Online coaching is one of the most popular career choices around. You’ve got skills and expertise in a particular area, and you want to share them with people, right? While online coaching is a rewarding career, and there are plenty of opportunities, it’s also very competitive.
Whether you’re a life coach, a fitness coach or offer business growth services, you need to be able to stand out. The best way to do that is to have a fantastic website.
In this guide, we’re going to look at some incredible examples from real coaches, doing their thing, and highlight what you can learn from them. We’ll also talk about the things you need to include in your coaching website.
The Best Online Coaching Websites
Life coaches need to show that they have the tools and experience to help others, so it’s essential to get their website right. Here are three of our favourite life coach websites to inspire you.
Mel Noakes
The first thing you see when you visit Mel Noakes is Mel Noakes! Her photo looks welcoming and friendly, which is good because she’s a self-help coach. What makes her site even more powerful, is she offers an immediate benefit which is hard to resist. In three simple actions, you can positively impact your body, mind and life – yes, please.
Mel’s site works because it’s positive, gets straight to the point and manages to retain a dignified yet non-threatening feel. Her down to earth no-nonsense content appeals to women, and it’s easy to see why someone looking to improve their life would trust her.
Shannon Wilkinson
Shannon Wilkinson is another life coach that doesn’t beat around the bush. Her straight-talking website tells readers immediately that she will help them take action. Shannon focuses on productivity and helps people break down the barriers that stop them from succeeding.
One of the most noticeable things about her website is her photo. It looks professional yet not posed. She seems to be at home, which gives her site a down to earth appeal. The navigational features make readers feel as if they’re already on their coaching journey, and it’s easy to see why her website works.
Patrice Washington
Patrice Washington’s website packs a real punch. Her tagline says “Chase purpose, not money.” Not only is this a great lesson, but it also shows she genuinely cares about helping women to find their purpose in life.
Her message focuses on supporting women to improve their wellbeing and confidence so they can go after the things they want in life. Patrice makes the point to mention she’s built an international business, which gives her more credibility and highlights the fact that she’s an authoritative figure.
With a range of coaching options including podcasts and earn more money boot camps, Patrice appeals to professional women searching for more in their life.
Dominique Ara
Dominique Ara is a classic example of showing us that you don’t need to be famous to be a successful business coach. Her visual branding is incredible, and it makes her stand out. Her website states that as a business leader, it can be challenging to see the forest for the trees.
Her website then goes on to say that she helps business leaders gain clarity so they can identify the gaps in their business.
What we like most about this website is the imagery. It doesn’t include the typical numbers and growth symbols you’d associate with business coaches, which makes it stand out more.
Matthew Kimberley
Matthew Kimberley takes a less emotive approach and focuses on the facts with his website. It’s full of testimonials from previous clients which shows that he’s a successful business coach and knows what he’s talking about.
What makes his website stand out is the simplistic design. The black background screams elegance and sophistication, which is vital for business coaches. It’s easy to navigate and appeals to professionals that know who they are and what they want but need the tools to get there.
The Things You Should Include in Your Coaching Website
So, what should you include in your coaching website? There are lots of things to consider, but this list should give you an idea of what it takes to be a successful coach.
Your Personality
Have you seen those video adverts on YouTube that show “coaches” driving around in Ferraris and partying with beautiful women? They don’t work! The main selling point of your coaching business is you. Nobody cares if you have a sports car and buckets of money, because it doesn’t tell anyone who you are and why you’re coaching others.
Don’t be afraid to stand out and let people see what makes you unique. One of the biggest reasons coaching businesses fail is because people use boring language and try to sell their services instead of themselves. Tell people who you are, what you can do for them and why you want to help them.
Strong Calls to Action
Never – and I mean never – underestimate the power of a CTA. They’re the difference between people clicking away from your site or staying around to learn more. The most prominent issue people have is not knowing how to use them properly.
As a coach, you can get creative with your calls-to-action. Instead of just asking people to sign up or learn more, tell them what benefits they’ll receive for clicking that button. For example, say you want people to sign up for your mailing list, which of the CTA’s is more appealing?
As you can see, CTA number 2 offers people a clear benefit. Remember, CTA’s should compel people to take action, so make sure yours are easy to read and don’t be afraid to get inventive.
Contact Details
Unless you offer a one of a kind service (or you’re Richard Branson), people aren’t going to stick around unless they have easy access to your contact details. Make sure you use contact forms, as spammers can quickly get hold of your email address.
If you offer local services, make sure people know where you are and the areas you operate in. An excellent way to increase your local presence is through SEO, which can boost your Google My Business views and connect you with people in your area.
Don’t Stock It
Stock images are fine for generic websites and some blog posts, but as an online coach, you should include pictures of yourself. How many websites have you visited and seen the same photo? There’s always a happy business person or a woman looking thoughtful towards her future. If you want to be a reputable online coach, you need to let people see who you are.
Make sure your photo reflects the services you offer, and don’t be afraid to show your personality. If you’re a life coach, then lose the desk and suit. Business coaches should have a professional photo but don’t include your car or a snapshot of your bank balance. If you provide workshops, show pictures of you coaching others and let people see what you offer.
A Good Biography
One downside of the influx of coaching businesses is that anyone thinks they can do it. It means people don’t trust easily, which can impact your company’s success. An excellent biography can set you apart from the competition, and it instantly gives you more credibility.
Focus on your achievements and experience to highlight what you can offer your potential clients. It’s also good if you can back up your claims with any qualifications, publications and client testimonials you’ve received.
Social Sharing Buttons
Imagine you’ve written a great blog post, and people enjoy reading it. If you don’t have social sharing buttons on your website, then your blogs won’t reach other people. Most people won’t make an effort to copy and paste your post, then log in to their social media profile and share it.
Social sharing buttons make it easy for people to share your content at the click of a button. When someone shares your post, it reaches everyone within their network, so imagine how many views and potential leads you could acquire from a few buttons.
Strong Website Design Features
Your content is compelling, your photos are fantastic, but none of that matters if your website is poorly designed. As you can see from these shocking website designs, how your site looks and functions are everything. So, what features and functionalities should you check for?
Navigation
Can people move around your website easily? Nobody wants to search for information, so you should have a clear primary menu that contains sections for your about, contact, services and blog pages. It would help if you also used CTA’s to guide people and internal linking strategies.
Responsiveness
Your site might look great on desktops, but how does it look on mobile devices? Responsiveness is a big issue, especially when you use DIY website builders. However, if you use UK web designers that know what they’re doing, your responsiveness won’t be an issue.
Live Chat
Live chat services for business were once seen as a luxury, but they’re becoming a necessity. People want to be able to reach you quickly, and live chat can speed up your customer service and help you to close deals. Checking your emails can become a tedious task, but integrating live chat into your website is beneficial for both you and your visitors.
The Lesson
Is it more difficult than ever to become a successful life coach? Probably. But with the right determination, skills and website, you can do it. If you’re wondering about how to start a life coaching business online, this helpful guide from Forbes can help you.
Remember, to show people who you are and keep it real. Your success depends on your attitude and commitment to your clients. If you’d like some help building your online coaching website, we offer a range of fully responsive templates that we’ll customise to your requirements.
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