4 Types of Website Shame (and How to Cure It!)

You know the feeling.

You walk into a networking event with your newly printed business cards in hand and your cocktail pitch on the tip of your tongue, ready to conquer the room.

You shake hands, look everyone in the eye, smile, chat, give out cards…but you find yourself making excuses for your website…”It’s about to be revamped…” or “I am in the process of updating my website, so just email me with any questions you have…yes, that’s fierceandfabulous@gmail.com…it says it on the card, right there…”

The truth is you have a case of website shame.

Website shame can manifest in several different ways:

1. You have no website.

But you have a Facebook business page, a TikTok channel, an X account, a LinkedIn profile, and two Instagram accounts. You just direct people to one of these “homes” on the web.

The fact is these are no more “homes” for you than the neighborhood pub is a home. These are places that you socialize. They are places you can meet and interact with people. But none of them will ever be a replacement for a website.

If the cost of a website feels overwhelming to you, consider the value it can potentially bring to your life. When built well and supported by a smart marketing plan, your website can pay for itself pretty quickly.

2. You have an outdated website.

Your website is so 2012. You had it built…and then let it sit there. Your smart phone is just not smart enough to render its pre-mobile friendly layout.

Google can’t even crawl your website because of script errors (whatever those are!).

You might not have expected your website to last past the Mayan Apocalypse, but guess what–it did! Typically a website needs a renovation every couple of years, and yours is waaaay overdue.

3. You have a DIY website.

There is no shame in wanting to save some money and do something yourself. But when you find yourself “in over your head” building your own website, you may end up feeling some website shame.

Stop and take a breath.

Unless you are a web designer, no one expects you to be a web designer. It’s OK.

The most empowering thing you could do in this case is open yourself to the possibility of hiring someone else to handle this work. You are no less smart or capable in life. You just have better ways to spend your time than to piece together a website with duct tape and love.

4. You have a “Sleeping Beauty” website.

Your website is GORGEOUS. Your web designer really hit the nail on the head. It has exquisite design and custom made social media icons that dance when you even think of clicking them. The whole thing sparkles. You are the envy of all your friends.

But there is one little problem–your website doesn’t actually do anything. Its content has been frozen in time because you never blog or update content. There are no opportunities for people to opt in to your newsletter or sign up to events or schedule consultations with you. Nothing is going on, really. Your website just sits there… looking pretty.

It doesn’t take a huge amount of effort to breathe some life into your website. Think of it as the most valuable and tireless employee in your business. It should be working for you 24/7.

Start by giving it one simple task. Create an opt in form for people to sign up to your email list. Most website platforms will easily integrate with email marketing platforms to help you build your list.

From there, you can explore other useful tasks for your website to perform, including, but not limited to:

You know that great feeling when you finally address the one thing you just haven’t gotten around to? it may take a little time, money, and faith (in the right web designer), but the effort is worth it because a well-built website will not only make you proud, it will also take care of you.

What is the cure for website shame? Make your website a priority today. There are a few ways you can do this:

1. If you don’t have a website, schedule a Website Elements Session to determine what you need in place–and what you already have in place–to start building one.

2. If you have an outdated or DIY website, make a wish list of your desires for an upgraded website, including links to websites that get your heart racing (in a good way) when you land on them. Then book a Website Elements Session to get a glimpse of how we can build a website that makes you proud and takes care of you.

3. If you suspect you have a “Sleeping Beauty” website, contact me for a website review so we can pinpoint the areas of opportunity for bringing your website to life.

Website shame is a feeling that you, as an entrepreneur, will feel at some point in the evolution of your business. When you grow, change your business mission/vision, or expand your services, your website is usually the first thing to get left behind and the last thing to get up to speed.

How long you tolerate that nagging feeling is totally up to you. 🙂