Meet Maggie Rodriguez of Website Design Plus in East Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Rodriguez.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Maggie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
We were the first family in my small home town to have a computer, an Apple Macintosh Plus (1988 or 89). I started playing with graphics at a young age and later in high school, I was on the yearbook staff designing layouts. Both of my parents are computer technicians and that definitely helped keep me up to date with the latest technology. I eventually decided to move to Arizona to attend The Art Institute of Phoenix where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and graduated with honors and Best Portfolio in summer 2009. In the last quarter of school, I had a short but incredibly helpful internship with the Michaels Wilder Agency in Phoenix, AZ. At my graduate portfolio show, I was approached by a department manager from GoDaddy.com and was hired as a Web Designer 1. Within a year, I was promoted to Web Designer 2. Later that role shifted to a Senior Designer-like position as the company model changed. I was with GoDaddy for seven years and I was feeling the pull to leave and go out on my own. I registered my new business with the Mesa Chamber of commerce, built my own website and then I was let go from GoDaddy! There was a group of 15 us that were all laid off on the same day. That pull to leave became a sudden push out of the nest! But I am so grateful and it was such a great day. Especially as far as firings go.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There are definitely struggles along the way. I had some amazing health care benefits at GoDaddy and trying to figure out what was best/next for my family was stressful. I also no longer had the regular biweekly paychecks coming in. When you’re self-employed it can be feast or famine! At least twice in the last three years, I started applying to other “real jobs” but luckily things picked up. I recommend finding a compatible business coach or mentor to help create a strategy to avoid the famine days. Be OK with asking for help and recognizing you need it!

Another big learning curve has been the other roles I have to play. I’m not just a graphic/web designer. I’m now the project manager, bookkeeper, salesperson, marketing team, etc. I get to do it all. All that while continuing my education and stay relevant to clients’ needs.

Tell us more about the business.
My company is Website Design Plus. I specialize in website design and on-page search engine optimization (SEO). I show your customers how awesome you are and get you found online.

I am the proudest of my referrals. When I do a good job and my clients appreciate it, they let me know by sending their friends my way. My favorite moment was when I reached the 4th-level referral. Client A referred me to client B who referred me to Client C who referred me to Client D. I call it the “Referral Chain of Happiness”.

I think what really makes me different is not that I’m the best designer in the room, it’s that I answer the phone and return emails! I’ve heard so many stories like, “My designer disappeared” or “My designer takes two weeks to get back to me.” Customer service is 80% of the work.

My business is also evolving. I’ve partnered with two other wonderful entrepreneurs and we’ve now created our own agency called Zenith Marketing and Sales. (Shameless plug for zenithaz.com) So, if a business needs more marketing and sales training services, we’ll be able to offer that in addition to design and branding.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I was lucky enough to get laid off.  I think I’m also lucky enough to have met so many amazing people since I’ve been self-employed. It’s such a drastically different environment at a networking event than it is at a corporate cube farm. Everyone is so positive, supportive, and eager to help you succeed. It’s almost overwhelming.

I’m also lucky my husband is so supportive. He believes in me and is a great sounding board for both my ideas and vents.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://websitedesign.plus
• Phone: 480 316 3483
• Email: maggie@websitedesign.plus
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/websitedesignplus/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/websitedesigndotplus/
• Other: https://zenithaz.com

Image Credit:
Heather Kant

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