get to know
Katelyn Dekle
Educator & web designer for fun & unorthodox entrepreneurs working with clients 1:1
Nice to meet ya!
My name’s Katelyn. I went to college to focus on design and was an in-house designer in service-based businesses from 2006-2020, going full-time freelance in 2020!
Lookin’ for the personal shit? Keep reading!
Get to know me!
I’m a laid-back, laugh-happy, sarcasm-using, coffee-drinking, pet-loving, bibliophile. I love Marvel movies, reading just about anything, and you’ll definitely see my fur-babies on Instagram. Oh, and I’ve literally been designing since I found Publisher on my Dad’s computer as a kid in the 90’s, so…you’re in great hands. 😉 (Don’t worry, I’ve upgraded my software since then!)
Want to know how I went from full-time 9–5er to full-time freelancer? Let’s be friends! Pop your email address in this little form & I’ll email ya all about it!
Story time
Basically, 9-5’s never truly worked for me. I excelled where I could and made it work, but it never felt like enough.
I knew I could DO more. Be more.
But not by building someone else’s dream & doing things they way they wanted to do them. So I started freelancing, mostly for the extra cash, because we were broke as a joke and living check to check.
After a few years of trying out the professional, “corporate” vibe for myself in my freelance work, I finally realized it just wasn’t a fit. I felt like I couldn’t be that AND be myself, so it always felt like I was holding back. My audience must’ve felt it too –a lack of authenticity.
Eventually, I stumbled into a rebrand by accident and finally found my sweet spot! Now I can be 100% my nerdy, witty, dryly sarcastic but friendly & approachable self, –no apologies necessary.
Oh and sprinkle in some general cursing as needed and some occasional f-bombs because that’s real life and I’m not going to pretend it isn’t. 😆
How can I help you?
I’m so glad you asked.
I want to help YOU step into your own confidence too, knowing you can truly be yourself, attract clients, and an audience that loves YOU for who you ARE. Not who you pretend to be.
I love working with other fun-loving female service-based entrepreneurs and educators to create and/or refresh your website, so that it resonates best with your dream clients, looks professional & is super easy to maintain.
Unlike many other web designers, I use my 15+ years of design experience to build a website with a strategy & purpose in mind so that it’s not just another pretty design, and teach you how to keep it updated yourself so you are EMPOWERED to control your own website as long as you want. Plus, it saves you money in the long run by not needing a web designer on staff or on retainer, year-round.
My Biz Cred
2016 – started using Squarespace for my freelance work
2017 – started designing websites for friends/family
2017 – started getting web design clients
2018 – stopped offering print design services
2015-2020 side-hustled for 5 years
worked at my last in-house design job for almost 9 years!
mid-2020 – went full-time in my business!
2006-2011 – college; graphic design program
2006 – landed an intro design job
2006-2020 – in-house designer + freelance work
2015 – started my ‘official’ design side-hustle
2015-2020 – grabbed #allthefreebies & online business courses
2020 - Present – maintain continuing ed (details here)
Feb. 2022 – Present - monthly call coach for Paige Brunton’s Square Secrets & Square Secrets Business students
YOU MIGHT’VE SEEN ME IN
Brand New Businesses
Like you, I started from the ground up. It took a long time, loads of patience, and a ton of trial/error!
I’ve been there, so I know. Custom websites can be expensive, –and if yours wasn’t, well… You definitely get what you pay for.
Frankly, though, your very first website doesn’t always need to be 100% custom. Why?
Because your business is going to evolve as it grows & scales, –and those changes are likely to make you want a total design re-do by the time you reach year 1 or 2 in your business. By that point, you’ll know more about what you need on your custom website.
So, now what?
I suggest ya start with an affordable template first. After some time running your business, you’ll know how it needs to change & that’s when you should spend your hard-earned cash on your first custom build. Plus it gives ya time to save up for such a big expense! Want a website that just looks custom? I gotchu!
Established Entrepreneurs
Calling all ladies who’ve been in business for 1-2+ years, are workin’ solo or have a very small team and work with/teach clients one-on-one!
I bet your business has changed a bit by now. Am I right?
By the time you reach this 1+ year milestone in your business, if you already have a website, it’s likely time to update or refine it to fit how your business has evolved. Nodding your head yes?
But that doesn’t necessarily mean you have the funds to add a web designer to your team for updates & design maintenance.
That’s why I love Squarespace! It makes website updates super easy & affordable for anyone, –without the on-staff designer.
I don’t have time...
That’s why you need help to get it done. As a solopreneur myself, I GET IT. I wear all the hats too! But we make time for what’s important, so how important is this for you?
Here’s the deets on me
A-HEM!
Squarespace Circle Member, 2017 - Present
AIGA Member, 2019 - 2021
Designing professionally, 2006 - Present
Side hustle/Independent Contractor, 2015-2020
College graphic design program, 5 years
Designing websites for happy clients since 2017
Monthly call coach for Paige Brunton’s Square Secrets & Square Secrets Business students, Feb. 2022 – Present
Asana Together Member
Asana Ambassador
Rising Tide Society Member
Creative Lady Directory Member
MY CONTINUING EDUCATION:
Copywriting for Creatives (by Ashlyn Carter) affiliate & alumna
Design Biz Mastery (by Morgan Rapp) currently taking + affiliate
Square Secrets (by Paige Brunton) alumna
Square Secrets Business (by Paige Brunton) alumna
Scale with Content Strategy (by Paige Brunton) alumna
Business By Design (by James Wedmore) alumna
Booked Out Designer (by Elizabeth McCravy) affiliate & alumna
Standout Squarespace (by Rache, of SquareStylist) affiliate & alumna
Process Driven Membership (by Layla at Process Driven) affiliate & alumna
How to ClickUp (by Layla at Process Driven) affiliate & alumna
B-School (by Marie Forleo) alumna
★★★★★
Katelyn ABSOLUTELY crushed the goals! She understood my vision and made it a reality. From the color palette to the design functionality, I am absolutely in love with everything about the new website. It is everything (and more) that I didn't know I wanted or needed! It gives it the elevated experience that I want my audience to have when viewing the website.
You know you want to "launch the damn thing," but you can't do it alone! Then, don't! Katelyn is exactly who you need to make your vision a reality. I enjoyed this experience so much that I didn't want to launch it so that we could continue working together! This will be the best decision you make for yourself and your business!