Ask The Wise Woman: A Pitiful Website or None at All?

This question came in via Facebook and is from PR, a mentor/coach from Wellesley.

PR is just starting out in her business – she has a few clients, and is trying to build her clientele through print advertising, flyers in local centers & shops, and by sending periodic emails to friends & family to spread the word.  With a friend’s help, she was able to secure a domain name and then used a basic WordPress template to create a two-page website, which has a brief description of who she is and what she offers, as well as a way to contact her.  However, she reports that her inexperience with WordPress and technology in general has resulted in a website that she is very unhappy with.  Her question was – is a “pitiful” (her word!) website better than no website at all?

In my opinion, especially if you’re just starting out, not having a website is better than having one that is poorly designed, lacking in content or simply one that doesn’t make you happy.  If you don’t like it, nobody else will – that’s how the universe works!  More specifically – you want to put something out into the world that reflects YOU and that “speaks” to your potential clients the way that you would speak with them in person.

A really great solution?  Set up an About.me page and let that be your online presence while you craft your offerings and clarify your message.  An About.me page is like a suped-up online business card – free, super easy to create, and gives you an easy-to-remember URL that you can use for printed materials and in your email signature.  Here’s mine:  about.me/phylliswilson for an example, but check out the website for even better ideas!