One of the biggest mistakes we see yoga studio owners make is neglecting their digital presence. Many owners believe that simply having a website and perhaps a couple of social media accounts is all it takes to be successful on the web. While that may have been true 10 years ago, it is no longer the case. If you want your yoga studio to thrive it is absolutely critical that you have a great website.
You know everything there is to know about your studio and what it has to offer. You know how great and knowledgeable your teachers are. You know it is a wonderful place to learn and practice yoga.
But potential students looking for a yoga studio on the web only know what your website shows and tells them. And whether you like it or not, presentation and usability will tell your website visitor all they need to know. Studies show that you only have 15 seconds to grab the attention of most website visitors before they move on. And while your yoga studio may in fact offer everything potential students are looking for, a less-than-great website will continue to lose you clients.
Remember websites in the 90s? Designed only to fit the one size monitor we all had. Poor navigation, pixelated images, framesets and overall lack of aesthetics. We’re not picking on early web designers. The technology back then simply didn’t allow for much of what we can do these days. What if I told you that the same is true for websites designed in 2009. Computers and mobile devices in general are evolving at a rapid pace making it difficult for small business owners to keep up. So how can you tell if your website belongs with the times?
Is your website optimized for mobile browsing, and does it provide a great user experience on phones and tablets? We recently published an article about important website analytics for your yoga studio website. While you’re at it, take a look at the % of visitors who are browsing your website on a mobile device. You may be surprised by how high the number is. If your website is not responsive, you are simply missing the boat.
Let’s take a second to discuss mobile websites. OK, NOW FORGET MOBILE WEBSITES. Mobile websites are a thing the past, like beanie babies and the Spice Girls. Today, there are just too many different devices with different screen sizes. You need to have a website that automatically conforms to each user’s device and provides the ideal experience. Website visitors should be able to easily navigate your website without the need for zooming in and out on every page. Poor user experience leads to visitors leaving your website and choosing another yoga studio. Here is some more information about responsive websites.
It doesn’t matter what you say, if your images tell a different story. Pictures that are unprofessional send an unprofessional message about your yoga studio. A user will think that if you don’t take your website or your photos seriously, you probably take the same approach when it comes to teaching yoga. That may be unfair, and even untrue, but perception is reality.
Your website is a reflection of your yoga studio. An outdated website tells potential costumers that you don’t invest in your business, and perhaps they shouldn’t either. Don’t give them a reason to go somewhere else. Combining great presentation, impressive imagery, well written content and the right offers will guarantee your website will convert more leads into students.
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