How A Website Changed My Business
No, really, it did. I know it sounds dramatic… but publishing a website that represents ME changed everything!
Do you struggle to find a balance between giving the best “client experience” and just flat-out being drained from inquiries + communication? I get it — I was on the struggle bus too. AND THEN - the blessing of a system for my business was developed! I hired a web designer, and two months later my inbox was flooded with inquiries, I didn’t feel drained from my inbox, and I had a landing page that I was proud of! Hear me out - I’m going to help you do this too!
I often found myself answering the same questions over and over and over again — “do you travel?” - yes “what’s your pricing?” - more details please “can you do the bride only” - nope, I have a minimum … the list goes on and on. Sound familiar? At the end of the day, I was so frustrated answering the same questions that I know I wasn’t being overly friendly. whoops. Their questions were valid… my system was not.
“A bad system will beat a good person every time.”
Now, I direct brides straight to my website, and BAM - their questions are answered! Hallelujah! 🙌🏼 Without having to spend time and energy replying to questions in my inbox, I have way more freedom to put my best foot forward and give them an experience they enjoy! Trust me - I don’t think they liked being in my DM’s either, but it was the only option I was giving them.
Pricing guides, calendar availability, frequently asked questions, and so much more are now available for the bride to view, and they are able to decide if I am the right fit for them before we even speak. I think that is pretty darn magical. When I receive an inquiry, I am excited! We are just two emails away from her being a Kaylee Mitchell Bride—YAY! The client experience is no longer at the mercy of my time, but the system I have created.
Another large reason for producing a website was to build a brand that truly represents my personality, my values, and builds trust with brides. Creating an elevated experience has added value to my business and built confidence for a bride to book services with me. WIN WIN WIN!
So, here’s what you should do —
Form a list of questions you get asked often, and answer them! These need to be easily accessible for brides to view on the website. It will save time for both you and her!
Identify your brand! Colors, fonts, logos, images, etc. What do you want your bride to think of when they see your work? Is it happy, somber, fun, deep in emotion, moody, bright? Use descriptive words to begin building your personality into your work. Include things about yourself not associated with bridal work too! People want to see WHO they are hiring and WHY they should choose you over others!
Build a portfolio - brides love seeing pictures! The hairstyles you enjoy doing most… put those at the top of your gallery! Sprinkle them throughout your website to begin building trust with the styles you are confident creating.
Get started! — grab a notebook, a Google doc, however you work best… and start writing it all down! This is what the professionals call a “brain dump”. What do you want your welcome page to look like, your pricing guide, your calendar with availability, FAQS, an inquiry form, gallery? What do you want to say, and how do you want the viewer to feel? What makes you frustrated with your booking process, and what do you enjoy about it? I brought all these things to a web designer and she helped me organize my mess into a streamlined system that WORKED!
I know wholeheartedly that having a website changed my business, my client relationships, and my level of productivity–and I truly believe it will change yours too!
Now… are you ready to take the next step with a website designer? [click here] to connect with Kaitlyn at Fated Studio! She did OUTSTANDING work with my brand, website, graphics, and so much more! I cannot recommend her enough.
I cannot wait to see your work brought to life + your systems working FOR you, not against you!
