When starting your coaching practice you know one of the first things you need to to is set up your presence on the web a place to start getting your name out there. It is an important piece of the puzzle so make sure you take the time to think it through.
The All-In-One Website for Coaches
Actually, I almost have a hard time calling this one a mistake. This is a great concept and can be a very inexpensive way to get started. It will have all the features and tools you need, all under one roof.
- Website
- Blog
- Shopping Cart
- Newsletter
- Sometimes even a membership site
And the best part? One login! Nice – that is probably my favorite part 
But here is the bad part… as your business grows, as you expand your products and services – 9 times out of 10 this type of set up will not grow with you. You will be limited by template options, number of pages, tool, features and bandwidth. You can always upgrade to get a bit more of what you need but by that time you are probably paying an arm and a leg.
So next you start looking for new options for your website… here comes the ugly part.
All of a sudden you now need to go get hosting, shopping cart, newsletter service and set up a membership site. Oh but wait now you need to move all of your content over, but what about ALL your blog posts? Sorry their blog software is not compatible with WordPress, Blogger or Typepad. So either your lose all the content or start moving over each post one by one. Now you are hearing and feeling the big ouch!
So what should you do? Ask your colleagues, check on the coaching forums you visit, ask on Twitter! Find out what is working for your fellow coaches, what they like, what they don’t like, what they wish they had done different or features they find helpful. The feedback you receive will give you a starting point in your research.
Here are a few things you need to keep in mind:
- Scalable - will the site grow with you?
- Adaptable – will the site allow you to install new features and allow you to show video, podcasts, social media updates?
- Manageable – can you go in and change that word or sentence that is driving you nuts without waiting for your web designer or virtual assistant?
- Customizable – will it allow you to add color, styles, design options that fit you, your brand and speak to your target audience?
My personal bias is WordPress – scalable, adaptable, manageable and customizable.
Start with what you need:
WordPress – Free
Theme / Design – There are tons of free and low cost options available.
Hosting – You can easily can find something for under $10.00 per month.
Domain – Usually $10-15 per year.
Newsletter Service – From Free to under $25 per month, lots of options to consider.
When you are ready… you can easily add a shopping cart, membership site, forum, social network… your options are wide open.
Are you a DIYer? Check out my resource pages for recommendations and options. I’m adding more as I find tools that may help you, feel free to check back often.
Not so much a DIYer? Not to worry, feel free to contact me and we can set up a time to go over your options and figure out what will work best for you.
What questions do you have about setting up your coaching website?
