You might think that there is no need for a website in the age of social media where the highlights of our lives are on immediate display. Personal and professional websites, however, offer something different than social media platforms and can offer a convening space for your identity and work as an artist, business person, industry professional, and more. Here are the top reasons why you need a website, despite having a social media presence.
Establishing Credibility
Believe it or not, facebook posts of you yelling about why a movie was lousy or instagram photos of your spring break bikinis aren’t going to scream to employers or customers that you’re hirable. In fact, if you are on the lookout for a new position of trying to draw traffic to a product or company, the last thing you want people seeing is the most casual and crazy version of yourself that only your friends see. By having a stand-alone website, you are able to present a clear and concise version of yourself and what you’re all about that will be attractive to the world of business, commerce, art, you name it.
Competition
You can guarantee that whoever your competition is, whether it be a sculptor with a similar aesthetic, a product line with a similar customer base, or a lawyer who went to the same law school, they are going to have a website that makes them appear professional and experienced. To be on a level playing field with them, you have to meet them at the same level of presentational output. If all your competition has is social media, then you’re in luck because you will be the one who looks more serious and established.
Honing Your Image
It may be that you have a lot of input into the aesthetics of the website, and that somehow reflects your message, identity, or work ethic. It may be that you choose to put a specific resume, list of accomplishments, curriculum vitae, or other experiences on the website to create a narrative about who you are. This can be done by yourself or with the help of web design services. A personal website allows you to hone your image to your liking, to fit whatever your ultimate goal is, whether it be attaining a position, or establishing yourself in your field as a force to reckon with.
Clear and Professional Means of Contact
Contacting someone through Twitter DMs and facebook messages is never going to be professional, no matter how many lazy and unprofessional bosses or low-effort businesses try to claim it is. Having a contact page, or simply listing a professional email address and phone number, is essential for establishing credibility and signaling to viewers that you are available in a professional context.
Full Control of the Website
As much as we would like to think we control our image on social media, we don’t. Studies and investigations have proven that not only are we manipulated in terms of what posts are prioritized in our timelines due to algorithms, but we are even compelled to be angry, explosive, and unprofessional due to the overall social climate and way that people choose to interact on the platforms. On your website, you are in full control of your story, without any sneaky algorithms or nasty commenters derailing your image and message.
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