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Your website is one of your business’s most important assets. It is your online brochure, your presentation, and your biggest marketing tool all wrapped into one. However, knowing just what should be included in that website can certainly be a challenge. Professional organizers need to understand better website design and the key elements necessary to help clients successfully connect with your business.

Basic Elements of a Successful Website

As a rule of thumb, websites should contain all the basic information: who, what, where, when, why, and how. Who you are, what you do, where you do business, what your hours are, why a prospect should choose you, and how they can contact you. After creating your website, do a thorough review to ensure that all of these basic questions have been answered.

Site Organization

Organize your website into sections (i.e., pages) that are easy to find and understand. Even the most basic website design should include the following:

  • Home Page
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Contact

Home Page

This is typically your first chance to make a good impression — unless your website also uses a Landing Page. Help visitors get to know you and get them excited about what you have to offer. Display your business name and include links to other pages of your website. Include promotions for gift certificates or other interesting offers, and include a link to an order form. If you offer a free initial consultation, promote it here. Also, display logos of professional organizations that you are affiliated with.

About Us

People want to do business with someone they feel they know, so introduce viewers to you, your team, and your organization. Tell your story, why you went into business, and what geographic area you service. Let visitors know how you give back to your community. This is also your place to brag — highlight any awards, special certifications, or honors you’ve received or earned.

Services

List your services, along with a brief description of each and include links to other pages on your site where visitors could get additional information. Many organizers also create separate sub-pages for each of their individual services, with links from the primary Services page. Sub-page categories might include business organizing, home organizing, downsizing, moving, estate sales, etc. Elaborate on what you do and how your services benefit clients.

Contact

Be sure to include all of your contact information: your name, telephone number(s), email and website addresses, and hours of operation. Also include links to all of your social media accounts since many prospects are more comfortable communicating through tools such as Facebook and Pinterest. Consider including a contact form, where visitors can email in their requests or questions. You can link to this page from others on your website using a “Contact Us” button or link.

Additional Pages

If you have products to sell, have relationships with other businesses or websites, or want a place to have conversations with your customers and prospects, you should include the following pages in your website design. Additionally, content-rich pages (for Galleries, Testimonials, and FAQs) help make your website design even more appealing to viewers — and to search engines such as Google and Bing.

  • Products
  • Links
  • Blog
  • Gallery
  • Testimonials
  • FAQs
  • Media / Press

Products

Have you written a book or e-guide? Promote it here. You can also promote links to affiliate organizations (like a closet system partner) on this page. Your product list might include written materials, organizing aids, classes or courses, apparel, CD or video sets, gift certificates, etc.

Links

Posting links to helpful articles, checklists, charts, graphs, photographs, interviews, etc., provide value to your visitors. This helps to make your organization a go-to resource for clients — beyond just their immediate needs.

Blog

A blog is important because your site needs to have new content updated regularly to stay relevant. Your blog drives SEO (search engine optimization) because search engines love valuable content and will reward you for it by ranking your website higher in search results. In your blog, you want to address your target audience in a conversational-type tone. Let them get to know you on a one-to-one basis — your personality, goals, and outlook. Include helpful information, links to interesting articles, links to your videos or online photo gallery, success stories and customer case studies (get permission to post these), etc.

Gallery

A gallery is a great place to post pictures. Post examples of organized rooms or before-and-after shots of client jobs (again, get permission from your clients before posting). Post photos of yourself or your team hard at work on client projects.

Testimonials

People often ask for recommendations when hiring a professional organizer. Get testimonials from your happy clients and post them on a testimonials page. Always get permission to use their names and testimonial first.

FAQs

FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions, and many organizers offer a list of typically-asked questions and their answers. Questions might include:

  • “How much do you charge, and what’s included?”
  • “What does a professional organizer do?”
  • “Will you haul away my stuff for me?”
  • “Do you keep my information private and confidential?”

Media / Press

If you have been featured in magazines or newspapers, have participated in radio shows or online forums, or are involved with the media and have TV clips, this is the place to promote those links. This online résumé is what gives your business credibility and establishes you as an authority in your field. If you regularly work with the media, this would also be the place to post a media kit that offers media outlets your bio, photograph, list of services and topics about which you are qualified to speak.

Social Media Links

Because social media is how many people find what they are looking for, you will want to consider setting up business accounts for Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest, among others that might apply to your business or geographic area. Determine which social media platforms are most popular with your target audience and focus on those. Post to these accounts regularly to increase your engagement and your chances of being found through online searches. As mentioned earlier, make sure to include icons and links to these accounts in your website design – typically on your Home Page and Contact Page.

When planning for your business, spend the time and money to get a professionally designed, well-written website from the start. Even though it’s an up-front expense, it will save you money and stress in the long run. Many websites today are using “content management systems (CMS).” This easily enables you to update your own text and add or delete photos and information as needed.

This article was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.


Read more about: Administrative tasks associated with being a professional organizer. Becoming a professional organizer + owning an organizing business. Financial, legal, and insurance matters related to professional organizers. Marketing + branding for professional organizers. Growing + specializing in the organizing industry. Purchase 1+1 career coaching call or essential business forms.