I Asked ChatGPT If It Was Taking My Job
Last night, I saw a commercial saying ChatGPT could build a website for a business owner. And I spiraled a little. I design luxury, clickable, optimized, and built for success websites for a living. It’s my business, my creative outlet, and something I absolutely love doing … and, not gonna lie, I’m pretty darn great at it! So when I watched that commercial, my brain wasted approximately zero seconds imagining a future where the thing I’m good at … the thing I’ve built my business around … was suddenly something nobody needed me for.
Very relaxing television experience. Five stars.
Of course, I know businesses have to adapt. But knowing that and feeling prepared to do it are two very different things. At this point in my life, the thought of starting over felt exhausting. And underneath the financial worry was something more personal:
I DON’T WANT TO STOP DESIGNING WEBSITES.
So this morning, I had a conversation with ChatGPT. Yes. I took my concerns directly to the alleged competition. I asked: What kinds of websites can you build? How is that different from hiring someone like me?
Here’s what I took away from that conversation and what I think business owners deserve to understand before choosing either option.
First, AI can build websites. Real ones. I’m not going to reassure myself by pretending the technology is bad … GULP … ChatGPT can help create and refine a functioning website from a description. The process still involves providing direction, reviewing the result, and checking how everything works before sharing it. That is a meaningful change in what business owners can do for themselves. And for some businesses, it may be exactly what they need.
WHEN AN AI WEBSITE COULD BE A SMART DECISION
If you’re launching a business, testing an idea, or working with a limited budget, getting a clear, useful website online can be a sensible first step. Especially if you:
Have a straightforward offer and know what you want to say.
Enjoy experimenting and making revisions yourself.
Have time to review the content, mobile experience, links, and forms.
Feel comfortable taking responsibility for maintaining the finished site.
You have my permission … as an actual website designer … to explore that option. Your first business investment does not have to be a custom, ‘non template’, optimized website. It should make sense for the business you have today.
WHEN HIRING A WEBSITE DESIGNER MAKES SENSE
For many of my clients, the challenge begins before anyone chooses a font. They have beautiful work. They have experience. They have a particular way of serving their clients. But they’re struggling to translate all of that into a website that feels like them and makes their value clear. A wedding planner may have years of extraordinary celebrations in her portfolio, yet her website still doesn’t explain what makes her approach different. A florist may be ready for larger, more ambitious events, while her online presence still reflects the business she was three years ago.
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF DECISIONS I LOVE TO WORK THROUGH
Which images deserve the most attention?
What should a visitor understand first?
Does the language support the level of service being offered?
What would make the right person feel confident enough to inquire?
Hiring a designer means choosing someone to lead that process with you, make recommendations, and take responsibility for the agreed work. You may want that partnership because you value the designer’s perspective. You may want it because you don’t have time to direct the project yourself. Both are valid reasons. And when you hire me, you’re choosing my eye, my experience, and the care I bring to presenting your business.
THERE’S ALSO ROOM SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE
You might build an initial website with AI and then realize you want professional guidance. Maybe the pages are there, but the visual direction feels unsettled. Maybe you need help editing the content or choosing the strongest portfolio images. That can be a good reason to bring in a designer.
One practical detail: talk to that designer before assuming they can simply add “finishing touches.” The platform, access, and condition of the site will affect what’s possible. Sometimes a focused refinement makes sense. Sometimes the work is more substantial. It’s worth having that conversation early.
Where I landed after the spiral:
I still love designing websites. I still want to create thoughtful, beautiful online homes for businesses whose work deserves to be seen. And I can recognize that business owners now have more ways to get there. I don’t need every person who needs a website to hire me. I want the people who value my approach to understand what they’re choosing … and to feel excited about creating something together. Last night, I had a moment of wondering where I fit into all of this. This morning, I’m thinking about how to keep doing the work I love as the tools around it change.
If you’re ready for a website that reflects the business you’ve worked so hard to build, explore my portfolio and custom website design services!
XO~ Heather
