Been There, Done That

Thanks for taking the time to hear about our story. We want you to feel confident in who you’re working with.

Believe me, I’ve been where you are now.

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Short Story

MY STORY.

I KNOW THE STRUGGLE.

If you’re not an experienced web designer, then web design can be a tricky, confusing, and sometimes scary venture. You have options, between all the ‘build-your-own-website’ software or hire a designer that you trust with your money and the fate of your business. Both are risky, and before I was a designer, I faced those very same scenarios.

They didn’t exactly end well.

I’m Matt and I am a co-founder of Shoot To Thrill Media.

Before I started Shoot To Thrill Media, and before I knew anything about building websites, I was a budding entrepreneur. I had business aspirations, and the know-how on how to properly start, grow and manage a business. But of those business skills, technology wasn’t something I was proficient in. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been tech savvy, but when it came to getting my first website built, I was delusional in thinking I could create a decent website with the free (and some paid) tools available to me.

MY STORY.

I KNOW THE STRUGGLE.

If you’re not an experienced web designer, then web design can be a tricky, confusing, and sometimes scary venture. You have options, between all the ‘build-your-own-website’ software or hire a designer that you trust with your money and the fate of your business. Both are risky, and before I was a designer, I faced those very same scenarios.

They didn’t exactly end well.

I’m Matt and I am a co-founder of Shoot To Thrill Media.

Before I started Shoot To Thrill Media, and before I knew anything about building websites, I was a budding entrepreneur. I had business aspirations, and the know-how on how to properly start, grow and manage a business. But of those business skills, technology wasn’t something I was proficient in. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been tech savvy, but when it came to getting my first website built, I was delusional in thinking I could create a decent website with the free (and some paid) tools available to me.

DONE WITH THE DIY.

I’ve always been a do-it-myself kind of guy, so I figured I would tackle the web building. There’s tons of tools, like SquareSpace and Weebly that offer a way to build great looking sites FOR FREE! So I started building my own site. I saw some progress and it seemed like it was going well. But there was something missing. I didn’t know what and I couldn’t figure out why my site just wasn’t cutting it. I looked at other cool looking sites, and tried to replicate them, but things just weren’t panning out.

I spent more and more time focusing on a skill that I wasn’t great at, and I saw my time being pulled away from what really mattered, and that was managing my business. I knew I wasn’t getting any better at building a website and these DIY web builders definitely had their limitations.

So I made the decision:

I was going to find a web designer. 

TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

I found a designer that looked the part. I knew nothing about the work and effort behind having a “professional” building my site. So when I was given a 3 month estimate, I was at their mercy, as I had no idea on what was a normal time frame. I trusted they were doing their job and they would deliver a product that was far beyond my capabilities.

Well, the 3 months went by and I hadn’t heard much from the designer, so I checked in. After a string of emails, I was delivered the first draft of my website. It was nowhere near what I had envisioned, and so much content and so many elements were missing. But the designer ensured me that this was a normal pace, and things WILL get done. Having no real knowledge on the subject, I trusted them, and they continued the build.

After speaking with the designer, I decided to speak with friends that I know have dabbled in web design. After looking over the site, and what all has been done, they genuinely thought that the site, that I had waited 3 months for, had been worked on for just a few hours.

This web designer took advantage of my lack of knowledge on web design to sell me a service that they were less than qualified for. I was lied to. I was always in the dark while they “built.” I put my business and website in their hands, and it was a costly mistake.

I was upset. But most importantly, I was determined. Determined to understand this craft, that seems so important in not only mine, but EVERY industry.

So I began learning.

DONE WITH THE DIY.

I’ve always been a do-it-myself kind of guy, so I figured I would tackle the web building. There’s tons of tools, like SquareSpace and Weebly that offer a way to build great looking sites FOR FREE! So I started building my own site. I saw some progress and it seemed like it was going well. But there was something missing. I didn’t know what and I couldn’t figure out why my site just wasn’t cutting it. I looked at other cool looking sites, and tried to replicate them, but things just weren’t panning out.

I spent more and more time focusing on a skill that I wasn’t great at, and I saw my time being pulled away from what really mattered, and that was managing my business. I knew I wasn’t getting any better at building a website and these DIY web builders definitely had their limitations.

So I made the decision:

I was going to find a web designer. 

TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

I found a designer that looked the part. I knew nothing about the work and effort behind having a “professional” building my site. So when I was given a 3 month estimate, I was at their mercy, as I had no idea on what was a normal time frame. I trusted they were doing their job and they would deliver a product that was far beyond my capabilities.

Well, the 3 months went by and I hadn’t heard much from the designer, so I checked in. After a string of emails, I was delivered the first draft of my website. It was nowhere near what I had envisioned, and so much content and so many elements were missing. But the designer ensured me that this was a normal pace, and things WILL get done. Having no real knowledge on the subject, I trusted them, and they continued the build.

After speaking with the designer, I decided to speak with friends that I know have dabbled in web design. After looking over the site, and what all has been done, they genuinely thought that the site, that I had waited 3 months for, had been worked on for just a few hours.

This web designer took advantage of my lack of knowledge on web design to sell me a service that they were less than qualified for. I was lied to. I was always in the dark while they “built.” I put my business and website in their hands, and it was a costly mistake.

I was upset. But most importantly, I was determined. Determined to understand this craft, that seems so important in not only mine, but EVERY industry.

So I began learning.

CREATING A TRANSPARENT BUSINESS.

Fast forward a few years.

I’ve officially become a self-taught web designer.

I looked back at what was the biggest problem I faced with web design. It wasn’t the lack of knowledge that was problem, it was the lack of clarity and transparency when I trusted someone with my website. They may have known what they were doing, but left me in the dark to HOPE that it was working out.

So I turned that pain point into a vision and that vision into Shoot To Thrill Media.

It’s Shoot To Thrill Media’s commitment to be fully transparent on the journey of building each and every website. Not everyone has the time to go teach themselves to be a professional web designer. So with my knowledge and understanding of where you’re at with your web design endeavors, I want to instill confidence that you and I, together, will build a website that aligns with your vision and you can be proud of and say that

you helped build.

Thanks for taking the time to hear my story.

Web design can be a tricky task, especially with money and your business on the line. I hope that I can at least give you a little confidence that I’m here to help you every step of the way.

Hope to talk to you soon!

CREATING A TRANSPARENT BUSINESS.

(in 60 seconds or less)

I knew next to nothing about web design.

Do-it-yourself website builders weren’t cutting it.

After getting the courage to put my money and business in the hands of a web designer, they left me in the dark on the web build and SEVERELY under delivered.

I decided to teach myself web design to help others who have struggled the same way I struggled.

Shoot To Thrill Media was founded.

It’s Shoot To Thrill Media’s commitment to be fully transparent on the journey of building each and every website. Not everyone has the time to go teach themselves to be a professional web designer. So with my knowledge, and understanding of where you’re at with your web design endeavors, I want to instill confidence that you and I, together, will build a website that aligns with your vision and you can be proud of and say that

you helped build.