In this post, you’ll learn how to use Google to solve any technology problem you might come across as you grow your coaching business and build your website.
Why Googling Matters
I once heard an experienced software developer jokingly call himself a “Senior Googler.” I laughed at the comment at the time, but in all seriousness, Google is a tremendous tool when doing anything technology-related. So much so that even senior software developers use it every day to solve technology problems.
Becoming good at Google is the #1 skill that will help you solve any tech-related challenge you’ll face in your business.
Technology problems are inevitable
We all use technology to run our businesses. Whether it’s an online scheduler, our email marketing software, or plain ol’ social media posting, it’s just a part of our lives.
And every once in a while there’s something we don’t know how to do. Or maybe that happens to you a lot, and that’s okay, too. You’re learning! Have some grace.
When you run into issues with the tech in your business, including your website (because you will), don’t waste time banging your head against the wall. The answers you need are waiting to be found. You just need the right keywords to find them.
Be very specific with your Google searches
Learn to be very specific about the questions you type into Google. Instead of saying, “How do I put a picture on my webpage,” try, “How do I add a thumbnail image using WordPress.” The first one will give you results that might or might not be helpful. The second one will give you solutions specific to your problem and help you resolve it faster.
If you struggle to figure out the specific words to use to get the help you want on Google, I encourage you to just keep trying. Knowing the exact terms to search is a skill that you develop over time as you search for and solve more and more technical challenges in your coaching business.
As Jody Moore said in her podcast once, “You’re just one Google search away…”
Here are a bunch of examples:
Now I’m going to share with you some examples of Google searches I’ve made to solve technology-related questions and challenges for my clients or other coaches I know.
Example 1: Julie’s Active Campaign Question
One of my clients, Julie, decided to change her email marketing platform after her site was a few months old. She opted to take care of the change herself. That meant editing all the opt-in forms on her site that were built with WordPress and Elementor — a time-saving page builder — so the forms integrated with Active Campaign.
She asked me, “How do I do that?” I knew how, but I was looking for a help document to send to Julie so she could make the changes to the opt-in forms herself. So I searched on Google, “How to integrate Active Campaign with Elementor.” And came up with this handy article that’s exactly what Julie needed and was able to send it to her.
Example 2: Amanda’s Spam Prevention Question
Another coach I know, Amanda, kept having spam come through on her website opt-in forms. Emails that weren’t real people (they were either bots or spammers) kept opting in on her website, cluttering up her email list.
Amanda asked me, “How can I prevent spammers from opting in on my website forms?” I knew she, like Julie, was using Elementor as the page builder on her WordPress website, so I Googled, “How to prevent spam on Elementor forms.” And this help doc came up that I was able to send to Amanda to help solve her problem.
Example 3: This Works on YouTube Also
These same search strategies work on YouTube as well as Google. For example, sometimes newer coaches I know who aren’t ready for a website yet ask me, “How can I start my email list without a website?”
I tell them to search around on YouTube. If you type in, “How to quickly start email list without a website,” you’ll actually find in the list of results a video I created about how to do just that. Video is a great medium for learning how to work with technology!
Some final thoughts
Now you know how to become a master Googler and solve any tech problem that comes your way.
Want more tips to help you DIY your website? You can check out my 5 tips for a sleek website to learn about some of my favorite technology that will be sure to help your website function well. I wrote that guide with those who are building their site themselves in mind, but it’s helpful even if you aren’t DIYing it!
