I got a great question on website development from “Beatrix” last week:

“Hi Eileen,
I want to develop a website. Could you recommend a company specializing in websites for massage therapists or one that would provide assistance in developing a site? Thank you.”

There are more web developers in the Puget Sound area than there are baristas. Which is somewhere around 90 gazillion billion.

My current fav is (full disclosure) a former employee of Natural Touch Marketing, Noah Sochet. He did stellar marketing and customer service work with us and left to start up Duo Web Marketing. He knows his onions and can guide you well. I can guarantee he writes good content for MTs.

As much as I’d like to leave it there, I can’t.

Choosing a web developer is as important as taking on a business partner. Your site is going to represent (and market!) your massage practice in ways you would rarely be able to do in person. You have to pick someone whose work you’ve researched exhaustively, someone who is on your wavelength, someone who knows and respects your work. Because of all the communicating you’ll be doing, I recommend strongly that you find someone in your area. Building a website is so much easier when you can work with someone face-to-face.

There are a ton of good articles out there about choosing a web developer. I picked two I thought were good starts: How to Choose a Website Designer and How to Hire a Web Designer.

Another that I also liked requires a Yahoo! login. In case you have that (or don’t mind “joining”): How to Choose a Web Design Company

A decent basic website is going to run you $900 - $2000. It is a chunk, I know. You certainly can get cheaper sites for around $500. However, most of those sites are templates. There is nothing wrong with that except you’re going to have a site that looks like a lot of other businesses. Also you will not get the flexibility you may desire a year or two from now and you’ll have to start all over.

Look at similar businesses sites in your area and see who built them. Branch out a little. Look at the sites of any small businesses whose success depends on great, personalized service: hair studio sites, local nurseries, B&Bs, etc. If you find a site you love, call that business and ask about their experience working with their designer.

Figure out what you’re going to need now and what you’re going to want later. Perhaps right now you just want something like an online brochure featuring your hours, location and approach to bodywork. But later you’re going to want to add an online appointment program and some information/articles for your clients. Be sure your developer knows your future plans as they build your site the first time.

Lastly, it’s the web developer’s job to listen to what you need and to build your attractive, readable, search-optimized, easy to navigate site. They need to tell you when miniscule typeface and animated chakras are bad design features (which is always).

It’s your job to be clear about what you want the results to be. If the company you’re working with continually tries to push you in a direction that is not right for your business, cut your losses and walk away. This is your massage / bodywork practice. You are in charge of the face you present to the public.

I would be interested to hear about anyone’s experience building or re-building their website. If you have a criticism, kindly be civil and to the point. Feel free to send in your recommendations whether you are a customer or a web development business. I’m sure other readers would be interested as well.

All my best,
Eileen