Take a fresh look at your lifestyle.

The Keys to Creating a Website That Helps You Reach Your Goals

0


How to create your dream website

 

The purpose of the post is to empower you with the truth and to help you gain some new perspectives about website design and what can help you create a successful website.

I’ve been designing websites since the 90’s, and have even created multiple successful online businesses and blogs of my own! That being said, my successes have certainly not come without struggles (which I’ll share later in this post) No, no. My entrepreneurial journey has been quite the rollercoaster of a ride. I’ve experienced some of the highest of highs, but I’ve also experienced some of the lowest of lows (I’m talking, REAL LOW). That being said, I’ve learned a thing or two about what works, and what doesn’t, when it comes to building a website and business that helps you reach your goals and dreams.

My intention is to share some of my biggest key tips in this post!  

But first, I need to share a few (possibly harsh) truths. Remember, the truth may piss you off at first, but it always sets you free in the end! 😉

Here’s a bit about my experience…

Many people have come to me “just wanting to get a quick website up,” without taking the time to really plan things out and without creating a strong foundation for their brand first. They also believe a $5 logo they bought from Etsy is their “brand” (it’s not).

If this sounds like you, I’d like for you to ask yourself the following questions:

  • Why do I want a website?
  • What am I hoping a website will do for me?
  • Why do I feel rushed to get a website up?

What I’ve discovered is that most people want a website because they believe it will help them make money.

They are hoping that once it’s built, the customers/clients/money will flood in and their business will really take off! 

And they feel rushed because subconsciously they are feeling a sense of fear about something… something that probably comes with not having enough money (and this is why they don’t want to go through a brand strategy process).

This means that they are creating a website from a place of fear and lack… and we all know that never leads to anything good!

I know lots of people who had websites built that didn’t gain traffic, attract clients, make them money, etc. People who spent lots of time, money, and energy creating a “pretty” website that did nothing for them but sit there a do just that, look “pretty.”

Knowing that’s a possibility, wouldn’t you want to know what DOES help you create a website that gains traffic, attracts and lands clients, and makes money?

The truth is, a website is just one part of a bigger brand ecosystem, not the one thing that’s going to change your whole business + life! There’s a lot that goes into developing a website that helps you reach your goals and create your dreams, and my intention is to help you create one of those kinds of websites!

And it starts with our mindset and the intentions behind what we do…

The Purpose of a Website:

The purpose of a website should not be to make money.

The purpose of a website should be to help people.

  • Help people understand what you do, who you serve, how you serve them, how you are different, why you do things the way they do them, and why it all matters so they can see the value you can provide for them and make that emotional connection with you (people buy based on their emotions and what they value).
  • Help people learn something new through your blog that helps them see a new perspective (this helps them better understand your process and why you do things a certain way… opening them up to your unique approach).
  • Help people learn how to do something, learn something, achieve a goal, etc. through a product or service you offer (this helps them reach their next level and keeps them coming back for more!)

It all goes back to your WHY and the reason you started your business in the first place. A big part of why you started your business was because you wanted to be able to make a difference in people’s lives, doing something you love. You’re not doing what you do solely for the money. You’re doing what you do because you feel passionate about it and enjoy sharing your gifts + passions with others! Why? For the simple reason that it brings you feelings of joy, happiness, and fulfillment! 

And THAT is the reason why you should want a website. To be able to make a difference in the lives of others just by being yourself and sharing what you love and feel passionate about.

And as a little magical reminder, when you create something from a place of LOVE, the abundance will naturally come. 😉✨✨✨

All that being said, you’re now probably wondering what will help you get ready for a website…

Strategy

The Best Way to START Preparing for Your Website

In order to create a website that helps you reach your goals and dreams, you’ll want to first establish a strong foundation for your brand.

You can start doing this by taking yourself through a brand strategy process.

What is Brand Strategy?

Brand strategy is essentially the research and planning phase that helps you create a brand + business that sets you up for success! And it’s where you want to start if you’re looking to build a brand, website, and BUSINESS that truly makes a difference in this world… plus live the kind of lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of living!

Your business is the products and services you provide. It’s the structure and the male energy.

Your brand is the emotional connection you make with your clients. It’s your reputation and how people think and feel about you and your brand based on their experiences with you. It’s the intuitive side and the female energy.

Creating a brand is the real key to success because people buy based on their emotions, not on their wallets. They need to feel like you truly care and they need to see the value in what you’re offering or else your marketing efforts will fall flat.

To set yourself up for success, you need your business + brand working in harmony together! And that’s where brand strategy comes into play. 🙂

Why is Brand Strategy Important?

Brand strategy is the important foundational piece that most businesses skip, mostly because they aren’t aware that it’s what they need. Or they believe it will “take too long,” (I’m guilty of both of these things!) I’ve learned – THE HARD WAY – that without taking the time to go through a brand strategy process, it takes longer to get the kind of results we’re wanting.

A brand strategy process will help you get clear on your mission, your message, and all the foundational components that make up a strong brand foundation. And you’ll need to be clear on these things FIRST in order to successfully communicate them through all of your visuals, marketing, and website.

Brand strategy gives your brand depth. It helps you create a clear message that emotionally connects with the people who need you the most + helps you create the products, and services that not only make a difference in people’s lives but also provide positive experiences. Your messaging is what really sells people, not the visuals. The visuals just support the message. And you need to get clear on your messaging first because it’s what all of your visuals are created from!

My Background + Story.. and WHY I feel So Strongly About Brand Strategy

It has personally taken me 20 years (and a whole lot of pain, struggles, and debt!) to realize that brand strategy is where I needed to start in order to create a successful business that made a difference and allowed me to live the kind of lifestyle I wanted to live.

I WISH I knew about this back in 2003 when I started my first website design business. Even though I had a website for my business, I struggled to get enough clients and charge what I needed to charge in order to live sustainably. I ended up having to get a 9-5 job and did that for 10 years until I felt confident enough to try again. At the end of 2012, I quit my 9-5 job and started my second website design business, yet quickly discovered I STILL didn’t know how to get clients and make enough money to live the kind of lifestyle I wanted to live.

Refusing to go back to a 9-5 job, I ended up getting a bunch of side jobs that could help me pay my bills while I figured things out. But this just led to a lot of stress, struggles, exhaustion, debt, and unhappiness. I really wanted more out of my business and my life and I was determined to figure out what I needed to do to create the business and life of my dreams!

In 2021, I invested in a coach who helped me learn how to attract clients, land clients + make more money through my brand and website design business. She introduced me to the brand strategy process and showed me how it was the key to taking things to a whole new level in ANY business!

So since then, I’ve been taking myself through my own brand strategy process to get clear on what my own brand + business is all about and how my energy reading skills will be incorporated into my process/unique approach. This has been a LONG and BRUTAL journey because I had a lot of blocks, but I’ve realized that I had so many blocks BECAUSE a big part of my business + purpose in life is to help people with their own blocks. To help them overcome the blocks and limitations that are holding them back from creating the business and life of THEIR dreams! To help them set themselves FREE so they can truly live happy, abundant, and fulfilling lives!

I had to overcome my blocks first in order to know HOW to help others overcome theirs. Our biggest struggles eventually become part of our story… part of our brand… and the emotional connection we create with others. 😉 Once we find ways to overcome these, we can share our findings with others through our businesses (and blog posts like this one!)

Where I’m Taking My Business From Here

I’ve discovered that my design business needs to expand to include brand strategy to help people prepare for the design process. I also need to include coaching + energy reading services so I can help people with blocks when they come up (and they will, no doubt!)

I wanted to write this post to share this wisdom and knowledge with others. To help them understand what they need to do and why they need to do them before we get to the website part. 

I want to be perceived as a Healer/Coach/Brand Strategist first, and a designer second. I absolutely LOVE design and being creative, but I also LOVE setting goals and achieving them, and strategy, coaching + healing are what is needed to achieve our goals!

Through the multi-dimensional aspects of my business, I want to help people discover their SOUL’S PURPOSE + what they came to this planet to do! And then help them bring their work into this world, unapologetically!

If you are ready to step into your purpose, I’d love to support you! Feel free to contact me and let me know where you’re at, what you’re struggling with, and where you’re trying to go, so I can better see what you need!



Source link

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.