Do you suffer from website shame? You’re not alone.
As a new coach, creating a website (or revamping your existing one) can feel totally overwhelming and stressful.
I’ve seen more than my share of people throw their hands in the air in frustration and say things like…
“but I’m not techie”
“Writing copy is haaaaard”
“I can’t afford a professional designer”
“My site just doesn’t feel like ‘me’.”
Sound familiar?
Then allow me to let you in on a lil secret. It doesn’t have to be so complicated.
A totally bangin’ website—one that exudes your personality + converts browsers to buyers like it aint’ no thang—really only takes one thing:
Clarity.
The clearer you are about what you want your website to do, who you want it to speak to, and how you want it to feel, the easier the whole process will be (promise).
To help get you clear, here are 5 questions you need to ask before designing (or re-designing) your website (you’re welcome).
1) What is the goal of my site?
Before creating a new site, think strategically about what you would like it to achieve. Do you want people to buy packages? Apply for your signature program? Subscribe to your e-newsletter? Engage on social media? All of the above?
The clearer you get about the actions you want visitors to take, the easier it will be to structure your site effectively, and the more satisfied you and your users will be with the end-result.
2) What is and is not working with my current site?
Once you have a clear idea of what you’re going for, take stock of your existing website (if you have one). What content can be kept and what needs be tossed? Do you hear any common complaints from visitors? Can you glean any insights from your Google Analytics data?
Be sure to dig into the data here, rather than rely solely on gut instinct, and don’t be afraid to get the opinion of existing clients, colleagues and friends. Facebook groups are a great way to crowd-source feedback (and potentially get new leads). A few of my favorites are Goddess Circle, Gina Devee’s Divine Living Radio Show, and The Entrepreneur Incubator.
3) What are your “must haves” vs. “nice to haves”?
When you redesign your website, it’s easy to get distracted by bells and whistles that you don’t actually need (and blow your budget out of proportion in the process).
This is hard when you’re an “I want it all and I want it now” kind of girl (I’m one too), but just as your business will continue to evolve, so too will your website.
For most coaches, here is what you actually NEED to have in your website for it to be a useful marketing + business building tool:
- A strong call to action to subscribe to your e-newsletter list on your homepage (bonus points for offering people a free gift as an incentive).
- Sales page(s) that promote your core package(s)
- Bio page
- Testimonials
- Blog (ideally with a feed of latest posts on your homepage as this will help improve your website’s search engine rankings)
- Squeeze page promoting your free opt in offer (Leadpages is a great tool for creating these pages easily + inexpensively).
- Logo + some high-res photos of you (people love images and having high res photography will help solidify your status as a luxury coaching brand).
4) Am I currently using a content management system, and if so, how is it working for me?
Building your website using a content-management system (CMS) has become de rigor in recent years. I personally use WordPress because of all the flexibility it offers, but if you are just starting out, Wix, Weebly and Squarespace are also great options.
5) Should I do this myself or outsource?
When considering whether to create your own website vs. hire a pro, it’s important to honestly assess whether you actually have the time/resources/skill level to do the job well. It can be tempting to want to save money by doing everything yourself, but don’t underrate the value of having someone objective and skilled to guide you through the process.
Annnnnd don’t let the price tag of a professional design get in your way. To create my website I actually bartered coaching services with my designer. When you’re creative, determined, and (all together now) CLEAR, nothing will stop you from having a website you are crazy proud of.
Feeling inspired and want even more guidance on how to make your website your #1 marketing tool?
xo
Rebecca