If you’re a service provider, it is critical that you have an effective online presence. It’s no secret that a well-designed website is essential for any business’s growth and profitability.
But you need a website that’s more than just pretty – it needs to be useful, and it needs to be there when people need it.
A website with no pages or functionality is useless. This means that you have to carefully consider which pages you want to create and what they should contain.
Even if you don’t have a website, yet, you must know the most important parts of a website – and how to improve them – so you can deliver a positive experience for your clients.
Your website will function as a ‘home base’ for your business. It will be the number one place people will go to in order to learn more about your services so it should speak to your target audience and leave them wanting more.
Since your website is your most important marketing tool, I wanted to discuss some of the essential pages your website must have and why they are important.
Essential Page #1: The “Home” Page
When it comes to your website, there’s one page that’s absolutely critical – the ‘Home’ page.
It is very important to have a well-designed and easy-to-navigate home page because this is the first thing that visitors will see when they come to your website. It is the place where you get to make a great first impression and start building a relationship with your visitors.
Since your home page will be the first thing your visitor will see when they arrive at your website, it needs to give them a good idea about what you offer and why they should continue browsing. This page should always be easy to scan and have a clear call-to-action (CTA).
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Your home page also serves an introductory purpose by providing background information such as “who” you are, “what” you do, & “why.”
Essential Page #2: The “About” Page
When someone lands on your website, they should be able to get the information they need to decide whether or not you’re the right fit for them which means having a good ‘About’ page is a must.
Potential clients want to learn more about the person they’re considering working with. They want to know a bit about your personality and why your services are the right choice for them and your big vision.
When it comes to your about page, this is where you can let your visitors more about what makes you unique and why are you different from everyone else in your space.
Don’t forget to include a clear call to action (e.g., book now or call us today) that encourages your visitors to take action.
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Your about me page is all about HOW you can help them and WHY you are the best person for the job.
Essential Page #3: The “Work With Me” Page
Your ‘Work With Me’ page is where you can promote the value of your services and tell clients what you can do for them and how they can work with you along with a call to action so people can take the next step in the customer journey.
This page should highlight the transformation your service provides and showcase why working with you will be an extraordinary experience!
It is a great way to position yourself as the expert in your field, and to help potential clients to better understand what makes you unique and valuable.
TIP:
Depending on your services, you may want to have individual sales pages for each offer. For example, if you’re a coach and you have a group program, a 1:1 program, and a membership, you may have individual sales pages for each and either a ‘work with me’ page that introduces each offer or just a ‘work with me’ drop down in your navigation menu.
Essential Page #4: The “Contact” Page
You need a contact page in order for people to be able to get in touch you. You’ll want to be able to quickly, easily, and accurately provide your website visitors with the contact information they need.
This way, if someone is interested in working with you and wants more information or simply needs some help getting started, they can easily reach out by filling out a form.
The best way to make people want to contact you is to give them a reason to. When they can see the value in what you do and/or what you sell, it will be much easier for them to say “yes” to your offer and take the next step.
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Your contact page can also include your social media links, office hours and any other relevant information you want to include.
Essential Page #5: The “BLOG” Page
A blog can serve many purposes. First, it can be used as a way to build brand awareness. Second, you can use your blog to engage readers, draw in leads, and grow the traffic on your website. Finally, a blog can also be a useful tool for building a business by itself, providing you can write about your area of expertise and connect with others who have similar interests.
Most blogs have a specific focus – such as providing tips on how to write better emails or sharing advice on what’s trending in your industry – and should be written in a clear, concise style.
If you’re going to create a blog, you’ll want to make sure it provides value to your readers.
TIP:
A blog is an easy way to provide useful content that showcases your expertise and encourages people to share your content on social media, which can lead to new clients and sales.
BONUS: The “Legal” Pages
There are 3 legal pages your websites must have to comply with the laws and protect yourself legally.
When it comes to legal pages, it’s important to have these pages and understand what they’re about.
They are:
- Privacy Policy – A Privacy Policy informs your visitors WHAT information your site collects from them and HOW you are going to use their personal data.
- Disclaimer – Disclaimers protect your business against legal liability by saying that you won’t be held responsible for how people use your site, or for any damages they suffer as a result of your content.
- Terms and Conditions – A Terms and Conditions page serves as a legal contract between you and your visitors on what website rules and regulations you allow or don’t allow on your website.
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There are free generators (like this one) you can use to generate terms that are specific to the content and purpose of your site or you can use a site like Termageddon (recommended).
Final Thoughts
Your website is the ‘home base’ for your business so if you’re building a website from scratch, or redesigning an existing website, these are the pages that should be top of your list. A website that doesn’t have these pages will almost always look unfinished. The design and structure of your site should reflect who you are and what you do.
It is vital that each page has the right information for visitors to convert into customers and to stay engaged with your brand as well as to protect you from any legal action.
Are you ready to get started on your website? Download the Beginner’s Guide to WordPress to get started! It doesn’t matter if you’re starting from scratch or rebranding an old site, this is a must-read resource that will help you decide where to start and what to prioritize.
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