Bianca Board has over 15 years of experience in helping small businesses own profitable websites. Sick and tired of seeing clients held ransom to poor service and high expenses, Bianca and her tech team created new website building software that allows them to do what would previously take months, in the space of a few days.
“I wanted to be a trailblazer for small business entrepreneurs like myself that couldn’t afford to spend $10,000 plus on a website. I wanted to challenge the industry ‘norm’ to the core and do everything opposite to how it’d been done. I was a woman on a mission.”
Why did you start your business and what gave you the idea?
“I started Web123 because I was sick to death of small businesses getting ripped off by web developers and not being able to get a CMS website for less than $8,000. I wanted to stick up for the little guy and show them that they can get online with an amazing, affordable website they can manage and one that gets them results. Website success is less about looks and more about strategy so I love mixing great design with great marketing to produce amazing results for clients in terms of leads and sales.”
Bianca’s favourite entrepreneur:
“Wow, just one is hard! Of course I love Richard Branson as he epitomises “entrepreneur” however I just finished reading the Elon Musk biography and I’m completely in awe of how he’s constantly challenging himself and pushing the limits when it comes to science and technology.”
Advice from Bianca:
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- Get a mentor! Surround yourself with smart people, you don’t have to do this on your own. Too often, especially as women, we carry a lot of pressure and stress to be this kind of Wonderwoman. We don’t want to ask for help, we don’t want to appear weak, and we hold ourselves back by playing small. I’ve learnt to feel the fear and do it anyway. And be inspired by people playing a few levels above you.
- Spend a huge amount of time and effort into hiring the right A-team players. Hire on values, train on skill. Ensure you have the right team dynamics and cultural fit. Invest in a behavioural assessment for candidates and have a rigourous hiring process. I’ve gotten it wrong in the past and hired out of necessity to fill a position and it’s cost me big time.
- Focus on mindfulness and becoming a mindful leader. Meditate, journal, set clear intentions every morning, remind yourself of your mission daily, practice living in the now, connect with your higher self, motivate and inspire others, look at how you can serve others first, and be okay with wherever you are at now. Know and have faith that it’s exactly where you need to be right now and everything that happens is for the right reasons.
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
“I would say there has never been a better time and to GO FOR IT!”
- Enjoy the journey, even the bumpy bits.
- Keep a diary of all your wins, big or small.
- Celebrate daily.
- Know that success is not a destination… celebrate every day of freedom living life on your terms as though it was an extraordinary gift… because it is.
- Seek the answers within.
- Inspire those around you.
- Be of service to others and the dollars will take care of themselves.
- Create the change you wish to see in the world.
- Celebrate failure.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff.
- Always know that you are successful NOW. Right now.
- Punch fear in the face and just GO FOR IT!
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
Sales and marketing. Until you’re turning over more than $50k, I would say absolutely focus on sales and lead generation. After that you can hire help to do the rest and take it to the next level.
Bianca on HerBusiness:
“Being a Premium Member of HerBusiness, apart from bonding with a like-minded community of women, actually helps me generate new business. I’ve worked with several fellow HerBusiness members to bring their websites and online marketing strategies to life, and love everything that Suzi and the team do for women in business. The content, the support, the blogging opportunities, the community, it really is world-class.”
Learn more about Web123 here.
This post was co-authored by Vashti Broos. Vashti completed a journalism internship at HerBusiness. She studies Marketing & Public Relations / Communications and Media (Journalism )at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney.
