Recently, we hosted an incredible webinar with Thrive Magazine CEO, Susan Hay that provided actionable advice on how to improve your branding and marketing…
And one of the common questions that came afterwards was:
“Do I really need a website for my nutrition business? If so, where do I start?”
Fortunately, The Health Sciences Academy is equipped with more than a few MBAs and doctoral researchers – some of whom specialise in operating a business online.
So, we’ve put our collective heads together to answer some of your most burning questions, starting with this one…
What can a website do for your nutrition business?
Many of us realise that a small business based entirely on local word of mouth may not require a booming web presence.
However, if this business plans to grow past a small group of local clients, then making a debut on the world wide web becomes an impending necessity…
The TYPE of debut isn’t always the same though.
There are plenty of ways to grow your business online without the use of a website, including:
- Social media
- Online review sites
- Guest posts on the websites of others
- Online conferences, webinars, and summits
And all of these can be quite effective when done with a realistic goal in mind…
Is a website necessary for YOUR business?
The key to understanding whether a website is necessary for your nutrition or health coaching business lies in the overall goals of the business…
First, assess whether your current marketing and sales tactics are working and meeting your needs. After all, if something isn’t broken, there’s no need to hurry up and fix it.
For many nutrition business owners, a website doesn’t become important until they’re ready to scale, or decide they’d like to move into the remote workspace.
If you’re still unsure, ask yourself the following:
- Do you want this to become your full-time source of income and having a difficult time of it with your local client base?
- Are you wanting to work entirely online with a global audience?
- Do you need to grow market awareness and want to increase your customer reach to include a wider local audience?
- Are you gearing up to scale?
- Do you want to begin partnerships with other companies who have an online presence?
All of these are targets that would benefit from having a small, but functional, website.
If the thought of setting up a website results in sweaty palms and an irrational fear of Google – it’s okay! It doesn’t have to be as complicated as seems…
Setting up your website – the basics.
It’s no secret that web designers can cost a pretty penny. Fortunately, for every complicated web build out there, you can also find a simple (and free) website option!
1. Find your website provider
First, simply type “free websites” into your Google search bar. You’ll get a large number of responses, and it’s a good idea to look through several of them (everything from Google to Wix) to find one that you’re comfortable with.
Remember, you’ll be setting this up and maintaining it yourself (unless you prefer to hire a designer) so it needs to be something that you can navigate with relative ease. And keep in mind, there’s no shame in looking up YouTube tutorials when needed!
2. Determine exactly what you want on your site
Believe it or not, a one-page website will sometimes do the trick! Simply include a downloadable (or one page) list of your services and packages, your mission and business background (keeping text to a minimum), followed by up-to-date contact information.
If you enjoy writing or being on camera (a video blog), it might be a good idea to consider adding a blog to your basic website. This is also a great way to start your content marketing…
For those who feel more confident, it’s also possible to disperse information about services, along with testimonials, on a number of connected pages that are accessible via the homepage.
When it doubt – start simple!
3. Include images
Images can make your nutrition website more appealing and create a more welcoming atmosphere for your audience.
Stock images from companies like Adobe can cost quite a bit but are worth it when you plan on creating a long-term blog.
No money for images? No problem! Again, Google is your friend…
Simply look up “free stock photos” and you can find truly free sites like Pixabay or Pexels. Just keep in mind, “free” means that others will also have access to these, and you’ll see them used more frequently online.
There’s also the option of uploading your own images. Although, it’s important to make sure that these are professionally done and sized for optimal visual appeal.
Pro tip: Never use “cut and paste” images you find on other sites or through a regular search! This can result in costly copy right issues and suspension of your website!
4. Use other websites as a format guide
When feeling stuck, it can also help to pull up some well-known sites in the nutrition sector to get some style and format ideas!
Just remember to simplify these ideas, and to personalise them to fit your particular brand. It’s all about creating a message that aligns with your nutrition business and that presents a solution to your ideal customer.
5. Keep your website up to date
Set aside a few hours each month to revisit your website and to make any updates or blog entries necessary.
Keeping the information and look fresh will help refine your brand and establish a more credible online presence.
A website is great for nutrition business growth – and so are we.
Establishing a multi-service practice online can make or break the future of your nutrition or health coaching business.
The more you can offer to the ideal clients within your niche, the more likely you are to grow and sustain your business over time…
Ready to get started? Click here to check out our full range of certifications!
