These days it seems everyone and their dog’s cat has a website. If you’re a solopreneur, you might feel like it’s something you “should” have. Especially if you’re bombarded daily with social media posts that make you have the dreaded FOMO.
Sure, a website can be an important part of your solo biz. But is it really essential? If you’re a coach, consultant, course creator, or creative entrepreneur, the decision to launch a website isn’t as straightforward as it seems.
Hopefully, this guide will help you answer the big questions:
When is the right time to launch a website?
Could there actually be a wrong time?
Why do you think you need a website?
Before jumping into this important investment, please ask yourself: “Why do I feel a website is important for my business?”
And “no—“Sarah also has one, and so should I.” – isn’t a valid enough answer.
Here are some questions to consider and some I ask leads on sales calls:
- What are your business goals? Are you looking to build authority, reach new clients, or sell products?
- Who is your audience? Does your audience Google when they want to buy a service, or do they engage more on social media?
- Do you have a brand identity and marketing strategy? If you’re not clear on your brand, a website may be full of contradictory information.
- Is your current income stable enough? Websites are investments—not just financially but also in terms of time. You know—time is money.
So it’s worth asking if the return on investment (ROI) will outweigh the costs at this stage.
So, when’s the right time to launch a website as a solopreneur?
pIf the answers to the previous question pointed you towards a: “yes, I really could launch a website for my small business”, read on.
Here are some scenarios when launching a website might be the right move:
1. You have an established business (and audience)
If you have a solid understanding of your audience, know what they’re looking for, and have tested your offer, a website can act as the “home base” for your brand.
Unlike social media, it allows you to create a single, branded space where potential clients can learn more about you, view your services, read your blog, and contact you in one click.
Also, you own it! So there’s no fear of overnight suspensions or other issues that happen so much these days on social media.
2. You’re ready to scale your solo business
Scaling often involves creating processes that allow you to step back a bit and reach a larger audience. A website can smooth out that journey by giving them easy access to your offers and free content.
For coaches, consultants, and course creators, a website can also serve as an all-in-one place for lead magnets, like free guides or mini-courses, instead of having different landing pages or forms in places like Canva or MailerLite.
3. You need a professional online presence
If you’re in a saturated field or competing with established players, having a website can give you a credibility boost.
According to research, 75% of consumers judge a business’s credibility based on its website design. So, if you want to stand out from the crowd, a well-branded website can make a difference. The better it looks, the liklier (I don’t think this is a real word, heh) it is for you to get leads.
4. You can invest in SEO content
For many solopreneurs (including me), building an audience on social media is the first step. But when it’s time to drive organic traffic and attract leads over the long term, a website opens the door to search engine optimization (SEO).
Research shows that 93% of online searches begin with a search engine (BrightEdge, 2021), so if you’re ready to attract new visitors from Google or Bing (yes, Bing is also a good option), a website with SEO-based content is the way to go.
SEO isn’t just keywords and search intent. It has some technical stuff to it, so I recommended to ask for help from a technical SEO expert.
They’ll take care of your:
website loading speed,
XML sitemap,
schema markup and other stuff.
When You Might NOT Need a Website
aNot every solopreneur needs a website right away—or even at all. Here are a few cases where not opting for a website might be the best choice for your solo business:
1. Your business is brand new
In the very early stages of a business, a website may feel overwhelming and unnecessary. You may not yet know who your ideal clients are or exactly what they need. Even if you do, there’s a chance you might pivot before settling for a niche (I know I did!).
So your time may be better spent in:
direct interaction with your target audience on social media,
refining your service, and
gathering testimonials from happy clients.
All of this will make it easier to write your website copy in the future.
2. You’re not clear on your brand message or audience
Building a website without clarity on your messaging or audience is like making a cake without a recipe. I mean, you may strike gold – but the chances are very, very small.
Not to mention that if you want the right clients, your website should offer content that truly resonates with them.
But if you’re still figuring out who you serve and what you offer, holding off on a website can save time and money. In that case, it’s better to do more research, especially on social media if you have a large enough base of followers.
3. You’re on a tight budget
A well-designed website can be a whoa-inducing investment. There are:
hosting costs,
domain registration fees,
potential developer costs,
and if you’re hiring a copywriter, that’s another expense.
If you’re on a tight budget, it may make sense to focus on social media and networking, which require little to no investment of your cash. Unless you want to go big on ads.
4. You’re already getting leads and sales from social media
Many solopreneurs run their businesses primarily through social media like Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube. These platforms make it easy to showcase expertise, interact with potential clients, and even sell services directly.
If social media alone is driving enough revenue and leads for you, relax, and continue building and nurturing your social media channels. But beware, social media can be fickle at times!
How to Know You’re Ready for a website: A quick checklist
Still on the fence? I’ve got your back, here’s a quick checklist that can serve as a reminder.
You might be ready to launch your website if:
-
- You’re clear on your messaging, offers and ideal clients.
- Your revenue is steady, and you’re ready to grow your business.
- You’re ready to showcase client testimonials and case studies.
- You have ideas for blogs, videos, or other resources.
- You can fit maintaining and updating the site in your schedule.
If you tick most of these boxes, a website could help elevate your brand, connect with new clients, and grow your business in ways that those pesky social media channels alone may not.
How to Get Started with Your First Website
If you’ve put aside all that doubt and impostor syndrome, roll up your sleeves, here are a few steps to start your new website:
- Pick a simple, user-friendly platform: For most solopreneurs, a straightforward platform like Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress is great for creating a professional website without heavy technical knowledge. But you can also hire a website designer if you don’t want to spend time on learning the ins-and-outs of web design and UX.
- Focus on the essentials: At first, keep it simple. Include the basics like an About page, Services page, and Contact page. As you grow, you can add blog posts, a resource library, or a portfolio section (this is great if you’re a designer, copywriter or journalist).
- Invest in quality copy: A website is only as effective as the message it delivers. The words on your website will impact how clients perceive you. If you’re not comfortable writing your copy, hire a pro copywriter who understands your brand voice and audience. (It’s me, hi!)
- Don’t forget SEO: Adding SEO elements from the start can help bring more organic traffic over time. Focus on keywords related to your niche, and use tools like Google Analytics or Google Search Console to track how people find you.
- Also, don’t forget about maintenance: Websites aren’t “set it and forget it.” Keeping your site updated with fresh content (Google loves it), relevant keywords, and new testimonials will help your business stay on top of readers’ and Google’s mind.
Still sitting on the fence? I have an interesting offer for you!
Launching a website is a big decision, and timing it right can make all the difference. If you feel ready to put your brand out there with a professional, polished website, or you’re simply wondering if the time is right, I’d love to help you in making that decision.
Get in touch by sending me an email, and we’ll arrange a 30-min disco video call. We’ll see how and if I can help you launch a website that’ll bring you a consistent flow of qualified leads who may turn into ideal clients.
