The number of coaches and trainers is growing in many countries.
This study estimated that in 2022, the number of coach practitioners worldwide reached 109,200, representing a 54% increase from 2019. International Coaching Federation (ICF) Global Coaching Study 2023:. International Coaching Federation
Whether you’re looking to share your expertise, build a loyal following, or attract new clients, your website plays a key role. WordPress is a popular and powerful tool that can help you create a professional and engaging website. In this article, we’ll provide practical tips for coaches and trainers on how to set up and manage their WordPress websites to maximize their impact.
How coaches can use WordPress
WordPress is an excellent tool for coaches and trainers who want to share their knowledge and grow their online presence. Here are some practical tips for making the most of your WordPress activities:
General website tips for coaches
Tip 1. Tell your personal story
As a coach, you are not just offering a service; you are guiding people through important changes in their lives. Sharing your personal story on your website is a powerful way to connect with your audience. Your blog is the perfect space to talk about your journey, your approach, and why you do what you do. By sharing valuable insights and answering common questions, you create an opportunity for people to understand your methods and the value you bring. Building a relationship through storytelling helps visitors feel like they know you, which can turn them into loyal clients.
You could look at many of today’s trainers and coaches as modern ministers. They help customers with spiritual and practical questions. Questions you used to take to a minister you now take to a coach. The minister has his pulpit. Trainers and coaches have a blog.
Your blog is a place to share your knowledge, explain your methods, and talk about your philosophy. It’s where you can answer questions that people might have, helping them understand your approach and the value you offer.
In the website trainers and coaches can elaborate on issues they come across and the answers they have. There is room to go into the philosophy behind their coaching methods.
Tip 2: Focus on helping, not selling
Many coach websites focus heavily on selling services. While this is helpful for people who already know you, it’s not the best way to attract new clients.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of using your website to sell services, but this isn’t the best approach for attracting new clients. Instead, use your website to build trust by offering free, valuable content that addresses common challenges or questions your target audience faces.
When people feel that you are genuinely interested in helping them, they will be more likely to reach out for further services. Focus on education and engagement, and over time, the sales will follow.
Instead of pushing services, use your website to build trust. Share useful insights on your blog to engage potential clients. When people see that you are genuinely helping them, they are more likely to connect with you and eventually want to work with you.
Services make up a prominent part of many coach’s and trainer’s websites. What are you selling your clients? This is useful when people already know the coach and want to know what they can do for them. We’ve noticed that many trainers and coaches expect that a product website will also attract new customers. Often this isn’t very realistic.
There are many trainers and coaches. There aren’t many people who want to be coached by an unknown coach or hire an unknown trainer. A website visitor needs to come to trust that the trainer/coach has the right answers to the questions they are asking.
So trainers and coaches, use your website to win your client’s trust. Use your blog to share your knowledge so that you can engage your client and help them. Once they feel like you’ve helped them, they will feel connected and commercial transactions will come naturally.
Tip 3. Be patient …
Building a strong online presence doesn’t happen overnight. Many successful websites are the result of years of consistent effort and care. Building trust, creating engaging content, and growing an audience all take time.
By focusing on delivering value and nurturing relationships with your followers, you’ll eventually see the results. Remember to think long-term, and don’t expect immediate success. Keep sharing helpful content, and the clients will follow when the time is right.
Most trainers and coaches probably want the same thing: fast results. They want new clients, now. That’s however not how websites really work. Most people and organisations that are successful online have been investing for years.
They’ve built a faithful following after years of hard work. In the end, this is where your paid work comes from. We advise trainers and coaches to think in terms of a timespan of a few years. Use this time to share your knowledge and help your followers. Trust that the commercial work will come in time.
It’s natural to want quick results, however building a successful online presence takes time. Many of the most successful websites have been built over years with consistent effort.
We recommend thinking long-term. Use this time to share valuable content and build relationships with your followers. The clients will come when the time is right.
Tip 4. Keep it simple
Simplicity is the key to a successful website. Successful coaches often use simple, clean website designs that prioritize content over flashy designs. A clutter-free layout helps your visitors focus on what matters most—your message and your expertise.
A simple website with easy navigation makes it easier for potential clients to engage with your content and learn more about how you can help them.
Look at the websites of successful bloggers like Rens Kroes or Karin from Koken met Karin.
Example: Rens Kroes’ website
They focus on content, not fancy designs. A simple, clean website helps build trust with your audience. Focus on what matters most: your content and your message.
Most Dutch people will have heard of Rens Kroes. And Karin from Koken met Karin (Cooking with Karin). These women have helped their readers eat better. They’ve been doing that for years.
Often they started out selflessly, because they had a passion to help people eat good, healthy food. Typically these food blogs have a very simple aesthetic. The blogs almost look amateuristic. The focus is entirely on the content and this breeds trust.
Tip 5. Make it personal
One of the best ways to build a connection with your audience is to let them see who you are as a person. Incorporate personal elements into your website, such as videos, photos, and personal stories. When visitors feel like they know you, they are more likely to trust you. Personal connections are key to building long-term relationships with your audience.
This is a tip we give everyone on the internet. Use pictures and video’s to tell who you are and what you stand for. This way the website visitor gets to know you and comes to trust you and your services.
Tip 6: Offer different services
Not everyone wants or needs one-on-one coaching, and that’s perfectly okay. Some potential clients may prefer online courses, workshops, or even a book.
Offering a variety of services at different price points helps make your coaching more accessible to a broader audience. This approach lets people engage with your brand in different ways, whether through a blog post, an online course, or a free resource. We advise trainers and coaches to offer services that fit each budget.
WordPress tips: How can coaches use WordPress?
WordPress is a great platform for coaches to share their knowledge. Here are some tips for making the most of WordPress:
In the following tips we assume that you have used an open-source version of WordPress and that you have installed it via a hosting company.
Tip 7. Use a free theme
WordPress offers many free themes that you can use to create a professional website without spending much money. Many of these themes have a freemium model, where the basic version is free and you can pay for extra features if needed.
The free themes often have a freemium business model: the basics are free. You will pay via a Premium version if you want more functionalities. The downside is that you’ll need to manage hosting and maintenance yourself.
Some popular themes for coaches are: Astra, Thrive.
You can get overwhelmed in choosing the right theme. Consider your long term vision and then choose the theme.
Popular WordPress themes for coaches
Selecting the right WordPress theme is crucial for creating a professional and engaging online presence as a coach. Here are some popular themes tailored specifically for coaches:
Coaching WP
Designed for speakers, mentors, trainers, therapists, and coaches, Coaching WP offers nine pre-designed demos with easy one-click installation. Its flexible design and customization options make it a popular choice among professionals. Colorlib
Efor
Efor caters to coaches and individuals offering online courses. It includes multiple website demos, each featuring elements like testimonial sliders, video players, and sections for showcasing client feedback, all customizable through the Elementor page builder. aThemes
Divi
A versatile and widely-used theme, Divi provides multiple website packs suitable for coaching websites. Its powerful visual editor allows for extensive customization, enabling coaches to create unique and personalized sites. aThemes
Blossom Coach
A free theme designed specifically for coaches, Blossom Coach offers a range of design possibilities, useful tools, and excellent widgets. It’s an excellent choice for those starting and looking to build a stunning website without a significant investment.
Astra
Known for its speed and SEO optimization, Astra provides a variety of starter sites suitable for life, business, and wellness coaches. Its design flexibility allows for easy tailoring to match your brand and message.
When choosing a theme, consider factors such as design flexibility, ease of customization, responsiveness, and compatibility with plugins that support your coaching services. Many of these themes offer demo content and one-click installations, making it easier to set up your website efficiently.
Tip 8. Consider Thrive Themes for websites with conversion
Thrive Themes integrate themes with conversion driven functionalities, which gives you everything in one. With themes like Rise and Storied Thrive Themes has a number of themes that are suited to blogging for coaches.
Tip 9. Use a populair and flexible WordPress theme
We buy many WordPress themes on ThemeForest. There are a number of beautiful, simple blog themes on ThemeForest. For example Voice and Simplemag.
Tip 10. Use Astra
We recommend the Astra theme, which is easy to use and has many demo options. One of the demos is perfect for coaches and can be customized for your needs.There are various demo’s available for Astra. One of them is a lifestyle blog that can be easily used for blogging by coaches. You can use the Gutenberg editor in combination with this theme.
Tip 11. Storytelling
Storytelling is a popular technique for coaches, as it helps build a stronger connection with your audience. Storytelling is the art of conveying ideas, emotions, or messages through a structured narrative that engages and resonates with an audience. You can use tools like Aesop Story Engine to create engaging, story-based content on your site.
Storytelling is being used by more and more newspaper and magazine websites. Consider using the Aesop Story Engine for example.
Tip 12. Get Good Hosting
You will need a good hosting company for any solution that involves installing WordPress on your own server.
- WP Engine; we work with the American company WP Engine. Advantage is that you have a professional environment at your disposal where you can make WordPress installations at the click or a button. WP Engine starts at $ 29 a month.
If you’re using WordPress on your own server, make sure to choose a good hosting provider. We recommend WP Engine, which offers a professional, easy-to-use platform for WordPress sites. They provide excellent support and start at $29 per month.
Good hosting will allow for a faster website, and could provide additional technical support when needed.
Tip 13: Yes, consider alternatives to WordPress
While WordPress is a powerful platform, it’s not the only option out there. WordPress is a fantastic system for a large community, but it’s not sacred. It has advantages and disadvantages. For a real simple blog you could also consider an alternative like Ghost or Medium. These platforms can be a good fit if you’re looking for a simpler solution. However we think WordPress is awesome. Read more about facts on WordPress usage.
14. Some WordPress plugins to consider
Here are five WordPress plugins that can help coaches and trainers improve their websites:
- Elementor
Purpose: Easy-to-use page builder for designing custom layouts without needing coding skills.
Why it’s useful: Coaches can create personalized, responsive pages with a drag-and-drop interface. It’s great for customizing your website to reflect your personal brand. - Yoast SEO
Purpose: Helps optimize your website for search engines.
Why it’s useful: Coaches can increase visibility by improving SEO, ensuring their website ranks higher in search engine results. Yoast SEO offers helpful tips and tools for optimizing content. - Bookly
Purpose: Scheduling and appointment booking plugin.
Why it’s useful: Allows coaches to manage bookings directly on their website. Clients can schedule consultations or sessions, and the plugin integrates with payment systems like PayPal or Stripe. - OptinMonster
Purpose: Lead generation and opt-in form builder.
Why it’s useful: Coaches can easily create pop-ups, slide-ins, or floating bars to capture email leads, encouraging website visitors to sign up for newsletters or special offers. - WPForms
Purpose: User-friendly form builder for creating contact forms, surveys, and lead generation forms.
Why it’s useful: Coaches can collect inquiries, feedback, or booking requests, and the forms are simple to set up and customize. It’s a great tool for enhancing client interaction.
Several difficulties to overcome for Trainers and Coaches when building WordPress sites
- Technical Complexity
Many trainers and coaches lack technical expertise, which can make setting up and maintaining a WordPress site feel overwhelming.
Solution: Choose easy-to-use themes and plugins that don’t require coding knowledge. Managed WordPress hosting services, like WP Engine, also provide support, making the process smoother for beginners.
- Choosing the Right Theme
With so many themes available, selecting one that suits your coaching or training brand can be confusing.
Solution: Focus on themes designed specifically for bloggers or personal brands. Look for themes that offer customization without too much complexity. Options like Enfold or Thrive Themes are great for coaches and trainers looking for simplicity and effectiveness.
- Customization Issues
Customizing the website to match your personal brand can be time-consuming and frustrating, especially if you don’t have design skills.
Solution: Use user-friendly theme builders like Elementor or Divi, which allow easy drag-and-drop customization. Alternatively, hire a designer for a one-time setup to ensure your site aligns with your brand.
- Content Management
Organizing and managing content like blog posts, videos, and services can get messy as your site grows.
Solution: Use plugins like Content Views or WP Blog Manager to easily categorize and display content. Regularly review and clean up your site to maintain a user-friendly layout. - Lack of Time for Regular Updates
Coaches and trainers are busy helping clients and may struggle to find time to update their website with fresh content.
Solution: Set a schedule for updates and stick to it, even if it’s just once a month. You can also automate certain tasks like posting social media updates or scheduling blog posts using plugins like Buffer or CoSchedule. - SEO and Visibility Challenges
Many trainers and coaches struggle with making their site visible in search engine results, leading to less traffic and fewer leads.
Solution: Use SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or RankMath to optimize your site. Focus on creating valuable content, such as blog posts or free resources, that answers the common questions your target audience is searching for. - Converting Visitors into Clients
Turning website visitors into paying clients can be challenging without clear calls to action (CTAs) and effective lead generation strategies.
Solution: Add clear CTAs on every page, encouraging visitors to book a consultation, download a free resource, or sign up for your newsletter. Use tools like OptinMonster or Thrive Leads to create lead capture forms and grow your email list. - Managing Payments and Bookings
Integrating booking systems or payment gateways into your website can be complicated for trainers and coaches.
Solution: Use WordPress plugins like Bookly for scheduling and Stripe or PayPal for payment processing. These tools simplify the booking and payment process, making it easier for both you and your clients. - Mobile Responsiveness
A website that doesn’t look good on mobile devices can drive potential clients away.
Solution: Choose a responsive theme that automatically adjusts to different screen sizes. Test your website on various devices to ensure it provides a seamless experience for mobile users. - Security and Site Maintenance
Keeping your site secure and up-to-date can be daunting, especially if you’re unfamiliar with WordPress maintenance.
Solution: Use security plugins like Wordfence and Sucuri to protect your site from hackers. Consider a managed hosting service that handles updates, backups, and security for you, so you can focus on your coaching business.
Conclusion
Building a website as a coach or trainer takes time and effort, but the rewards are well worth it. By focusing on helping others, sharing your story, and offering valuable content, you can build trust and attract the right clients. Remember, patience and consistency are key to growing your online presence.
With the right tools, themes, and strategies on WordPress, you can create a website that reflects your expertise and helps you connect with those who need your services. Start small, stay focused, and over time, your website will become a powerful asset in your coaching or training business.
