Why Do you Need a Personal Website?

| Posted: 22-08-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 12 | Rating: (53)

(?)

MySpace. I can't simply say the word, which is bound to be accepted into Webster's dictionary in the next decade as (n.) an online place for teenagers to err their many grievances about Stacy and her new boyfriend. I'm so old.

But in my dictionary, I define MySpace as quintessential Web 2.0, or in other words, what the Web has become and is still becoming. Web 2.0's MySpace, Facebook, Flckr, Wikipedia, all mean to me one thing: community. It seems that adding to a central source website, such as MySpace, is becoming much more popular than going through the "strenuous" work of creating one's own website. So even as the price to make one's own website rapidly falls, free services like MySpace, where control over one's "space" is limited, are still steamrolling in popularity.

I personally hate the term "Web 2.0." The story behind it simple enough: it was brainstormed by a bunch of nerds sitting in a stuffy conference room to give a name to the web after the dot-com collapse. Even though I try to deny the existence of this second wave of internet, I can't deny that the trend is moving away from personal websites. So I'm here to bring them back "in."

If MySpace and Facebook are the athletic, outgoing older brothers, the personal website nowadays seems to be the shy, pale-faced younger brother who likes to draw, far more unique but not as popular as his siblings. But when it comes to their cousins, the dusty scrapbooks and photo albums, the personal website is pretty cool. What scrapbook can interactively zoom, transition, enhance, label, and beautify your images like a Flash presentation on a website can? What scrapbook can be accessible by anyone you want to show it to anywhere in the world. I don't know how many pictures MySpace will let you have but you can put millions on your own website (and seeing the younger generation these days, "millions" is most likely a low estimate.)

Another argument for personal websites that I've heard recently is one that surrounds the future of individuality, personality and distinguishing oneself from the crowd. Like yourself, the domain you choose for a website is completely unique. With MySpace, you have one page, one "space" for you and your "friends" to get to know who you are across the shared domain "www.myspace.com/stacy." Perhaps a website, will limitless potential for pages on any aspect of your life is more reflective of reality. However, roughly 66% percent of internet users in a recent study do not actually own a domain name. Interestingly enough, people who possess a MySpace or a Facebook do claim to have a personal website. No, you have a personal page.

But I recognize there are a number of issues surrounding the possession of one's personal website, questions such as "who has the time?", or "what if I can't make a good looking one?", or "what about my privacy?" I know that some questions that are raised are very valid ones. However, most objections to a personal website are outrageous, simply because "Web 2.0" has created a world of MySpace junkies, satisfied with being members of a crowded community and blissfully unaware of how beneficial a personal website can be even to those who "never" have the time to update it. The MySpace generation likes to type what they want to say into a form and submit it and see it when the page reloads.

Before this situation gets better, it will definitely get worse. The largest issue with a personal website right now, even with our experienced younger generation, is that website creation seems too arduous or too time-consuming. It is believed a good-looking website can't be made without expensive software, going back to the basics to punching in basic HTML code is something now far in the past and design companies are too considered too expensive.

So why do people use personal websites? (Well, you can pick one of these):

-Conduct personal business
-Communicate directly with family and friends
-Showcase children's accomplishments
-Seeking relationships
-Sharing ideas and beliefs
-To be hip

To be brief in my summation, as I know this article has not been the most coherent item that I've ever written, personal websites seem to be on their way out (hmm, maybe the Web 2.0 people had something there.) However, that makes it the perfect time to distinguish yourself from the crowd. If you're like me and have not already pledged my first born child to Tom and the unimaginable wrath of MySpace, start your own website, put some RSS news feeds on it, dress it up, throw some funny pictures on there, put your favorite quote at the top, buy the most random domain name you can think of. So when somebody asks you what your MySpace name is, say proudly "I don't have one, but you can find me at burntpopsicles.com!"

Rate this Article:

Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).

Article Tags: Cheap, SEO, Solutions, Technology, Internet, Services, Web Site, Website, Personal, Professional, Computers, Web Design, Designer, Web, Why, Windows, Web Services, Studios, Affordable, Need, Kaufman, 2.0, Robert Burke, Brock Meyer, Web Renovation

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/why-do-you-need-a-personal-website-202747.html

Print article

Send to friend

Publish this Article

Author feedback

About the Author:

Robert Burke is a designer and developer who worked formerly as a design associate and consultant for Kaufman Web Studios, but now does freelance work in design along with his job as an I.T. professional based in Seattle, Washington.

Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Article Comments

Add new Comment

Why Do you Need a Business Website?
By: Robert Burke | 18/08/2007 | Strategic Planning
Former designer and developer Robert Burke outlines the potential benefits having a business website will have on your small- or medium-sized business. Both the financial and structural advantages are analyzed.

Pointers to Designing a Successful Website
By: Sarika Kabra | 17/03/2008 | Web Design
There are many things to be considered when designing a web site. This article will provide you the chief aspects of creating a website that attracts heavy traffic that converts.

Web Design Stance on Back Button and How to Use it
By: Moe Tamani | 17/03/2008 | Web Design
Any experienced web designer should know without having to be told that the Back Button is an extremely part of any web page. Your web design company certainly expects you to understand this fundamental concept of web design. You should realize the truth of this claim after having surfed the internet and visited various web sites for some time.

Why We Should All Stop Using Ie6 and Bury it Deep?
By: Angela Rogers | 23/04/2008 | Presentation
Have you ever wondered why there are vastly increasing number of Web designers and developers who don’t like using Internet Explorer?

Navigation Element Locations
By: Angela Rogers | 27/04/2008 | Graphic Design
Top Menus Generally this menu bar is placed below the page header which usually is a graphic containing the site logo. These are generally single links, expanding menus or drop down menus. Every menu can be shown via some text or may be a graphic.

Organising Your Website for Better Performance
By: Angela Rogers | 28/04/2008 | Graphic Design
Organising a website has lots to do with the effective implementation of the various key aspects related to a website.

Web Design Vs. Print: How to Reach the Middle Ground
By: Moe Tamani | 17/03/2008 | Web Design
There are several web designers around that make the colored backgrounds of the pages for the web pages they produce. It is very common if the people that were once background makers prior to joining the internet place they are currently participating in, or some just were at one time in charge of this became obtainable by print medium.

Understanding HTML is Still Vital in Website Development
By: Angela Rogers | 23/04/2008 | Information Technology
Hypertext Markup Language or HTML has always been the basic language in developing a website. Although various automated software platforms have been introduced to simplify website creation, HTML remains of utmost importance in creating web pages.

Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Frequently Asked Questions

Any help?
By: marianny | 12-07-2008
like for real how is the easiest way to make money fast pronto o and being under age. i really need the money for my mom that is sick but i dunno what to do any help?

Virtual world creators?
By: in need of help | 12-07-2008
Whats a FREE site that lets me create a free 3D virtual world like Xivio? ( look at this site to see what im looking for) please answer. thanks !

Does any of you know a virtual study environment that is really worth something?
By: Eyal Rofe | 12-07-2008
can you link me?

DVD burner question
By: Info Sponge | 12-07-2008
Whats the difference between a CD/DVD burner and a CD/DVD+/-RW Drive

What are some good sites to watch movies that are ...
By: Jenny Lee Farrow | 12-07-2008
what are some good sites to watch movies that are in the theaters?

Where to sell vintage fabrics?
By: Janbelle333 | 12-07-2008
Hello. I am a retired interior designer that has accumulated collections of decorator vintage fabrics of Greeff and Schumacher, kits for quilts and pillows, numerous trims. I am interested in selling these online or sources to sell to.

Q&A Powered by:

Latest Technology Articles

Running Your Car On Water - Any Real Disadvantages?
By: Alan Largo | 19/07/2008
With the recent increasing gas prices, more and more people have been looking into alternative ways in which to lower their fuel costs. They have also been looking for more ways to help the environment as studies have shown increasing amounts of greenhouse gases being released through the use of fossil fuels...

How To Run Your Car On Water - Conversion Time?
By: Alan Largo | 19/07/2008
There are two types of conversions that you can do to your existing vehicle that will make it more cost effective, allowing it to use HHO gas to replace some fuel you currently use that comes from gasoline. In fact, these conversions allow you to run car on water by introducing HHO gas...

Leading an Economic Counter-Insurgency
By: Ted Hebert | 18/07/2008
General David Petraeus led the successful surge in Iraq, and turned a lost cause into a winner. We need business leaders who can do the same for our economy.

Technology Makes Project Collaboration Easier
By: Christine Harrell | 18/07/2008
Even small companies find themselves operating on a global scale. It is becoming less common for everyone on a team to be in the same building. One team member might be working in another company office across the country.

Understanding Just What Refurbished Means
By: Joe Mueller | 18/07/2008
Refurbished electronics are commonly found in a variety of places, but what does the word 'refurbished' mean with regard to consumer electronics? Here is the answer.

9 Free Fixes for Faster Computer Performance
By: Jon Crain | 18/07/2008
Poor computer performance by your Windows-based machine can sneak up on you gradually.

Self Defense Self Protection Weapons
By: Joy Fender | 18/07/2008
The self-protection weapons in the market have seen a level of growth as people have had more of a desire for protection for both themselves and those that they care about. Some additional forms have been in development that would disable the person without running the risk that these other forms can present.

Apple iPod Nano : Review & Features
By: Jacob George | 17/07/2008
iPod Nano comes with a capacity of 4GB(1,000 songs) and 8GB(2,000 songs). With an anodized aluminum top and polished stainless steel back. Six eye-catching colors. A larger, brighter display with the most pixels per inch of any Apple display, ever.

More from Robert Burke

Article Categories

Article Marketing

Article Notepad

Stop Duplicate Content

Term Papers

Need Help?

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below

Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.98, 17)

Why Do you Need a Personal Website?

Article Comments

Related Articles

Got a Question? Ask.

Latest Technology Articles

More from Robert Burke

Need Help?

Site Links

Webmasters

Business Info

Sign up for our email newsletter