The Lovely Geek

The Lovely Geek Providing women-owned small business owners with high-end custom Showit websites. Sacramento-based serving women nationwide.
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The Lovely Geek® is a creative studio specializing in high-end web design for Showit/WordPress and customizable website templates. I create websites for service-based small businesses, mostly women-owned, and I provide ongoing support with any marketing, design, and website needs they may have beyond the lifecycle of their initial project.

Every time I log into LinkedIn or Threads lately, someone is on a soapbox about why they hate WordPress or why their fav...
04/07/2026

Every time I log into LinkedIn or Threads lately, someone is on a soapbox about why they hate WordPress or why their favorite obscure CMS/AI platform is better.

And honestly… I’m over it.

Everyone has an opinion about which platform is “best,” and most of the time it’s written for other designers/developers, not for the people actually using the website.

Because here’s the thing. It doesn’t matter what you like. It matters what works for the client.

Sure, I have my preferences. I primarily work in Showit and WordPress. But at the end of the day, I’m always going to be Team What’s Best for the Client.

And that decision doesn’t come from what’s trendy or what other designers are arguing about. It comes from thinking about how the client is actually going to use their site.

I’ve trained hundreds of clients over the past 20+ years, and most of them are not handing their website off forever. They’re logging in. They’re making updates. They’re trying to figure things out on their own.

They should feel confident doing that. Their website shouldn’t feel confusing. It shouldn’t feel fragile. And it definitely shouldn’t feel like gatekeeping.

Clients don’t care about the tech stack the way us designers/developers do. They care about whether their website reflects their business, solves the problems they’re facing, and helps them get in front of the right people.

That’s the job. Everything else is just noise.

Here's a thing about health and wellness websites that most people don't think about: they're not just competing with ot...
04/04/2026

Here's a thing about health and wellness websites that most people don't think about: they're not just competing with other websites. They're competing with doubt.

Someone lands on your site because they're looking for help. Maybe they're tired, overwhelmed, or trying to figure out if you're the right fit. And if your website feels confusing or cluttered? That doubt wins.

I've worked on projects in this space for years, and the pattern is always the same. When a site is clear, calm, and easy to navigate, people reach out. When it's not, they leave.

It's not about fancy design tricks or being overly polished. It's about answering the questions running through someone's head before they even have to ask them.

What do you do? Who do you help? Can I trust you? What do I do next?

If those answers are buried three clicks deep or hidden behind vague copy, you've already lost them.

A good website doesn't just look professional. It feels like someone thought about the person on the other side of the screen. Someone who might be nervous, researching at midnight, or just trying to take one step forward.

Because when someone is ready to reach out, the experience leading up to that moment matters just as much as the service itself.

Ever land on a website for a show or event and feel like you're solving a puzzle just to find basic info?These are a few...
03/30/2026

Ever land on a website for a show or event and feel like you're solving a puzzle just to find basic info?

These are a few examples from projects I’ve worked on over the years, and there’s a very common pattern.

You know something's happening. You're interested. You want to go.

But you can't figure out when it starts, where it is, or how to actually buy tickets without opening five tabs and scrolling through walls of text.

So you leave. Not because you don't care, but because it was too much work.

Here's the thing: when someone visits an arts or entertainment website, they usually need just a few things. What it is, when it is, where it is, and how to get tickets. That's it.

A good website doesn't make people hunt for answers. It guides them there. Clearly. Quickly. Without friction.

Because when someone's ready to show up, the last thing you want is your website getting in the way.

03/26/2026

If I could go back to when I was just starting my business, I’d tell myself this:

The work doesn’t get lighter. The weight changes.

I used to work a 9 to 5 in agency life (let’s be real it was way more than that). The hours were more defined, sure. But the stress? It followed me everywhere. The pace, the pressure, the constant feeling of being on someone else’s clock. It never really shut off.

Now I work for myself and I’m a stay-at-home mom. Which means I technically work all the time. There’s no clean separation between “work hours” and “life hours.” It’s definitely not easier.

But there’s more peace. More autonomy. More alignment. More ability to step away when my life needs me, not just when a calendar allows it.

I wish I could tell my younger self that building something of your own won’t eliminate the hard days. It just gives you a say in which hard days you’re willing to carry.

And honestly, that’s been worth everything.

I’ve had the opportunity to work on and design websites for many restaurants across several well-known groups here in th...
03/25/2026

I’ve had the opportunity to work on and design websites for many restaurants across several well-known groups here in the Sacramento area, and there’s one thing they all have in common.

If people can’t find what they need quickly, they leave. When someone visits a restaurant website, they’re usually looking for something specific:

→ The menu
→ Hours
→ Location
→ Dietary information

And they’re often looking for it on their phone, quickly, and on the go.

But so many restaurant websites make this harder than it needs to be. Hidden menus. Outdated PDFs. Missing hours. No clear navigation.

A well-designed website doesn’t just look good. It makes information easy to find, easy to read, and easy to act on. Because the goal isn’t just to impress people. It’s to get them in the door.

Be honest, what’s something that drives you crazy on restaurant websites?

If your website isn’t making it easy for customers to take that next step, my process is outlined at TheLovelyGeek.com

If you're thinking about hiring a web designer, here’s what will make the process smoother and more successful:Don’t tre...
03/23/2026

If you're thinking about hiring a web designer, here’s what will make the process smoother and more successful:

Don’t treat it like a quick aesthetic update if what you need is strategy. Especially if you’re lacking branding.

Don’t expect a full build without finalized content.

Don’t assume timelines are flexible if communication isn’t.

And don’t hire a designer hoping they’ll magically read your mind.

The best projects happen when it’s collaborative, clear, and respectful on both sides.

A website isn't a quick fix. It's the foundation your entire business sits on. And building something solid takes time, clarity, and actual collaboration.

So before you reach out to a designer (me or anyone else), ask yourself: do I have what this needs? The content? The communication? The realistic timeline?

Because here's what makes a project beautiful: it's not just the design. It's the partnership. It's two people showing up ready to do the work together.

If you’re curious what working together actually looks like, my full process is outlined on my website. → TheLovelyGeek.com

As a web designer, I see a lot of people assume their About page is the most important page on their site.And while your...
03/18/2026

As a web designer, I see a lot of people assume their About page is the most important page on their site.

And while your story absolutely matters, it’s rarely the first thing your audience is looking for.

Most visitors land on your homepage asking one question:

“Is this for me?”

Before they care who you are, they want to know what you do and how you can help them.

Your About page builds connection. Your homepage builds clarity.

Both matter. But in a specific order.

If your website leads with your life story instead of your audience’s needs, a few simple messaging shifts can make a big difference.

Katie Shapiro is a Life Coach and Spiritual Psychologist with a deeply intuitive approach to helping people reconnect wi...
03/17/2026

Katie Shapiro is a Life Coach and Spiritual Psychologist with a deeply intuitive approach to helping people reconnect with their authentic selves.

After coaching for over a decade without a formal brand or website, she was ready to bring her digital presence to life.

Together, we created both her branding and custom website, crafting a visual identity that feels grounded, intuitive, and credible while still honoring the spiritual depth of her work.

This project blended clarity and strategy with just the right amount of woo.

Katie shared this after launch:

“I highly recommend working with Cristina Robinson at The Lovely Geek. She is a true gem and endlessly talented. She not only built my gorgeous custom website, but she also did the branding and truly captured my essence. Cristina is gifted in many ways, a really caring, heart-centered professional, who goes above and beyond to be of service for her clients. I can’t recommend her highly enough.”

You can explore the live site at KatieShapiroCoaching.com.

If you’re ready to bring your brand and website to life with intention and strategy, my process is outlined at TheLovelyGeek.com

Address

Folsom, CA

Website

https://flodesk.com/c/THELOVELYGEEK, https://flodesk.com/c/THELOVELYGEEK, https://store.show

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