The Website Trap: Why It’s Holding You Back from Clients

If you’re a life coach wondering whether you need a website to get clients, this is for you. You’ve probably heard that a website is essential to looking professional and credible. Maybe you’ve even spent hours tinkering with fonts, colors, and about pages—but deep down, you know it’s not bringing in clients.

I want to challenge the belief that a website is the key to a successful coaching business. It’s not. In fact, for many new coaches, it’s a massive distraction.

Why Coaches Get Stuck on Websites

Many coaches tell themselves they need a website before they can start selling. But here’s what’s really happening:

• You’re trying to make yourself feel “ready” by focusing on branding instead of talking to potential clients.
• You’re procrastinating on putting yourself out there by working behind the scenes.
• You’re convinced that professionalism comes from aesthetics, not from your ability to help people.

I get it. When I started, I did the same thing. I secured my domain, jumped straight into building my site, and spent hours trying to figure out WordPress—only to later switch to Kajabi. And guess what? None of my first clients came from my website.

What Actually Creates Clients in Your Coaching Business

A website doesn’t create clients—your message does. Your ability to clearly articulate what you do, who you help, and how you help them is what gets people excited to work with you. That’s why I teach my clients to start with their offer.

When you have a solid offer, everything else flows. You can talk about it confidently, share it in conversations, and invite people to work with you. Instead of focusing on a website, shift your energy to:

• Mastering your message – Can you confidently explain what you do?
• Getting visible – Are you actually showing up where your ideal clients are?
• Building connections – Are you engaging with potential clients or hiding behind your laptop?

But Don’t I Need a Website to Look Professional?

This is one of the biggest fears I hear from coaches. But here’s the truth:

• Professionalism doesn’t come from a website. It comes from you showing up powerfully.
• Your credibility is built through how you communicate and the results you create, not a polished homepage.
• People don’t hire you because of a beautiful website; they hire you because they trust that you can help them.

If you’re worried about looking legitimate, your social media presence is more than enough to start. Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn can function as your “website” in the beginning.

When is the Right Time for a Website?

There is a time when a website becomes useful. You’ll know you’re ready when:

• Writing your About Page feels easy because you’re clear on who you serve.
• You have client results and testimonials to showcase.
• You have a clear, dialed-in offer that you know converts.
• You’re making money in your business, and a website becomes a strategic tool (not a crutch).

What to Do Instead of Wasting Time on a Website

If you’ve been obsessing over building a website, I invite you to shift your focus. Instead of spending hours choosing colors and layouts, start doing the things that actually bring in clients:

1. Get clear on your offer. What are you selling? Who is it for? How does it help them?
2. Start talking about it daily. On social media, in conversations, in DMs—just start sharing.
3. Book consults. Instead of waiting for people to find your website, proactively invite them into conversations.
4. Master your message. If you struggle to articulate what you do, this is the real work to focus on.