In this episode of Female emPOWERED, Christa sits down with website designer and SEO expert Jess Freeman, the creative behind both the Pilates in the Grove and Christa Gurka websites. Together, they unpack exactly what makes a boutique fitness or wellness website stand out in 2025—and what you need to prioritize to attract more clients and rank higher on Google.

Jess shares her proven process for stress-free website builds, her favorite platforms for service-based businesses, and her expert insights into SEO for local studios, clinics, and wellness professionals.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the thought of redoing your website or confused by SEO jargon, this episode will simplify it all and help you take actionable steps to improve your online visibility.

🔍 What You’ll Learn

• How Jess created a seamless, client-friendly website process
• The must-have elements of a modern health and wellness website (2025 & beyond)
• Non-verbal ways to show your brand personality through fonts, colors, and shapes
• Local SEO basics: how to optimize for your city or neighborhood
• Why including your location on every page matters
• How to write strong copy that converts—without keyword stuffing
• The truth about photo alt text and how to use it correctly
• Why blogging is still the #1 SEO tool for small businesses
• The best website platforms for service providers: Squarespace vs. WordPress vs. Kajabi
• Common website mistakes that hurt your visibility (and how to fix them fast)

📲 Connect with Jess

• Website: www.jesscreatives.com
  
  
• Instagram: @jesscreatives
  
  

Check out her portfolio for examples of boutique wellness websites, including Pilates in the Grove and Christa Gurka.

👩‍💼 Connect with Christa

• Website: www.christagurka.com
  
  
• Instagram: @christagurka
  
  
• Watch this episode on YouTube: Christa Gurka Channel