to action instead.