It's Time to Build Your own Website Part I.
The first installment of this series provides examples of what you can do with a website, and how to get started.
By Norrell Edwards — June 13, 2023
I've had a website for almost a decade now. I've had it for so long because website design is one of my moms' talents. At first, I was indifferent to the idea of having a website. What did I need a website for when I had a LinkedIn page? As the years go on, I see the advantages of having a website.
While having accounts on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram is important — you have less control over your content in those spaces. Twitter's nebulous decline since Elon Musk's takeover, as well as the rise in identity theft and hacking on Instagram, has shown us all that these platforms are not infallible. Each has its own vulnerabilities that send users away from them. As we ring in a new era of declining social media use, you should seriously consider creating a website. Your website will remain even when a popular site changes its regulations and functionality or even goes bankrupt.
What Can You Do with a Website
A website is great for showcasing your portfolio. Do you have art to share or maybe longform writing? Whatever your skill and talent is, you should try to showcase it on your website. Your site will help you appear more professional and legitimate. Additionally, if you have any kind of services or products to sell, you can do so from your website.
Ok, so you're set on creating a website. Where do you start? You're going to need a website builder. Your options include some affordable builders like: Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, Shopify and Wordpress. My personal website (norrelledwards.com) is Wordpress, but I also have some experience with Squarespace and Wix. Navigating these sites isn't so different from any other platform you've had to use. Think of making designs on Canva or mastering various websites and portals like Blackboard for school. Most websites aren't so different.
How to decide which site to go with? I'd recommend comparing prices. Like anything else, check out reviews and content on YouTube! You should also check out each company's blog or tps page on Getting Started. Which company feels the most straight forward? For instance, with WordPress, my mom gets free plugins to add certain functions like syncing your Instagram page to your website. I find those things are already built into Squarespace, but SquareSpace is more expensive because of that.
Custom Domain
It'll be best if you create a custom domain name for your website like firstlastname.com. If you're starting a business, you could also name it after that business. Buying a domain name can range and depend on who you're buying from, but they're generally inexpensive (about $10-20 yearly). The real expense comes from purchasing security measures for your website which can increase the yearly price significantly. Here's an article that can tell you a little bit more about the purchasing process.
Design
The possibilities can feel endless in terms of designing your website. I recommend creating a website vision board of some kind. Who has a website you'd like to emulate? What do websites look like in your field or area? When redesigning my website, I knew I wanted more pages to showcase my diverse work products. I checked the websites of friends and other public scholars to help conceptualize my website and its necessary pages. If you can afford, you could also pay a web designer to design your website for you.
Norrell Edwards
Norrell Edwards is a scholar, educator, and communications consultant for non-profit organizations. Her employment experience and research interests place her work at the nexus of global Black identity, cultural memory, and social justice. Norrell graduated with a BA in English Literature from Hunter’s College followed by a PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park in 20th and 21st Century Black Diaspora Literature.
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