5 Things Every Service Provider’s Website Needs
Leslie Cason
Helping creatives turn their talent into profit through digital products and courses | Kajabi Expert | Education for DIYers
You’ve started a new business – congrats! It’s a big deal to step into the unknown and take a chance on yourself. I did back in 2017 when I left my “good government job” to try my hand at entrepreneurship. I haven’t looked back since.
If you’re in the beginning stages of creating your business, enroll in our audio course, Become an Online Service Provider. It will take you through the first steps you need to focus on so you can maximize your time and set yourself up for success.
So now that you’ve taken this step, you’re probably trying to get your website up and running. Yes, you could get by without one for a while. But it’s much easier when you have a place to send people who are interested in working with you. And it adds legitimacy to your business.
As we saw a few years ago when Facebook and all its apps went down for hours, we can’t just rely on social media. We need to have somewhere for our businesses to call home.
That’s why a website is so important. But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or a ton of work. It can be as easy as choosing a template and writing some copy.
Websites are dynamic things and yours will change over time - our website has gone through what feels like a thousand different iterations. But in the beginning, when you’re not entirely sure of your brand and services, you just need these five things.
EASY NAVIGATION
Getting around your website should be a breeze. Use clear words in your header menu so your visitors don’t have to guess at where they will end up if they click on something.
There’s also internal navigation to consider. How and where your pages link is just as important as your header menu for two reasons:
Make sure you submit your pages to Google for crawling in the Search Console. It’s much faster for getting them indexed.
CLEAR SERVICES
Remember this mantra: a confused mind says no.
As a service provider, it’s your job to make sure you’re communicating what you do in a clear and concise manner. Your services page should tell your readers these things:
AN ABOUT PAGE THAT CONNECTS
You’ve probably heard that your about page is really about your client. And that’s true - to an extent. But it’s also likely the first experience someone has of you. So it should communicate who you are.
About pages are often the second most visited page (after the homepage). People want to know who they are dealing with. That’s especially true if they plan to spend money with you. Your about page is an opportunity to connect with them and build trust.
It doesn’t have to include “6 random things about me” or anything like that. Just tell your story and help people see you as someone they want to work with.
A PORTFOLIO
Part of selling your services is giving people a look at your past work. Clients want to know what they can expect from you. That doesn’t mean you need to have every single project you’ve ever done. Just the ones that you’re most proud of and that best showcase your work.
If you don’t have anything to fill a portfolio yet, here are some tips:
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A portfolio is an essential page because it gives your potential clients a reason to trust that you know what you’re doing. So prioritize this page.
We guide you through setting up all of these things as part of our audio series Become an Online Service Provider. Ten audio lessons + a workbook = a shiny new business.
A CLEAR WAY TO CONTACT YOU
This may seem obvious, but lots of people bury this page. If you’re selling services, you’ll probably have some kind of intake process. Make those instructions clear. What do they have to do to book a consultation with you? What happens after they complete your form? Tell them what to expect.
This communicates to them that you’re a serious business owner and builds trust from the beginning. No one wants to feel confused when they are trying to spend money.
It’s one thing to know all this, but it’s another to actually implement it. Building a website can be painful, especially if you’re not tech-savvy. There’s also the issue of deciding where to put it.?
Squarespace, Showit and Wix may seem easy to use but they are not super flexible. If you want something that will grow with you long-term, WordPress is the way to go. Its versatility is top-notch and you’ll be able to create anything you want.
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WORK WITH THE STUDIO
In this Studio, you’ll find a combination of strategic know-how, techie expertise and elegant design that elevates your online presence and makes selling your knowledge a breeze
1?? The Strategy Intensive: If you have a product or course idea, but not much else, this is the place to start. Intensives are your time to work with founder Leslie Cason on things like developing a plan for building or selling your product, finding your best idea or creating a content strategy.
2?? The Product Ecosystem: If you’re in the process of creating your product and are ready to explore the mechanics of running it, this is for you. Work with Leslie to build out the learning environment you’ll need on one of our preferred platforms.
3?? The Marketing Runway: If your product is done and ready to launch (or very close), this option will help you develop your marketing strategy and assets. Work with Leslie on your content strategy and create the pathways to your product.