The internet is one of the most important forces in our world these days, but I probably don’t need to tell you that. Still, its importance only keeps growing, and now is a good time to stake your claim on a piece of the internet. This is something I’ve just recently done myself. I went out a bought my name in domain form (benjaminbonsma.com), and turned it into a personal website. One photo shoot and a weekend of playing around with layouts, and I’m really happy with the result. I think that everyone should set up a personal website on the internet and here’s why:
It Sets you Apart
When applying for a job, graduate school, or any other scenario when you need to stand out. Having a website can be a key part of this. Lots of recruiters will google your name when they’re deciding who to interview, and while sites like LinkedIn can help with this online presence, having your own site lets you have full control of your image. Having this image means that you can really set yourself apart from other people who have not developed this online presence.
It is Important
The Internet is already important and, as more and more people are raised using it, its importance will only continue to grow. Building yourself a website now, means that you’ll be ahead of most people when it comes to having a personal online presence, which can help you stand out.
It is Inexpensive
Simply registering a domain only costs between $2-20 a year, depending where you go, and from there the extra cost depends on what you use to support your website. For someone like me, who has no experience with coding or web development, I turned to an online development tool. I used Squarespace but there are several websites that can help such as Wix, WordPress, GoDaddy and more. These are somewhat expensive but I think they’re totally worth it, and very convenient if you are not technically inclined such as myself.
It is Easy
It took me one day to really develop out my website, and that was at a very relaxed pace. Now that it’s established, I can very easily make small changes, with very minimal effort. Using the online editor took a little time to learn but once I got the hang of it, it worked quite well. Overall it was a very painless process and I’m very happy with the result.
It is Fun
I had a lot of fun creating my website. I felt like I got to customize this space and make it my own. I got to display my professional side, but, in a creative and fun way. I also created a space for me to continue to produce content. My personal favourite part of my site is the space where I recorded some of the things I’ve made in the past. This will continue to be important as I will continue to log entries for new things I make there; it lets me journal the creative endeavours I embark on. This really is the beauty of making your own website; you can do what you want with it. You can make it a true reflection of yourself and your personality.
Having a space on the web to do that will only grow in importance – now is the time to go make your own website.