This is 2023 when I'm writing this article. In today's digital time, having a personal website has become increasingly important. It goes beyond a simple online presence, it serves as a powerful tool for personal branding, showcasing your work, impressing recruiters, organizing your thoughts, and enhancing your online visibility.
Suppose, my friend Tazwan, he is a filmmaker. He always focused to build his own brand. That means he wanted to work by his name. He is an automotive filmmaker. So he's theme should be that masculine. When he pitches to his client or agencies for work, they ask him for a demonstration of his previous work. He felt the need for a personal portfolio where he can showcase his own previous works.
So I made him one. It represents his work profile so stunningly. Have a look.
Why do you need a personal website?
So, why I'm telling you that you need a personal portfolio website? If you own a brand or a business. Or even if you are a personal individual who is just looking for a job or an opportunity, it's a great way to impress the target people. Let's get to some points.
Controlling Your Branding
Your personal website gives you complete control over how you present yourself online. You can design it to reflect your unique style and choose the color scheme, fonts, and layout that align with your personal brand. By creating a cohesive and visually appealing website, you leave a lasting impression on visitors, establishing your brand identity and professionalism.
Showcasing Your Portfolio
A personal website is an excellent platform to display your portfolio of work. Whether you are an artist, designer, writer, or any professional seeking to showcase your skills, a website allows you to present your best work samples, completed projects, or even a blog where you can share your expertise. It provides potential clients or employers with tangible evidence of your abilities and helps them visualize the value you can bring to their projects.
Impressing Recruiters
In today's competitive job market, recruiters are increasingly looking beyond traditional resumes. Having a personal website sets you apart from other candidates, demonstrating your tech-savviness, professionalism, and attention to detail. A well-designed website can leave a lasting impression on hiring managers, showcasing your skills, experience, and personality visually engagingly. It serves as a powerful tool for creating a positive first impression and increasing your chances of landing your dream job.
56% of all hiring managers are more impressed by a candidate’s personal website than any other personal branding tool.–Workfolio
Organizing Your Thoughts & Ideas
Beyond professional needs, a personal website can be a platform for expressing your thoughts, ideas, and interests. It allows you to share your expertise, insights, or passions through blogging or creating content that resonates with your audience. This not only helps you organize your own thoughts but also positions you as a thought leader or an authority in your field, attracting like-minded individuals and fostering meaningful connections.
Enhancing Your Online Visibility
In a world where online presence is crucial, a personal website significantly enhances your visibility. It acts as a centralized hub for your online identity, allowing people to find you easily through search engines and social media. By optimizing your website with relevant keywords and regularly updating it with fresh content, you improve your chances of appearing in search results and establishing yourself as a credible professional in your industry.
How to Create a Website for Free?
Actually, nothing is free in today's world. You need to pay something. Whether it is time, money or with your skill, or labor. Creating a portfolio website for free is a great way to showcase your work and skills without incurring any additional expenses. Here are some ways you can create a portfolio website for free. But you need to spend some time to figure things out to build a website or you can hire a professional. I also build portfolio websites for individuals, you can hire me too. There are multiple ways to do it.
Website Builders
Wix
Wix offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface with a variety of customizable templates suitable for portfolio websites.
Weebly
Weebly provides easy-to-use tools and templates to build your portfolio website. It also offers features like integrated blogging and e-commerce.
WordPress.com
WordPress.com offers a free plan that allows you to create a portfolio website using their pre-designed themes and customization options.
Behance
Behance is not really a website builder, but it provides an easy solution to build your portfolio. Behance is a platform for creatives to showcase their work. It allows you to create a visually appealing portfolio by uploading your projects, organizing them into collections, and adding descriptions and tags. Now Behance allows users to sell digital products on their platform.
While Behance is primarily a portfolio showcase platform, it can serve as a portfolio website for many professionals.
GitHub Pages
If you are a developer or have coding skills, GitHub Pages provides a free hosting service for static websites. You can create a portfolio website by utilizing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to showcase your projects and skills. You can also use frameworks like Jekyll or Hugo to simplify the website creation process.
Google Sites
Google Sites offers a simple and intuitive website builder that allows you to create a portfolio website. You can choose from various templates, add your content, and customize the design. Google Sites seamlessly integrates with other Google services, making it easy to embed Google Drive files, Google Calendar, and more.
Remember to choose a platform that suits your needs and showcases your work effectively. While these options provide free plans, they may also offer premium features and additional customization options at a cost. Evaluate your requirements and make use of the available tools and templates to create a professional and engaging portfolio website that highlights your talents and accomplishments.
A personal website is a versatile tool that empowers you to control your online presence, showcase your work, impress recruiters, organize your ideas, and enhance your visibility. It serves as a virtual extension of your brand, allowing you to stand out from the crowd, build meaningful connections, and unlock new opportunities. In today's interconnected world, having a personal website is no longer just an option but a necessity for anyone looking to leave a lasting digital footprint and succeed in their professional endeavors.