In the last article, I expressed why influencers and content creators need to have business plans. Well, there’s one more thing that is very crucial to your success as a creative. It’s something that sets the amateurs apart from the pros. It’s the one thing all successful influencers, and content creators have. What on earth is the magical thing? A website.

You’re a serious creative, and you need to show it.

As an influencer or content creator – at least if you’re serious about this creative business endeavor and want to succeed, you'll need a website. And for a good reason--a website can help you become more successful in your niche and make you money from it. So, apart from being another income stream, let’s discover other essential reasons you’ll need a website to succeed as a creative.

Curate your content how you want.

Your website is your own. You own the domain and the space it occupies on the internet, so you can post what you want, how you want. You can share only the best of your work or the stuff that fits your brand and audience.

Your website will be a one-stop shop for all your social channels and content, making it easier for people who visit to find what they're looking for. And because it's all under one roof (or URL), visitors will be able to see everything related to you in one place - from photos from events where you spoke or appeared as an expert panelist; to videos content if you’re a vlogger or streamer; and links back to articles written about you on other publications. In addition, you can collab with other influencers and even guest posts on other websites!

Use your website to communicate with your followers.

Again, your website is your own space on the internet, so you can use it to communicate with your followers. Here are some ways you can do this.

·         Blog posts:

o    Your website is a great place to write longer blog posts than the social media posts you make on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. You can include more information in these articles, including text, images, and videos (use already edited pics you’ve posted or plan to post on social media).

·         Podcasts:

o    Podcasts are trendier now than pre-pandemic, and it looks like they’re here to stay. If you're an influencer or creator who loves discussing certain topics in depth but doesn’t want to do it as a video, consider recording podcasts as part of your content strategy. You can then post them on your website. Many website-building platforms allow this, including our favorite – Squarespace. Squarespace websites have built-in RSS feeds that “publish to Apple Podcasts and other podcast services, while your website can help listeners find archived episodes, show notes, and more information about the podcast.”

·         Live video streams:

o    If your audience likes interacting with you through live streaming via social media platforms like Twitch or YouTube, then consider migrating your most loyal followers to your website. You can turn this into a membership or subscription service; more on this in a bit.

Your website helps people find and follow you.

You need a website to be found online. Many people don’t use social media and are still very active online. Guess how those people will be able to find and follow you?

You can cultivate an email list of loyal followers who care about the content you create. The best part is that you won’t need to go through another platform to communicate or get access to them. You need a website so that people can follow you and find out more about you, where they can subscribe to your newsletter, engage with you on a more personal level, and, when necessary, buy products from you.

You want to be found on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. The best way of doing this is by having an active website with lots of content on it - this means that people can find what they're looking for easily without having to crawl through thousands of other websites trying not only to find what they want but also decide whether or not it's worth reading!

You'll be seen as an authority in your niche and have a professional edge over influencers who only use social media.

The more professional you appear; the more people trust and respect your content (generally speaking). A website is where people can find all the information they need about you: who you are, what you do, and how to contact you. Your little bio space on social media is not enough for your audience to truly get to know you and learn about your journey. You’ll have ample space on your website’s bio page to tell your story, show certificates (ie. Cosmetology license if you’re a beauty influencer), and years of experience in your field and niche.

In addition to looking more professional than using only social platforms - and thus helping build credibility as an expert in your niche - having a website provides another advantage. It makes it easier for potential customers and clients who may not know much about influencers or content creators like yourself to find out more about what services/products are available before deciding whether or not they want their products/services provided by said influencer/content creator's company! This is crucial if you’re doing influencer marketing as well.

Create another stream of income from your website.

Having a website is one of the most important steps you can take as an influencer or content creator. Not only does it give you an official place to host all of your content, but it also allows you to create another stream of income from your followers and readers.

If you need more time or money to build one, we can help build your website and get it up and running quickly! Just send us a quick message letting us know what you want on your site, your brand information, and anything else you think would be helpful.

Conclusion

A website will help you build your brand and grow as an influencer or content creator – there’s just no getting around this fact. It will give you another way to connect with people interested in your brand and what you have to say. I believe influencers and content creators have impactful stories to tell, so go ahead and create your digital home base for your brand story.