Get More Personal With Your Website

There’s a dilemma when it comes to your website. You want your website to look professional but it also has to function. You want it to draw people in and keep them coming back.

My first website looked horrible. I had it on Blogger with a default theme. I wasn’t concerned with the appearance because I thought my words were all that mattered.

I had five people a day visiting the website and who knows how many of those people were even real. When I learned a little bit about this online stuff I realized my website needed to look better.

Three years later I’m now supported by this online business. One of the things that I do is coach. When I start working with a coaching client one of the first things we talk about is their website.

A good portion of the time there seems to be one major thing missing from websites: they’re not personal enough. It’s that balance between professional and being laid back that can make all the difference.

Brands versus people

One of the things we’re told when we’re building is that we have to “build our brand.” That’s good advice but I’d like to add a twist: you are the brand. Whether it’s a “your name domain” or the domain of a business you have, people still want to connect with YOU.

People connect with people more than they do with brands. If you look at Nike (brand) and LeBron James (person), who has a bigger social media presence? Who are people connecting with more?

On Twitter, LeBron James has 13.4 million followers (at the time of this writing). Nike has 3.4 million. Why is that? The answer is that even though LeBron James does commercials for Nike people connect better with him as a person.

When someone comes to a website they’re looking for the story and the people. They could care less about the history of the company. They care about the history of the people who started the company.

Yes you want to build your brand and have it look professional but not at the cost of making a real connection. You have 10 seconds to make that connection when someone visits your website.

You’re not going to make that connection if they don’t see you. Yes build your brand but build it as a real person that someone can connect with and relate to.

Some elements of getting personal

One of the most visited pages on a website is an about page. When I visit websites or work with clients the first thing I look at is someone’s about page.

Too often they are very impersonal. Nine out of ten people who visit your website will know it’s you who wrote it. So it will seem strange when they see you talking about yourself in the third person.

If you’re famous then we can understand, but if you’re just building how can someone connect with you when they have the feeling you’re on a pedestal? They see it as “So and so is this big shot web guy who does these great things.” In their mind they’re thinking “I’ll never get to talk to him or get his advice on what I’m struggling with.”

The connection is lost. When you come to a website and read someone’s story you can feel their words. You feel who they are through that video they have and you make a real connection.

This is one of the best about pages. I reference it as an example often. You read it and instantly you laugh, you can relate, you understand and you want to learn more so you sign up for his email list.

The connection is made, your email list grows and you build a group of people who are interested in what you have to say. What would we think if we saw your about page? Is it personal or are you on a pedestal?

To make things more personal your story should be on your about page and through out your website in snippets. Every page on your website should be personal. It should be inviting and making those connections.

Keep it professional by picking the right theme. Keep it professional by showcasing professional looking content. You can do this and keep it personal and if you do you’ll build an incredible foundation.

If you need help making your website look professional and personal check out a new service that I’m offering: website reviews. Every website is different and should be a reflection of you but there are some key elements every website should have.

Your main goal may not be to make money but how cool would it be to make enough to cover all the expenses associated with your online business? If you want your online business to support you remember this: people buy from someone they know, like, and trust. No one will ever get there if you’re not personal enough.

How are you making that personal connection with your website?