A personal website can be one of the most valuable parts of your online presence. It gives you a space that belongs entirely to you, free from the limits of company pages or social media platforms. Yet, many personal websites fail to represent the person behind them. Some say too much, some too little, and others feel disconnected from who the person actually is.
A great personal website is not defined by its design or by the number of pages it has. It is defined by how well it represents you and the work you do. It should help others understand what you offer, what you stand for, and how to connect with you.
When built right , a personal website becomes more than a digital profile. It becomes a trusted space that shares your story and helps you build an online presence that feels intentional and aligned with who you are today. It gives you control of how the world sees you and allows you to take ownership of your story in one place.
So, what makes a great personal website?
Your online presence is often the first thing people see before they meet you. It sets expectations and influences how others view your work and experience. Without one, your name becomes a mix of scattered results written by others or nothing much at all.
A personal website changes that. It brings your story, background, and work together in one place that belongs to you. It helps you build a professional presence that reflects what you do and how you want to be seen.
Your website also gives you long-term control. Social media platforms come and go, company pages change, and bios become outdated, but your own website stays yours. You decide what to include, what to update, and how you present yourself online.
When built right, a personal website strengthens your visibility, helps people understand what you do, and creates a single trusted point of reference for anyone searching your name.
Every personal website is built on the same foundations. These are the parts that decide whether it works as part of your online presence. A great personal website tells your story, looks professional, and makes it easy for people to understand who you are and what you do. The best websites achieve this by getting the essentials right.
1. Purpose
Every great website starts with a clear message. It answers who you are, what you do, and why it matters. Visitors should be able to find these answers within seconds.
2. Content
A great personal website builds a connection through its content. The words on your website should sound natural and genuine. Focus on what people need to know to understand what you offer. Keep sentences balanced and direct, and use your own tone of voice so the website feels personal and real.
3. Design and Presentation
Design supports the story. It should make the words easy to read and the experience effortless. Great design uses spacing, colour, and typography to make sure the focus stays on you and your message. Every detail from the layout to the images should feel intentional and consistent.
4. Visibility
Even the best website achieves little if people cannot find it. On-page SEO, including titles, descriptions, and image tags, helps your site appear in search results for your name.
5. Ownership
A great personal website gives you ownership of your online presence. Unlike social media profiles or company pages, it belongs entirely to you. You can update it when your work changes, add new achievements, and remove what no longer reflects where you are today. That level of control is what makes a personal website such an important part of a strong online presence.
Many personal websites fail not because of a lack of effort but because the focus drifts away from what matters. One of the most common mistakes is trying to include too much information. When every detail is added, the main message becomes harder to follow. Research into online reading behaviour shows that visitors scan rather than read, so when a page feels crowded, people often leave before reaching the important parts. A personal website should guide visitors towards what you want them to understand and remember. Keeping it focused helps people see your story more clearly.
Another mistake is writing in the third person. Your website should sound like you, not about you. Studies into personal branding and online profiles show that first-person writing builds stronger connection and trust. When written in a distant tone, a website feels less authentic. Using your natural voice helps visitors relate to you and gives them a better sense of who you are.
Some websites fall into the opposite trap and leave out important details. Visitors expect to find the basics quickly such as who you are, what you do, and how to get in touch. If these are missing or hard to find, people will often move on. Research by Nielsen Norman Group found that users spend most of their time on the top and left areas of a page, so keeping key information visible makes it easier for them to engage.
It is also easy to forget how your website appears on different devices. Most people now view websites on their phones, so if your site only works well on a desktop, it can give the wrong impression. A responsive website design makes sure your online presence works wherever it is viewed.
Websites become less effective over time simply because they are not updated. Studies on digital credibility show that when a website looks dated or lists old information, visitors are less likely to trust it. Keeping your website current helps it stay relevant and continue to support your online presence.
The best personal websites often look very different from one another, but they share certain qualities that make them work. They are built with purpose, written with care, and designed around how people actually use the internet.
A great personal website tells a clear story. Within a few seconds, visitors understand who the person is, what they do, and why it matters. Research on user attention shows that visitors form impressions in under a second, which means the first view of your website carries real weight. Clear messaging and simple navigation make that moment count.
Strong writing is another shared quality. The best websites sound natural, written in a tone that reflects the person behind them. This kind of writing builds familiarity and trust. People stay longer on websites when the content feels genuine, and they are more likely to remember what they read.
Design also plays a part in how information is received. Great websites are visually balanced, easy to read, and free of clutter. The layout, colours, and images all support the story rather than distract from it. Research from Google found that users prefer websites with visual simplicity and familiarity, both of which help people focus on the content itself.
Great websites are maintained. They are not left untouched for years. New work, updated projects, and refreshed text show that the person behind the site is active. Regular updates keep a website visible in search results and signal to visitors that what they are reading is current.
Your website is where your story lives. When you are ready to begin, you can join the priority list or compare the packages to see what suits you best.
Your personal website is where clients can find you first. We are currently accepting a small ‘Founders Batch’ of clients at 75% off. Check availability here to see if a spot is still open.