Your website is an expression of who you are. Just like you would set up your studio space or class to suit your style – you will also want to set your site up so that students can see who you are, what you offer and if it is in line with their needs.
I prefer a really clean website. I don’t stay long on a site if it is flashing, singing or is filled with ads. That is my style and it is also the style that I help yoga teachers to build.
If you are thinking of building a website or if you would like to check your existing site with fresh eyes – this article is where to begin. Remember that you can always customize this list to suit your business. These are just some guidelines. Use what works and get rid of the rest!
1. Home Page
Your home page is what people usually see first. You want your message to be really clear and you want it to speak to your ideal yoga student/client/customer quickly. People are busy and they don’t stay long on a website page. The key elements of this page may include:
- WHO YOU ARE
- WHAT YOU OFFER
- WHO YOU ARE SERVING
- WHAT BENEFITS CAN BE GAINED BY WORKING WITH YOU
A photo, video or slideshow on the home page will capture the attention of your audience. I don’t like sound because people are often in public or at work and sound could be disturbing. If you love sound – include it!
Who you are – on the home page is a really quick introduction. The About Me page is the place to go into more detail.
What you offer – instead of saying “I am a yoga teacher” – let people know what you specialize in. Click here to see my home page. I just updated it because I realized I wasn’t doing this at all!
Who you are serving is really one of the most challenging parts of creating a website, but without this step – your message isn’t clearly speaking to the people you want to work with. To define your ideal customer – I created a printable worksheet. I have to confess though – this step always slowed down the teachers that I work with on websites, so I started doing it as an interview process. I think I have a great system now that is super helpful to those I work with.
Read more about defining your ideal yoga student.
What are the benefits of working with you specifically or put another way – what are the problems that you can help to solve with your classes, workshop and retreats, offerings?
2. Contact
I like to go from the more difficult home page to the contact page. Here is where you can put your phone number, email, social media links and fax (does anyone use a fax these days?). It is nice to have a contact form on this page and maybe also a newsletter sign up button.
3. Your Calendar/Schedule and Class Information
List your classes, programs, sessions, retreats, workshops with a written description and a calendar (google calendar is easy to embed). Don’t forget to include all the information you would put on a poster. Click here for more about creating a yoga poster.
- Where is your event, retreat or yoga class being held?
- When is it – include the weekday, date, month, year and time
- Who is hosting the event? It is nice to share a short bio and a photo of the facilitator(s)
- What is it that you are advertising? This title should be large and at the top
- Why should people attend? Have a list or paragraph that confirms the reasons that someone would benefit from attending your event/class/workshop/retreat.
- How people can register or contact you
- Prices are great to have clearly stated!
4. About Page
Here is where you can go more into detail about your business story and your own personal story. I often tell people to speak in a first person voice, but I just did an about me page update and it is all in third person. See what suits your style. One tip – when including your training certifications – use a list form and put it at the bottom of this page. Your story is more interesting than all the training you have taken, but it is great to list it all for your records and to link to and honour your teachers.
5. Articles
If you write at all — consider including a blog or articles page. Google search and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) works when you have words to search.
When you write great articles that speak to the needs of your students – your message gets shared. People get to know you and will decide to work with you based on your message.
If you don’t know where to start with article writing – keep a journal (online or on paper). Choose what day/time is for writing and give yourself this time to work your writing muscles. It is similar to a new yoga pose. It takes practice.
Click here to read more on How to Write a Blog Post.
One last tip.
Avoid the coming soon pages…
These are tempting when you want to tell people about what you have planned, but they are frustrating to someone browsing your site.
Want help with your website? Book a 90-minute Website Strategy Session with me.
