Complete Guide to Coaching Websites: Everything You Need to Know [2025]

12. Social proof

Credibility is a big problem for many coaches and consultants when it comes to their online presence, especially if their services, programs, courses, products and brands are not well-known in the marketplace.

Lack of trust is one of the main reasons visitors don’t convert into paying customers. The good news is, there are several things you can do to prove your credibility:

• Include testimonials and product reviews from happy customers.
• Provide as many contact details as possible.
• Share case studies of people you have helped – outline the problem, the process you took them through and the outcome they achieved.
• List details of any reputable trade associations you belong to.
• Add any media articles that have been written about you or your business, both online and offline.
• Provide details of any awards you have won.
• List community projects and charities you are involved in.
• Share your numbers – have you sold thousands of copies of your book, has your course assisted hundreds of people? Include the details on your website
• Celebrity / Influencer endorsement – if your brand has been mentioned by an influencer, include it on your website
• Speaker profile – if you’ve ever spoken at a networking event or at a conference – share photos and videos from your presentation

For other ways to prove your credibility, check out 27 Valuable Ways to Boost Your Website Credibility 

13. Calls to action

You need to be very clear about what you want your visitors to do when they land on one of your pages.

Do you want them to:

• book an appointment
• join you on a webinar
• download a report
• subscribe to a mini course

Tell them where and how.

Make sure your calls to action are on all your pages, as visitors will not always arrive at your website via your homepage.

With every piece of content you write, put yourself in your visitor’s shoes and ask “What next”.

In other words, if you have written a blog post – what is the next step they should take?

Here are 44 powerful calls to action for you to consider.

14. Photos and videos

Visual content such as photos and videos can play a crucial role in enhancing the overall look and feel of a website. They not only make the website more appealing to visitors but also help in conveying information and building trust.

However, it is important to carefully choose and use visual content on a website, as poor-quality or irrelevant visuals can have the opposite effect.

Think of using photos and videos on your website like adding seasoning to a dish. The way seasoning can enhance the flavour of a dish, visuals can enhance the message and appeal of your website.

However, just as too much seasoning can overpower a dish, too many visuals can overwhelm a website. It’s important to find the right balance and use visuals strategically to enhance the user experience.

• Use high-quality images and videos: Low-quality visuals can make your website look unprofessional. Ensure that the images and videos you use are of high quality, clear, and in focus.
• Use relevant images and videos: Ensure that the visuals you use on your website are relevant to the content on the page. This helps to reinforce your message and make it more memorable.
• Avoid using stock images: While stock images can be convenient, they are often overused and can make your website look generic. Consider taking your own photos or hiring a photographer to create custom visuals for your website.
• Use images and videos to break up text: Walls of text can be overwhelming and discouraging to read. Break up your text with images and videos to make it more digestible and engaging.
• Optimise image and video file sizes: Large files can slow down your website’s loading time, leading to a negative user experience. Optimise your images and videos by compressing them to reduce their file size.
• Use captions and alt tags: Captions and alt tags can improve your website’s accessibility and help with search engine optimisation. Ensure that your captions and alt tags accurately describe the visuals they accompany.

15. Website layout

An effective website layout is critical to the success of any website. It’s the first impression your audience will have of your brand, and it can make or break their decision to stay and engage with your content. A well-designed layout can improve user experience, increase engagement, and ultimately drive conversions. In this subsection, we’ll explore key tips and strategies for creating an effective website layout that will capture your audience’s attention and keep them coming back for more.

Here are some tips for creating an effective website layout:

• Keep it simple and consistent: A clean and simple layout can improve user experience and help them find what they’re looking for quickly. Consistency in design elements such as fonts, colours, and spacing can also make the website more visually appealing.
• Prioritize content: Prioritize important content by placing it prominently on the page. Make sure to also break up content with headings, subheadings, and bullet points to make it easier to read.
• Use white space: Don’t be afraid of white space – it can help create a clean and organized design, and make important elements stand out.
• Make it mobile responsive: More and more people are accessing websites from their mobile devices, so it’s essential your website is mobile responsive. This means the layout should adapt to different screen sizes, making it easy to navigate on both desktop and mobile.
• Use visual hierarchy: Visual hierarchy can help guide users through the website and highlight the most important information. This can be achieved through the use of size, colour, and placement of design elements.
• Keep it easy to navigate: Make sure your website is easy to navigate by using clear and concise menus and navigation bars. Users should be able to find what they’re looking for in just a few clicks.
• Test and refine: Finally, be prepared to test and refine your website layout over time. Monitor user behaviour and make adjustments based on their feedback to improve the user experience.

16.  Compelling Homepage

A homepage is the first impression that a website makes on its visitors, and it sets the tone for the rest of the user experience. Therefore, designing a compelling homepage is critical for the success of a website. Here are some tips on how to design a compelling homepage:

• Clear and concise messaging: The homepage should have a clear and concise message that tells the visitors what the website is about, what it offers, and how it can benefit them.
• Compelling visuals: Use high-quality visuals, such as images and videos, to grab visitors’ attention and convey the brand’s message. Make sure that the visuals are relevant to the brand and the website’s content.
• Easy navigation: The homepage should have easy navigation that allows visitors to find the information they need quickly and easily. Use a clear and consistent navigation menu that is easy to understand and use.
• Clear call to action: The homepage should have a clear call to action that encourages visitors to take the next step, whether it’s to sign up for a newsletter, make a purchase, or contact the brand.
• Mobile responsive design: With the increasing use of mobile devices, it’s essential to design a homepage that is mobile responsive. Ensure that the website’s layout is optimised for smaller screens, and the content is easy to read and navigate on mobile devices.
• Loading speed: A fast-loading homepage is essential to keep visitors engaged. Optimise the website’s images, videos, and other content to reduce the loading time.
• Consistent branding: Ensure that the homepage’s design and branding are consistent with the rest of the website and the brand’s messaging.
• Social proof: Use social proof, such as customer testimonials and reviews, to build trust and credibility with visitors.

17. Additional functionality

WordPress lets you add extra functionality through the use of plugins.  There are thousands of plugins available – most have a free version, which is often sufficient.  Some plugins which may be useful if you are a coach or consultant include:

• Booking calendar for one on one consulting/coaching sessions
• Workshops/seminar registrations
• Online courses
• Membership portals
• Email software
• Automation software
• eCommerce for selling products including books
• Live chat
• Podcast integration

18. Set up Google my Business Listing

Getting your website ranked high in search engines takes time.  For new small businesses that can be 12-18 months.  Alternatively you can run Google Adwords, which can cost a lot of money, while you test different ads and offer.

One thing you can do is to set up Google My Business listing.  The listing is free and allows you to reach customers in your local area.

Make sure you complete all your details and ask customers to leave a review, as this can help attract new customers.

Set up Google My Business Profile.

19. Optimise Your Website for Search Engines

Optimising a website for search engines is a crucial aspect of building a successful online presence. By following some basic principles, you can ensure that your website ranks well in search engine results pages, bringing more traffic to your site and increasing the visibility of your brand. In this section, we will discuss some key strategies for optimising your website for search engines.

One of the most important things to keep in mind when optimising your website is that search engines are looking for relevant, high-quality content that provides value to users. This means that you should focus on creating content that is informative, engaging, and useful to your target audience.

In addition to creating high-quality content, you will also need to pay attention to the technical aspects of your website, such as its structure, page speed, and mobile-friendliness. By optimising these elements, you can ensure that search engines can crawl and index your site effectively, leading to higher rankings in search results.

Overall, optimising your website for search engines is an ongoing process that requires attention to both content and technical elements.

• Conduct keyword research to identify popular and relevant search terms for your industry or niche
• Use your chosen keywords strategically in your website content, including titles, headings, meta descriptions, and throughout the body copy
• Create high-quality, engaging content that is valuable to your target audience and naturally incorporates your chosen keywords
• Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and has a fast loading speed
• Use descriptive and keyword-rich file names and alt tags for all images on your website
• Build high-quality backlinks to your website from other reputable websites in your industry or niche
• Ensure your website has a clear and organized structure, including a sitemap, to make it easier for search engines to crawl and index your pages
• Regularly update your website with fresh content to keep it relevant and engaging for both users and search engines
• Monitor your website’s analytics and adjust your strategy as needed to improve its search engine ranking performance.

20. Monitor and Analyse Your Website’s Performance

Monitoring and analysing your website’s performance is essential for ensuring its success. With tools like Google Analytics, you can gain valuable insights into how visitors interact with your site and use this data to make informed decisions about how to improve it. Here are some reasons why monitoring and analysing your website’s performance is so important:

• Understanding your audience: By monitoring your website’s performance, you can gain a better understanding of your audience. You can see where your visitors are coming from, what pages they are visiting, and how long they are staying on your site. This information can help you tailor your content and marketing efforts to better meet the needs of your target audience.
• Identifying areas for improvement: By analysing your website’s performance, you can identify areas that need improvement. For example, if you notice that visitors are leaving your site after only a few seconds, you may need to reevaluate your homepage or navigation to make it more engaging and user-friendly.
• Measuring the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns: By tracking your website’s performance, you can see how well your marketing campaigns are performing. You can track how many visitors are coming to your site from each campaign, how long they are staying, and how many are converting into customers.
• Making data-driven decisions: By using data to inform your decisions, you can make more informed choices about how to improve your website. Instead of making changes based on guesswork, you can use data to identify areas that need improvement and make changes that are more likely to be effective.