When starting a business, many people think that one of the first tasks is to build a website. The more experienced I get in helping new businesses get traction, the more my perspective on this has shifted — I now believe that a website is useless for most new businesses… possibly even harmful. If you are working to become a coach, consultant, mentor, healer, or other type of solopreneur service-based business, I recommend that you don’t build a website yet...
(The exception is for business/marketing services — clients will expect a website.)
Trying to build a website will delay your business for months. It’s too easy to fall into the perfectionistic mode of figuring out your niche, your message, your brand, etc. You don’t need any of those things to get your first batch of clients and to really validate where the market wants you to go with your business (and brand). Most prospective clients don’t care whether you have a website, unless you’re billing yourself as a marketing expert. What they do care about is whether they know you (or have heard good things about your services), and whether they like your presence (by talking to you), and whether you can help them with their specific needs. All of that can be communicated through social media (e.g. a Facebook Page, Instagram Profile, a Linkedin profile), or a zoom call, or simply via email. If you try to build a website in the beginning of your business, two things usually happen:
Instead, here are the first tasks I recommend for you as you start your business:
I recommend that you delay the building of your website for as long as possible. Over the years I’ve known some very successful consultants or coaches who never got a website going — they were too busy serving clients and fielding inquiries due to great word-of-mouth about their services. The longer you’re willing to delay your website — and I mean for a few years if possible — the clearer you’ll become about your message and brand. The clarity comes from creating authentic content, as well as serving many different clients. As you get more clarity from creating content, as well as more client experience under your belt, you’ll get a much better perspective on what really should go onto your website. Eventually, if potential clients regularly ask whether you have a website, and now with years of experience serving actual paying clients, then you can plan your website, because then it’ll finally be worth doing. |
George Kao is a Marketing Coach for small business owners, especially solopreneurs such as Coaches and Mentors. He focuses on ethical & effective ways to grow one's platform and build true livelihood.
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