Before I became focused on helping yoga teachers with their marketing, I spent decades managing website projects for major brands like BMW, Mercedes, Coca-Cola, and many more. Since 1997, I’ve been immersed in digital marketing, learning the ins and outs of what makes websites effective.

When I transitioned into the coaching space, I discovered a whole new world. It’s so much more about connection, transformation, and trust. Your website needs to reflect that. And while big corporations have entire teams and massive budgets for their websites, most coaches and yoga teachers are doing it all on their own.

That’s why I’ve made it my mission to help yoga teachers and health and wellness coaches create websites that truly represent their work. Over the past years, I’ve helped hundreds of teachers launch websites that attract their dream students and grow their businesses.

Today, I’m sharing the most common mistakes I still see everyday, and more importantly, how to fix them.

The “Mystery Homepage Problem”

Here’s something shocking: your website visitors make up their mind about staying or leaving in just one second. ONE second! And yet, I see so many wellness entrepreneurs with these gorgeous, zen-like homepages that look beautiful but leave people confused about what they actually offer.

Let me give you a real example. I recently reviewed a website for a yoga teacher who specializes in back pain. Her homepage had this beautiful image of a sunset and just said “Find your inner peace through yoga.” Now, that’s lovely, but think about it – if you’re struggling with back pain and looking for help, would you know this teacher is perfect for you? Probably not!

Instead, imagine landing on her homepage and reading: “Gentle yoga therapy for adults with chronic back pain. Learn proven techniques to reduce pain and move with confidence.” Boom! Right away you know exactly what she offers, who she helps, and what transformation you can expect.

Here’s another great example of clear messaging. I have a client who’s a sex and intimacy coach, and her homepage headline reads: “Rekindle Passion and Intimacy in Your Long-Term Relationship. – INTIMACY AND SEX COACHING FOR COUPLES”

When couples struggling with intimacy land on this page, they immediately think “Yes, this is exactly what we need!”

Your homepage needs to instantly answer three questions: What do you offer? Who is it for? How do they get started?

That’s it! No mystery, no guessing games. Just clear, compelling messaging that tells your ideal clients they’re in the right place.

The “Missing Personality” Problem

Let me make a confession: on my first website, I didn’t have a single photo of myself. I knew it wasn’t good to only use stock photos, but I used “not having professional photos” as an excuse to hide. Let’s be honest – putting yourself out there can feel scary! So I hid behind beautiful stock images, telling myself I’d add personal photos “later.” You know what happened? Crickets. Zero clients. Because people couldn’t see who I was or why they should trust me.

I still see this happening today. Yoga teachers using those perfect studio shots with models in impossible poses, or posting artistic silhouettes of themselves in beautiful backbends against a sunset. Sure, these photos look gorgeous, but here’s what’s missing: your face, your eyes, your real presence.

Think about it: When someone’s choosing to work with you, they want to see who’s going to be teaching them. They want to look into your eyes and feel that connection, that trust. They want to know if you seem approachable, if you feel like someone they’d be comfortable learning from. A beautiful silhouette might show off your practice, but it doesn’t help potential students connect with you as a teacher or coach.

It’s time to stop hiding. Get some professional photos where we can actually see your face and your eyes. Show yourself teaching, interacting with students, or simply smiling at the camera. Yes, you can have some practice photos too, but make sure your website primarily shows the real you – the teacher your students will actually meet in class.

Remember: Your students aren’t just choosing a class time that works for them. They’re choosing YOU. So show them who they’re choosing!

The “Hidden Treasure” Problem

You know what really breaks my heart? When I see yoga teachers with incredible offerings – maybe an amazing back pain program, or a life-changing retreat in Bali – but it’s buried somewhere on page three of their website. It’s like having a beautiful jewelry store but keeping all your best pieces in the back room!

I recently reviewed a website for a teacher who had this incredible prenatal yoga teacher training program. But to find it, you had to click on “Programs,” then “Teacher Trainings,” then scroll down past three other offerings. By that point, most people would have already clicked away!

Here’s the thing: your best offerings – the ones that create the biggest transformation for your students and the biggest impact in your business – should be front and center. They should be right there on your homepage, impossible to miss.

Take your top three offerings – the ones you’re most excited about, the ones that create the biggest results for your students – and feature them prominently on your homepage. Each one should have a clear, compelling title, a brief description of the transformation it offers, and a strong call-to-action button that leads directly to more information.

And don’t forget about your freebie! Make it just as visible as your paid offerings. After all, it might be the first step someone takes with you before becoming a longtime student.

The “Outdated Website” Problem

Here’s the truth: In today’s world, people’s expectations for websites are higher than ever. They’re used to beautiful, easy-to-navigate sites, and they absolutely judge the quality of your teaching by the quality of your website.

I see so many amazing teachers and coaches – people who offer incredible, transformative services – but their websites look basic, outdated, or just plain unprofessional. Dark backgrounds that make text hard to read, tiny fonts, cluttered layouts, low-quality images… These teachers are essentially telling potential students “don’t take me seriously” before they even step into a class.

Your website should reflect the quality of your services. It should give potential clients and students the same feeling of professionalism, clarity, and expertise that they’ll get in your actual classes and working with you.

Your website needs to match today’s professional standards with a clean, modern design, easy-to-read fonts and proper spacing, high-quality images, a layout that guides visitors naturally, and mobile-friendly design that works on all devices.

Ready to Transform Your Website?

This is exactly why I created Blissful Websites. I know that hiring a professional web designer isn’t in everyone’s budget, but that shouldn’t stop you from having a website that truly reflects your expertise and the quality of your teaching.

With Blissful Websites, you’ll get my professionally designed Showit template made specifically for yoga teachers and coaches, step-by-step guidance to create your dream website, and personal support in our private community and monthly Q&A calls.

Visit susannerieker.com/blissfulwebsites to learn more and see current pricing and special offers!

Remember: Your website isn’t just a digital business card. It’s often the first impression potential students have of you and your teaching. It’s where people decide whether they want to practice with you, join your programs, or book your services.

You’re an amazing teacher. You transform lives through your work. Make sure your website reflects that.