How to Build Your Coaching Website – 10 Steps to Do It Yourself
My brave little die-hard DIYer! Let me give you the main steps to build your coaching website with handy tips to get it done on your lonesome 😉
Oh, if you want me to support you along the way hop in one of my groups and/or contact me for more intimate, patient, and forward-moving support.
What overwhelms people the most is that there’s a lot going requiring a multitude of skills — design, tech, and writing. This is why I wrote a book about coach websites.
Here are Kenn’s Ten steps to guide you through the website creation process …
1. Get Clear About Your Website’s Purpose
Ultimately, your website should help your business grow. For most new coaches, that will mean their website is a tool for helping bring in new clients. It could be for filling a group program, promoting your speaking, and more.
- Some coaches want a website for credibility — that showcases their talents.
- Others want their websites to bring in leads, say from search engines or ads.
- Yet others want a platform to build their image as thought leaders.
Defining your objectives will guide your decisions throughout the website creation process.
2. Plan Your Website Structure
Create a sitemap that outlines the structure and hierarchy of your website’s pages and functionality — like blogging or email list sign-up.
Consider how users navigate your site (the user experience or client journey) and ensure logical organization for easy access to information.
And make darn sure they end up with a clear and inviting call to action.
3. Choose a Domain Name and Web Hosting
Select a domain name that is memorable, reflects your brand or purpose, and is available for registration. Choose a reliable web hosting provider that suits your needs in terms of storage, bandwidth, and support.
There are platforms that take care of hosting for you. These are subscription services like Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace. There are a few others out there.
If you’re going the WordPress route (Should you?), then see this video for setting up your website on WordPress.
4. Draft Out The Content Page by Page
Lots of coaches dive into a site-building platform and think about content secondly. I totally understand this approach, as working on visual design is kinda fun.
But I do urge you to, ideally, before designing, map out the content and come up with the copy for each of the pages. This will be the harder part. I wrote a lot about this in The Coaching Website Guide.
KENN TIP: Images support the content. Don’t just put visual elements (photos, backgrounds, colors) to fill the space. Instead, add them to support the content. So a picture of you on the Bio page, or a diagram of the coaching process on your services page. Don’t put lots of pretty landscape pictures on the homepage that are unrelated to any content.
5. Visual Vibe of Your Coaching Website
Decide the visual vibe of your website. I like starting with your brand archetype to guide you on colors, images, photos, and the overall feeling you want people to have.
Stock Photos/Imagery — Creating a mood board, a lightbox, or an image collection at websites like BigStockPhoto, Unsplash, or iStockPhoto can be a big help.
BIG TIP: Aim for simple, like one stylish font for headlines only. One main color is dominant. And avoid trying to stuff everything you see that “looks cool” onto your site (it makes a mess).
6. Build Your Website
With your domain name, chosen platform (I like WordPress), and drafted content, you’ll do well when you begin making pages.
This is tough to do “on the fly” because, without the website mapped out (your destination), you’ll easily get sidetracked by some bell and whistle.
Like trying to hike up a mountain, if you have no idea where the top is, it’ll take a long time — if you even get there ;).
Here’s a video to help with the tech.
7. Test and Optimize
Thoroughly test your website’s functionality and viewing on different browsers and devices. Things to do:
- Check for broken links
- Fix typos
- Read it aloud so it’s smooth
- Check it on your phone
- Test out the forms
- Send out emails if you have list-building software like AWeber
- Check site speeds
- Check it on Google mobile friend test
- Please have a few friends test it out too
When I meet a new coach with a website, I always test out their contact forms. It’s a painful surprise when they find out it isn’t working.
Test! Test! Test!
8. Implement Security Measures
Take steps to protect your website and visitors’ data. Install security plugins, enable SSL certificates for secure connections, and regularly update software and plugins to ensure protection against vulnerabilities.
Most subscription-based website-building services will cover these.
If you’re on WordPress, your host will provide the SSL security, and here are the plug-ins I use, including one for security.
9. Launch and Promote
Once you are satisfied with your website, it’s time to launch it! Your software provider/host will have a switch that allows you to make your website public or on “maintenance mode.”
Some quick and easy ways to get the word out quickly area:
- Promote your website through social media
- Send it out by email to any lists you have
- Share it with professional groups you are a part of
- Update online profiles you may have.
10. Maintain and Monitor
Remember, website creation is an iterative process, and continuous improvement is essential.
Just like learning to ride a bike, creating a business takes effort, testing, and fine-tuning.
Monitor analytics, gather user feedback, and make necessary updates and optimizations to enhance the user experience and achieve your desired outcomes.
My Biggest Tip for Building Your Own Coaching Website …
My biggest tip is to — like going on a big hiking trip that’ll challenge you — get a map for the journey ahead. And if possible, get some help on hand — like at least get your coach to support you. 🙂
Again, grab a copy of my book, and/or reach out to me to be your trail guide for the journey ahead. It’ll be more fun, productive, and success full.
You can do it!