Tenant Spotlight – Meet Emily Journey, WP Artisans

Written by Innovate New Albany@InnovateNA9 years ago

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Emily Journey is a WordPress Trainer and owner of WP Artisans. She opened her business in 2010 to meet a strong need of business owners who not only needed a professional website, but also wanted to have control over it.

Over the last six years, her business has evolved from WordPress website development to WordPress training exclusively. She enjoys the interpersonal experience of teaching business owners and their staff how to manage and update the content of their website.

Clients who train with Emily have control over the what, when and how of their business’s online message. They learn how to update their company WordPress website, how to blog effectively, how to attract customers and how to build existing relationships, all while having access to her continued support.

What is your “secret sauce”?

My secret sauce is my own personal experience. I’ve been in the position of knowing absolutely nothing about WordPress and website development. I’ve been in the uncomfortable spot of working with unresponsive website developers and feeling powerless. I’ve gone from being there to where I’m at right now and I love it! People know I get it when they tell me their frustrations with their website. I’ve been where they are now and I understand where they’d like to be. And, my clients trust I can help them get there.

What is the smartest move you’ve made so far as a business owner?

Most definitely leaving my work as a website developer behind and referring all of that business out. I now focus all of my time on marketing my WordPress training services. That was a scary leap. It was like saying “no” to money I knew I could make and saying “yes” to money I only hoped I could make. I had to believe in myself. I still have a small book of clients for whom I do website management on an ongoing basis. But, when someone contacts me about building a new website, I introduce them to someone else whom I trust with that work.

If you had one piece of advice to give a new business owner, what would it be?

Work with a business coach. A good one is expensive but they can help you grow your business in ways you can’t imagine. If you meet a business coach and you don’t walk away with great ideas and next steps, then they’re not the right coach for you.

How has your business grown and changed since it first started?

When I first started out, my business felt like one experiment after another. Maybe this will work—maybe that will work, etc. I wasn’t even sure if it was viable. Now, although I’m still open to testing new ideas, I’m focused and efficient. I know exactly what I offer and I know my ideal client. It took time to get to this point. I believe most entrepreneurs have heard this before: persistence combined with a willingness to learn from failures are critical ingredients of success.

How long have you been a tenant at Innovate New Albany?

A year and a half.

What made you decide to become a tenant at Innovate New Albany?

The high quality office environment and meeting rooms. I got much more than I bargained for, though. It’s a friendly and positive community of fellow entrepreneurs. It’s a nice place to be.

Being a self-employed business owner, how do you keep yourself focused and motivated?

I’ve never had a problem feeling motivated. I love my business! Staying focused is also not a problem. My challenge has been correctly prioritizing how I spend my time. There’s only so much time in the day.

For more information about WP Artisans, contact Emily at Emily@classesforwebdesign.com, or visit her website at https://emilyjourney.com/contact-me/.

Innovate New Albany, the city’s incubator for technology startups, entrepreneurs and small businesses, features 16,000 square feet of space within the New Albany Business Park’s Signature Office Building, 8000 Walton Parkway.