Whether you’re a business owner or an entrepreneur of a personal brand, the following interview is for you! We’re focusing on why you should invest in a website for your brand and key elements to include. I’m excited for you to dive in as we get insight from Ebonee Williams. Ebonee builds and installs WordPress websites for entrepreneurs.
Enjoy and take notes! – Danielle
CMP: There are some business owners who believe having a Facebook or Instagram page is enough. Why is it so valuable to have a website for your business?
Ebonee: Social media is a great way to connect with your audience and potential customers. But I would never recommend putting all your eggs in one basket. Having a website is extremely valuable especially today. There’s no way to keep up with social media algorithms.
CMP: Name a few basic elements that every business should have on their website.
Ebonee: Every website should have an email list. This is huge! And a targeted email list. Email lists can be tricky. It’s the modern-day phone number. People typically don’t like to hand it over unless they see the value in whatever it is they’re subscribing to. So if you create an opt-in around your product/service or something your ideal customer would want, your chances of having people opt-in will be higher vs. having a generic “sign up for my list for updates” message. Email opt-in’s that perform really well are check-lists, cheat sheets, guides, workbooks, free email or video courses. All of these are great ideas for opt-ins. The best opt-in’s help solve your audience’s problem(s).
I would also have professional photos taken. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve booked clients online that have complimented my photos. One even said she chose to work with me because I looked trustworthy in my photos. I knew then that hiring a professional to take photos was a good investment. And you don’t have to pay a ton of money to do this nor do you need a lot of photos, just a few key photos to show people your personality especially if you’re going to be working with clients 1:1.
Clearly stated call to action (or CTA). I actually just wrote about this in a blog post. Sometimes customers aren’t coming to your site because they’re not sure how to purchase your products or services or they don’t know what it is you actually sell. So clearly stating exactly what you do and how you help solve their problem is key as well as making it really easy for them to navigate the site to make a purchase will help your business tremendously.
CMP: Let’s talk about website aesthetics! How important is it for your site to align consistently with your brand’s personality? (color, text, images, etc)
Ebonee: So as someone who builds and sets up websites, I appreciate a well-designed website. But a lot of times, people make the mistake of holding off on building their site or launching it because they’re focused on the design aesthetic. Now don’t get me wrong, all of this is great for attracting your ideal client but don’t fall into the trap of wanting things to look perfect before you launch. However, it’s good for the design and brand aesthetic to align with your brand’s personality.
CMP: Name a reason why potential customers or clients would leave a business website uninterested.
Ebonee: If they don’t know what it is you do, which goes back to having a clear copy and a clear CTA. You only have a few seconds to grab someone’s attention before they click off your site. Another thing I recommend is having your CTA or email list opt-in above the fold of the website.
Were Ebonee’s tips helpful?
To learn more about her amazing services for that are customized just for you click here to visit her site.
As always, if you have questions on getting clear on your brand strategy or leveraging your digital content, click here to contact me.
Talk soon! – Danielle Wallace, Founder + Strategic Brand Storyteller, Chayil Media Publishing
