Top 8 Mistakes on Coaching Websites (And How to Fix Them)
As a coach, your website is often the first impression potential clients will have of you and your services. It's your digital office, and it needs to clearly reflect who you are, what you offer, and how people can work with you. I see it time and time again, so many coaching websites fall short in areas that can hinder their business rather than help it.
That’s why we’re sharing some of the most common mistakes coaching websites make and show you how to fix them to attract more clients, build trust, and grow your coaching business.
1. Overcomplicating Website Design: Why Simple and Clear Designs Convert Better
When potential clients visit your website, they should immediately know who you are, what you do, and how they can work with you. Overcomplicated designs with too many colors, fonts, and images can create confusion and make it difficult for visitors to navigate your site. Keep it simple and clean—focus on easy-to-read fonts, a clear color palette, and a well-organized layout that guides visitors to the information they need.
The goal is to reduce friction and make the experience as seamless as possible. A cluttered site will overwhelm visitors, but a clean and organized design will keep them engaged and encourage them to take the next step.
2. Neglecting SEO: How to Make Sure People Can Find Your Coaching Website
If your website isn’t optimized for search engines (SEO), it’s unlikely that people will find it, no matter how amazing your coaching services are. SEO is crucial for getting your website to appear in search engine results when potential clients are looking for coaching services like yours.
Start by ensuring that your website includes the most basic relevant keywords, such as "life coach for busy moms," "business coach for artists," or "wellness coaching for chronic pain" based on your particular niche. Write a clear meta description, include alt text for images, and create content that provides value to your target audience. By taking the time to optimize your site, you can improve your visibility online and attract more potential clients.
3. Missing Clear Calls to Action: How to Guide Visitors to Take Action on Your Website
People like to say “a great website doesn’t just look nice—it also encourages action”, and I like to say that a great website encourages the "right action”. What is it that you ope your site visitors do after landing on your homepage? How do you want them to feel?Your coaching website needs to have clear and compelling Calls to Action (CTAs) that tell your visitors what to do next. Without these CTAs, visitors may leave your site without booking a session or learning more about your services. A confused customer never acts.
Make sure your CTAs are strategically placed throughout your site. Whether it's "Schedule Your Free Consultation," "Download My 5 Favorite Time Management Tools," or "Learn More About My Coaching Packages," make it easy for visitors to take the next step with you.
4. Failing to Use Client Testimonials: The Power of Social Proof on Your Coaching Website
Client testimonials are one of the most powerful ways to build credibility and trust on your coaching website. Potential clients want to know that you’ve successfully helped others just like them. Testimonials offer real-world proof that you deliver results.
Include testimonials from coaching clients on your homepage, service pages, and dedicated "testimonials" page. Be sure to feature authentic, detailed testimonials that highlight specific transformations or outcomes your clients have experienced. If possible, add before-and-after stories to make the impact even more tangible.
5. Ignoring Blogging: How to Build SEO, Trust, and Share Your Story Through Content
Blogging is an excellent way to boost your website's SEO and share valuable content that resonates with your target audience. Regularly posting blogs not only helps you rank higher on search engines, but it also positions you as an authority in your niche and builds trust with your audience.
You can write about various topics related to your coaching services—share tips, your personal story, or client success stories. Blogging allows potential clients to get to know you better and engage with your content before they make the decision to book a session.
6. Overlooking Your About Page: How to Make a Strong Connection with Potential Clients
Your About page is one of the most important parts of your coaching website. It’s where you get to show off your unique coaching style, background, and personality. Too many coaches use a generic, formulaic approach to their About page, which doesn’t help them stand out.
Instead, focus on making a real connection with your visitors. Share your journey, why you became a coach, and what makes your approach different from others. Be yourself—don’t just list credentials and achievements; share what you love about where you live or who you work with. Talk like yourself—use words and phrases you often use in your coaching sessions. Think about how you would introduce yourself to a potential client in a conversation, and try to bring that personal touch to your About page. People want to work with people, not carbon copies of Instagram Influencer Coach.
7. Not Ensuring Mobile Optimization: Why a Mobile-Friendly Coaching Website is Crucial
We say this alllll the time, but now more than ever more people are browsing websites on their phones than on desktop computers. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you're likely losing out on potential clients. A mobile-friendly website is essential for providing a smooth user experience and ensuring that visitors can easily navigate your site, no matter what device they use.
Test your website on different devices to make sure it’s responsive. Pay special attention to elements like font size, navigation menus, and clickable buttons to ensure they’re all easy to use on a mobile device.
8. Making It Hard for Clients to Reach You: Why Your Coaching Website Needs a Simple Contact Form and Scheduling Link
If your website visitors can’t easily contact you, you might lose out on potential clients, and what’s the point then? A simple, but effective contact form asking just the right questions makes it easy for visitors to reach out, inquire about your services, and help you assess if you’re a good fit for their needs. Additionally, offering a scheduling link for a discovery call or first consultation eliminates the black hole of back-and-forth of emails and lets clients book a convenient time that works for them and you.
Consider adding a contact form to your website and a link to your online calendar in the footer of every page. This way, visitors can easily find the way to reach out or book a call without any hassle.
Fix These Mistakes to Build a Website that Converts
We could go on and on, unfortunately, because there is a whole smorgasbord of coaching site snafus we see in our line of work. But, we hope this simple list of 8 easy-to-repair issues will help you build a coaching website that is more than just a placeholder; your site is a tool that can help you grow your business, attract and book new clients, and establish and reinforce your expertise. By avoiding these 8 common mistakes, you can create a website that not only looks great but works for you.
If you’re unsure where to start or want expert guidance on building a website that doesn’t have these common mistakes, we’re here to help!