How to Build a Better Personal Brand Website

7 Tips for Building a More Powerful Personal Brand Website

February 17, 2021 7:30am Robyn Rivera

Not everyone goes into the office at 9 AM and comes home at 5 PM. And, as the “gig economy” keeps on growing, more and more people will shirk conventional jobs for the freedom that comes from doing their own thing.

Consultants, freelancers, solopreneurs and other people working independently may do all kinds of different things, from graphic design to life coaching, but they all have one very important thing in common. They all need a personal brand website.

The right personal brand website will help you make the right first impression on potential clients or customers, give you control over the narrative, give you an edge over your competition, educate clients and customers about what you’re offering and so much more.

But, here’s the thing. Not all personal brand websites are made equal. Keep reading to learn how to get yours right.

How to build a better personal brand website

#1. Mobile-friendly is a must

It used to be that the only way to access the internet was through a computer. But, thanks to wifi, smartphone and tablets, all of that has changed, and today, a large portion of internet users browse the web using a mobile device.

When a potential client finds your personal brand website, you want it to ensure that everything looks great and works as it should, regardless of whether they are using a computer or smartphone. That starts with having a responsive website.

Responsive websites are the first step toward mobile-friendliness, as they will automatically reconfigure themselves based on the device being used. This ensures the optimal experience for every device.

#2. Be clear about who you are and what you offer

When you visit a plumber website or a restaurant website, you know instantly what to expect, but that’s not always the case with personal brand websites. That’s why it’s important to make it clear who you are and what you offer.

Keep it simple when creating the content for your website, and be straightforward about what you’re offering. Not only will this send a clearer message to your visitors, but it will also help to set the right expectations with clients.

Make sure that you keep relevant keywords in mind while writing your website content. This will help to increase your visibility on search engines, like Google and Bing.

#3. Show off your work

Your personal brand website is like a resume, billboard and portfolio, all rolled into one. It stands to help you be more visible with potential clients, inform clients about what you’re offering and show off your previous work.

It can take a lot of trust for someone to work with an independent contractor or freelancer, and people want to know that they’re in good hands. One of the best ways to build that trust is by using professional photos of your work on your website.

In addition to using professional photos of your work, you want to make sure that your website is designed to make those photos stand out. Look for a personal brand website design template that features a gallery.

#4. Highlight client testimonials

Anything you can do to build more trust with visitors will help to make your website more convertible and effective. An incredibly powerful way to build trust is by sharing your happy clients’ success stories.

Working with a contractor you’ve found online can be a gamble, and it can be difficult to differentiate between options when everyone claims to be the best. Letting your clients say it for you works a whole lot better.

Satisfied clients are usually more than happy to share their stories with others. All you have to do is ask. Best of all, you can capture stories in the form of reviews, case studies or even video testimonials that can be shared on your website, social media platforms and beyond.

#5. Keep the design clean and simple

Your website is your first impression on potential clients, which means that it needs to look sleek, modern and professional. A key way to accomplish this look is by taking a less-is-more approach to personal brand website design.

If there’s too much happening above the fold (the section of the page that can be seen without scrolling) on your website, it makes it difficult for visitors to know what to focus on or where to go next. It also tends to look busy, outdated and unprofessional.

Instead of overcrowding your site, open up your design by focusing on one thing at a time. Also, highlight important parts of the page, like your call to action and contact information, to draw your visitors’ eye to them.

#6. Showcase your unique value proposition

Your unique value proposition (UVP) is basically what makes you different from your competition. In other words, why should clients choose you over the many other contractors or freelancers out there they could work with?

Maybe you’re just starting out, and you are willing to work for less than your competitors while building up your client base. Maybe you’ve been around for a while, and you have a niche specialty others don’t offer.

Whatever it is that you bring to the table, it’s important that you highlight it in your messaging and on your website.

#7. Prioritize organic visibility

Having a great website can be invaluable to an independent worker, but even the best personal brand website won’t do much good for you if no one sees it. Visibility is critical, especially when it comes to search engines.

There are lots of ways to make your personal brand more visible. You could run search ads, market on Facebook, create YouTube videos and so much more, but it’s critical that you show up on Google and Bing for relevant keywords.

SEO (search engine optimization) has a lot of moving parts, but organic visibility starts with your website. Choose a website with built-in SEO tools, like Schema markup, and optimize it for relevant keywords.

With the Websites 360® website builder, building your own personal brand website is fast, easy and fun. Choose from a library of beautiful, professional website design templates, and customize your personal brand website with an easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor.

Start building your personal brand website today.