This post was sponsored by Squarespace, which makes it easy for anyone to build a personal brand online. Use the code CONTESSA for 10% off of your site.
It’s no secret that we live in a digital world.
You probably have at least one social media account (try four,) so you understand that having an online presence is now the norm. It’s the best way to stay up-to-date on current events, source inspiration, and buy various miscellany. But the internet is not a one-way street. Not only can you view other’s comings and goings, but they can view yours as well. But when was the last time you thought critically about how the online community views you?
While social media can be a powerful tool, it often floods our feeds, making it difficult to stay relevant for long. Having a personal website changes that.
No longer a tool for just creatives and entrepreneurs, a personal website allows you to control your own narrative, announce exciting events or projects, and keep people up to date on all things YOU.
Creating a website doesn’t mean you need to hire a professional web developer either. You can build a beautiful website all on your own, for about as much as a latte and croissant thanks to Squarespace.
So let’s dive into who a personal website would benefit (hint: everyone) and what to include in yours to make it shine.
Planning a Side Hustle
When thinking about a side hustle, having a personal website is a great way to test the waters. If you’re a consultant who’s interested in freelancing on the side, a website will help you showcase your work, promote your services, and share advice with visitors so they know you’re an absolute expert. Squarespace templates—like Ready—allows you to put all of this into one, easy-to-navigate site.
Even better, when you’re ready to further engage your audience, Squarespace offers email campaign templates so you can market your services with ease.
Announcing an Upcoming Event
Do you have a family reunion, wedding, or fundraiser on the horizon? Don’t count solely on e-vites to get the word out there! Templates like Royce, Kent, and Mojave offer gorgeous large images, easy to use contact forms, and clean, simple design so your event takes center stage.
The best part is that these templates can be customized, so when your event is over, you can update the site with photos from your awesome day and live in that ‘post-event bliss’ forever.
Starting a Job Search
No matter what industry you’re in, starting the job search can be daunting. Say you’re a lawyer who’s interested in transferring firms. A website where your work history, contact information, and interests live is a great resource for potential employers to learn more about you than a cover letter could ever provide.
This is also a life-saver during networking events. With websites that are mobile-optimized right out of the box, you can just pull out your phone and show your growing network what you’re all about! Leaving that lasting impression will keep you top of mind when a new opportunity comes up.
And Now, The Checklist of Essentials
So now that we’ve seen how helpful a personal website can be, we’ve compiled a checklist of things to include:
- A clean site map: Having an easy to navigate site is key for the ultimate user experience. Before you begin with the plug and play of a Squarespace template, plan out three or four buckets of information you’d like to feature.
- Beautiful photos: Including images is going to make people stick around longer and highlight you and your story in an appealing way. In addition to a headshot, don’t forget to have images that speak to your brand. (Even if that brand is you.) If you don’t know where to start, Unsplash is a free image sourcing website that is fully compatible with all Squarespace templates.
- Contact information: Once folks have fallen in love with your website, don’t forget to give them a way to get in contact with you. Pair an email with your site so all of the admiration can live in one place. While you’re building out your contact section, remember to add in any Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook accounts you’d like people to follow.
- About Me section: Whatever your goals are for your website, having a well-written summary will allow visitors to get a clear idea of what you’re offering.
- Clean + clear copy: While we’re on the subject of writing, having clean, easy to read copy across your website lets readers get to exactly what they’re looking for. While this might seem a little intimidating, Squarespace helps you out with beautiful fonts installed in all of their predesigned templates.
This post was sponsored by Squarespace, which makes it easy for anyone to build a personal brand online. Use the code CONTESSA for 10% off of your site.
