5 steps to create a compelling website
A practical and comprehensive guide
STEP ONE
your seed - who, what, why
This may sound obvious and you will probably already have this written down, but this is our starting point.
Your "why" is your seed; it's the core reason behind why you do what you do. It holds the essence of your mission, vision, and values. When you clearly understand and communicate your "why," it becomes the foundation for everything you create. It helps you connect with your community on a deeper level, as people are drawn to genuine purpose and authenticity. Nurture and understand your "why," and let it guide your growth.
WHY you are creating your business?
WHAT is your intention? WHAT are your values that you want infused in your brand? WHAT do you most want to be known for?
WHO are you trying to connect with? WHO are you passionate about serving?
STEP two
Understand your services + offerings
The next stage is understanding your HOW and translate that into words
Understanding your offerings
Can you explain your offerings concisely?
Have you practiced talking about them?
What will your website be used for? For example…
Do you have packages or products for purchase?
Are you selling a membership or course?
How can your clients / community engage with you? For example…
Do you offer custom proposals via an introduction call?
Do you have online workshops?
Organise your information.
List everything you need to communicate on your website.
Naturally we scan through websites before delving into your longer form content - structure it simply and concisely for easy reading.
STEP THREE
VISUALS
We are visual beings. your community want to be immersed and want to see you. They are looking for a connection. Showing your face is powerful. High quality visuals are a really good investment for your business. You can use them throughout your social media, email lists and your website.
Storytelling is amphitheatre for you to share who you are and what you offer. When your authentic self shines through, your community will connect with you, need to be with you, to stand with you, to walk with you and want to share your voice. The emotional depth of your creation finds roots and sings meaning into your offering. The alchemisation occurs through story, we illuminate what needs to be seen and shared. Storytelling is the beauty of expression, to awaken a feeling within others.
A mindset tip about investing — everything is energy — If you are calling in community to invest in you, your offerings when you are presenting yourself in a way that shows you have invested in yourself it shows that you beleive in what you have to offer
I completely understand that investing in professional photography and VIDEOGRAPHY early on isn’t accessible to everyone AND I recommend experimenting with self-portraits using a tripod. You could also offer an exchange for your services, have a 1-2 hour session with a photographer and source the rest from stock.
STEP FOUR
Write your website copy
Its a really great idea to think of your website as a story before diving into its design. Like any good story, it should have a beginning, middle and an end. A good starting point is to begin thinking about -
What is the purpose of your website?
What is the goal of each page or section?
Where are you guiding your visitors? What actions do you want them to take?
I like to think of it as your shop front and it acts as sensory experience that you provide to your community. It creates the first impression and greets your visitors on your behalf. It one of the first ways your community gets to understand who you are and what you offer. Its important to provide clear pathways for visitors to take the next step.
It is very helpful to have someone objectively read through your website copy and provide feedback of the content and flow. If budget allows, working with a copywriter is incredibly valuable.
STEP FIVE
DESIGN + BUILD YOUR WEBSITE
You’re ready to create your digital home.
I love to use Squarespace for creatives, facilitators and emerging entrepreneurs. It’s such a user friendly platform to grow from. You can go it alone and use a pre-built Squarespace Template or you could work with a designer like myself to co-create a beautiful unique and custom website within the platform.
If you would like to work together, please get in touch!
