10 Website Myths Debunked

Ah, the weird fantasies we have about the mythical powers of websites. From telling ourselves that a website alone will bring us all the clients we ever need, to putting thousands of dollars on a credit card to pay for an expensive branding package in the hope that it’s the magic bullet that turns a dream of being your own boss into a reality… it’s time for some grounded straight-talk about what a website can – and cannot – do for your new or growing lifestyle business.

The first thing to keep in mind is that, contrary to popular belief, a website is not what gives you credibility, authority or expert status.

It is your work – and your reputation – that gives you credibility, authority, or expert status. (Not a website.)

There are a lot of folks online who like to talk about how to “position yourself as an expert” or how to manufacture the halo of authority, but if they have your ear, please ask yourself, why is it so important to me that people think of me as an expert or authority?

At bottom, it comes down to power dynamics.

We believe that if we are perceived as an expert, people will pay us more.

We believe that if we speak with a voice of authority, people will listen to us and do what we say.

But the time has come to examine our collective motives here. This sort of relationship with other human beings is about having ‘power over’ them.

We have the power, and they do what we say and make us rich in the process.

The time has come to ask ourselves, is my desire to be seen as an expert or authority in alignment with my desire to serve or empower other people?

This isn’t to say you can’t be powerful or you can be called to lead, guide, or teach in a masterful way.

But the time has come to look into our vision of power, and make sure that everything we say and do in our businesses expresses that.

For example, many of the corporate trainers, speakers and consultants I work with happen to be women. And most of them are called to help corporate executives and rising talent understand how to let go of the ‘power over’ approach to leadership, and develop mastery in a ‘power with’ approach… in other words, ushering in a new order of steward leadership, instead of the old command-and-control.

As freelancers and self-employed professionals, the time has come to think about our power relationship with our clients, audience, and colleagues in this deeper way, too.

That said, let’s move on to our website myths….

Myth #1 – If you have been in business awhile and your message shifts or your ideal client changes, you need to redo your website. Nope! Instead, I recommend picking your next revenue-generating project or launch to update your message. Websites aren’t immediately revenue-generating, so it makes more sense to tweak a landing page for your free gift, email sales sequence, or new batch of Facebook ads. Update the website when business is slower.

Myth #2 – You need a logo, expensive branding package, or a tagline on your first website. Not true! If you are just getting started in business, all you need is a clear sense of your offer and who your ideal client is. From there, write a simple Homepage, Services page, and About me page. You can add a Contact page if you like, a simple homepage banner with a great headshot of you and clear description of the results your clients get, and you’re done.

Myth #3 – You need to proving to people what an expert or authority you are on your website. Wrong-o! This is a mind set problem that needs to be mended. Don’t ever try to prove or convince people to work with you. This belies a certain lack of confidence and insecurity. Instead, put your focus on service and results for your clients and customers.

Myth #4 – You can use words like ‘struggle’ or ‘overwhelm’ on your website to attract quality leads. Oh no, you don’t! Words that convey that your readers are lacking or missing something that you will sell them will attract people with a victim mind set. And often, money issues. Instead, start with the assumption that your reader is competent and smart, and still has a problem they want your help with.

Myth #5 – People who see your website will pick up the phone or send you an email telling you they want to hire you. While this can be possible in some lines of work – think interior design services or executive coaching, where customers tend to pick up the phone to inquire about something they are interested in – it does not work this way for the rest of us. Instead, you need a relationship-building or lead-nurture strategy AFTER they hit your website. Getting people on your mailing list is a common example here.

Myth #6 – A website alone is a complete sales strategy. Just because you have a website doesn’t mean more people are going to buy from you. See #5.

Myth # 7 - You need a website to get your first clients. If you are starting a new business, consider putting off writing a website for 6-12 months. Instead, put your focus on getting your first 10 clients, serving them, and listening and writing down what they say you are helping them with (hint: ask them, hey, what’s the #1 reason you decided to work with me?). Your website will be much more clear and effective when you have worked with more people and listened to the words they use.

Myth #8 – If you want people to buy something from your website, put a PayPal button on it. PayPal buttons don’t magically sell things. If you have a ‘buy now’ button on your site now and it’s not selling, take it off. Selling online is an advanced strategy that is not appropriate for people in their first 2-3 years of business. Instead, put your focus on learning how to pick up the phone, talk to potential clients, and ask them for money.

Myth #9 – The stock photography, colors, or headshots you use on your website aren’t that important. While you do not need to spend lots of money on ‘getting branded’ or website development, you do need to be aware that the colors, formatting, images and photos on your website communicate with people, too. If this is not your strong suit, hire people to support you. Also, beware that many people who sell inexpensive ‘web design’ are actually administrative types in disguise, and as a result their designs look mom-and-pop – in other words, homespun (not in the good way) — and if you work with them, so will your business.

Myth #10 – Having a website means you no longer need to pick up the phone and have sales conversation with potential clients. Too many newer business owners have been sold a fantasy of online millions, which is a lie. Online marketing is a powerful tool, but not for beginners. If you have been trying to win business through your website and it’s not working, it may be time to let that dream go, and put your focus on learning how to sell.

As someone who viscerally despised her mentor for two months after she told me I needed to sell to get clients, week in and week out, I get the negative emotional charge that the mere mention of the word ‘sales’ can have for many people.

But there is some collective confusion between ‘having a website’ and ‘selling’ that we need to clean up. Right here. Right now.

If you are in business for yourself, you need to know how to sell.

A website is not a replacement for learning how to sell.

Online marketing is not a replacement for learning how to sell.

Buying one online program after another to ‘learn more about business’ is not a replacement for learning how to sell.

So there you have it. Ten website myths debunked, plus some bonus truth-telling about how learning the skill of sales – that is, talking to people in an open, curious way with the simple intention of being of service, whether or not they give you money – is not optional.

And if I haven’t talked you out of writing your website yet, please check out my self-paced 5 lesson writing lab, Write Your Website. I walk you through how to write your Homepage, Services page, About page, plus the topic and title for your Awesome Free Gift and an opt in page for it that grows your audience.

Mighty thanks to Summer Bock over at http://fermentationist.com for the debunked idea.