11 Must Have for Your Yoga Studio Website

One of the most common inquiries we receive regarding yoga studio marketing and growth is, "Do I really need a website?"

The answer, as of April 2024, is a resounding "Yes."

Here's the scoop: While not every business necessarily requires a website to thrive, in today's digital landscape, where prospective clients and referrals often vet you online, your website serves as the initial impression for those intrigued by your yoga classes.

The more pertinent question to ponder is whether you need an elaborate website. The answer? It's twofold: no, and it hinges on what you're financially comfortable with at the outset.

You see, websites can span from free to $50,000 or more, contingent upon your specific needs and demands. For most yoga studios, the typical investment falls within the $800 to $5,000 range, with the job being done for you.

However, if you're just embarking on your journey, shelling out $5,000 for a website may be excessive. Ultimately, your website serves just two fundamental purposes:

Presenting your yoga studio in an appealing manner that resonates with the right audience.
Converting these visitors into members once they land on your website.

Thus, here are 11 elements of a high-converting yoga studio website, derived from insights gathered from hundreds of yoga studios worldwide.

1. Page Load Time

One of the critical components impacting website conversion isn't the design or the color of buttons. It's something you might not even see outright, but you'll definitely feel it: how swiftly your website loads on both desktop and mobile devices.

Consider this scenario: You're browsing through Amazon, eager to purchase a new book, water bottle, or t-shirt. However, the page takes an agonizingly long time—more than 10 to 15 seconds—to load. How does that make you feel?

Frustrated, right?

Well, your prospects feel the same way. If your website loads sluggishly, most visitors are inclined to abandon it and seek out your competitors. Page load speed is one of the key factors Google evaluates when ranking websites in its search results.

Google deems a website loading under 3 seconds as average, and under 2 seconds as fast. Should your website lag behind, Google may perceive it as unfriendly to users, consequently lowering its ranking in search results.

With fewer people discovering you on Google, you're essentially handing over opportunities to your competitors on a silver platter.

2. Device Compatibility: Responsive Design

Responsive design is a fundamental concept in website development. It refers to the ability of a website to seamlessly adjust and function across various devices, ranging from desktop computers to mobile phones.

According to thewebmaster.com's data from 2023, approximately 60% of online searches are conducted on mobile devices, with the remaining 40% occurring on laptops or desktops. This underscores the importance of ensuring that your website caters to users across all platforms, be it desktops, laptops, tablets (such as iPads), or mobile phones (both Android and iPhones).

Having a responsive website not only enhances the user experience and increases the likelihood of converting leads, but it also plays a pivotal role in search engine optimization (SEO). For instance, Google gives precedence to mobile-friendly websites in its search results over those that are not optimized for various devices.

3. Above the Scroll: Optimizing Your Website's First Impression

The concept of "above the fold" originated from the newspaper industry, where the top half of a folded newspaper was the most visible part to potential buyers. Publishers realized that captivating headlines and stories in this section significantly influenced sales because they were the first things readers saw.

Similarly, on websites, we refer to this prime real estate as "above the scroll" - the section visible to visitors without needing to scroll down. It's crucial to optimize this area, as it forms the initial impression for your potential prospects.

Here are four key elements to focus on in this section:

Clear Headline: Craft a concise headline that clearly communicates what your yoga studio offers and what sets you apart.

Call to Action: Include at least one prominent call-to-action button or form to encourage visitors to take the next step.

Contact Information: Display your phone number prominently for easy access.

Optional Description: Consider adding a brief description to provide additional information about your school and classes, if needed.

4. Incorporating CTAs and Offers: Encouraging Action on Your Website

Adding CTAs (Calls to Action) to your website is a simple yet effective way to prompt potential prospects to take action. CTAs typically involve forms or buttons that guide visitors on your website to the next step, whether it's booking a trial class, claiming an offer, or getting started with your services.

These CTAs can include options such as "Book a Trial Class," "Book a Free Trial," "Claim Offer," or "Get Started," providing clear instructions for visitors on how they can enroll in your school.

Taking it a step further, consider offering an irresistible entry offer to entice potential prospects to try your classes. This offer should be unique, low-risk, and high-value, setting your school apart from the competition. While a free trial class is a common option, exploring alternative offers can make your proposition more enticing. Here are some examples:

5 Free Class Pass
4 Weeks for $39.00
30 Days of Free Classes

Remember, you don't necessarily need a groundbreaking offer to generate leads from your website, but providing an irresistible offer can significantly boost your conversion rate. At Monstro, we use a "Starter Kit" as our CTA, which has proven to be effective in attracting new prospects.

5. Utilize Personalized Imagery

In our research, we've found that yoga websites featuring authentic personal images, like team photos or instructors interacting with students, tend to yield better results than those using stock images.

Personalized images, such as candid shots of happy students or instructors actively engaging in classes, convey a sense of community and authenticity. They show potential prospects that real people, just like them, are part of your yoga school and enjoying their experience.

Here are some examples of effective personal imagery:

6. Guiding Your Visitors Forward

It's natural for us to assume that others will navigate our website the same way we do, based on our own preferences and habits. However, every individual is unique, and they'll interact with your website in their own way.

What may seem straightforward to you might not be so obvious to your website visitors. That's why it's crucial to make the path forward clear and easy for them.

In all our yoga website designs, we include a dedicated section that lays out the exact steps a potential prospect needs to take to enroll in our client's yoga classes. This ensures there's no ambiguity in the visitor's mind about what to do next if they want to try out our classes.

When my wife searches for after-school activities for our kids, the first thing she does is check the reviews from other parents. These reviews play a big role in her decision-making process.

While Google reviews are valuable, having testimonials directly on your website can significantly boost your conversion rates.

Unfortunately, many yoga studio websites lack testimonials or only have a few without any accompanying images. At our yoga studio, we prioritize showcasing a wide range of testimonials from our satisfied customers directly on our website.

8. Pricing Page

Did you know that 96% of yoga studio websites do not display their pricing? Many studio owners hesitate to list prices online because they fear potential clients will solely focus on finding the cheapest option, rather than considering the value their studio offers.

Alternatively, some studios do display prices and even allow clients to enroll and pay directly through the website.

However, there's another approach that many yoga owners overlook: setting up a pricing page with a form for prospective clients to request a price list. Despite not displaying the prices upfront, this strategy allows studios to capture leads from those interested in pricing while still maintaining control over when and how pricing information is shared.

9. Messaging Tool

A messaging tool is a small icon placed at the bottom of your website, allowing users to initiate a chat with you or your team to inquire about your yoga school and classes.

While live chat widgets are an option, we advise caution unless you have dedicated staff available around the clock or utilize an AI system to handle responses. One drawback of live chat is that it often leads to inquiries about pricing, and if the user doesn't like the rates, they may leave without further engagement.

Our messaging tool takes a different approach: it first captures the user's name, phone number, and optionally their email before initiating a conversation. This information allows you to follow up with prospects via text message, even if you're unavailable to monitor chats in real-time. Additionally, with Monstro, you gain access to an AI that can engage prospects on your behalf through our messaging tool.

10. Easy Phone Access

While some prefer filling out forms, others prefer making a direct call. Unfortunately, many yoga studios don't make their phone numbers readily visible on their websites; often, they're tucked away in the contact page or buried in the footer.

To accommodate both preferences, we include a "Click to Call" phone number prominently displayed at the top of the menu. This allows visitors who prefer calling over filling out forms to easily initiate a call with our clients.

11. Schedule Display (Optional)

Adding a schedule or calendar to your yoga studio website could boost conversions, though the impact may not be significant. That's why it's considered optional.

Besides pricing, one of the most common queries from prospects is about your class schedule. By enabling your website visitors to view your schedule online or even book directly from a calendar, you can potentially encourage those who are eager to try your classes to take the next step forward.

Putting Together Your Yoga Website

Creating a high-converting yoga website isn't a walk in the park. It requires the expertise of a graphic designer, a web developer, and a CRO (Conversion Rate Optimization) specialist.

But that's just the beginning.1 To consistently attract traffic and potential prospects to your website, you'll also need to master the art of SEO (search engine optimization) to ensure your site ranks well on Google.

This whole process can be time-consuming and costly. While you could opt for a cheap $800 website from Fiverr, if it doesn't effectively generate leads and students, you're essentially throwing your money away.

If you're serious about boosting your online presence with a high-converting yoga studio website, we've got you covered. For a limited time, Monstro is offering to install our tried-and-tested yoga website for free with any of our yoga studio software options.

To learn more and discover how our software and system can help grow your yoga studio, simply book a free demo call below.