Launching a Website 

I talk with people from all walks of life about building business and living full, rich lives. I have lost track of the how many people have told me that “I know I am not operating at my full potential, but I can’t…I don’t have enough time…I am afraid of being truly successful.” Many of them are hesitant to launch websites for a variety of reasons, so I write this newsletter to share my experience with you. Use this information to develop and implement your business ideas. 

I own two domain names that are variations on my business name, Expedition Coaching Inc. I chose to market my site as www.karenhallis.com instead of the business name, as people remember my name easier.  Additionally, if my business evolves in the future, people will always be able to locate me on the Web.

The website is written for current and future clients, people who like to keep track of me, people who are curious about the phenomenon of coaching, and young coaches who are getting started and want to research what experienced coaches are doing. 

Finding a designer was simple. I got referrals for designers and checked out their websites. I then called them and asked specific questions.  I analyzed their creativity, flexibility, and ability to think outside the box. Lastly, I evaluated whom I felt compatible with in terms of business practices and values. I was looking for a designer whom I would work with throughout my website’s evolution. 

I liked Kim Sherwood, owner of Web Works Creative.  I looked at her site,  www.webworkscreative.com and liked what I saw there. She came to my place of business, and we discussed my business philosophies, what I do, how I do it and who I am. We talked about my business visions over the next 10 years. I wanted her to know what the later sites would look like, so that she could create the first site with the later ones in mind. 

While Kim created the draft site design, I went to fabric and paper stores. I looked for colors, shapes and textures that would convey information about me to people. I bought fabric swatches and mailed them to Kim. This process had no apparent rhyme or reason to it. I devoted a great deal of my free time to the creative process, so that we could create a site that spoke about me as a person and a certified professional coach. 

The next step was easier. I hired a writer, Penny McCormack (penny@bctonline.com) to create the draft copy. While she created the copy, I finalized the colors and textures for the site. When Penny finished the draft copy, I sat in my writer’s cottage and edited her work and wrote the final copy from the perspective of someone who wants to hire a coach to support her/him as s/he creates the plan to live and work at full potential. 

The hardest step was finalizing the website. I wanted it to be done before I launched it. I quickly realized that I could work on being done and never finish the site. I let go of the concept of being “truly done” and signed off on the site. 

I was nervous on launch day. I did not have a web site when I practiced law, as I never advertised. I received referrals by word of mouth and did contract work.   

As I contemplated launching my site, I knew that I was, in a sense, officially opening my doors for business. As I visualized doors opening with the launch, I decided that it was time to rent office space. 

So what is your work? What do you actually do? Who are your ideal clients?  How do you locate them? How do they find you? 

We must all answer those initial questions before we can be successful in our businesses. I am in business to stay in business while I serve my clients. I am surprised by the numbers of people who admit to me that they have not contemplated staying in business, because the are so busy trying to make money. If you would like to define your business and its audience, contact me at 206.855.0612 or email me at karen@karenhallis.com to hire me as your coach or evaluate my coaching style with a complimentary coaching session.