If the thought of updating your website makes you break out in hives, you’re not alone. Most musicians feel overwhelmed by the tech, the design decisions, the dreaded About page rewrite—and trying to look both “professional” and “authentic,” whatever the hell that means. So let’s make it easier—yes, with your fridge.
After going through multiple website overhauls (photo shoots, rewrites, and working with my favorite website expert Suzanne Bird-Harris), I’ve learned that building a site you actually love has less to do with fancy tech or adapting a “winning” persona—and everything to do with truth telling.
And after coaching umpteen musician clients through their own website upgrades, I’ve found that a few key steps can save you a LOT of headaches.
First, 2 Crucial Things to Avoid:
A. Don’t fixate on another musician’s website.
If you model yours on a “hero’s” site, it’ll look like a knockoff—a wanna-be. Instead, dig deeper and communicate who you really are.
B. Don’t hand over all the decisions to a designer.
Yes, hire someone good. But if you hand over to them all the creative decision-making, you risk ending up with a professional-looking but generic site that’s indistinguishable from a hundred others.
If you want a site that reflects the real you and speaks directly to your audience, you’ve got to make the key decisions: the look, colors, fonts, photos, menu, and structure.
Get expert guidance, sure—but the content, concept, and inspiration need to be yours.
In my work with musicians, I’ve helped many clients find the words, images, and stories that clarify their purpose and make their sites feel true to them. For many, it’s the first time they’ve really articulated why they make music—and the change they seek to make in the world through their work.
So if you’re stuck, here are four steps to get started—including how to use your fridge as a layout tool.
#1 Clarify the real you you’d like to show the world.
Not the airbrushed fantasy version. The real you—at your best.
Start by writing down 5–6 adjectives that describe how you want to come across online—your energy, your artistry, and what it’s like to work with you.
My adjectives for my last website overhaul were: direct, kind, witty, smart, creative, intuitive.
I used these words to guide every decision about text, colors, layout, even blog titles.
Find the words that best capture your truth—and let them shape your design.
#2 Find two brief stories that reveal your WHY (and your HOW).
These might show up in your bio, teaching page, or project descriptions. Think about stories such as:
- How you got hooked on music
- Why your ensemble came together
- A performance or teaching experience that changed you
These stories aren’t filler—they’re what ground your site in meaning.
They help readers connect with who you are and what matters to you.
(Need help finding your why? Read HERE.)
#3 Make a vision board. Seriously.
Once you’re clear on your adjectives and stories, it’s time to gather visual references.
Grab a stack of magazines, a glue stick, and some quiet time. Cut out images, words, and colors that resonate with the energy you want your site to convey.
You’re not looking for “musician” pictures. You’re looking for images and material that capture a sense of your energy, your mission, and your music.
Make clear, bold choices. Marketing expert Seth Godin reminds us that: “You can’t pick both earth tones and primary colors. You can’t pick Jennifer Aniston and J.D. Salinger.”
Choose your path. Let the collage reflect your actual point of view.
Digital options work too—Pinterest or a Google Slide—but there’s something about scissors and paper that unlocks creative juices.
#4 Find a model site outside of music.
Choose a business, coach, or brand completely unrelated to your field—but whose site makes you think: this really resonates—it feels like the way I’d like to show up online.
The model I found was a writing coach’s site—one that felt smart, direct, and engaging. It helped me reimagine what was possible.
Once you’ve found your model, print out your favorite elements: any layout, headlines, colors, menu items, and any “calls to action” you’d like to mirror. Tack these up next to your vision board—or go wild and use magnetic printer paper so you can move the design elements around on your fridge to clarify your layout.
The goal here is to make a website design blueprint you can work from—one that actually reflects you.
Final Tip: Learn to update it yourself.
Whatever platform you use to build your site, make sure you are trained in how to make updates. If someone builds your site for you, it’s essential that they teach you how to make and manage edits yourself.
Because your site will evolve—as you do.
In the end, it’s about clarifying what you want your website to convey:
Ask yourself, how clearly are you communicating who you are—and what you have to offer? Because that’s what makes a site compelling.
✨ Want more support?
Find more website tips HERE.
And if you do make a fridge board, I’d love to see it—send me a photo!
Ready to explore coaching? Let’s talk.
Here’s to getting the real you online—and out into the world.
Dream Big, Plan Smart. Live Well!
