I titled this blog wrong, but you still clicked. Because whether you’re an entrepreneur or not, you need a personal website.
We live in a world where most people only share surface-level wins through social media. Quick highlights, perfect snapshots. Yet those moments never capture the real story you live every day.
This blog is my take on why a personal website matters and how you can decide what to share, how to share it, and what that can become for you.
After I get your wheels turning, I will serve up a month of trial and error boiled down into three minutes of actionable steps. No carbs, all protein.
Before we dive into the how, let’s pause on the why. Your online footprint shapes what people see, and expanding it can open doors for you while pulling others along for the ride.
Your Online Footprint
If I had to guess, your online presence is a mix of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Each one shows a different side of you – your passions, your work, your family, the highlight reel of your life.
That is where everyone begins, but if you want to tell a real story beyond the endless scroll, you need to deepen your personal funnel. That is when you stop adding to the noise and start adding real value.
Discoverability & Furthering Relationships:
Most people stick to the four big social channels. The problem is that these platforms rarely create meaningful discovery. They are designed for quick dopamine, not connection.
With the right tools and a plan, you can flip that script. A scroll session can turn into a doorway that leads someone into your world.
Nick Gray is a great example. He posts solid content on social, but he also plugs his personal website in his bio and comments. That one move takes people from a quick post to a place where they can actually learn about him.
And it goes further than social. Google is where the difference really shows.
Imagine this: you are down to 3 final candidates. Two of them have the usual social channels, the third has a personal website that lays out who they are and shows a side that social media can’t. Thirty minutes later you know more about them, than about your newest hire from six months ago. In that moment, the choice is clear.
Trickle-Down Effect:
Short posts on social create discovery. Long-form content on your website builds relationships.
The flow is simple:
- Share quick thoughts on social.
- Pull people deeper with long-form content on your site.
- Capture emails and send a monthly update that delivers real value.
I will be honest – I have not gone this far yet. My process stops at building and sharing through my site. But if you look at the people doing this at the highest level, almost all of them add the final step of collecting emails and sending newsletters. That move is what turns new visitors into long-term relationships.
Finding Your Fit:
Finding your groove online can feel overwhelming at first, but the right fit is usually closer than you think.
There is no single formula, because your fit comes down to what feels natural. I went through my own trial phase, deleting one social channel (Insta) before landing here with this website, and your approach will always be yours to decide.
This isn’t to say you have to pick one digital footprint for life. What feels right today may not feel right a year from now, and that is okay. The key is to stay true to what you are comfortable sharing and adjust as your goals evolve.
To make that decision a little easier, here are a few questions worth asking yourself:
- What am I comfortable sharing with the world?
- Who do I look up to, and what kind of online presence have they built?
- Would my current goals be easier to reach if more people knew who I was?
Take some time with these questions. Your answers might point you toward doubling down on social, building a site, or blending the two. For me, the clear step was to build this website. It gave me a place to share my life in a way that would attract the right people and open the right doors.
Learn by Teaching
There’s an old proverb that says, “When one teaches, two learn.” The meaning is simple but powerful: every time you explain what you know, you also discover new perspectives for yourself.
Everyone has their own way of teaching. Some people use long-form video, others write blogs, some host podcasts. The medium does not matter as much as the act of sharing.
I saw this firsthand while building my personal website. At first, it was just a place to post my thoughts, but once I started writing blogs, I realized how much I was learning by explaining things to others. Breaking down a book, a framework, or a business idea forced me to slow down, connect the dots, and make the lessons simple enough for someone else to follow. In the process, I actually understood the material better.
Whatever method you choose, teaching is not just about transferring knowledge to your audience. It is also about sharpening your own understanding in the process. That is the real magic behind building a personal website.
Each post or page you create becomes a way to both teach others and teach yourself at the same time.
The Building Blocks
So far, we have talked about why a personal website matters and how it can grow with you. Now let’s get practical. Every website needs a foundation, and the way you structure it will shape how people experience your story. Think of these pages as the building blocks that carry your message.
Key Sections:
Home Page
This is your connector. It’s the place most people will land first, so it should highlight what your site has to offer and point visitors to the next step. A clear intro and links to your other sections make for a smooth journey.
About Me
This page should feel like sitting down with a new friend. It is where you share your story, your drive, and the path you are on. If someone only spends a minute here, they should walk away knowing the real you beyond the highlight reel.
Teaching (Blog, Podcast, Videos)
This is where your ideas get to live. It can be blogs, videos, or podcasts, the format does not matter. What matters is creating a track record of lessons, experiments, and thoughts that show your growth over time.
Contact
This page is your open invite. It should be simple, clear, and easy to use. If someone wants to connect, this is where you make that possible.
Your Now
This page gives people a look at where you are today. It is not about past wins or polished highlights, but about what you are working on and exploring right now. A “Now” page makes your site feel alive instead of frozen in time.
Sign up for a /now page here. I highly recommend it!
2 Paths:
1) The Guided Builder
This is the structured option. Platforms like Wix or Squarespace walk you through the process with templates, drag-and-drop tools, and built-in features. You don’t need to worry about servers or plugins – everything is baked in.
- Choose a clean template that supports your key sections: Home, About, Teaching, Contact, and Now.
- Swap in your copy and images.
- Add your domain and publish.
- Use their built-in SEO and analytics tools to cover the basics.
This is the quickest way to launch without getting tangled in the technical side.
2) The Custom Build (my route)
This is for people who want full control and are willing to spend late nights figuring it out. I went the WordPress route, hosted on Hostinger, with my domain through Squarespace.
- Install WordPress through your hosting provider.
- Pick a lightweight theme or use a page builder like Elementor Pro.
- Create the core pages: Home, About, Teaching, Contact, Now.
- Add plugins like All-in-One SEO, Jetpack, and ShortPixel Image Optimizer.
- Set clean URLs, build your navigation, and publish.
- Connect Google Search Console to keep track of SEO and indexing.
It’s more time-intensive, but the trade-off is full ownership and flexibility.
Conclusion
By writing this blog, I’ve not only shared something that I hope pushes you to take action, but I’ve also gained a clearer understanding of my own purpose in building this website.
That right there is the power of creating a platform to share your story. The best lessons and ideas only go so far if you keep them to yourself. When you put them out into the world, they have the chance to spread, to connect, and to make an impact.
Keep Building!
At This Point In Time:
Age: 21
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Job: Southern Tide