Writing (or Updating) Your Website with ChatGPT
Yes, You Can DIY Your Doula Website!
In the spring, I rewrote my entire website from parent-facing, postpartum doula-focused to birth professional-facing and marketing support-focused. I added a couple of blog titles as placeholders (“Coming soon!”) and then the summer hit and with my own kids home from school, my work productivity slowed.
Now, at the end of the summer, I’m noticing that people searching ‘website for doulas’ are directed to a blog post title (this very one!) that I meant to write months ago. This is great news because it means that my website rewrite and restructuring has been picked up by Google and it’s ready to send more traffic my way. And it reinforces what I have been noticing for more than a year: people are looking for help with their website words.
To signal to Google that it is safe to send more similar traffic my way (because I am reputable, safe, and ready to answer my visitors’ questions), I immediately created a separate page all about my work designing and optimising websites for doulas and birth workers. In fact, I’ve had more clients for website work this year than for doula work (it’s a slow shift that’s been underway for nearly 2 years, to be fair, so I’m not mad about it).
And I also got to work on this blog post because it is exactly the kind of website content Google loves to share, and if I’m reading my analytics correctly, people are looking for this info!
So let’s talk about how to write a website for your doula business, and especially, how to put ChatGPT to work for you so the whole thing feels totally doable.
Most Common Doula Website Mistakes
Yes, you can write the words for your own website because you don’t need your website to win a copywriting award. You just need it to clearly communicate who you are, what you do, and how to take the next step so that families feel confident reaching out to you.
But here’s what I see again and again when I audit doula websites (including my own past versions):
1. Vague or poetic headlines
Headers like “Sunrise Package” or “Rediscover Your Power” might feel soulful and resonant to you, but they don’t help a tired, stressed-out new parent understand what they’re getting or why it matters. Use headers to be really obvious and save the soulful language for descriptions.
Ex. “Overnight Postpartum Doula Support in Portland, OR” is instantly more helpful than “Sacred Nights” (no matter how lovely your intention).
2. Wall-of-text overwhelm
All my first drafts are too wordy. It happens every time I write. So I’m not surprised to land on websites that have a lot of text on each page. You have so much to offer, how can you keep it all in? This is the real you!
But as you can imagine, big blocks of text without spacing or clear structure are hard for anyone to read. And who is your dream client? Anxious, overwhelmed, sleep-deprived new parents? These folks just cannot right now (and neither can the AI tools that scan your site for answers).
If you’re feeling called out, it’s time to do some culling. On your main pages, keep paragraphs short, use clear section headings, bullet points, and a scatter of bolded key lines to guide the eye. Use “Read More” links to share your in-depth thoughts and information.
3. Lack of focus
Too many different instructions on a page (aka: calls-to-action) mean your visitors are getting lost in the weeds.
Unfortunately, first-time website visitors who are invited to go ahead and book a free consult or view the newborn minis gallery, or explore mini sessions do none of those things. If you also tell them to download your free guide and join your newsletter all in the same breath, they will get overwhelmed and head for the exit.
Instead, choose one clear next step per page.
That doesn’t mean you can’t offer other options, but structure them with intention. Your homepage might lead to your Services page, which offers different paths based on readiness. But give each page a single job.
One action. One button. Clear direction.
Conversely, leaving out a clear Next Step at the end of a page can leave visitors hanging. Take the lead and invite folks to move from your About page to your Blog or from your Services page to your Contact form.
4. Either too much about you—or not enough
There’s a delicate balance between sharing your story and overwhelming your visitor. Some doulas bury the “how to book me” info under paragraphs about their own birthing experiences or extensive trainings. Others barely include a photo or intro, leaving the site feeling cold or impersonal.
You don’t have to spill your birth story, your family dynamics, or your entire worldview for your website to feel personal. In fact, you shouldn’t need to go into a vulnerability hangover every time you update your About page.
But your future clients do want to know something about you:
What kind of support you’re drawn to
What values guide your work
What makes you easy to talk to
Why you chose this path
These little cues woven through your copy and photos help families feel a sense of resonance. They help people say, “I feel like we’d get along,” or “She reminds me of my sister,” or “This feels safe.”
That’s what builds trust.
Instead of oversharing, aim for recognizability. Ask yourself: Is there one sentence, one image, or one detail on this page that shows a bit of who I am and why this work matters to me?
That’s enough.
5. Inaccessible design
Okay, so the first four website mistakes birth workers make were all about the copy, or the words on the page. This last one is about the design, the visuals, and the layout. Because even the most beautifully written site won’t work for you if people can’t read or navigate it.
Common design issues I see:
Low contrast text (light pink on white, or pale grey on cream)
Cursive fonts that are hard to read
Cluttered pages with too many elements or moving parts
Instead of trying to get the vibe just right, prioritize legibility, simplicity, and clear structure. Use headings, spacing, and contrasting colors with accessibility in mind, and trust in the words to do the rest of the job.
🤖 Bonus: If a human can’t make meaning, neither can Google
Every one of these issues also affects how search engines and tools like ChatGPT interpret your site, too. Google prefers to recommend websites with super clear headers and content that flows predictably. When the structure is unclear, or your offerings are buried in metaphor, Google won’t recommend you (and these days, neither will ChatGPT).
That’s why we want to pair clear, human-centered writing with strategic prompts that help AI support your visibility.
Ready to See Your Website Through a Fresh Set of Eyes?
If you’re not sure whether your website is working (or if any of the patterns above felt a little too familiar) don’t worry. You don’t need to tear the whole thing down to make progress. Sometimes the first step is simply noticing how your site reads to someone who’s never met you before.
Here’s a quick way to get that outside perspective using ChatGPT:
Copy and paste the main text from your homepage (or your most important service page) into ChatGPT and ask:
“Who do you think this business is for? What problem do they solve? What’s missing or unclear?”
You can also ask:
“Does this page make it clear what I do, who I help, and where I work?”
This gives you a glimpse into what a stranger or a search tool might pick up (or miss) when they first land on your page. It’s a great way to check if your words are doing the work you want them to do.
✨ You’ll also find this prompt (along with a full checklist and more visibility tips) in my free guide, How to SEO Your Business Off Social Media. It’s designed to help you make strategic improvements to your site so you can take a social media break if you want to.
Can ChatGPT Write Your Website? (Yes, with guardrails)
Yes, ChatGPT can help you write your doula website (or rewrite the one you already have). But only if you treat it like a drafting partner, not a ghostwriter who replaces you. In fact, if the idea of sitting down to improve your website fills you with big time “ugh, don’t wanna” energy, ChatGPT is the co-working buddy who will make this easier for you.
What ChatGPT can do for you
Give you structure and flow: it can map out what the pages should include so you don’t overthink what comes next.
Help you beat blank‑page paralysis: when you don’t know how to start, it gives you starter language to work from.
Simplify or rephrase big chunks: it can turn a long, fuzzy idea into clearer, scannable copy (which is essential for your audience).
Experiment fast: you can test a few headline or subheadline versions, see how they land in Chat, then pick or adapt.
Help with SEO scaffolding: it can suggest keyword ideas or meta descriptions (though you’ll want your own research and refinement to get really specific).
But, and this is key, ChatGPT won’t automatically know you, your values, your voice, or your lived experience of birth work. If you just paste your website word requests or prompts without context, ChatGPT will generate generic or pastel-sounding copy. That’s why you remain essential in the process.
What ChatGPT can’t do (without your help)
It won’t sense subtle emotional cues (your instincts about what’s resonant with your ideal client are irreplaceable ✨).
It can’t inherently carry your values, your boundaries, or your specific framework unless you feed it context.
It might default to clichés or “safe” language unless you push it.
It may misinterpret or oversimplify birth‑work concepts if you don’t carefully review.
It won’t optimize fully for your local or niche search terms unless you feed it SEO direction.
Think of ChatGPT as your writing apprentice, not your replacement. You’ve got the voice, the lived experience, the nuance. You are the provider your website visitor will hire. ChatGPT is just the tool that gives you a first draft. You guide it, tweak it, layer in your heart. That’s when the magic happens.
What to Know Before You Start Prompting
Before you open ChatGPT and type “rewrite my Homepage,” take 5–10 minutes to name a few key things only you can answer. Those answers will anchor everything the AI produces and help it sound like you.
What you need clarity on
Who you serve (specifically)
Is it first-time parents? Parents frustrated with medical systems? Parents in rural areas? Know your “client avatar.” Briefly describe the exact family you wish would hire you again and again.What makes your work different (your differentiation)
What’s your approach, your lens, your boundary or niche? This is what keeps you from sounding like “just another doula.”Your tone & voice
Warm but direct? Gentle but clear? Your voice is your signature. Decide on 2–3 adjectives (e.g. “supportive, grounded, candid”) and drop them into your prompts.Your most-booked services / priority pages
Which page (or service) needs to shine most? Home, About, Services, Contact? Start there.Your ideal next step (CTA)
Do you want people to book a consult, email you, download a guide? Choose one “north star” action per page.
ChatGPT Prompts for Doula Websites (Mini Guide)
Below are prompt templates you can drop into ChatGPT after you complete the clarity steps above. Use them as springboards only because you should edit these for your own purposes!
Feel free to paste your own language or personal details into these prompts so ChatGPT has more to work with.
For Headlines & Homepages
“Write a homepage headline (under 10 words) that reassures someone feeling anxious about hiring a doula. The tone is gentle, clear, supportive, and it should communicate safety and approachability.”
“Write 2–3 optional subheadlines to follow that headline, each reinforcing that this is a space where clients will feel heard, seen, and cared for.”
For About Pages
“Here’s a few bullet points about me and why I became a doula: [paste your bullet points]. Now write a short About paragraph (2–3 sentences) that feels warm, real, and confident and avoid clichés about ‘helping mothers’ unless I specify. Use one tiny detail that shows who I am (e.g. love of herbal baths, or quiet evenings with tea).”
For Service Descriptions
“I offer overnight postpartum support in [City / region]. Explain this service in language that feels human and reassuring, not medical or overly detailed. Use bullet points to describe what’s included (e.g. check-ins, newborn soothing, parent rest, etc.). Keep it scannable and clear.”
For Calls-to-Action (CTAs) & Next Steps
“Give me 3 invitation-style CTAs to invite someone to book a free consult. Tone: warm, non-pushy, confident. E.g. ‘Let’s talk through your needs’ or similar phrasing.”
“Write a short closing line for the Services page that gently leads the reader to the Contact page, reminding them they don’t have to do this alone.”
For Page Meta Descriptions, SEO, and Side Copy
“Suggest 3 meta descriptions (under 160 characters) for my Homepage that include keywords ‘doula support’ and my location (if I provide it). Keep them friendly and clickable.”
“Rewrite this section heading in my FAQs to be more SEO-friendly but still human: ‘What is postpartum doula support?’ → something like ‘What does a postpartum doula do and how can I find one?’”
⚠️ Tip: After Chat generates, always do a “read-it-back-out-loud” test. If you catch a phrase that feels cold, replace or reword it. Your revision is the most important step.
When to Ask for Help (And Why Website Words Makes Sense Here)
You can do a lot of this work on your own. Everything is figure-out-able! But sometimes, when your words feel wobbly (even after many rounds), or your plate is overflowing, or you just don’t want to spend any more emotional energy on this, that’s when inviting help is exactly the right move (just like we’re forever encouraging our new parent clients to do 😜).
Here’s how Website Words (my done-for-you service) aligns with everything you’ve just learned, and why it might be a fit right now:
It starts with clarity: I audit your current site + content to see what’s working and where the gaps are.
I pair your voice + values with SEO mindset: The copy isn’t just warm; it’s strategic (you’ll see elements of this in my How to SEO guide).
I rewrite your core pages (5 pages by default) but always leave room for your editing. (You’re not handing over authorship; you’re collaborating.)
I reorganize structure + navigation so your site flows (from page to page) in a way that supports the client journey.
You get a feedback session to walk through edits, fine-tune, and talk next steps.
Optional add-ons help with implementation or full design (on Squarespace) if that’s something you want.
So if you’ve tried prompts and rewrites and it still doesn’t feel you, Website Words is a hand to grab, not a takeover of your voice.
Also: when people go through this process with me, they often unlock visibility breakthroughs because the site is clearer, more findable, and more resonant. The pull toward “I just want to outsource this” often comes from doing the DIY path well enough that you see how much momentum a well‑crafted site can create.
If you decide Website Words is a fit, you’re not stepping away from your website. You’re stepping into a version that helps you show up with confidence and clarity.
Website Words That Work for You
Your website doesn’t have to be polished. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to work, to feel like you, guide people forward, and earn Google’s trust.
If you’ve arrived here wondering whether you should try prompts yourself or whether to bring in help, the answer is: both can be right, depending on where you’re at in your capacity, energy, and how much time you want to invest.
If you’re in, here’s how to move:
✅ How to SEO Your Business OFF Social Media: Use it to audit your site, sharpen clarity, and start seeing what structural fixes matter most.
✅ Website Words service: When you’re ready to bring in a collaborator you trust, let’s ensure your site does more than “look pretty”—let’s make it magnetic.
Thank you for being here. If anything in this blog feels like it’s raising questions, loosening stuck thoughts, or making something a little clearer, I’m so honored to help.
