Investing in a website as soon as you establish your business can seem like a frivolous expense, especially if you can “do it yourself,” but what if that choice actually costs your business thousands of dollars in missed clients? I’m going to outline five mistakes that people make when you DIY your website, so you can ensure your website is attracting your aligned clients.

MISTAKE #1

You don’t use photos of your own work on your website.

Cringe. When becoming a new entrepreneur, sometimes you don’t have a portfolio of work to advertise on your website- so you use other people’s work as inspiration. Let’s break this down for why it’s a bad idea when creating your own website.

1. Hello copyright infringement. You do not own the copyright to use these photos, unless you purchased a license from the owner. Prevent a lawsuit and use your own photos.
2. Your clients are going to trust that when they hire you that the work they see on your website is to be expected from your business. If this is not your work, they cannot make this decision appropriately.
3. Missed opportunities for aligned clients. Clients that stumble upon your website and don’t see your actual work (especially if it aligns with what they’re looking for), they will look elsewhere! Ensure that you’re working with the best clients for you by always posting your favorite work.

MISTAKE #2

Your website is unorganized.

When a potential client stumbles upon your website, we want to make sure that it follows an organized format to easily answer their questions, address their concerns, and direct them to a contact form that is easy to submit to you.

If your website appears unorganized, is uneasy to read, or worse- doesn’t have a clear direction to work with you, they will get confused and bounce off your website.

A confused lead never inquires, so always answer their questions and make your website easy to follow.

MISTAKE #3

The links don’t work.

Before publishing your website, make sure that all of your links work and direct them to the right webpage. If your links are broken, this adds to the client experience and makes it unlikely that they will continue to a contact form to connect with you.

MISTAKE #4

The language doesn’t align with your client’s words.

Copywriting is an art. It has a way of telling a story in a way that best communicates with your aligned client’s problems, desire for the future, and conveys your brand and personality. DIY website designers typically aren’t professional copywriters, so there can be a misalignment between your messaging and what your client wants to hear.

MISTAKE #5

The website doesn’t align with your branding.

Brand image is everything. Each page should look cohesive. Each block should flow to the next. And all of your images should be carefully curated to align with your branding and coloring.

A professional brand and website designer will ensure that you have your avatar, values, and messaging dialed in to create an image that reflects your business in your website design.

Capture The Attention

Capturing your aligned clients with a beautiful first impression will give them more time on your website to determine that you can solve their problems, address their concerns, and create a working relationship that thrives. Prevent these common DIY mistakes by hiring a professional website and brand designer and create a window into your business that instantly clicks with your aligned clients.

If you want another set of eyes on your website to see how we can improve your website conversions, let’s connect in a complimentary website audit. We will discuss what could be improved on your website to ensure that you are connecting with the right audience, converting the lead into a client inquiry, and giving you more opportunities to close the deal.

Or, to read more about why you need a website in your business, check out our blog all about it here.