What a $399 Website Can Do That WordPress Can’t

Let me tell you something: Joe Benson isn’t your average digital marketer. He’s the co-founder of Eversight, a company that rethinks websites entirely. We caught up recently to talk shop—web design, SEO, and the future of AI. So let’s get into it. You Don’t Need a $10K Website You read that right. Joe’s pitch is simple: why drop five figures on a site that just sits there? Most folks get a fancy build, launch it, and then let it rot. Instead, Joe built a model where you pay $399/month, and his team builds a custom site—no templates, no DIY nonsense. Plus, they update it with you. You grow, the site grows. (This isn't an ad, by the way. It's just smart.) The SEO Breakdown for Real Businesses Joe’s team isn’t just about aesthetics. He breaks SEO into two tracks: * Local service businesses: You need reviews, a strong Google Business profile, and location-specific content. Want to rank in Granbury? Act like a Granbury local. * National e-comm or B2B: It’s all about backlinks, content authority, and structured data. That behind-the-scenes tech magic. And yes, AI is part of the game now. You can use it to scope your competition, identify keyword gaps, even rewrite content—but it’s not plug-and-play. It takes a strategy. Which is where most DIYers fall apart. AI Isn’t Optional Anymore Joe walked me through how his team uses ChatGPT to create hyper-realistic photos of business owners doing their work. Real people. Real actions. No more bad stock photos. Clients can’t tell the difference—and they don’t need to. He’s also using AI to streamline internal operations, like building redirect maps in seconds for site migrations. This kind of automation used to take hours. The takeaway? If you're not using AI, you're behind. And if you are, learn how to use it well. Prompting isn't going away. It's becoming a skillset. What About the “Design” Stuff? If you’ve ever heard a designer argue about button curvature or hover states, you know the rabbit hole goes deep. Joe’s take? For most businesses, it’s noise. A clean site that communicates clearly is better than a beautiful one that confuses people. His list of must-haves: * Clear, specific headlines * Real photos (ideally of your team) * Social proof front and center * A dead-simple way to contact you Personal Brands Still Win We also riffed on Twitter (or X), LinkedIn, Reddit, and where the real growth happens. Joe does free "website roasts" on X. A quarter of the time, those roasts turn into paying clients. The other 75%? They lurk. But they remember. Here’s what works: * Be useful. * Be real. * Don’t worry about perfect polish. If You're Under $1M in Revenue Joe made this clear: if you’re still trying to figure things out, you don’t need a massive site. But you do need to nail these five things: * Clear offer – say exactly what you do. * Social proof – reviews, testimonials, results. * Process overview – make it easy to understand how to work with you. * Strong CTA – one thing, one ask. * Real imagery – no faceless templates. Oh, and cut your contact form down. No one wants to give you their home address. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailyinboxtips.substack.com/subscribe

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