Do Freelancers Need A Website?
A lot of people argue that you don't need a website.
And they are kind of right. Technically, you can run a business without having a website, and lots of people do.
But, even though you don't need a website, I think you're making a mistake if you don't have one.
It doesn't have to be fancy.
You certainly don't need to spend half your life savings on a website.
And you don't even need to hire a web designer.
But having a website of some description is definitely beneficial.
You own it and you decide what goes on it
A website is yours – you own it. That means you have full control over it. You can design your website to suit your business. You can sell products directly through your site. You can add booking forms, contact forms, and email sign-up forms. You can add videos, blogs, images – whatever you want.
You’re not limited by platform restrictions, rules, or formats. You can tell your story your way.
Less risk for you
When you rely on a third-party platform, you’re always at risk. What happens if that platform closes down, changes its terms, or suddenly decides to increase the prices? Or what happens if they remove a feature that was useful to you, change the algorithms, or suddenly disable, suspend or shut down your account?
You don't have to worry about any of that with your own website. Yes, you might have the odd technical issue or temporary downtime, but you're much better protected.
Reach more customers
If you rely on a social media platform such as Facebook or LinkedIn for business, you might be missing out on customers who don’t use that platform.
But a website can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection. They don't need an account to check out your content, and it's much easier for them to bookmark or share links to your site and find the information they are looking for.
You can share links to your website on your socials, but you're never limited to just one.
You have a visitor's full attention and can showcase your work
When you're using social media to promote your business or share your content, you're competing for attention. There's no way to control which of your connections see your posts (unless you message each of them individually to share your posts with them). And even if one of your connections is shown your post, it will be one of many, many posts showing in their feed.
A website is different. When someone is on your website, they only see your content - no distractions. You have their full attention.
And while you have their attention, you can give them everything they need. Information about your products and services, answers to questions, useful guides, feedback and reviews. Your portfolio, testimonials, case studies, blog posts, and anything else you want to share is there all in one place.
It builds trust and shows you are serious about your business
Personally, I think having a website shows you are committed to your business. It shows you believe in it enough to invest in it, to build a platform dedicated to it, to put down some roots. Running your business from a free social media platform doesn't tell me that.
Maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but I still see having a website as a sign you are a credible business and I'm not alone.
That's not to say I wouldn't buy from a business that didn't have one. Or that I'd trust a business just because they have one. But if there were two similar (legitimate) businesses offering something I needed, I'd choose the one with a website over the one without. A website gives me a chance to find out more about the business.
So while you might not need a website to get sales, you might be losing potential customers or clients by not having one.
Getting started with a cost-effective website
If you don't already have a website, the good news is there are loads of inexpensive and easy-to-use DIY options.
This site you're on now is built with Ghost using their starter plan, which at the time of me signing up was $108 for the year (which worked out at £86.34). I also bought the domain name (thefreelancefairytale.com), which cost me £45.59 for three years.
As well as being a website, it also allows me to blog, build an email list, email people on my list, and offer paid memberships all in one place. I think that's an absolute bargain for under £150.
But before you rush off to launch your own Ghost site, there are other options to consider.
I have also built sites using WordPress and Beehiiv, both of which have advantages and disadvantages over Ghost.
Plus, there are loads of other popular DIY builders I haven't used myself, such as Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, and GoDaddy (plus many more).
As I haven't used these platforms myself, I can't comment on how good they are, but I know Shopify is a good choice if you want to sell lots of products. Here's an article that compares some of the platforms I haven't used.
Emma Ryan Writer
But going back to the ones I have used - Ghost, WordPress and Beehiiv, I would recommend all of these. The right one for you depends on what you sell and what your goals are.
I know it can feel a bit overwhelming trying to figure out which to go with, so I'm more than happy to help you choose the right platform and show you how they work behind the scenes. I can also help you plan and write the copy, get your messaging right, and put together a content plan.
So if you'd like a bit of help getting started, why not book 90 minutes with me and we'll get an action plan in place.
Getting more from your existing site
I like to think of websites like houses and each page as a different room. Just like a house, your website can get a bit tired or in need of maintenance, and it's fine to renovate it all in one go or redecorate a room at a time.
You can also add an extension or conversion, or even move to a new house completely as your business evolves. Your first house doesn't have to be your forever home, and your first website doesn't have to be your forever website.
So if you already have a website, but don't use it to its full potential, it might be time to give it some love.
Go to your website and view it as if you are a potential customer or client.
Does it make it clear who you help and how you help them?
Are you letting visitors know how to get your help with clear call to actions?
Would your website make you want to buy from you?
If you aren't happy with your website or you're ashamed to send people to it, don't just bury your head in the sand.
It might not be in as bad shape as you think. A few updates, some new images, and some tweaks to the copy could make all the difference.
And if you are unsure where to start, book 90 minutes with me and we'll go through it together and put a plan in place to improve it and generate more visitors.
Your website is your online shop, and it should be somewhere you're proud to send people.
