What to Put on a Doula Website

A website is typically the first thing a potential client sees when choosing whether or not to contact you. A doula website should show who you are, what services you offer, and why they can trust you. Here's what to include on each section based on my experience building and managing doula websites.

What should a doula website include?

• Who you are and the type of support you offer
• Your services or packages
• Your prices, or a starting price
• The area you serve
• Your story and training
• Reviews from families
• A simple way to contact you

The hero section: the top of your page

The first section of your website is what's known as the hero section. This is the first thing families see when they land on your website. Hero sections typically contain four things: a heading, a subheading, a hero image and call-to-action buttons.

The heading is important to get right. It should be a simple hook that grabs the visitor's attention and tells them what you offer and whether this site is relevant to them. For example, "Postpartum care for new parents in Austin, TX" says what you do, who you do it for and where you do it. If a new parent is looking for postpartum help in Austin, they'll know they're in the right place.

The subheading is the smaller text below the heading. This is where you can explain your services a little more and add details that make them want to keep scrolling. You can introduce yourself or your business and make them feel welcome. Let's look at this example: "Hi, I'm Maya. I help new parents rest, recover and settle in with their baby, so the early weeks feel calmer." It does three things: introduces you, expands on what you do and shows how it helps them.

The hero image is important as well. It should be a visual version of your heading and subheading, fit the theme of your site and set the mood for the rest of the page. For this example, a quality photo of a doula helping new parents with their baby would be a great choice. It's always best to use high-quality photos you took yourself, but if you don't have any that fit, you can find free stock photos on sites like Pexels, Unsplash and Pixabay.

Your services and packages

Your services and packages are one of the most important parts of your site. This is what really shows a visitor whether they want to reach out about a service. From my experience managing a doula agency's website, I found that potential clients liked having packages to choose from, with pricing. Instead of just "Overnight postpartum care, $40/hr," how about a package like "Sleep Well Package, $3,840: 3 nights a week for 4 weeks, with 8-hour night shifts"? This gives them a clear picture of the help they'll get and what it costs. When using DoulaSites, each service has a spot for a price, so packages like this are easy to list.

Should you list your prices?

Whether or not to list your prices is a typical thought doulas have. If you don't list them, you might think families will be more likely to contact you for pricing, which gives you a chance to sell your services to them directly. On the other hand, families may want to talk over what they can spend on care and which package works for them.

I believe listing your prices is the best choice. It gives clients a chance to talk it over with their partner or family, knowing what it will cost and what they'll get. When they reach out, they've already decided they're ready for the cost of your services.

The area you serve

Listing the areas you serve isn't only important for families browsing your site. It matters for search engine optimization (SEO) too. Google, Bing and AI tools are much more likely to recommend you to someone searching in Tampa, FL if your site says you serve Tampa.

Websites also have what's known as structured data, which lists details about your business in a way search engines can read. This includes the areas you serve. For example, a doula in Tampa might list Tampa, Brandon, Clearwater and St. Petersburg. That way, even if the nearby cities aren't written out on the page, search engines still know you serve them.

Your story, training and certifications

Building trust is important. As families browse your website, they're also subconsciously looking for signs they can trust you. Listing where you trained and got certified, the year you got it and a few details about you helps potential clients feel safe and confident reaching out.

Reviews from families

It's no secret that testimonials are probably the best trust builder you can add to your site. They instantly say, "Other families trust them, so I probably can too." Even if you're a new doula, one or two testimonials from friends or family you've helped through birth or postpartum can do a lot. Just make sure they're accurate and that you have permission before posting them with a name.

Asking for testimonials can be a challenge too. Timing matters: not too soon, and not too long after. A simple message like "If you have a moment, would you be open to writing a quick testimonial? It really helps more families find me, and it lets me know how I did." This shows them it genuinely helps your business, and most past clients are happy to be part of that.

A clear way to contact you

Contact forms are usually the best way for clients to reach you through your site. They can share a few details, and you can follow up with them. It's good to say how long you'll take to reply, so they know when to expect to hear back. If you're on your phone a lot, promising a quicker reply can encourage them to send it. Something like "I'll get back to you the same day" often helps.

A checklist before you share your site

• Does it say who you are, what you offer, and your service area?
• Are services and pricing clear?
• Are your city and nearby towns mentioned?
• Did you add any testimonials you have?
• Does your contact form work? Send yourself a test.
• Does it look good on a phone?

If you’d rather not build all of this from scratch, DoulaSites was built exactly for that. Answer a few questions and most of these sections will be drafted for you. All you need to add are your personal touches.