3 ways to get your website done even if it’s not perfect
With a few exceptions, every business needs a website.
But in 6 years of helping business owners get their websites written, I’ve noticed a phenomenon that is downright crippling to making money in business.
It’s not just a phenomenon – it’s an epidemic.
What is it?
Perfectionism, combined with an error in thinking. The perfectionism tells you, “it has to be perfect for it to work.”
And the thinking error is that you can’t “get out there” or ask people for business UNLESS your website is finished.
Man, I cannot tell you how crazy this idea makes me.
Because it is a big ole excuse. It’s the fear talking.
Also?
Even if you hate writing, it’s way more cozy to sip tea and feel frustrated writing and rewriting a web page than it is to go out and ask people for money.
Just sayin’.
So, if you find yourself in this boat, don’t sweat it. Just get your website finished as quickly as you can, so you can get back to talking to potential clients and asking them to work with you.
Here are things I advise to make that happen:
- Fix the thinking error. YOU DO NOT NEED A WEBSITE TO MAKE MONEY IN BUSINESS. Whatever you are telling yourself you “need to have a website” to do (giving a talk, or setting up conversations with potential clients) – ask yourself, “do I really?”
Yes, yes, credibility. A place for them to check you out, and all that. Blah blah blah. Ninety percent of the time, when someone tells me they HAVE to have a website, I talk them out of it. Especially if you are starting out.
I have talked to so many people who use “making a website” as a BIG FAT EXCUSE to avoid asking people for money and getting rejected. I do not judge them. I am often scared and uncomfortable in my business. I get it. But I do tell them that having a website is a long game strategy for making money. If they want faster cash, they need to talk to people and yep, get rejected. (People reject you all the time in business. It’s one of the reasons I like to tell my clients that “growing a business is the most lucrative form of therapy.”)
- Consider a smaller website – or a splash page. If you really need to get clients, it may not make sense to take on a big website project right now. The two options here are: 1) scale back the project and do it in phases (write your homepage and about page, but save the Speaker page for Phase II); or 2) just build a one page site where you tell people “great things coming soon!” and put your contact info.
- Give yourself more structure. The biggest reason smart people get caught in procrastination or endless rounds of rewrites of their website is that they are doing it alone. Their mind is like a dark alley. It’s kind of scary in there. There’s no sidekick with a flashlight saying “Over here. I found the way out. Let’s go.” Instead, they get a mound of self-doubt and old stuff they forgot to work out in therapy. (Good news! Growing a business is the most lucrative form of therapy.)
All that said, my students tell me that writing a website helps them get clear about who they are and what they do – and how to express that in a way that sounds fresh and human.
They also tell me that doing it in a pack – with a group of business owners from a range of industries – makes all the difference in their ability to get the sucker done in record time.
The truth is, being perfect doesn’t win you clients.. or bonus points. It just makes you more crazy (not in the good way)… and less fun at parties. If you want to let go of your white knuckle death grip on getting your website written, join us for the February session of the Write Your Website production lab. We’ll help you get it done – and be proud of the final result.
Mighty thanks to Integra Global Solutions flickr photostream for the “What is yours..?” image.
Like this article – but want some hand holding and community as you get your website good, done, and set up to list build and win clients? Come to the free public training on how to write a homepage – register here.
