The One Thing You Must Never Get Wrong On Your Website!
There is one thing that absolutely MUST be on your website if you are a one-person outfit, and that is an image of YOU. I am constantly amazed at how many people who I coach who do not display their image on the homepage of their website.
If this is you, then consider this a wake up call. Missing the opportunity to have your photo on your website is the equivalent of running a convenience store and hiding behind the counter every time a customer walks in.
You must never use a website as an excuse to hide yourself. Your face offers your site visitors all of the benefits of dealing with a real person. It is a very powerful form of connection, and not putting into practice this basic online principle will severely impede your chances of turning web visitors into clients.
When choosing that all important image of yourself to use on your website, here are some important points to consider:
- Your photo should make a connection with potential clients. It should be authentic and show the ‘real you’ while maintaining your own brand of professionalism.
- Think about the sorts of qualities you want to portray as someone who helps others – for example friendly, approachable, competent, intelligent, kind and happy .
- Make sure it is a recent photo. Yes, you want to appear at your best but also need to maintain your integrity. That photo from the 1980s might make you feel younger, but it’s not exactly an accurate portrait of who you are now. You also don’t want to appear dated.
- The photo itself should be of good quality – not grainy, out of focus, poorly edited or proportioned.
- Consider using the services of a professional photographer. They will be able to put you at your ease and take a range of shots, and be able to edit or tweak your photo afterwards.
- Get a third party opinion of which is the best shot to use. It’s often really hard to be objective about your own appearance.
- Once you have your chosen image, crop it to focus mainly on your face, which is the most expressive part of you and the part that potential clients will be interested in.
Where do you think it would be best to put Testimonials? On the Home Page or on a separate page?
Thanks,
Irene
I agree with this totally. I’d add that I think it can be useful to attach your photo to your gravatar so that your photo comes up with your comments in wordpress blogs. Instead of the standard blue gravatar logo. I think it makes it a bit more personal and re-inforces your ‘brand’
It’s simple, free and easy to do and you only need to do it once and then it is connected to your email address for any comment you make on any gravatar enabled blog. Simply google “gravatar”. I enjoy and follow your work Ed. Great stuff. Looking forward to the next post.
Fantastic point Ben.
I’m often letting best practices slip myself and am very aware of that!
Thanks, I’m going to get my gravatar updated later today (yours looks great) so hopefully we’ll inspire others.
All the best
Ed
I agree that the photo is vital to the website building comfort and trust. New clients often tell me they chose me over another local hypnotherapist because of the smile or “kind face” in my pic!
Yes I agree fully, it important to make your photo easy to find and you will find it will appeal to more people it is your first point of sale. Make it work for you having a photo that is current is defiantly a must!
Thank you Ed and everyone
I am just starting to work on my website and Ed you have great advice!!!
The added plus is the blogs where I feel that I am not alone and everyone shares.
Great site, Great advice.
Wonderful!!!
Thanks
Hi Ed
Thanks for your information it is very beneficial and I am sure you are helping many hypnotherapists to improve how they run their businesses and get the word about hypnosis out there for the world to see. Keep up the great work.
Cheers
Hi Ed,
Really enjoyed your marketing freebie. What do you think about having a short welcome video on your homepage?
Tara
oops!
Another thing you must never get wrong is your website address! The above website is not mine!
Mine is http://www.hypnotherapypoole.co.uk
Tara
Tara, I would definitely recommend the short video message.
Keep it brief, informative and focused on your clients wants and needs.
It adds a face to the message and builds natural rapport and trust.
Hope this helps!
My spouse and I absolutely love your blog and find many of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for. Do you offer guest writers to write content for you personally? I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome website!