I've been meaning to make my own website. I know Caard, Framer, Notion and others help with it. But I never saw it like you put it, we put up so much stuff on social media to try to get attention from others, and put so little on our website, if at all, and then complain that people don't visit our website. Thank you for saying it, putting it out there.
I never considered that you could put videos directly on your website instead of uploading them to Youtube. It sounds refreshing. But at the same time you want people to find their way over there, so putting it in both places might be a good idea? Youtube to get discovered by new people, and website for the regulars?
Yeah, it doesn’t have to be either/or. Both works - one for discovery on YouTube, then when you send out your next newsletter put the video on YOUR site, and link to it there.
I have a website and make use of several social media platforms (as well as physical advertising over the years). I’ve never been the eggs in one basket type.
I have had a website for years, even before Instagram and I resisted Facebook for a long time too. Why I chose to spend so much time on the Meta platforms is now somehow embarrassing. I love the idea of putting all of that on my website instead. Why not have a page on your website that is filled with the beautiful pictures that you would normally post to social media sites? Whether photos or videos it all tells a story about the creator and at least when someone lands on your website you have their attention. My website is always being worked on and updated (I use Wix). Now to build a page of lovely images.
100% agree!! I built my website from scratch using Wordpress and there were times I was ready to take a hammer to my computer. But I kept going and it’s finally published as of 7/1.
Not perfect, but it’s mine and I know how to manage it and am proud of my work. I’m still learning how to market myself and am working hard to build content but it’s been a great experience. I plan to source everything on my site first and only put teaser content on social media. Great article!!
1. Invest in a domain, such as iamthebest.xxx, as there are numerous captivating extensions currently accessible that can accurately depict your website. Similarly, there are numerous domain registration sites available for a nominal fee. I like and use Porkbun.
3. Redirect your registered domain(s) to your Substack.
4. You now have a website that looks fancy and works well.
Substack has more than enough for a non-geek-managed site. You can tailor your home page appearance in ways that suit your taste. Creating pages and posts is super easy. All utilities are simple to use and quite intuitive. You can host your podcast. You can embed YouTube and other media. Notes is a great social media utility that can be customized to your needs.
In addition, you are visible to the millions on Substack—something you cannot do easily on a stand-alone website.
As far as I can tell, Substack does not have an owner-managed, algorithm-driven engine for controlling what you see; you do. The folks on Substack are a uniformly knowledgeable, polite, and supportive crowd.
As a test, visit my website/Substack at: https://p-rescription.com, which will redirect you to Substack.
Yeah, but that's not YOUR website. Substack could close up shop tomorrow and then you... don't have a website. Sure, my webhost could close up tomorrow, too, but they're a service I pay for, that's their business.
I agree, but, after having managed my own website on Wordpress for some years, I found the amount of work needed for maintenance rather tedious and time-consuming. Most of what I had to keep at is now done for me at Substack. I suppose one has to judge the importance of not losing your stuff and the labour involved in making the decision.
...if people are feeling really freaky they might also try painting their own billboards...congrats on making website design sound fun seth you got a knack...
As someone who just hopped of IG for the summer, I am kinda astounded by how many brands don't have their own website or do any email marketing. It's a total missed opportunity.
I recently decided to get to work updating my website for photography and was a little overwhelmed at where to start. I’d love to do a really simple site, but because I’m wanting to host images, it seems like I might need something more complicated. I’m currently running my site on the backbone of Wordpress, but am open to other options if anyone has suggestions!
I built my first website when HTML was text only, and have owned my own domain for more than twenty years. I don't say this to brag, or to display how old I am (lol), but just to point out that it doesn't have to be hard to set up and maintain. You can make it hard, but it doesn't have to be. Even when it goes fallow from time to time, I can't imagine not owning that one corner of the internet where I control my own presence.
I kept a wordpress site for this reason, but now use substack. I wish wordpress did better with emailing posts because substack is becoming more like a social platform than I'd hoped for (though I do enjoy it more than Twitter or IG!).
Great post, Seth! It's true, we segment ourselves for easy clicks and views. I gave up social media in January and haven't done a full revamp of my website like I swore I would. This is a great reminder that I should. I use Wordpress at the moment, but I'm not in love (thus dragging my heels). Time to look into the many options I haven't considered. Thanks for the suggestions!
When I travel and find a cool small business I want to visit (cafe, restaurant, shop) and their only website is Facebook I scream like a banshee. I took Facebook off my phone so then I cannot even find hours or information about this micro business that I truly want to support. I usually let my wife figure it out since she has Facebook on her phone, but my point being is that they are literally turning away their ideal customers by putting their digital assets, their website, their main information behind a Zuckerberg wall.
I have always said as a business owner, and even before when I was still involved with websites and tech is that do not I repeat do not build your digital home on digital real estate that you do not own .
I have my website set up but I keep dreaming of a better version of it. The website does seem the most reliable, the most home-like platform an artist could have on the web. Thank you for all these ideas!
I've been meaning to make my own website. I know Caard, Framer, Notion and others help with it. But I never saw it like you put it, we put up so much stuff on social media to try to get attention from others, and put so little on our website, if at all, and then complain that people don't visit our website. Thank you for saying it, putting it out there.
I never considered that you could put videos directly on your website instead of uploading them to Youtube. It sounds refreshing. But at the same time you want people to find their way over there, so putting it in both places might be a good idea? Youtube to get discovered by new people, and website for the regulars?
Yeah, it doesn’t have to be either/or. Both works - one for discovery on YouTube, then when you send out your next newsletter put the video on YOUR site, and link to it there.
I have a website and make use of several social media platforms (as well as physical advertising over the years). I’ve never been the eggs in one basket type.
I have had a website for years, even before Instagram and I resisted Facebook for a long time too. Why I chose to spend so much time on the Meta platforms is now somehow embarrassing. I love the idea of putting all of that on my website instead. Why not have a page on your website that is filled with the beautiful pictures that you would normally post to social media sites? Whether photos or videos it all tells a story about the creator and at least when someone lands on your website you have their attention. My website is always being worked on and updated (I use Wix). Now to build a page of lovely images.
100% agree!! I built my website from scratch using Wordpress and there were times I was ready to take a hammer to my computer. But I kept going and it’s finally published as of 7/1.
Not perfect, but it’s mine and I know how to manage it and am proud of my work. I’m still learning how to market myself and am working hard to build content but it’s been a great experience. I plan to source everything on my site first and only put teaser content on social media. Great article!!
Here's how I made my own website:
1. Invest in a domain, such as iamthebest.xxx, as there are numerous captivating extensions currently accessible that can accurately depict your website. Similarly, there are numerous domain registration sites available for a nominal fee. I like and use Porkbun.
2. Open a Substack using the same domain name as the substack url: iamthebest.substack.com
3. Redirect your registered domain(s) to your Substack.
4. You now have a website that looks fancy and works well.
Substack has more than enough for a non-geek-managed site. You can tailor your home page appearance in ways that suit your taste. Creating pages and posts is super easy. All utilities are simple to use and quite intuitive. You can host your podcast. You can embed YouTube and other media. Notes is a great social media utility that can be customized to your needs.
In addition, you are visible to the millions on Substack—something you cannot do easily on a stand-alone website.
As far as I can tell, Substack does not have an owner-managed, algorithm-driven engine for controlling what you see; you do. The folks on Substack are a uniformly knowledgeable, polite, and supportive crowd.
As a test, visit my website/Substack at: https://p-rescription.com, which will redirect you to Substack.
Yeah, but that's not YOUR website. Substack could close up shop tomorrow and then you... don't have a website. Sure, my webhost could close up tomorrow, too, but they're a service I pay for, that's their business.
I agree, but, after having managed my own website on Wordpress for some years, I found the amount of work needed for maintenance rather tedious and time-consuming. Most of what I had to keep at is now done for me at Substack. I suppose one has to judge the importance of not losing your stuff and the labour involved in making the decision.
...if people are feeling really freaky they might also try painting their own billboards...congrats on making website design sound fun seth you got a knack...
As someone who just hopped of IG for the summer, I am kinda astounded by how many brands don't have their own website or do any email marketing. It's a total missed opportunity.
Omg you’ve met Chino 😍😍😍😍( fan girl moment)
YEP. And I absolutely snubbed giving him a handshake when he left. It’s like, comical how bad I messed that up.
Ah ah you’re the real rockstar !
Not at all! Just totally super awkward!! Haha
I recently decided to get to work updating my website for photography and was a little overwhelmed at where to start. I’d love to do a really simple site, but because I’m wanting to host images, it seems like I might need something more complicated. I’m currently running my site on the backbone of Wordpress, but am open to other options if anyone has suggestions!
What is Instagram at its core? A photo, and a caption.
Photo, caption.
Photo, caption.
The most basic WordPress template can do this! Start there maybe?
Please see my comment in this post. There might be a possible solution here.
I built my first website when HTML was text only, and have owned my own domain for more than twenty years. I don't say this to brag, or to display how old I am (lol), but just to point out that it doesn't have to be hard to set up and maintain. You can make it hard, but it doesn't have to be. Even when it goes fallow from time to time, I can't imagine not owning that one corner of the internet where I control my own presence.
Owning your IP on the internet is so important. Never ever leave it all up to Mark and Elon.
I kept a wordpress site for this reason, but now use substack. I wish wordpress did better with emailing posts because substack is becoming more like a social platform than I'd hoped for (though I do enjoy it more than Twitter or IG!).
Check out Austin Kleon’s website + Substack. They’re not a mirror image, and I think he does a great job with them both.
Great post, Seth! It's true, we segment ourselves for easy clicks and views. I gave up social media in January and haven't done a full revamp of my website like I swore I would. This is a great reminder that I should. I use Wordpress at the moment, but I'm not in love (thus dragging my heels). Time to look into the many options I haven't considered. Thanks for the suggestions!
Have you discovered Elementor yet?
No, but I'll look into it. Thanks!
When I travel and find a cool small business I want to visit (cafe, restaurant, shop) and their only website is Facebook I scream like a banshee. I took Facebook off my phone so then I cannot even find hours or information about this micro business that I truly want to support. I usually let my wife figure it out since she has Facebook on her phone, but my point being is that they are literally turning away their ideal customers by putting their digital assets, their website, their main information behind a Zuckerberg wall.
I have always said as a business owner, and even before when I was still involved with websites and tech is that do not I repeat do not build your digital home on digital real estate that you do not own .
Oh, I feel this 1000%
I have my website set up but I keep dreaming of a better version of it. The website does seem the most reliable, the most home-like platform an artist could have on the web. Thank you for all these ideas!
Please see my comment in this post. There might be a possible solution here.
I prefer to keep my website and my Substack as two separate things :)
Carrd is a great start. Easy to use, and free (if you dont want your own domain) Use it myself 😁