Blog - Joy Walker | Web Developer, Designer & Decoder of Chaos

Level Up Your Site

What If You’re Embarrassed by Your Website?

You Deserve Better Than “It’s Fine for Now”

I’ve worked with so many small business owners, creatives, and service pros who knew their site didn’t reflect the quality of their work. But they also didn’t know where to start — or they were afraid it would turn into a huge, expensive project.

August 10, 2025

Level Up Your Site

Why I Use Elementor Pro on Every Build (and Disable Gutenberg Without Regret)

WordPress gives you options. And like a buffet, some are better than others.

Gutenberg? Meh. I pass every time.

Elementor Pro, on the other hand? That’s my go-to. Every site I build runs on it – and no, it’s not because I’m lazy or obsessed (okay maybe a little). It’s because it actually works – for me and for my clients.

Here’s why I lean on Elementor Pro, why I send Gutenberg straight to the recycling bin, and how this combo keeps your site lean, fast, and not a hot mess on mobile.

August 2, 2025

Level Up Your Site

The Magic of Performance Audits: What You Can Learn

Just like you wouldn’t ignore a weird noise under your car hood (hopefully), you shouldn’t ignore slow load times, funky mobile behavior, or mystery traffic drop-offs on your site.

That’s where a performance audit comes in — and no, it’s not just for giant enterprise websites.
Every site benefits from a check-up now and then.

July 25, 2025

Working With AI

I Asked AI to Build a Website… Here’s What It Got Wrong

Spoiler: It didn’t go great.

In the name of science (and a little sarcasm), I asked AI to build a website. Tools like Wix ADI, GoDaddy’s Website Builder, and even ChatGPT’s “write me a website” prompts claim to make the process easy and fast.

And while some of it was impressive… most of it was hilariously off the mark.

July 8, 2025

Website Builders

Custom vs. Cookie-Cutter: What’s Best for Your Site Goals?

We’ve all seen them:
The pre-built templates. The drag-and-drop setups. The “just change your colors and logo” websites.

They’re fast. They’re cheap.
And sometimes… they’re totally fine.

But when your website is meant to build trust, showcase your services, and convert visitors into actual clients?

Cookie-cutter just doesn’t cut it.

June 23, 2025

Website Builders

What Website Builders Really Cost: A Price Breakdown vs. WordPress

Website builders like Wix and Squarespace look like a deal at first glance. Just $25/month? Drag-and-drop? No dev needed? It sounds almost too good to be true – and that’s because… it kind of is.

June 14, 2025

Working With AI

How a Web Developer Uses AI — Without Letting It Take Over

Let’s be real: AI is everywhere right now. From content to code to “design,” it’s tempting to ask ChatGPT or some magical site builder to just do all the work. And sure, it can help. I even use it myself – because why not let a robot save me some time?

June 8, 2025

Website Builders

Squarespace Is Great – Until It Isn’t

Don’t get me wrong – Squarespace is a solid platform. It looks nice, feels modern, and helps a lot of people get online fast. It’s great for certain phases of business (or certain personality types who genuinely enjoy a drag-and-drop moment).

May 30, 2025

Website Builders

Freelance Developer vs. Website Builder: What’s the Real Cost?

Here’s the thing: just because you can build your site yourself doesn’t always mean you should. And spoiler alert – DIY isn’t always the cheapest option in the long run.

May 15, 2025

Working With AI

Why You Still Need a Web Developer (Even When AI Can Build Websites)

We’re living in wild times. AI can write code, whip up design layouts, and even “build” a website for you in about 90 seconds. Soooo… do you even need a web developer anymore? Yep. You do. And here’s why.

May 8, 2025

Web Wisdom

How to Read a KPI Report Without Losing Your Mind

KPI reports (Key Performance Indicators) aren’t just for data nerds or marketing teams – they’re actually one of the best ways to check in on how your site is really doing.

May 2, 2025

Web Wisdom

5 Clues Your Website Might Be Holding You Back

Your website should be supporting your goals — whether that’s booking more clients, selling more things, or just not driving you completely bananas. But sometimes, it ends up doing the opposite.

April 3, 2025