No matter what you sell or do online, here’s 5 reasons why you need a website.
I’m about to drop a major truth bomb.
How do you make major $$$ as an online service provider? Here’s a hint:
Your Instagram is not enough. Your Facebook is not even enough. And neither is your Pinterest.
Not one of your ‘borrowed’ channels is enough to create a sustainable income. Real talk.
Because if your Instagram account got shadow-banned, your Facebook blocked, your Pinterest deactivated? Would you be able to connect with and nurture new leads? Where does that traffic from your Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest go if not to your owned channel?
I want you to step back and think about this, hard.
Because no matter who you are or what you do, there’s only one way to effortlessly attract and convert your dream clients. And that’s with a website.
I’m begging you – don’t sleep on this ESSENTIAL tool for EVERY online business owner.
So where do you begin? This is your complete guide to creating an engaging, professional, conversional website when you’re first starting out as an online service provider…
If you’ve been in business for any length of time, you know every lead generally wants to know the same thing:
“What services do you offer?”
“What’s your experience?”
“How do I work with you?”
You’ve probably got the whole spiel down by now, but a clean website with strong UX and an intuitive customer journey saves you the energy repeating yourself to every new contact! It becomes your central location for all the information your leads could ever want to know.
No cap? It’s estimated 73% of leads are not sales-ready when they jump on a free call with you! That’s serious time you’re wasting getting into conversations with people who aren’t qualified or ready to buy from you yet. By clearly listing pricing on your website you can screen folks who love what you’re putting down but aren’t quite ready to pick it up yet. Better yet, you could create a downloadable information kit that feeds them into your email database for further (automated) nurturing! When they’re ready to jump on a call? Send them to this ready-made Pinterest Management Application template I created to help prequalify them and save you time and energy straight up!
Snooze-worthy sites are a huge no-no as an online service provider because your personality is half the reason people want to work with you! They want a go-to sidekick that aligns with their energy, and your website is the ideal place to showcase your vibe, highlight your killer personality and hero the benefits of working with you on a personal AND professional level. These emotive appeals draw leads in so they’re already on board before you jump on a call (which is the dream, right?). Plus, your level of authenticity is vital to gain the support of over 89% of consumers, go figure!
“But I convert on Instagram all the time Willow”. Oh. I’m sure you do, but is this really the professional vibe you want to be sending out to your prospects? When you’re first starting out as an online service provider, authority is everything! And gaining authority on Instagram? Just ain’t it. 79% of users make a judgement on your brand based on your site. So a website that shows you take what you do seriously and that you’ve invested in yourself and what you do, in turn, helps your leads invest their confidence in you!
You know what also ain’t it? Cold sales. Frosty DMs. Icy outreach. Is it cold in here or just me? Because making the hard sell, actively seeking new prospects is not only sleazy but time-consuming! A website with strong SEO and responsivity means you can get found without working for it. PLUS, if your socials disappeared today, your pipeline wouldn’t disappear with them! Your website is your permanent business sidekick – no one can take that way from you.
So you know websites are the sh*t. Cool. So what does a killer online service provider website have on it? Here’s the 411:
Repeat after me: social proof, social proof, social proof. Testimonials are proven to increase trust among 72% of your website visitors, and 9 in 10 read reviews before sending an email or picking up the phone. Position these gems clearly on your site, because if you can’t prove you walk the walk, you may as well not even talk the talk.
Download this, read that, book here. Decide on one (or two max.) calls to action across your site because when you confuse, you lose. This could be to book a consultation, subscribe to your mailing list or read your latest blog post. No matter what, position this clearly and consistently.
“What do you actually do?”. Imagine! Imagine if a prospect had to ask you this. Don’t give them a reason to by making it clear on the home page what you offer, whether it’s services, products or a mix of both.
Hot leads are, well, super hot. But your website needs to capture those warm leads too! Featuring a free downloadable checklist, eBook or template not only provides instant value to prospects and builds authority, but helps you capture more visitors to nurture into clients! You’ll also need to set up a sweet email funnel to connect with them, too. My personal fave is Flodesk – and you can get 50% off for life here!
This may seem super obvious, but I’ve encountered one too many sites where the contact method is not clear. And you know what I do? I swerve and find someone else. Add a clear contact form with key details you need to know (like name, email, phone, needs), and your email and phone number if you’re feeling extra. Be sure to connect this up to a quality CRM. I only trust Honeybook, and it’s what I recommend to all my clients as they scale their online business.
It takes just 1/10th of a second for visitors to make their first impression on your site. Photos taking too long to load, shitty quality ones, or a site that’s just generally unattractive will have your users saying “bye” as quickly as you can say “Felicia”. If you’re not ready for a full-scale photo shoot, try creating a killer logo that’s uniquely you. Check out these free, 100% customizable logo templates to get started!
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is crucial to getting found organically, and while metadata, keywords and backlinks are cool, blogging is the bomb for this! Consistent, relevant content creation has been labelled the most effective tool for SEO, so ensure you’re getting active on your blog to drive extra traffic for free!
There’s nothing sweeter than a free website tool that effortlessly connects to your Insta account. Milkshake is the perfect entry-level site for online service providers wanting to take their lead gen to the next level without the mega $$$.
The pros?
The cons?
Outsourcing is obviously the dream for every online service provider, right? Investing in a custom site takes a lot of commitment and initial investment, but offers so much credibility and major allure when you’re just starting out. It’s always worth doing your research, and there are some incredibly affordable options out there with quick turnaround, like Bold x Boho’s “Website-in-a-day”!
The pros?
The cons?
Folks, I’ve saved the best option ‘til last. Because template designs merge the useability and affordability of Milkshake with the customizability and professionalism of outsourcing. Did someone say unicorn website?
The pros?
The cons?
Wanna get started? The Showit templates from Bold x Boho are just *chef’s kiss*. These aesthetic layouts are professionally designed, stunning, plug-and-play with a sales page, training and ongoing support included! The perfect way to build trust, attract dream clients and have them so on board they’re saying “take my card”. If you’re ready to make moves, try a 14-day Showit free trial here! You have nothing to lose.
To take your online service business to the next level, you need to find your own space. Secure that domain, customise that template and go live with a site that looks, feels and sounds like you.
So… why are you still here? Get on it!
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