This is an interview with Rebekah Read of Rebekah Read Creative.
Hey, Bekah. Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.
I’m Bekah, the founder of Rebekah Read Creative—a website design studio that helps purpose-driven entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits launch high-converting, SEO-driven websites quickly and confidently. Think of me as your go-to gal for fast, strategic websites that not only look amazing but actually work—so you can stop hustling on Instagram and start ranking on Google.
But here’s the twist—I don’t believe in keeping clients dependent. My mission is to equip entrepreneurs with the skills and confidence to manage their own site with ease. No more waiting weeks (or paying hundreds) for a designer just to change a sentence. I’ve built 47+ Websites in a Day and over 80 full site projects, so my process is streamlined, stress-free, and seriously effective.
Bottom line? I help you build a site that supports your life—not the other way around.
When and how did your online business journey begin?
I started my business in 2018 after spending 1.5 years in Honduras as a missionary, then coming back to the U.S. to get married and land a job in corporate marketing. I was grateful—but completely unfulfilled. I felt like I was meant for more… something creative, something that made a real impact.
So I took the leap and launched Rebekah Read Creative—named that way because honestly? I had no idea what my business would look like. I just knew it would be something creative.
In those early days, I tried everything—wedding photography, social media management, logo design… you name it. But it was website design that really lit me up. It combined strategy, creativity, and tangible transformation—and I knew I’d found my thing.
In 2020, I streamlined my offers and launched my Website in a Day service and SEO course to serve business owners who wanted fast, strategic websites without months of overwhelm. Then in 2021, I released the first version of my Squarespace DIY course, giving entrepreneurs the tools to build sites they’re proud of—on their own terms.
Since then, I’ve helped 100+ creatives launch high-converting, SEO-backed websites that work for them—so they can stop depending on social media, start ranking on Google, and build businesses that support their life, not the other way around.
How did you land your first clients as a website designer?
It was all through connection! I was working at a real estate office prior to starting my business and the women realtors were some of my biggest cheerleaders.
They connected me with clients and then I also wasn’t afraid to post about my new business on social media and I got random clients through that.
In a world where marketing is constantly changing, networking continues to be a fast and effective way to get clients.
How long did it take you to earn a full-time income from your business?
Well I was making $13 an hour (no benefits and no PTO) so it honestly wasn’t too difficult to match that. I priced my services around $50 an hour (since we know a big portion of that goes to taxes + factoring in marketing yourself) and within 1.5 years of my business I had surpassed my previous income.
When did you start your blog? What are your goals with it?
Blogging was one of the first things I did! I wrote about anything and everything (see some of my first posts here) I thought people may find interesting just to get traffic to my website.
Did a lot of people read it? Probably not, but it is so interesting to see (now 7 years later) what blogs rank super high and continue to work for me YEARS after publish date.
My first blog ever (written in May of 2018 before even leaving my job) was “How To Do Italy For 2 For Under $2,600!” My goal then was simple – make SEO work for me. I knew it was a long-term game, but I knew if I was consistent I would eventually get clients through Google.
I now get about 85-90% of my clients through Google and don’t need to constantly market myself on Instagram. Not only has it helped attract clients, it also provides valuable SEO and website design tips that help new entrepreneurs trying to DIY their website, and that is truly my heart – to serve.
What content management system (CMS) do you prefer for blogging, and why?
Since my website is on Showit, my blog is powered by WordPress—and honestly, I love this combo.
Here’s why: Showit gives me full creative control over my website design (hello, drag-and-drop freedom 🙌), while WordPress handles the blog side of things—*which it’s been doing for decades*. It’s one of the most powerful blogging platforms out there, especially when it comes to SEO, organizing content, and long-term growth.
That said, WordPress can feel intimidating for DIYers—there’s a learning curve with the dashboard, plugins, and formatting. But when paired with Showit, you get the best of both worlds:
- Design flexibility with Showit
- Blogging power + SEO strength with WordPress
- Zero code required (because Showit handles the heavy lifting)
For anyone who’s not ready to dive into WordPress, I still recommend Squarespace as a solid all-in-one platform. It’s clean, simple, and still totally capable of ranking on Google when set up right (which I teach in my courses 😉).
Bottom line? Your blog should be easy to manage and optimized to work for you behind the scenes. If it isn’t easy, you won’t do it and then it isn’t helping you or your SEO at all!
Whether it’s WordPress via Showit or Squarespace, I’m all about helping you blog smarter and just encouraging you to HIT PUBLISH, even if it isn’t perfect.
How much traffic does the blog get now? And what are you doing to grow it?
I honestly had to look at my analytic, because I don’t track this as much as I should, I just truly LOVE creating valuable content for entrepreneurs. That being said, over the past year I have averaged about 3K views a month.
My blog brings in consistent organic traffic every month—nothing viral, but it’s attracting the right people: creative entrepreneurs looking for website help, SEO tips, and DIY support. Some of my top posts have ranked on Google for years and continue to drive leads on autopilot.
To grow it, I focus on:
- Strategic keyword research (no guessing what to write);
- SEO-optimized content with clear structure and intent;
- Posts that funnel readers to my offers (courses, VIP Days, etc.);
- Updating older posts to keep them ranking;
- Using Pinterest to drive long-term, evergreen traffic.
I’m not relying on social media to get clicks—my goal is long-term visibility that works while I’m offline. SEO is my lead machine, and blogging is one of the smartest ways I feed it.
What’s your current content strategy like?
I focus on creating high-converting, search-optimized content that answers real questions my ideal clients are already Googling.
How do I figure this out? Many times I simply get asked, whether it is a question on a past YouTube video or a DM over Instagram.
I also look at my quarterly goals and base my content calendar around that. So if I am doing a big sale for my Beyond The Template Squarespace DIY Course, I will do lots of tutorial videos around Squarespace or videos related to how to create a high-converting website.
I hold myself back and only post new content once a week (I know that sounds crazy, but I LOVE creating content and could seriously crank out 2-3 YouTube videos a week).
After I create the content, I use my PIGFL SEO Strategy.
Do you optimize every blog post?
Honestly?
No. I know I know, not a great answer from a SEO “expert”, but I am a busy mom of 2 toddlers who only has 15-20 hours a week. Sometimes I just need to get the content out there to serve the audience.
I am a big advocate of DONE is better than PERFECT. It can’t start getting you clients/ ranking on Google (I’m referring to your blog post and your website) unless it is published, so just hit publish. You can always go back and optimize it later or if you have the budget, pay someone to do that for you.
I will take the blog post I wrote and put it into ChatGPT and ask it to optimize it for a few keyword phrases and then I add a few photos and compress them and rename them. So there are minor SEO tricks I do to each post, but I know I could do more.
Do you update and optimize old blog posts?
Yes, but many times it is out of need. Squarespace likes to make changes to their platform approximately every other second, so I will need to go in and update the YouTube video/ blog post.
Usually when I do this I will try a bit harder to make sure the blog post is optimized for search engines especially if it is a blog that I think *could* perform really well.
What SEO strategy has worked best for you?
Being consistent and using my PIGFL system. I am NOT an advocate of being on all the social media platforms, but I am an advocate of having the profile and pushing out your blog post (in a streamlined way) so it has a better chance of being found by your ideal people.
What are the primary services and resources your site offers?
At Rebekah Read Creative, I help purpose-driven entrepreneurs and small business owners launch high-converting, SEO-driven Squarespace and Showit websites—fast and without the overwhelm.
Here’s how I do that:
💻 Website in a Day (VIP Day) – My signature done-for-you service. In just one day, we launch a fully customized, SEO-backed website that reflects your brand, converts visitors, and helps you finally move on from the DIY struggle. Perfect for creatives who need results yesterday.
🔍 SEO for Creatives – A Squarespace SEO Course that has seen over 90 entrepreneurs and teaches you how to optimize your site and blog posts without the jargon. This is for solopreneurs who want to rank on Google, ditch the algorithm hustle, and build long-term visibility.
🧠 Beyond The Template (Squarespace DIY Course) – More than just a template—it’s a course that walks you through the strategy behind building a Squarespace website that feels uniquely you and actually books clients. Think: brand clarity meets tech support, all in one place.
Whether it’s YouTube tutorials, weekly emails, or honest Instagram posts—I’m all about teaching entrepreneurs how to build a business that supports their life, not the other way around.
How much are you currently earning online?
This varies from year to year.
2020 (1.5 years in) was actually my highest earning year at $61,861. Then I had kids and now success looks way different, but I make around $43,000 a year (before taxes and expenses).
25% is from Website in a Week, 25% is from Website in a Day, 10% is from Affiliate Income, 10% is from Courses, and then the rest comes from other avenues/ random tasks I do.
Do you use AI tools in any way?
Yes! I use AI as a support tool—not a shortcut.
Whether I’m brainstorming blog post ideas, organizing SEO keywords, or outlining content (for social media), AI helps me save time and stay focused.
But I never rely on it to write final copy or speak for my brand. (Although I will say, AI knows my voice, my values, or my audience PRETTY well, I still know them better. Plus I never want to get into any plagiarizing issues.)
I see AI as a helpful assistant, especially for idea generation and streamlining tasks—but human connection and strategy always come first. I’m passionate about teaching my clients and students how to use tools like ChatGPT ethically and intentionally, without losing their personality or message in the process.
Basically? AI should support your brand—not replace it.
What social media platform has worked best for you?
Back in 2018 Instagram worked GREAT for me, now it is pretty much useless in terms of getting clients (85-90% find me through SEO). I am still on it because I love creating content, but I get off it every December and I always think “maybe this is the year I get off it for good?”
YouTube is really the only one I truly believe in, because as you know it shows your videos at the top of search engines, it is a search engine itself, and as a course creator I want people to know what it is like to learn from me over video.
How have the recent Google core updates affected you?
Honestly? Not in a major way—and that’s intentional.
Because I focus on creating helpful, evergreen content that’s aligned with what my ideal clients are actually searching for, my traffic has stayed pretty steady through the recent Google core updates.
I’m not chasing trends or trying to “game” the algorithm—I’m focused on building long-term visibility with content that’s strategic, human-centered, and rooted in real value.
That’s what I teach my clients and students too: SEO isn’t about tricks—it’s about clarity, consistency, and showing up with content that genuinely helps your audience. When you do that, updates feel less like a crisis and more like a tune-up.
That said, I do monitor how my pages are performing (hello, Google Search Console 👋) and update blog posts when needed—but overall, my strategy hasn’t changed. Create content for real people, optimize it for search, and trust the process.
How do you see the future of blogging?
I still believe in blogging 100%—but not in the way we’ve always done it.
The future of blogging isn’t about pumping out 3 posts a week just to stay “consistent.” It’s about creating intentional, high-quality content that answers real questions, builds trust, and supports your business long after it’s published.
Yes, AI is changing the game, and yes—Google’s updates are shaking things up. But that doesn’t mean blogging is dead. It just means we have to blog smarter.
Here’s the deal: if you’re creating surface-level posts stuffed with keywords or copying what everyone else is doing, yeah—you’ll probably see traffic dip. But if you’re creating authentic, strategic content that speaks directly to your dream client? That kind of content still works. Always has, always will.
That’s what I focus on and what I teach:
- SEO-backed blogging that builds long-term visibility;
- Posts that connect, convert, and reflect you;
- Posts that don’t just share about your services, but provide real value (my blog post about Shopify Website Designers was written in the past year and has landed me clients in a niche I haven’t been known for in the past, sees HUNDREDS of views a month, and quickly climbed the ranks to page 1 of Google);
- Strategies that help you grow without chasing algorithms or trends
I believe blogging will continue to be one of the most powerful tools for small business owners—especially those who want more freedom from social media and more control over their visibility. The landscape might change, but the value of showing up with helpful, human content? That’s not going anywhere.
What’s next for you and your business?
I’m in a season of intentional growth—not just bigger, but better.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding my impact without adding more hustle. That means leaning deeper into content creation (like YouTube, blogging, and guest podcasting), continuing to teach SEO in a way that feels simple and doable, and helping more creative entrepreneurs skip the social media grind by building websites that actually work for them.
I’m also dreaming about growing the agency side of Rebekah Read Creative—bringing on support to serve more clients through VIP Days while still keeping that high-touch, empowering experience I am known for. And of course, I’ll keep refining and expanding my digital products so DIYers have the tools they need to launch with confidence, on their own terms.
At the end of the day, I want to help more entrepreneurs build businesses that support their life—not the other way around. That’s the mission, and that’s what’s next.
