Step 1: Choose a website builder
Unless your coaching business involves teaching people about coding or web development, this may be the first website you’ve ever built.
Your first instinct might be to hire someone to build the site for you. However, this process can be both time-consuming and costly. A better solution is to build it yourself using a website builder.
Why website builders?
Website builders utilize a drag-and-drop interface designed for people who don’t have experience with coding or web design. This allows anyone, even complete beginners, to build their own site.
Here’s why you should consider using a website builder for your coaching website:
- You have complete creative control. You don’t have to trust someone else with your vision and can ensure your site looks and works exactly how you want it to.
- It’s cost-effective. Hiring a developer will likely cost you thousands of dollars—but most website builders only charge a small monthly fee that’s much more affordable for new entrepreneurs.
- It’s quicker. Not only are developers more expensive, but they’re also a lot slower. They’ll need to build your site from scratch and will likely be working on other projects simultaneously. But with a website builder, you can launch your site in just a few days.
If you want a professional site that looks great, is affordable, and doesn’t take long to build, a website builder is definitely the way to go.
What’s the best builder for a coaching website?
Coaching websites have specific needs, so you’ll want to make sure that whatever builder you choose has the right features.
Here are the most important things to look for when choosing a website builder:
- Templates designed specifically for coaches (learn more about website templates below).
- Lead capture forms.
- Pop-ups and alert bars to promote special offers.
- A way to organize and manage your coaching leads.
- Integrations with email marketing software so you can follow up with your leads.
Remember, it’s not enough for your coaching website to look good—it also needs to generate leads for your business so you can start growing your client list.
Leadpages is built for coaches
Countless coaches use Leadpages to build their sites, and for good reason. The platform has all the tools you need to create the perfect coaching website.
Consider starting a free trial to try the software out for yourself and see if it’s the right fit for your coaching website.
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Select your coaching website template
Once you have your website builder it’s time to choose your template. A template is a pre-made design that serves as the basis for your website. You can then use your builder to customize your template and add text, change colors, and upload images.
What are the benefits of using a website template?
Starting with a blank canvas can be difficult, especially if you’re new to web design. You’ll likely end up taking a lot of time experimenting with different designs and trying to figure out what works best.
However, when you use a website template all the hard work is done for you. Just choose a template that meets your needs and the layout of your website will already be established. All you have to do is make some changes to personalize it and you’re ready to launch.
Templates are also created by professional designers, which means web design best practices are followed. In addition, Leadpages templates are created with conversions in mind to ensure your website is an effective lead generation tool (you can even sort templates based on conversion rate).
Important features for coaching websites
A template is a great starting point, but not all templates are created equal. For example, a template created for an ecommerce business wouldn’t be a very good choice for a coaching website.
So, make sure whatever template you choose has the right features and sections to set you up for success. This includes:
- An eye-catching hero section.
- An about section to tell your story and list your credentials.
- An area to list the benefits of your coaching program.
- A section for reviews and positive testimonials.
- A way to collect contact information for anyone interested in your coaching services.
Keep in mind that templates are customizable, so if your template is missing any of the above you can always add it in. However, to save time it’s best to choose a template that already has some or all of these features.
Coaching website template examples
With so many website templates out there it’s hard to know what to look for. Here are a few examples of effective coaching website templates.
While this template was designed for fitness and wellness coaches, it’s suitable for all kinds of coaches. It includes sections for your bio, features and benefits, social proof, and everything else you need to promote your coaching business.
The hero section of this template allows you to make a bold and impactful statement to draw people in. The benefits section is very eye-catching and there’s also a section to outline everything that’s included in your coaching membership.
As with the other entries on this list, this template can be customized to fit a wide variety of coaching areas (although if you’re a sports coach this template would be perfect). For those who have more than one plan option, this template features a section that breaks down what’s included in each plan.
The illustrations used in this template provide a unique look, or you can swap them for real-life images if you prefer. You’ll find all the sections and features you’d expect with a coaching website template, including benefits, social proof, and bio.
Offering a free consultation is one of the most effective ways for coaches to collect leads. If you’re looking to employ this strategy in your own business then this template is a great choice. It’s also ideal for those who offer multiple coaching services.
Step 3: Add your content
After you’ve found the perfect coaching website template it’s time to make it your own. The options are virtually endless, as you can add text and images, change the color scheme to fit your brand, add and remove sections, and more.
While you’re customizing your template, consider the tips below to maximize your results.
Come up with an enticing headline
Your headline is the first thing potential clients will see when they land on your page, so you need to make it count.
Essentially, you need to sum up the best part of your business in one line. This sounds difficult, but it’s actually easier than you think.
The key is to identify your unique selling proposition (USP). This is the thing that sets you apart from your competitors and makes you stand out. Maybe you’re solving a problem that no one else is addressing. Or perhaps you offer a benefit or service other coaches don’t.
Once you figure out what your USP is, use your headline to highlight it and grab your readers’ attention.
Include pictures of yourself
A coaching business is unique in that the product you’re selling is yourself. You need to convince people that you’re the right person to help them achieve their goals and get them to the next level.
In order to do this you have to build trust, and this starts by including a picture of yourself. It might seem silly, but simply showing your face goes a long way toward getting someone to trust you. If you look the part and appear confident you’ll make a great first impression. Conversely, if you don’t include any pictures of yourself people might think you have something to hide.
So, break out a camera, smile, and take some photos of yourself. If you have the budget, some professional headshots are a great investment and will go a long way toward making your coaching website appear more legitimate.
Focus on benefits instead of features
We’ve used the word “benefits” a lot so far, and that’s because properly conveying how your coaching services will benefit people is critical to winning clients.
When you’re writing your website content, talk less about features (what you do) and more about benefits (how your coaching program will solve a problem and improve people’s lives).
For example, if you’re a business coach some features of your services might be:
- Learn how to create a business plan.
- Get a list of recommended software and tools.
- Master a proven system to land your first clients.
Now, let’s turn those features into benefits:
- Set yourself up for success and achieve your goals with a solid business plan.
- Save time and money with my recommended software and tools.
- Learn a simple way to land your first client so you can start earning money and building your business.
See the difference? The first list just tells people what they get, but the second list explains what’s in it for them and why they should become your client.
Add a video
While not a necessity, adding a video to your coaching website is a great idea. In fact, studies have shown that including a video on your page can increase conversions by 80%.
Don’t worry, you don’t need a super fancy video to enjoy these types of results. Just a simple short video of you explaining who you are, what type of coaching you provide, and why people should work with you is all you need.
Internet users have short attention spans, so not all of them will want to read your entire website. But most are willing to watch a two or three-minute video. Including something like this on your homepage will ensure more people will hear your pitch, which should result in more leads.
Step 4: Publish your coaching website
With your template selected and your content added it’s almost time to share your coaching website with the world. But before you publish make sure you do a few things first:
- Proofread all your pages. Review everything at least once (preferably twice) to ensure you didn’t make any silly errors or typos. Even one misspelled word can hurt your credibility.
- Have someone you trust look at your site. It’s always good to have a second pair of eyes on your work to catch anything you missed. Plus, they might have a few suggestions to improve what you have.
- Connect your site to a custom domain. Most website builders allow you to publish to a free subdomain. While this is usually fine for landing pages, you should have a custom domain (preferably a .com) for your website to make you look more professional. Purchase a domain from a domain registrar and then take the steps to connect it to your site (learn how to get a free custom domain with Leadpages).
When you’re ready to publish it’s usually as easy as simply clicking the “Publish” button inside your builder. Remember, you can always make changes and add additional pages after your site is live, so don’t worry about it being perfect. You can start by launching a basic site with all the essential information and then build upon that as your business grows.
Step 5: Drive traffic to your coaching website
Your coaching website might be live but your work isn’t over yet. Now you need to make sure people find it.
Here are four strategies to consider after you publish your site.
Search engine optimization (SEO)
When most people are looking for a coach they’ll probably start with a Google search. If you want to increase your chances of showing up for related searches there are a few things you can do:
- Perform keyword research. Use tools like Ahrefs or Google Keyword Planner to learn what keywords people are using to search for similar coaches.
- Include your keywords throughout your site. Once you identify the keywords you want to rank for, use them on your homepage and other website pages. You’ll also want to include them in your metadata and image alt text.
- Start blogging. Write long-form articles that target relevant keywords. Not only will this help with your search rankings, but it will also allow you to share your knowledge and establish authority in your niche.
SEO is a long-term investment. Even if you do everything right you likely won’t see results for at least six months. However, there’s no cost to this strategy (only your time) and the benefits can be huge, so it’s definitely worth it.
For more information on SEO, check out our 18 SEO Tips for Beginners.
Search ads
Because SEO can take a while to work it’s a good idea to supplement those efforts with paid search ads. This will allow you to bid on your desired keywords so you can show up in search results, even if your coaching website is brand new.
Because you’re paying money for this traffic you’ll want to make the most of it. Consider coming up with an enticing offer and creating a landing page around your offer. This will give you the best chance of converting your traffic and earning a high ROI on your investment.
Social media has become an essential tool for internet marketing, so make sure to use it to promote your new website.
If you already have a large following share your site with your audience. You can also use paid ads to promote your services and any special offers you might have.
Social media ads allow you to target specific demographics. Start by identifying your ideal client. Are they male or female? Old or young? Do they have certain hobbies or interests? Use this information to get your ads in front of the right people and boost traffic to your website.
Email marketing
Building an email list is one of the best strategies you can use to grow your business. Unlike your social media community, which is controlled by another company, you own your email list completely.
It’s also extremely effective, with email marketing generating $36 for every $1 spent on average.
It goes without saying that if you already have an email list you’ll want to share your new coaching website with your audience. And if you don’t have a list yet, start building one now so you can start leveraging this valuable tool (read this article to learn 11 ways to build your email list).
Use your list to promote new content, resources, promotions, and more. Because your subscribers have already expressed interest in your brand they’ll be much more likely to take you up on your offers.
Coaching website examples
Looking for a little inspiration before you start building your coaching website? Check out these examples of excellent websites from some of our favorite coaches.
Mattia’s clean design is easy on the eyes and his hero section sums up his services perfectly. He also uses alert bars and pop-ups to promote his lead magnets to help him capture as many leads as possible.
The benefits of Jereshia’s services are clear as soon as you land on the page: More clients, more money, less stress. She explains her coaching program in detail and has the results and testimonials to back up her claims.
Kathryn helps non-techie business owners get online and her headline perfectly sums up her USP. She has plenty of free resources and webinars to help her collect leads, along with some powerful testimonials to build trust with potential clients.
Here’s another example of a coach taking advantage of alert bars and pop-ups to collect new leads. Monica also lists some of the major news outlets she’s been featured on to increase her credibility.
Laurie doesn’t waste any time encouraging visitors to sign up for her email newsletter. She also offers a free email course to gather more leads and links to her YouTube videos to establish her authority in her niche.
Start building your coaching website today
Ready to build your coaching website and start landing clients? Leadpages makes it easy with over 200 templates, a user-friendly Drag & Drop Builder, and a wide variety of lead generation tools to help get you off and running.
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