The first time I chat with a new client, they are usually full of questions about my approach: When will I see what you’re working on? How often will I hear from you? Do I just see my website when it’s all done? What do you need from me?
Because you might have similar questions, I thought it would be helpful to walk you through my whole workflow in a blog post.
Here’s a peek at what it’s like to work with me behind the scenes.
Week 0 | Website Planning. Once I sign you on as a client, we schedule an hour for a planning call. We talk through everything you’d like to include on your website. It can be helpful for you to do some research beforehand so that you have a good idea of what kind of websites you like and don’t like. After years of designing websites for coaches, I know what structure tends to work well, and I’ll weigh in with some ideas about what content could be valuable to feature.
Week 1 | Brand Clarity. You’ll meet with my brand-design partner, Deena Rutter. She’ll share a Pinterest board with you that will serve as inspiration for your brand identity. You can also pin to the board websites you like or images that evoke a feeling you’d like to convey on your own site. Deena will create a few options for your logo, fonts, and a color scheme, and then she’ll hop on a call with you to discuss them. Once you decide on those brand-design essentials, she can use those basics to create other assets you’ll need down the road, like a freebie, fillable worksheet, and so on.
Week 2 | Website Prototype. I’ll send you a prototype of your website, which is basically a black-and-white version of the site. It doesn’t look very pretty, but it quickly gets us on the same page about where everything is going to go—and how the site is going to flow. This prototype will help you as you write the copy that will go on your site. You’ll see where some punchy headlines will go, where testimonials will be featured, and where your body copy will be placed—and how much room you’ll have for it.
Week 3 | Design Mockup. This is a really fun week because you’ll get your first peek at the design. I’ll design a couple of different versions of your home page using nice, professional photographs of you as well as the fonts, colors, and the logo Deena has created. You’ll be able to get a feel for how your overall brand design comes together, and we can decide on a version of the home page that you like best.
Week 4 | Design Full Draft. At this point, I should already have all of your copy for the website. Using your home page as my guide, I’ll design the rest of your web pages and send them to you for feedback. Though you’ll see what the website will look like in its entirety, at this stage you’ll only be viewing an image of the design.
Week 5 | Development & Revisions. We’re finally building your website out! I’ll develop it in the browser, so you’ll get your first look at a dynamic, functional website. You can play around on it to get a feel for how it flows. You’ll likely find some bugs, but there’s no need to worry. I’ve built time into the schedule to work out those kinks.
Week 6 | Revisions Round 2. I’ll incorporate any revisions you have into the developed site. I’ll also integrate any third-party software you’ll need, like ConvertKit or MailerLite, and an Acuity page. We’ll make sure everything functions correctly and is working as it should.
Week 7 | Testing & Launch. “Houston, we’re ready for lift-off.” But first, we’ll walk through a 38-point checklist to be sure there are no loose screws or sticky buttons. I’m really thorough with testing so you can rest assured that we’ll have a smooth launch. Then, it’s go-time for your business!
Is this website build going to take over my life?
I’m here to make your life easier, not harder. I know how precious your time is as a coach, so don’t worry about scheduling a million calls with me over 7 weeks.
In fact, I schedule only one call with my clients—during the first week, when we plan out your website. Then, you’ll talk to Deena the second week. After that, you can expect about one email a week from me with a link to a design mock-up or working draft, etc. I’ll also send you a video of me talking you through where I am in the process.
If you want to talk about something in-depth, I’m always happy to jump on a Zoom call. But, I leave that up to my clients to request.
Will I have homework?
Yes, this is a group effort. I’ll do my part to make your website look professional and streamlined, but you’ll need to provide images and copy to make it sing. You can read this post to understand everything you’ll need to deliver on your end.
What if I want to update my website after it’s built?
Designing and building a website is usually just the start of a great working relationship with my clients. As coaches gain success in their business, they don’t want to spend precious time maintaining and updating their website. That’s why I offer a few packages for ongoing website care.
As much as I love delivering an amazing final product, I love working with my clients even more. Life coaches are so fun—they’re enthusiastic, forward-thinking, and excited to make progress on their goals. As it turns out, my clients like working with me, too.
What some past clients have said about my process:
“An amazing experience. She guides you along the whole way so an otherwise daunting task doesn’t seem so difficult. Her process and system to get you from zero to hero on the web is second to none.” —Dave Moreno
“Everything she did was amazing the first time around. Her communication is also incredible. I love being tuned in to where we were at throughout the project. I loved seeing the progress. She did everything on time, which I so appreciated.” —Jamie Berman
“Working with Jennie was a DREAM. She is so prepared and organized and spelled out the whole process from the start. Making it as easy as possible. She saved me so much time (our greatest asset) and mind drama so I could focus on my clients while she made an incredibly beautiful and fully functioning website.” —Heather Shuler
I take a lot of pride in making my process as smooth as possible. Like so much else in life, the journey is just as important as the destination. I find that a lot of my clients gain more clarity in their business as we build their website, and I love guiding them through that growth.
If you’d like to chat about a new website for your coaching business, click here to get in touch.
