“So, what do you need from me?”
— Every client we love working with.
When this question comes up – be it before, during, or after our website discovery call – we get a surge of serotonin. It shows that you understand that a website isn’t something you can just hand over and hope for the best (as much as that would occasionally make life easier for everyone involved).
We can design it, write it, and build it, but it still needs your input if it’s going to sound like you. Without that, it can look perfectly polished on the surface, but still miss the detail that makes it recognisably yours.
To move your website from “good” to something you’re genuinely proud of, here’s what we’ll ask for:
1. Team photos / headshots
Personal connection is everything in financial planning. If a prospect can’t see the people they are expected to trust with their life savings, there’s an immediate barrier. Therefore, we’ll need photos of you and your team to show the people behind the expertise.
If you’re not keen on your current headshots, don’t worry – we can point you in the right direction.
2. VouchedFor / Google reviews
You’re already doing great work – this is where we help you show it.
Whether you have Google reviews, a VouchedFor profile, or both, we’ll pull them in so they sit naturally within the site. This gives people immediate reassurance without you needing to say very much at all.
3. Client testimonials
A five-star rating is great, but a testimonial that says “I can finally sleep at night” is gold.
We’re looking for the client stories that show the emotional impact of what you do. Written testimonials are brilliant, but if you have clients willing to go on video, that’s even better.
4. Who you work with
We want your website to be a magnet for the people you actually enjoy working with. To do that, we need you to tell us about your “ideal” client: Who are you helping? What keeps them awake at 3am?
When we know who you’re talking to, we can write copy that speaks directly to them.
5. The “official” bits
Your qualifications, FCA status, and accreditations are the backbone of your credibility. Send across your learning statement and any PR bits you’d like to shout about, and we’ll make sure they’re added to your team page.
6. Your client process
New clients are often a little nervous about that first meeting. They want to know what to expect. That’s why we’ll ask you to walk us through your client process – from that first “hello” to the ongoing support you offer. By laying this out clearly on a dedicated webpage, we remove the mystery and make that first step much easier for them to take.
7. That “something special”
This is our favourite part. We need you to tell us: what makes you you? Maybe there’s an interesting backstory behind the company name, or you have a unique approach to cashflow modelling. Whatever it is, share it with us so we can make it the defining feature of your site.
We’ll cover most of this in our first conversation, but there’s no rush if you need more time to think things through. Once we have these essentials in place, we’ll have everything we need to build a website you’re genuinely proud to put your name to.
To chat about this further, drop Abi a line at abi@theyardstickagency.co.uk or call us on 0115 8965 300.
