10 essential things you need to put on your personal website

Welcome to this guide on personal website essentials! Whether you're a freelancer, artist, writer, or entrepreneur, having a professional and engaging online presence is essential for building your brand and connecting with your audience.

In this guide, I'll cover the key elements you need to include on your personal website to make it effective and impactful, from a clear value proposition to mobile responsiveness, social media integration, testimonials, and more.

By following these tips and guidelines, you can create a Website that showcases your work, expertise, and personality, and helps you achieve your goals. Let's get started!

What is a personal website?

A personal website is a website that represents an individual, typically to showcase their work, skills, experience, and interests.

Personal websites can be used for a variety of purposes, such as building a personal brand, promoting a business or service, or sharing creative projects.

They can include various types of content, such as blog posts, portfolio items, videos, images, and social media feeds. Personal websites can be created using website builders or content management systems, or can be custom-built by a web developer.

Overall, a personal website is an important tool for establishing a professional online presence and connecting with your audience.

Things you need to add to your personal website

1. Subscription Form

A subscription form is a tool that allows visitors to your website to subscribe to your newsletter or mailing list. This is important because it allows you to keep in touch with your audience and keep them informed about your latest work, projects, and events. By building an email list, you can also generate leads and potential customers for your products or services.

To create a subscription form, you can use tools such as Mailchimp or ConvertKit. These platforms make it easy to create customized forms that can be embedded on your website. When designing your form, be sure to keep it simple and ask for only the essential information, such as name and email address.

2. Good Navigation System

A good navigation system is critical for making your website easy to use and navigate. Visitors should be able to find what they're looking for quickly and easily, without having to click through multiple pages or menus.

To create a good navigation system, start by identifying the main categories or sections of your website. These might include About, Portfolio, Blog, Contact, and so on. Then, organize these sections into a clear and concise menu that can be easily accessed from any page of your website.

Be sure to use clear and descriptive labels for each menu item, and consider using submenus or dropdown menus to further organize your content. You can also use a search bar or a sitemap to make it easier for visitors to find what they're looking for.

3. Variety of Content Formats

Your personal website should feature a variety of content formats to keep visitors engaged and interested. Different types of content appeal to different audiences, so by offering a variety, you can reach a wider range of people.

Some popular content formats to consider include:

• Blog posts: written articles that share your thoughts, ideas, or expertise

• Videos: short clips that demonstrate your skills or showcase your work

• Podcasts: audio recordings that offer insights, interviews, or conversations

• Images: photographs or illustrations that visually enhance your content

When creating content, be sure to focus on quality over quantity. Choose topics that are relevant to your audience, and aim to provide value with every piece of content you create.

4. Analytics

Analytics are essential for understanding how visitors are interacting with your website and identifying areas for improvement. By tracking key metrics, such as page views, bounce rates, and conversion rates, you can make data-driven decisions about how to optimize your website for better performance.

To set up analytics for your website, you can use tools such as Google Analytics or Ahrefs. These platforms allow you to track a wide range of metrics, including where your traffic is coming from, which pages are most popular, and how long visitors are staying on your site.

When reviewing your analytics, be sure to pay attention to trends over time, and look for patterns that indicate areas for improvement. For example, if you notice that visitors are leaving your site quickly, you may need to adjust your content or design to make it more engaging.

5. Helpful Outbound Links

Outbound links are links that direct visitors to other websites or resources outside of your own site. While it may seem counterintuitive to send visitors away from your site, outbound links can actually be beneficial for your website's SEO and user experience.

By linking to high-quality, relevant resources, you can help establish your website as a valuable source of information and authority in your field. Outbound links can also help improve your website's search engine rankings by signaling to search engines that your content is relevant and useful.

When adding outbound links to your website, be sure to choose resources that are trustworthy and relevant to your audience. Avoid linking to spammy or low-quality sites, as this can harm your website's reputation and potentially hurt your SEO. 6. Clear Value Proposition

Your website should clearly communicate the value that you offer to your audience. This might include your unique skills, expertise, or perspective. By highlighting what sets you apart from others in your field, you can attract the right audience and build a strong personal brand.

To create a clear value proposition, consider the following questions:

• What makes you unique?

• What problems do you solve for your clients or audience?

• What benefits do you offer that others do not?

Use your value proposition as a guide for creating content, designing your website, and communicating with your audience.

7. Mobile Responsiveness

With the increasing use of mobile devices to access the internet, it's essential that your website is mobile responsive. This means that it can adapt to different screen sizes and devices, ensuring that your content is easily accessible and readable no matter how visitors are accessing your site.

To make your website mobile responsive, consider using a responsive design framework such as Bootstrap or Foundation. These frameworks provide pre-built templates and styles that make it easy to create a mobile-friendly website.

Be sure to test your website on a variety of devices and screen sizes to ensure that it looks and functions well on all of them.

8. Social Media Integration

Integrating your social media accounts into your website can help you build a stronger online presence and connect with your audience in new ways. By including links to your social media profiles on your website, you can encourage visitors to follow you and stay updated on your latest work.

You can also embed social media feeds or widgets on your website, which display your latest posts or updates from your social media accounts. This helps to create a sense of continuity between your website and your social media presence, and can also help increase engagement and interaction with your audience.

9. Testimonials or Reviews

Including testimonials or reviews from satisfied clients or customers can help establish your credibility and build trust with new visitors to your website. Testimonials can also provide social proof that your services or products are valuable and effective.

When adding testimonials to your website, be sure to choose ones that are relevant and specific to the work that you do. Use real names and photos whenever possible to add authenticity to your testimonials.

10. Contact Information

Finally, be sure to include clear and easily accessible contact information on your website. This might include an email address, phone number, or contact form. Providing multiple ways for visitors to get in touch with you can help ensure that they can reach you no matter their preferred method of communication.

When creating a contact page or form, be sure to include clear instructions for how to get in touch with you, and let visitors know what to expect in terms of response times. You might also consider including a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section to address common inquiries or concerns.

By incorporating these elements into your personal website, you can create a comprehensive and effective online presence that helps you achieve your goals and connect with your audience.

Things to remove from your website

#1. Unnecessary plugins: Remove plugins that are no longer necessary to improve site speed and security.

#2. Low-quality content: Remove low-quality or outdated content to improve the user experience and maintain the quality of your website.

#3. Error and security issues: Remove any errors or security issues on your website to ensure a safe and secure browsing experience for your visitors.

#4. Useless social sharing buttons: Remove social sharing buttons that are not being used or are not relevant to your audience to declutter your website.

#5. Useless codes: Remove unnecessary or redundant code to improve website speed and reduce the risk of errors.

#6. Broken links: Remove broken links to ensure that your visitors can access the information they need without any issues.

#7. Pop-ups and ads: Remove intrusive pop-ups and ads that can be annoying to users and may negatively impact the user experience.

#8. Auto-play media: Remove auto-play videos or music that can be distracting or annoying to users, especially if they are browsing your website in a public place.

#9. Excessive animations: Remove excessive animations, especially if they slow down your website or distract from the main content.

#10. Outdated design: Remove outdated design elements or templates that can make your website look old or unprofessional, and consider updating your design to make it more modern and visually appealing.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, your personal website is an important tool for establishing your online presence, showcasing your work, and connecting with your audience. By including the essential elements we've covered in this guide, such as a clear value proposition, mobile responsiveness, social media integration, testimonials, and contact information, you can create a comprehensive and effective website that helps you achieve your goals. Remember to keep your audience in mind when creating your website, and focus on providing value and engaging content that speaks to their needs and interests. With a well-designed personal website, you can build your brand, expand your reach, and achieve success in your endeavors.

Frequently asked questions 

Q1. What is the purpose of a personal website?

A1. A personal website serves multiple purposes, including:

• Building your personal brand and reputation

• Showcasing your skills, experience, and expertise

• Sharing your creative work, such as writing, photography, or art

• Promoting your products or services, if you're a freelancer or entrepreneur

• Networking and connecting with others in your industry

• Providing a platform for thought leadership and personal expression

Q2. How do I choose a domain name for my personal website?

A2. When choosing a domain name for your personal website, consider the following tips:

• Make it easy to remember and spell

• Choose a name that reflects your brand or identity

• Keep it short and simple

• Use a .com domain, if possible

• Avoid numbers, hyphens, and special characters

Q3. What pages should I include on my personal website?

A3. The pages you should include on your personal website depend on your goals and audience, but here are some common ones:

• Homepage: A clear and engaging introduction to your website and brand

• About: A page that shares your background, story, and values

• Portfolio: A showcase of your work, projects, or products

• Blog: A platform for sharing your thoughts, insights, or expertise

• Contact: A page that includes your contact information and a contact form

• Testimonials: A section that displays positive feedback from clients or customers

• Services: A page that outlines the services you offer, if applicable

Q4. How do I create an engaging homepage for my personal website?

A4. To create an engaging homepage for your personal website, consider the following tips:

• Use a clear and compelling headline that describes your value proposition

• Include high-quality images or videos that showcase your work or personality

• Provide clear navigation that directs visitors to other pages on your site

• Include a call-to-action (CTA) that encourages visitors to take action, such as contacting you or viewing your portfolio

• Use testimonials or social proof to build credibility and trust

Q5. How can I make my personal website mobile-friendly?

A5. To make your personal website mobile-friendly, consider the following tips:

• Use a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes

• Use large and legible fonts that are easy to read on small screens

• Use high-quality images and videos that load quickly and don't slow down the site

• Simplify the navigation and layout to make it easy to use on mobile devices

• Test your website on different mobile devices to ensure it looks and works well on all of them

Q6. How can I optimize my personal website for search engines?

A6. To optimize your personal website for search engines, consider the following tips:

• Conduct keyword research to identify the words and phrases your audience uses to find content like yours

• Use these keywords in your page titles, headings, content, and meta descriptions

• Use descriptive URLs that include your keywords

• Build high-quality backlinks from other relevant and authoritative websites

• Ensure your website is fast and has a good user experience

Q7. How can I promote my personal website on social media?

A7. To promote your personal website on social media, consider the following tips:

• Share your website URL and content on your social media profiles

• Use relevant hashtags and keywords to reach your target audience

• Share engaging and valuable content that encourages shares and engagement

• Build relationships with your followers and engage with their content

• Use paid advertising options to reach a wider audience