Healing people and transforming lives can be one of the most rewarding jobs on this planet, especially if you run your own business. You're in charge of your destiny!
You get to call the shots! You choose who you work with and what hours you work. You decide on the services you offer and the experience you provide for your clients. You get to transform lives and spread the word on the magic of holistic healing. Life as you imagined it should be pure bliss!
Only it’s not!
Your phone is not ringing off the hook from eager clients. Your calendar is sparse and the bills are piling up.
When you do work, your hourly rate declines by the day and you're working into the evenings to ensure your clients are satisfied.
Long forgotten are those anticipated leisurely dinners with your family and a glass of wine while you watch the sun set on your back deck. Or the adventurous travels you had planned where you could work from any destination in the world because your business is online.
You begin to doubt whether you’ve made the right decision.
After all, if you’re honest and work hard then you should be successful.
Unfortunately, running your own business is not that simple. However, there are questions you can ask yourself to gain clarity on your situation and determine what solutions you can put into place to create success in your business. And you don’t have to be a business guru to do it.
Simple thought-provoking questions can lead you to take intentional action that can transform your business so you can focus on what you do best – healing people and changing lives.
Are you getting inquiries?
You may be thinking – “I’ve done all the things”. You have a website ready for your visitors to contact you, you have an email list ready for people to sign up and you go to networking events on a weekly basis. And yet, crickets!
You were told that a website would solve all your problems. After all, it is available 24/7 for people to find you. You would be able to focus on what you're most passionate about and what you do best, healing people so they can live their best lives.
Designing a website requires more than just beautiful images and a contact page. Yes, your website is the hub of your marketing experience, but there are many other components required to create abundance in your business. Let's consider some of those areas.
Does your website show how you solve real-life problems?
Even though I studied Homeopathy for years, I often found myself asking our instructor questions on what it would specifically help with.
Will it help for burns?
Can it help with scarlet fever?
Will it help reduce stress at work?
It took years of studying for me to realize that homeopathy can stimulate your immune system to resolve almost any health issue, whether it be physical or emotional.
Websites that describe how they help, without getting into details, are missing opportunities to get inquiries if people don’t understand how the product or service can specifically enhance their life.
I see so many websites that indicate they can help you feel better or happier but that is not enough to compel you to inquire and spend money on a service. Feeling better or being happier can have different meaning for each individual.
Have you ever encountered a website where you felt like they really get you and that you absolutely need their product or service?
Typically, these businesses are being very specific about the problems they solve and it’s like they are reading your mind. For example ...
“Heal that nagging back pain so you can play soccer with your kids”.
“A sustainable meal plan that is delicious and helps you lose weight without the headache of counting calories”.
“Stop arguing and reconnect with your spouse so you can feel excited to come home from work again because it means spending time together. “
Being specific helps people identify with the pain point and how you can enhance their life.
When people believe that you can deliver the results you promise, they can picture themselves working with you, they get excited about working with you, and they can imagine what life will look like after working with you.
Website Tip ⇒ Describe your potential clients' pain points, how they create challenges in their life and demonstrate how their life will improve as a result of working with you.
Does your website guide your visitors to take the next step on their buying journey?
You know the drill. You land on someone’s website. They have interesting content. You scroll for hours consuming their content, read another blog post, followed by another blog post until you get distracted by another thought or reminder which brings you to yet another website and then you forget what you originally were searching for.
You have fallen into the sea of endless interesting facts.
It’s like sending a child to pack for a weekend at the cottage. You could just send them to pack and hope they navigate their way through the packing. Or you could guide them. Did you pack your swim shorts and towel? Hoodie? PJs. Toothbrush? You are taking them on a journey through their day to ensure that they have everything they need.
Your website is much the same.
Anybody can land on your website and wander aimlessly through your content and leave on a whim.
However, if you design your website to take your visitors on an intentional journey, guiding them to take the next action, you have a much higher chance of getting them to your contact page where they can inquire about your services.
Each page on your website needs to have a call-to-action which guides your visitor to take the next step on their journey - whether it be to learn more about your services, then more about you, then read your testimonials to build trust and to finally contact you. Your visitors need to be guided.
Website Tip ⇒ Always invite your visitors to take the next step on their buying journey, otherwise they will leave.
How is your website getting traffic?
Your website is an invitation into your business.
You may have a beautiful website that clearly articulates how you help your customers become a better version of themselves, however, it may be the best kept secret on the internet.
There are over 1.5 billion websites in the world so your dream clients may need a little help finding you.
With today’s technology, there are multiple ways you can use to send traffic to your website. You can:
- Create blog posts with relevant content that solves your ideal client’s problem, so they can find you online.
- Send emails to your subscribers to stay top of mind and remind them of how you can help.
- Leverage social media to intrigue your audience to visit your website and engage them with your brand.
- Use Facebook Ads to drive traffic to your website by creating a free download and build your email list.
Once you engage your audience, you can build connections and nurture your relationships to help people understand the value that you offer and build trust and credibility.
Website Tip ⇒ Don't assume your potential clients will find you. Use strategies to stay top of mind and drive traffic to your website.
Are you attracting the right people to your business?
You may be one of the lucky business owners who is getting inquiries and some may say that this is a great problem to have.
You feel that twinkle of excitement every time you get a new referral or someone fills out your contact form.
But then the dread sets in.
"What if it's someone I’m not excited to work with?"
Although creating abundance in your life is always uplifting, it can’t be at the cost of your spirit.
You became an entrepreneur to fill your soul and make a difference in people’s lives, not to trade services for money. Consider these questions to ensure you are attracting your dream clients to your business.
Is your brand professional?
Professional can mean different things to different people and should not be confused with brand style.
What I mean by professional is intentional design and attention to detail.
- Do you have high resolution images that are aligned with your brand?
- Is your brand style consistent throughout your website?
- Is your brand messaging coherent throughout your website?
- Do you have enough white space?
- Are your fonts consistent?
In other words, does your website look like it's DYI or designed by a professional?
My first job out of University was in Kingston at the Queen’s Psychology Department where I helped some of the Professors develop experiments to test their theories (more on that another day). I met a few wonderful ladies and we used to pop out for lunch to celebrate the end of the week. My friend, Barb, whose favourite restaurant was a little joint downtown that served the best coconut cream pie around.
A rich creamy coconut pudding filled the flaky melt in your mouth crust topped with fresh whipped cream and crunchy roasted coconut.
It was heavenly.
However, the storefront of the restaurant was run down with old chipped paint and an off-brand sign that was crooked and tired.
Had I not experienced their food thanks to my friend, Barb, I would have never entered that restaurant.
Your website is an invitation into your business.
Your brand is like your storefront. If your brand is not professional and appealing, the people you want to attract will move onto something more appealing that resonates with them.
You may even attract the people with low budgets because you have set that expectation with your store front.
Website Tip ⇒ Create a website that is intentionally designed to create a polished and professional look and feel so that your visitors take you seriously.
Is your brand authentic?
There is a lot of controversy around authenticity these days. Some say it is over-rated.
Imagine you’re in need of a lawyer for some legal issues.
You do your research and choose a firm based on their website. It appears professional, classy and modern. Their blog showcases valuable information that is well articulated and up-to-date.
You prepare to attend your first appointment dressed in a beautiful tailored suit, high heels and every hair in place.
The office building looks elegant and inviting. You open the massive smoky glass front doors and are greeted by young urban lawyers dressed in leather sandals and khaki shorts with hummus and flatbread in the office meeting room.
You are clearly overdressed and confused.
There is a disconnect between your perception of the business and what you have experienced- this disconnect creates an automatic feeling of distrust.
Even though these lawyers may be the best in town ... there is a misalignment in their brand that creates an instant barrier to a great connection.
Their website did not authentically reflect who they were and the kind of experience you could expect from them.
A misaligned brand creates a disconnect and subconsciously creates feelings of mistrust.
On the other hand, have you ever met a business owner whom you felt like you have known your entire life?
As a matter of fact, you start believing that you have met them before.
This is what authenticity on your website does for you.
It creates an instant connection where visitors feel like you really get them and they can picture themselves working with you.
When people believe you can deliver the results that you promise, they get excited about working with you and can begin to image how their life will be better after working with you.
That’s what authenticity will do for you.
Website Tip ⇒ Design an authentic website that captivates your essence, represents who you are, and creates an experience consistent with what your potential clients can expect when they work with you.
Do you have a niche?
Niche is a real buzzword in the Entrepreneurial world and it is important for so many reasons.
When I first started my business, I didn't want to limit my prospects and operated from a mindset of lack. What if I miss out on an opportunity?
As you may already know, I now choose to work with coaches, healers and creatives.
By niching down, I now get to work with the type of clients I am passionate about working with.
We get excited about the same things; we raise each other’s energy levels and we could talk for hours.
And the best thing is that I can create their websites with ease because I understand their lingo and their mindset. It's almost intuitive.
I understand who their clients are and the transformations they are capable of creating for their clients so we can create an experience that engages their visitors.
On the other hand, when I design websites in other niches, I don’t experience that same ease and flow.
Don’t get me wrong! I am still able to produce beautiful strategic websites that align with their brand. But it does require more research to understand what their needs are, the type of clients they work with and the kind of results that will create success for their business.
This is what I want for you! Working with clients where you get results easily and effortlessly.
Clients who feel that you truly understand them and can create transformations far beyond what they ever expected.
That’s what niching will do for you.
Website Tip ⇒ Choose a niche that you are passionate about and have the knowledge and skill to create transformational results so you can become the go to guru in your field.
Are your visitors buying your products or services?
At this point you're probably driving traffic to your website and getting inquiries from your dream clients, but they are not following through on buying your products or services. There are a number of reasons why this may be happening; I’ve covered a few of these below.
Are you top of mind with your prospects?
You may have many visitors to your websites and the real question is, are they sticking around?
Reviewing your analytics will show you whether most of your visitors are new visitors or returning visitors.
A compelling and educational blog may attract new visitors through search engines; however, existing visitors may not be returning to your blog because there is no compelling reason.
They may not be aware of new content or services on your website and they probably won't remember to go visit your site, people have way too many distractions for that.
People need to be reminded that you exist and provide value and one of the best ways to do that is to offer them a free gift (freebie).
The freebie could be a checklist, a how-to document or a mini-workbook.
The intent is to provide value in exchange for their email address.
I can see you rolling your eyes at the thought of this “manipulative” tactic and I used to feel the same way.
However, when I shifted my mindset to “being of service” and explored what could really help change my client’s business, I was able to explore options that would provide exceptional value to them.
Once you have email addresses, it can be super easy to remain top of mind with your prospects.
The intent is to provide valuable information to them on a regular basis, and even though they may not read it, your business name will remain fresh in their mind.
When they come across a need that you solve or hear of someone else that may need your services, your name will pop into their head and you have an easy referral.
Website Tip ⇒ Creating a freebie that helps your clients solve a problem is an effective strategy to provide value and collect email addresses so you can stay top of mind with your followers by sending out regular emails.
Are you building trust with your prospects?
If you’re like me, you regularly encounter an attractive website with a compelling product or service that solves a problem you are experiencing.
How often do you buy directly from them without learning more about them? I know I don’t.
I will explore their website, read their blog, download their freebie and follow their newsletter for a while before buying.
It’s like a relationship, you don’t ask someone to marry you on the first date. You get to know them, go out on a few dates, build a connection and then possibly consider the option of getting married.
How do you build trust on your website?
Blogs are an excellent way to create a connection with your audience by showing them that you understand their pain points, empathize with their journey, and build credibility by showing them you have the perfect solutions to solve their problems.
Authentic client experiences are another great way to build trust and you can achieve this through testimonials. More specifically, client testimonials that clearly describe how miserable life was before they purchased your solution and the beautiful transformation they experienced as a result of working with you.
Being “nice” to work with is no longer good enough, your visitors need to believe that you will deliver the results you promise.
Your testimonials need to clearly showcase the transformation clients can expect.
This builds credibility in your offering and creates trust in your services.
Website Tip ⇒ Publish blog posts that add value and build credibility. Share testimonials that show the incredible results your clients are experiencing as a result of working with you.
Are you guiding your visitors to take action on your website?
One of the biggest mistakes I see on many websites is that the visitor is not regularly invited to take action.
With the sea of information on the internet, it is so easy for people to hop from blog to blog and website to website to get information to solve their problem.
Hence the issue, there is no compelling reason for visitors to stay on your website.
As I mentioned earlier, you need to take your visitors on a journey through your website so they get to know you, your business and your services.
You build credibility and authority along the way, intentionally guiding them through your website.
As they explore, you regularly invite them to contact you, schedule a consult call or purchase a service.
Have you ever noticed that the simple nudge to buy a product can create a sense of urgency?
Like “I’m not ready to buy yet but I’ll read a bit more to see if your solution resonates with me.”
Or maybe you are ready to buy and can’t find how to purchase their services or contact them.
This gentle invitation reminds them how they can work with you, and if they are not ready, reminds them that they need to explore your business a bit more before buying. Without these “call-to-actions”, you may be losing profitable opportunities to grow your business.
Website Tip ⇒ Ensure every page on your website invites your visitor to take action.
Fixing your business will create abundance in your life.
As a healer, your business is an integral part of your life.
It’s not something that stops at 5:00 pm every night.
You’re always learning and practicing - whether it's on yourself, your family or close friends.
So, running a successful and profitable business will not only create growth in your business, it will create growth in your personal life as well.
Applying the business strategies above will attract more dream clients to your business, build connection, and inspire them to explore what is possible in their lives. My services help healers like you leverage your brand so you can get more clients, charge more for your work, and build a successful business you enjoy. Ready to get intentional about fixing your business? Let’s chat.