Don’t let poor website design deter potential students. Here are three common mistakes that are simple to spot and easy to rectify.

Through her work with Nicole Riccardo Media, web designer Taylor Rossi has helped countless music teachers redesign their websites to generate more traffic and business.

And she’s seen the same mistakes crop up over and over again. So what are they, and how can you avoid them?

Three common website Design mistakes self-employed teachers make

1 Not being student-focused

Of course, you want to share information about your past achievements and accolades on your website (it is your website, after all). But your primary focus should be telling students what you can do for them. Think about what they’ll be looking for when they land on your site, and make sure that information is easy to find on your landing page.

“You want your website to be about the environment of your studio, what your students learn and who you typically teach,” Taylor says.

If you provide in-person lessons, explain where you’re based. And if you work with specific age groups or cover certain genres, let people know.

“These may seem like simple things, but they are so often missed, or you have to dig around on the site to find that information.”

Taylor recommends putting your prices on your site (although this doesn’t have to be on the landing page). This will help singers know if they’re in the right place and determine if you are the right fit.

2 Ignoring your website because your schedule is full

If you have a full teaching roster, is it worth making much of an effort with your website? After all, there are only so many hours in the day, right?

Taylor disagrees. If your schedule is full, use your website to create a waiting list or generate passive income through selling other resources.

3 Over-complicating things

Another common mistake is overloading your website with information and overwhelming potential students. Taylor suggests four or five tabs are enough to give people the necessary information without overdoing things.

“There are so many times when I’ve looked at websites and had difficulty finding what I’m looking for. And if I can’t find it, then I’ll leave – and that’s just instant business loss. If someone can’t find the right information, or your design is so horrible they feel you can’t trust you, they’ll go elsewhere.”

If you use your website as an information portal for existing students (perhaps to include details about choir sessions or to access lesson material), locate it at the back end of your site.

Want to learn more about Website Design?

Listen to the Singing Teachers Talk podcast to hear an in-depth interview with Taylor, where she also discusses:

· The key elements that make a good landing page.  

· Photography and imagery for your site.

· Fonts, colours and general design.