Why Everyone Needs a Personal Website

A love letter to digital independence (and a gentle push to just get started)

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We all want to be seen.  
Not just on Instagram or LinkedIn—but properly seen.

That’s where a personal website comes in. It’s not just a fancy online CV.  
It’s your digital home. A space that’s truly yours.  
No algorithm. No ads. No weird compression on your headshot.

Inspired by Ali Abdaal’s YouTube video “Why Everyone Needs a Personal Website”, I finally sat down to write this post. And yes, it’s also a pep talk for my past self.

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So... who needs a personal website?

Short answer: pretty much everyone.  
Long answer:

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→ If you’re freelancing  
→ If you want to get hired  
→ If you’re building something (a brand, a project, a course, a revolution)  
→ Or if you’re just tired of sending the same “here’s what I do” email for the 34th time...

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You, my friend, need a site.

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What a website does for you (that social media never will):

✓ Control → You own the content  
✓ Clarity → You decide what matters  
✓ Credibility → You instantly look more legit  
✓ Googleability → You actually show up when people search your name in search engines like Google and increasingly in AI tools like ChatGPT.

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My own website story (and a lesson in getting out of my own way)

I procrastinated for months. I wanted my portfolio to be perfect - original, clever, attracting attention.  
But I kept overthinking. And nothing got done.

One day, I opened Webflow’s template marketplace, downloaded a free template by Lucas Gusso, and just started.  
The result? SheDevelops.online was born. It's simple. Clean. And effective.  

It’s not about reinventing the wheel—it’s about getting the wheel rolling.

(Spoiler: I even built a villa site in Sri Lanka based on the Mason Manor template. The key is in how you customize and structure it.)

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What if you're not a designer? You don’t need to be.

Let me be honest:  
I don’t design from scratch.

What I do is help you turn your vision into a functioning site. Using a template, your Figma file, or even a screenshot of a page you love.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the font pairing or hover effect.  
It’s about whether your website is helping you:

→ Book that client  
→ Sell that service  
→ Tell your story clearly  

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Here’s what I specialize in:

✓ Converting your designs (Figma, PSD, or even sketches) into a live Webflow site  
✓ Customizing templates to fit your unique needs and vibe  
✓ Adding subtle, engaging animations using Webflow + GSAP   (Did you know Webflow recently acquired GSAP—one of the most powerful animation libraries? That means smoother, more dynamic websites are easier than ever.)

✓ Creating CMS collections for blogs, portfolios, or dynamic content  
✓ Teaching you how to update your site yourself (no tech panic!)  
✓ Fixing bugs, making things responsive, setting up domains, and yes - even moving your site to another hosting if needed  
✓ Basic SEO: So your site doesn’t just look good, it also shows up on Google

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Don’t let perfection stop you from showing up

You don’t need 10 pages, a full photoshoot, or a degree in UX.  
Start with one page. One sentence. One offer.

Then build from there.

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Not sure where to start?

I got you.  
I’m creating a free Personal Website Checklist - specifically for women founders and small businesses.

It’ll include:
→ Where to begin  
→ What to write  
→ What not to overthink  

📩 Coming soon – drop your email below here to get it first

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TL;DR:  
Forget perfect. A good website is about clarity and confidence. It helps you show up - even while you’re still figuring things out.

And if you need help getting started, I’m just a message away.  
→ Say hi

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