Shovel Studio January Review
Shovel Studio January 2025 Review: Growth and Plans
January was a high-performing month for Shovel, with Instagram growing by 8,000 followers to 11k total and a new YouTube channel about landing high-value web design clients. I also launched a new Shovel Studio website, designed and developed entirely by me, which doubles as an e-commerce platform selling the custom Notion template I use to run my studio. In February I'm looking to productize our services with website themes, templates and custom website apps, while designing for an upcoming athlete driving for a dominant team.
Shovel, January 2025
Hey there, Blaze checking in.
This email is my approach to a more personable format for my web design studio. I’ll be starting it off with a quick recap of a high-performing month. Feel free to reply to continue this conversation; there are some great achievements to show off here.
Social growth
What a great boost for Instagram this month. +8,000 followers in January alone, totaling 11k total. Just in time for the TikTok ban. Well, what I thought was going to be a ban.
This comes from a dialed-in content format. If you’re curious to see how I’m approaching my short-form videos, reference my LinkedIn breakdown here
If you’re a follower, thanks for the continued support!
If you’re not a follower, I post web design content around brands that are relevant to Gen Z & Millennial culture. Follow me here
Starting YouTube
This was just inevitable watching the rise of YouTube as a 9-year-old in 2009. I’ve finally come full circle and started a channel.
My first video is an overview of how I’m successfully landing high-value web design clients. I plan to post more videos explaining the backend business logic I work on as a “studio” owner.
Along with that, I see long-form website breakdowns in my future too. Check out my channel here
New year, new website
This project was extremely consuming of my money and time. I went FT into my business right before the holidays, which left open a 1-month slot of time to scale out my ideas.
With this came a new Shovel Studio website that isn’t just a 1-page Framer special. It’s all entirely designed and developed by me, and the output is something I’ve come to love. Visit www.shovel.studio here
Puerto Rico trip
After working most nights and weekends between the juggle of a FT UX job, freelancing, and FT school, a break was needed. Here’s some photography I shot while I was in Puerto Rico with my significant other.
I kind of wanted this URL to be more hidden, but to my supporters looking for more of my creative work. See my photography channel here
Offering my tools
Shovel.studio isn’t just a portfolio website but also an e-commerce platform built to serve up products that resonate with my audience.
The first major release is a custom Notion template that I use to entirely run my studio. It’s great for time-saving and cost-effectiveness, especially as I’m ~3 months into my entrepreneurship journey, where I’m a solo freelancer transitioning into a studio.
A lot of time was put into the product sales page this month. Again, all designed and developed by ME. Learn more about the Creative Dashboard here
Looking into February
Shovel has so much on it’s plate. I’m looking to productize our services. To do this, I’m planning to offer:
- Website themes/templates
- Custom website apps
These will be a great solution for that entry-level customer product and allow Shovel to evolve with more customers as they grow their businesses. I also have the ability to market these products effectively through my social channels.
Right now we also have some cool client work being made. Just a teaser, but I’m designing for an upcoming athlete driving for a dominant team. This project will establish Shovel as a global player. More to show soon!
Take care,
-Blaze
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