10 Must-Have Strategies for a Coaching Site that Works! Part 2

If you missed part one of this two-part series, which ran in the last newsletter, you can read it here.  Today we’re going to dive right into the last 5 terrific “Must-Have” Strategies! A Coaching Site that Works . . .

6. Is easy to update for the coach. 

As a cost-conscious new coach, it’s vital to your success to have a site that’s easy to manage.

WordPress is not “easy.” It was made for developers and designers.

However, it’s still your best choice. With a patient “trail-guide,” then every coach can surely get up to speed fast.

You’ll want to be able to do the following things at the very least:

• add / remove a page
• change copy
• add images
• update your menu
• email your list
• add an article (blog)
• manage comments on your blog
• update email messages
• edit testimonials

Forget trying to change design structure (like moving menu from top to the left) or changing wording that’s embedded in images (like taglines). Let your designer do that.

7. Is easy to enhance for the designer

As your business grows, your site will evolve. And your web designer will need to change things up to suit your needs.

Things like adding an ebook, or adding time scheduling software, or even a membership type of service will require you to make some site adjustments.

That’s NICE, if the platform (the behind-the-scenes technology) upon which your site is built is flexible, current and supported well to handle your needs – quickly and easily.

My recommendation would be to use WordPress and keep your site simple. Get the features that you “need” and dodge the “fun ideas” that can make things complicated fast.

8. Is great for search engines

No doubt, searching is huge.

Do people search for coaches?

Great question. Yes and no.

The answer is No, in that people generally don’t know they are searching for a coach unless they are familiar with the coaching profession. But, yes, as the field grows, my stat research indicates increased search volume on phrases including the word “coach”.

The answer is Yes, in that people are seeking “help”. They are seeking solutions to challenges on health, business, relationships, etc. So, if you can get ranked high on search engines around the solutions to challenges people face, then you can get clients from searches.

So, you’ll want to think strategically about your phrases and what your market is likely searching on.

9. Looks great on various browsers and devices

A quick look at my statistics showed me the following browser data mainly for laptop computers and desktop computers. (note: browsers are the programs that you use to surf the Web.)

• 30% of visits to my site are using the Chrome browser by Google.
• 26% are using FireFox
• 24% are using Safari
• 16% are using Internet Explorer
• 4% other

My stats also say that when it comes to operating systems here is the breakdown:

• 55% are on Windows (mainly laptops and desktops)
• 31% are on Macs (mainly laptops and desktops)
• 9% are on iOS (iPhones, iPads)
• 3% are on Android (Nexus phones and tablets

Not all websites look good or function properly across these various environments. And, the environments continually change (requiring attention be paid).

If that isn’t enough to worry about, you’ve got to ensure that your emails (auto-responders? promotions?) view properly too.

And when it comes to reading email, not only do we need to think about browser and operating systems, but also email software like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Outlook (Yes, feel free to step outside for fresh air).

A coaching site that works will require continual attention and updating to ensure it presents well everywhere.

10. Is worth the investment

If you spent 1 dollar on your website and it did nothing for you, that’s a wasted dollar.

If you spent $5,000 on your website, and it helps you get to a full coaching business in a year’s time and you get to leave a job you hated, that’s very well spent money.

Estimate what you might budget for your site by:

• Determining your goals of your business, especially income
• Determining your commitment to reach that
• Determining your marketing efforts to bring in $$

A high commitment to reach a high income, say 100k, in the next year and for coming years, may be worth investing 20k in your website, marketing, and training, etc.

A coaching site that works is one that works within your budgets, your marketing plans, and your intended outcomes. Get as clear and specific as you can on these things.

In a nutshell: Have a clear (as you can get) purpose for your site – both for serving your visitor and for delivering results for your business.