Ep. 09 7 Unpopular Things I Do In My Online Business And Why I'm Not Apologizing For Them

One of the hardest transitions when I left the corporate world? Letting go of how you're "supposed" to do things. In corporate life, there are rules and procedures for EVERYTHING. When I transitioned to running Specht & Co. full-time, it was honestly overwhelming knowing I could just do what I wanted, when I wanted, and how I wanted.

Over time, I've found a pretty good balance. While my methods might be unpopular to some people, they work for me, my clients, my family, and how I want to run my business. So let's dive into seven unpopular things I do in my business and why I'm not apologizing for them.

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1. No Limit on Design Revisions

Let's start with the most controversial one: I don't put a limit on the number of designer visions for design projects.

This is "unpopular" because most designers charge for every round of revisions beyond an initial two rounds or so. They'll say two rounds are included, and every draft after that costs an additional $100-200.

I totally get their reasoning here—they don't want clients to get carried away with never-ending edits. They want the project to end at some point, and so do I! But this approach has never felt right to me.

I don't limit revisions because I want my clients to absolutely LOVE their logo. I don't want them settling for something that's "good enough" but not great because they ran out of drafts and don't have the budget for additional edits.

I also don't want clients feeling nervous about providing feedback. I want them to feel comfortable telling me exactly what they think—even if that's "I hate it, start over." (Thankfully this rarely happens, but if it did, that would be fine with me as long as we get them to a place where they truly love their logo.)

One of my brand values is "steadfast support," and this is the biggest way we embody that. Even if we need 10 rounds of edits on your logo, I'm going to be there every step of the way until you're truly in love with your new brand.

There's is definitely a risk of things getting out of hand. So to keep things on track, I maintain constant communication with clients. I explain things thoroughly, record Loom videos, and get on calls for feedback when needed. I also set expectations up front: while I won't limit edits, if things start getting out of hand, we'll have a conversation about it. So far, clients have been understanding and respectful of this approach.

2. No Extra Charge for Payment Plans

Many service providers charge more for payment plans vs. paying in full. For example, they’ll offer something like "$2,000 pay-in-full OR four payments of $525" (which totals $2,100).

The idea is to incentivize people to pay in full and offset losses when people on payment plans inevitably stop paying (yes, that does happen).

I don't charge more for payment plans because I never want someone going into debt to work with me. I don't want clients thinking, "I want that pay-in-full discount, so I'll put this on a credit card." That doesn't feel in alignment with the way I want to run my business.

I also don't want to deter anyone from hiring me due to money. While I'm not usually inclined to give discounts, I do want my services to be as accessible as possible—and often that means offering a payment plan.

I've done extensive work on my pricing to ensure my offers are profitable and valuable for clients. My services cost what they cost, regardless of how you pay.

3. No Fake Urgency in Sales Tactics

Many marketing strategies rely on fake scarcity—"Only 2 spots left!" or "Price goes up at midnight!"—when that's not entirely true.

I avoid this approach for several reasons:

First, I believe in genuine urgency. When I say I only have time for two projects in May, I want you to know that's REAL.

Second, false urgency degrades trust, and I deeply value building long-term relationships with clients.

Third, just like I don't want clients going into debt to work with me, I don't want them making hasty decisions because they think they'll never have another chance to work with me.

Clients who don't feel pressured are more confident in their decision and more likely to show up engaged and enthusiastic. When I tell clients to take their time deciding, I genuinely mean it.

4. Not Gatekeeping Information to Keep Clients on Retainer

One of my brand values is "education and empowerment," and I take this seriously.

Unfortunately, some service providers intentionally withhold important knowledge so clients have to keep paying them monthly. I see this a lot with web designers who say, "You need to keep me on retainer to update WordPress plugins" or "Changing website copy is too difficult for you—you need to pay me every time."

That just doesn’t sit right with me. I never want clients feeling like their hands are tied or that they can't make edits to their website or use their brand without me. My goal is to empower clients, not make them dependent on me.

I put significant effort into training clients and providing tools and resources so they can learn to do things themselves. This often leads to repeat business naturally—clients continue working with me because they WANT to, not because they HAVE to.

For example, every client gets:

• A robust set of brand guidelines

• A tutorial library

• A free month or quarter inside our Six Figure Brand Society

This helps them understand their brand and website and feel confident moving forward without us, and many clients do choose to stay in the Six Figure Brand Society because they value the support—which I love! But nobody stays because they feel trapped.

5. Letting People Out of Contracts

The conventional wisdom says once someone signs a contract, they're locked in—no exceptions. Yes, contracts protect both parties, but life happens. Sometimes there are legitimate reasons why a client needs to cancel or pause a project.

In my expereince, forcing someone to stay in a payment plan or contract creates a terrible experience and breeds resentment on both ends.

Here's a real example: In summer 2023, after returning from maternity leave, several clients told me their businesses had slowed down, and they couldn't afford to keep me on their team. Most were near the end of their contracts anyway, but one client wasn't and felt stuck. We worked together to find a solution that was manageable for her finances while ensuring I wasn't completely left hanging.

I do have policies to protect myself while remaining flexible. For instance, I won't refund payments already made before cancellation. This doesn't mean someone can get to the end of a project and say "nevermind, refund me"—but if we're partway through and something unexpected happens, I'll work with you.

I never want clients feeling forced to continue working with me. That sours relationships, prevents referrals, and stops them from returning when they need design support in the future.

Being flexible here leads to positive word-of-mouth and referrals from people who respect you and appreciate your understanding.

6. Not Nickel-and-Diming Clients

Many service providers charge for every tiny additional task: "You wanted to change one word on your website? That'll be $20."

I get why they do this (and honestly, I've never calculated how much time these small tasks add up to—if I did, I might change my position!).

For me, it's partly practical—creating an invoice for 10 minutes of work is a pain, and the juice isn't worth the squeeze. But on a deeper level, this approach is a great way to build relationships and trust.

I frequently have clients insist, "Please bill me for this!" while I'm saying, "No, it's fine—this one's on me." I know when they have bigger projects, they'll happily come to me and pay my rates.

This keeps invoicing simpler (no sending hundreds of tiny invoices that would cost me more in paying my VA than I'd earn) and it encourages clients to return for more work instead of feeling constantly upcharged.

You do need to balance this carefully—people can take advantage. I have clear service options (done-for-you projects or membership), and hourly work isn't something I typically offer. Clients appreciate the occasional freebie and understand when I set boundaries.

If I notice a pattern with a particular client requesting many small changes, I'll suggest joining the Six Figure Brand Society, where they get two hours of ongoing work monthly.

7. Working Early Mornings, Late Nights, and Weekends

When I left my 9-to-5, I was burning out from working office hours, then evenings and weekends on my side hustle. So I swore I'd never work nights or weekends again.

The online business world has shifted away from hustle culture to a "soft girl era" where everyone preaches work-life balance, boundaries, and self-care. That's great! But I had to remind myself—I didn't start my business to avoid working nights and weekends. I started it for FLEXIBILITY.

In my current life season, flexibility means working early mornings and weekends because that's what works for my kids and family. I've learned it's okay to create a schedule that works for ME, not based on what the internet says is ideal.

This flexibility is actually a huge privilege of being an online business owner, not a burden. I also know certain times when I feel more inspired and work better. Forcing myself into a 9-to-5 mold wouldn't give my clients my best work.

Work-life balance looks different for everyone. It's not about when or how much you work, but whether your schedule supports the life you want. I'm happy to get up at 5 AM on a Tuesday or work on a Saturday while my husband takes the kids to the park because it supports the life I'm building right now.

The Bottom Line: Embrace Doing Things Your Way

There's endless advice online about how you "should" run your business. But with online business, YOU decide what works. It doesn't matter if it makes sense to anyone else.

These "unpopular" choices can actually improve your client experience and business because they make you stand out. I can't tell you how many conversations I've had with other moms also working at 5 AM or on weekends who feel an instant connection: "She gets it!"

Trust yourself. If a decision seems weird or unpopular but aligns with your values, serves your clients well, and supports your ideal life—it's the right choice.

Weekly Shoutout

This week I want to shout out my current business coach, Kelsey from The Aligned Business, who specializes in helping women run businesses that truly fit their lives. I hired Kelsey when I was preparing for my first maternity leave, and she's supported me through working less than 10 hours weekly while still running a successful branding agency. If you're looking for coaching from someone who won't shame you for doing things your way, I highly recommend connecting with Kelsey!

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned In The Episode:

➡️ Follow me on Instagram @spechtand.co
➡️ Book A Discovery Call With Morgan
➡️ Learn more about The Six Figure Brand Society
➡️ This week's shoutout: Kelsey Kerslake

🎧 Listen to episode 9 of The Six Figure Brand Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube