1. Why Should I Have a Website and Where do I Start?

2. Blogging

3. Website Builders

4. Websites for Students

5. Final Notes

Why Should I Have a Website and Where do I Start?

“Having a personal website on Earth in the 21st century is all about maintaining a platform where you can express who you are to people from all around the planet.” -anonymous space traveler

For starters, my biggest tip for whatever kind of website you want to make is to get it started now and edit as you go. Make it presentable and know that you can change it whenever you like. It will evolve alongside you and your “brand,” so don’t be too overwhelmed with how it looks coming out of the gate. Assemble the bones and the fleshy parts will grow with time. Some people spend a lot of time and money getting the perfect design for their website, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Just don’t let it slow your process. In my case, I only wanted to get a basic website going to serve as a platform where potential writing clients could find me and where I could post my weekly blog. So, as long as people could read and navigate all of my content with ease, I was happy. I picked out a nice template and knew that the rest would come with time. I can improve upon things like SEO and design moving forward, but the most important part is simply getting started.

So keep it simple. According to the Smart Habits for Translators podcast, most people spend as little time as necessary on any given website they visit, so you only have a few moments to direct them to what they’re looking for or might be interested in. A clear and concise homepage can direct a viewer to any page on the site without a second thought.

On a side note, I originally planned to make two separate sides of my website (one personal and one professional), but I ended up combining them for simplicity’s sake. It also reinforces my belief that my website should represent all the best parts of me. Benjamin Houser is a package deal, take it or leave it.

Blogging

Don’t know what to put on your website? Start a blog. Most people can benefit from having a blog on their website even if they aren’t a writer by trade. By writing regularly on topics that interest you, you draw like-minded individuals to your site. Each week, I choose a topic that has caught my attention lately. I write as much as I know about it while trying to provide my own unique perspective. In terms of “niches,” mine would be novels, anime films, cartoons, and other literature. However, don’t be afraid to write outside your intended niche. The only true constant between our topics each week should be that they always inspire us to write. This way, instead of following what we think our niche should be, we consistently write on the topics that are pertinent to us at any given moment. Doing this, you may find that your intended niche does not line up with what you feel inspired to write about in reality. That’s okay. You may diverge into multiple niches like a writing tips and language learning blog or a video games and film analysis blog. You may even switch niches a year down the line. Regardless, the only way to know if a niche is a good fit for you is through a dedication to always write what inspires you. If you do this, there will likely be the occasional outlier. For example, one day I’ll probably write a post on my hair care routine or about the theremin and why it’s the coolest instrument that you don’t need to touch. Outliers color your blogging presence by showing different aspects of what makes you you. This personal touch will be disarming to anyone who comes to your site, including potential clients and like-minded souls.

Once you have about three months' worth of writing (around 12 individual entries if you haven’t shirked your weekly posts by then), it will be smart to organize your posts into categories. If you plan out your organization system first and then create content, you will likely find that your round pegs don’t fit the square pegs you cut for them. First, focus on writing consistently, then later you can tailor your organization system to fit your existing content. Beyond just a chronological list of all your entries, it’s nice to use hashtags. Again, this should come as naturally as possible, so base it on what you are actually writing, not what you think that you will write. Some hashtags/categories that I anticipate using are: book/media analysis, life, original stories, learning new things, etc. This is of course destined to evolve.

Here are some ideas to consider as you start your blog:

• You can blog on the same topic multiple times (each time with greater depth). You would be surprised how much you change (or how much you stay the same) over a period of time. Blogging is one way to track that. 

• You don’t need to be an expert on a topic to write about it (document your progress while learning a new instrument or a new software).

• Blog on things that you experienced in the past. It doesn’t have to be current, just as long as it would still be useful to someone out there.

• If writing is your passion, blogging is a great way to get experimental. You can publish your work in a low-stakes environment. It’s like singing from your balcony. People will listen here and there as they go about their days, but as you refine your craft, they’ll really start to notice and garner an appreciation for your work. And don’t worry. Nobody can tell you to leave because you’re already at home.

Website Builders

So which one should I use? Squarespace? Wix? WordPress? 

This question represents the part of the process where I wasted the most time. I pondered for hours trying to figure out which website builder would give me the optimal cost-benefit deal. This was valuable time I could have dedicated to designing the website itself, finding clients, and, of course, writing. My advice? Pick one and stick with it. But if you’re still not sure, I chose Squarespace because it’s quick and easy. It isn’t free, but it’s a great deal considering that it streamlines the entire process. I tried using WordPress because I like to think of myself as a guy who can figure most things out by himself if you give him enough time. But as I started messing with the website builder, I saw time quickly slipping by, and I was hardly making progress. That, coupled with the cost of getting a separate hosting service and multiple plugins made me realize that I may have been in a bit over my head. 

At that point I had two options: 1.) keep trying to figure it out in order to save a few bucks each month, or switch to Squarespace and actually start designing my website. As much as I hate admitting I can’t do something, I had to realize that figuring out a website builder was not the most efficient use of my energy. I’m a writer and a musician. I want to focus on creating content, not creating the platform for my content. That should be the easy part. Maybe later down the line, I’ll give the other website builders a try, but for now, hand me the training wheels! Squarespace is a great platform for newbies like me but it apparently has everything a veteran would want as well, so is there really a need to switch once you have more experience? I’m not sure, but I’ll let you know when I get there.

Wix is another popular option. It has an easy-to-use website builder and comes with hosting, but the free version places ads on your website. I would recommend this to students, or casual website owners. However, for professionals, I would suggest paying for an ad-free option. It just looks nicer.

Websites for Students

I wish I was taught to blog in school.

Well, there’s no time like the present. But if you ask me, website design and blogging should be taught in high school, or even as early as middle school! I can vaguely remember taking a class back in elementary school where we had to write brief journal entries on a private site. Though it was nice, it never went any further. I would write my little post then play joust or some other old-school arcade game for the rest of the period.

At any rate, I truly believe regularly documenting our work in some form should become a common practice throughout education. It is an invaluable skill. For example, students could go to a special class once every month or so throughout middle school and high school to study basic website builders and online etiquette. They would learn how to navigate website builders like Wix and WordPress. Once they created their website, they would then learn basic skills like blogging, creating an online portfolio, and curating work that inspires them. If not for grade school then we should at least consider this as a required college course. Students could simply be encouraged to blog about what they learned in each of their classes. It could even count for credit in the class they wrote about. They could post essays they’re particularly proud of to share with classmates and future employers. I really do see this as a revolutionary idea for the future.

It would be a great way for students to start networking and getting used to having an online presence. However, this goes beyond an online presence. It would be a step towards kids having more confidence and a clearer sense of self in general. They would become more certain and articulate about their own beliefs and interests. They would learn more about themselves just like those lucky enough to stumble upon their webpage. 

Students can get a free .me website domain at namecheap.com. Once you’ve been doing it for a while, you can switch to a .com domain for as low as $5 a year. Don’t feel comfortable having your (or your child’s) name out there? Maybe use an alias.

Final Notes

I believe personal websites are the next big thing for the future. Just like everyone has a car, a cell phone, an email address, and social media accounts, one day, everyone will need to have a website to promote their services, interests, and themselves in general. It will become commonplace for employers to look you up on google. I know it sounds postmodern and just a tad invasive, but you are in charge of what goes on your page. I think that our online presence is something we should all want to be able to control.

But back to the original question: why have a website in the first place? Even if you aren’t selling something, it’s good to maintain a website for the same reasons it’s good to maintain your resume. And, if you do end up needing it somewhere down the line, you have already cultivated a place where people can easily learn all they need to know about you. A website is your hub on the internet. It is where people can find you.

Put your website address on your email signature. Put it in your social media bios. Put it on your freelance profiles. Put it everywhere. Just don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your mom or your boss to see.

Thanks for reading. I hope this was useful to you. If it was, feel free to comment on my email: benahouser@gmail.com

Check out these other resources:

The podcast Smart Habits for Translators has a very useful episode on this topic: “Smart Habits for Maintaining Your Website”: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WKNN1EgIC6V0y34dCrDiW?si=f66ae04e15aa4ac3

If you’re interested in making a website, here is a video by Ali Abdaal that I found very useful while I was in the process of making mine: https://youtu.be/acBJsjCqgtM

Ali’s channel is also where I discovered Show Your Work which I wrote an article on last week: https://www.benahouser.com/blog/show-your-work-why-you-should-document-what-you-do

Also, consider following my weekly newsletter where I curate 2-3 things that catch my attention each week: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/benahouser

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