Is Your Website Costing You Bookings? A 10-Minute Check for Wellness Practitioners
Most small wellness websites don't fail in a big, obvious way. They lose bookings to small things: a price that isn't listed, a Book button that goes to a dead page, a footer that still says © 2020. Each one is minor. Together they make a careful first-time client hesitate, and a hesitant client usually books with someone else.
We look at a lot of yoga, Pilates, massage, acupuncture and energy-work websites, and the same problems come up again and again. Here's a ten-minute check you can do yourself on your phone.
1. Can someone see your prices in two taps?
Missing prices are the most common problem we see. People don't like asking, and many will assume you're too expensive and leave. List your main sessions, packages and what's included. If prices vary, give a "from" price.
2. Can they book without messaging you?
If the only way to book is "email or text me", you lose everyone who's browsing at 11pm and doesn't want a back-and-forth. Every page should have a clear Book button that goes straight to your booking tool, whether that's Mindbody, Vagaro, Acuity, Jane or MassageBook. Tap it yourself and make sure it goes to the right place.
3. Does anything look abandoned?
A copyright year from several years ago in the footer.
COVID notices, mask rules or pre-screening forms that no longer apply.
Events or workshops with dates that have passed, or no year at all.
A calendar or schedule page that comes up empty.
None of these break the site, but they make visitors wonder whether you're still open.
4. Is there any template text left?
Squarespace, Wix and other builders fill new sites with placeholder text like "I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text." It's easy to miss on a page you rarely visit. Click through every page, including About, FAQ and Testimonials.
5. Do your reviews actually show up?
An empty Testimonials section is worse than none at all. If you have reviews on Google, Yelp or your booking platform, put a few of the best ones on your site, with first names and the service they had.
6. Do your social icons go to your accounts?
Many templates come with Facebook, Instagram and TikTok icons that link to the platform's home page, or to the website builder's own account. Tap each icon and make sure it opens your profile. Remove any you don't use.
7. Can Google find you?
On Google, search for “site:” followed by your web address, with no space in between. If nothing comes up, your site may be hidden from search, which happens when a "discourage search engines" or noindex setting is left on after launch. Also check that your Google Business Profile links to your website, not just to your booking page.
8. Does it work properly on a phone?
Most people will find you on their phone. Check that text is readable without zooming, buttons are easy to tap, menus open, and nothing runs off the side of the screen.
9. Is it clear who you help and what a first visit is like?
New clients want to know three things quickly: is this for someone like me, what happens in a first session, and where do I go. A short "What to expect" section answers most of the questions that stop people booking.
10. Is your contact information current?
Check your address, phone number, opening hours and email. If you've moved studios or changed your number, make sure the old details are gone from every page, including the footer and your Google profile.
What to do with what you find
If you found one or two things, most can be fixed in an afternoon in your website builder. If you found five or more, or you're not sure how to fix them, our Site Tune-Up fixes up to five problems on any platform for $350 in three business days. And if the site needs more than patching, a new Practitioner Site with booking built in starts at $1,500.
Not sure where your site stands? Send it to us for a free website check. We'll email you three specific fixes within two business days, no call needed.
