What most new coaches don’t realize,  is not only are they creating a service business, but also an on-line business.

Who would have ever thought when you decided to pursue this life’s path, you would have to do business on the web, right?   I know how you feel…if someone would have told me this when I first start out, I would have laughed in their face.

However, during my journey as a coach and women entrepreneur, I’ve had to gain a whole new perspective about how to ”reach the masses”, and wish to share with you.

Last week,  I participated in a call sponsored by Biblical Coaching Alliance, called “Search Engines & Web Traffic ” with Lynne Lee.  Her content affirmed over and over again, much of what I’ve come to learn about ” doing business on the web.” 

You may be kicking and screaming at the very thought of this, especially if you’re a techno-phobe.  But trust me when I say this is one of the easiest ways to reach whom you are meant to serve,  in large numbers quickly, and inexpensively.

It’s time for you to make  your mark among the sea of greats!  Here are some key pointers to get started that were outlined during the call:

1.  Keywords are the basis for which people find your business – use tools like Google and Freewordtracker to research possible key words and phrases that best resonate with your practice.  BUT, you must also consider  the popularity, of the phrase – if it’s too popular the competition will be too steep; if the numbers are too small, then it’s not a good choice either (your objective is to have your site appear on the first two pages, but preferably the first).

2.  Your website should be about your client, not all about you – remember  people buy solutions, not coaching.    Resist the tempation of explaining what coaching is and how it helps people.   You only have a few seconds to capture the interest of the visitor.  Focus on communicating effectively how you help them solve their unique problem, issue, or pain.    

3.  Websites need a call to action – in other words,  there needs to be an easy, convenient way to invite visitors to become prospective clients.  Once a visitor leaves  your site, most likely they will not return.  Be sure to incorporate an opt-in box that has a freebie of perceived value and relevant to what you teach.  This way the visitor has an opportunity to get a ”taste” of you, and enter in a long standing, trustworthy relationship as a client. 

4.  Keep your website simple – some people spend thousands of  dollars on fancy sites that use Flash and other spiffy programming.  This looks good to the visitor, but this complicated programming makes it harder to the “internet spiders” to read your site easily, assess your relevancy, and ultimately rank your site.

5.  Keyword placement matters – be sure to use keywords in your title bar as well as in the content of your page.  Choose different key words for each page of your site. This way you can be found a multitude of ways,  beyond the key words on the home page.

Remember it’s about gettting found among a sea of greats!  Set up your website that will allow people to find YOU -  your services, your products, your expertise - quickly and easily.  Start TODAY!