"What is the point of a personal website?" is a question I hear often, usually from my husband who doesn't understand how I can spend so much time working on my own website.
One could easily ask what the point of video games, playing guitar, building models, or collecting stamps is. First and foremost, these activities are hobbies, the definition of which - an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation - is eloquently stated on Dictionary.com The point of a personal website is for the owner or webmaster/mistress simply to have fun and, like any hobbyist, this interest drives one to to learn, to strive to become better at the hobby.
On the surface, a personal website is a much expanded profile, without requiring the user to have a membership or acocunt number. Many exist sites exist solely for this purpose; however, unlike a networking website, a personal website allows the own to provide much more in depth information about him or her self including information aobut his interests and life. If one were to try to pile together all the information which can be provided on a website onto a profile such as the one provided on Myspace, the resulting profile would be extremely long and messy. However, a personal website allows one to provide much more information and break it up into a more organized and user friendly format.
Unlike a profile site which allows only limited cuztomization options and control over design and function, a website has possibilities which are vitually limitless. The design of a website can truely reflect yourself and be absolutely unique. Aside from the popular subject of graphic design, a personal website's webmaster can decide how she wants to organize content and navigational layout so a website is best suited to his or her needs without having to work around above limitations and resitrictions which are enforced on profile sites. Whereas, one has to be aware of administration or owners of a profile site, someone who owns a personal site will have a much easier time designing and displaying his or her virtual space.
Additionally, a website own likely resources available at his or her fingertips to achieve his or her perfect website. However, simply dedicated to profiling a single person is rarely intriguing for more than few moments to other people. Personal sites may have a section dedicated to visitor content, often content geared toward those who also have personal sites. The content includes include fonts, graphics, tutorials, and website advice, related ideas and inspiration. Furthermore, these content sections often include things meant solely for entertainment purposes: games, surveys and quizzes. Often personal sites include some sort interactive content in which visitors can participate: contests, abilitity to submit content, a chance to voice one's thoughts and opinions on variety of subjects.
Because of the nature of existing on the internet, a personal website can be a useful tool in connecting with others; whether making friends, providing entertainment, expressing views or opinions, entering entries in an online journal (such as a blog) or being a resource for others, a personal website helps people network and connect, usually on a much more personal level than a profle on a massive website. For instance, aside from the information on myself, I provide information on various subjects via my site, such as sex information. My site also allows contact through several means: via website comments, submission forms and a guestbook.
Of course, anyone good enough at any hobby can make money and many do. Whether a website exists as a tool to sell products or services or a website allows one to make a couple of extra bucks selling advertisement of all varieties: pay per post (ppp), PPC, affiliates, referrals, or partnership programs - one can easily earn money via the internet. If a website itself gains notoriety, you can even earn money yourself by selling products which advertise the site, featuring its logo.
Like any hobby, owning a website will cost money for various reasons. Obviously, one needs working a computer and internet connection as well as programs which allow one to create and upload content to the internet, although most of these can be borrowed or even obtained illegally. Additionally one will need a host for one's personal site and while one is able to find many which are free, one may need advanced services and may even consider purchasing one's own domain. Of course, depending upon one's website, one will need a number of websites and many websites use a lot of resources, some even require dedicated server hosting. When it comes time to choose a hosting company, one might decide to go with a server operated out of one's own home. Of course, that all will cost money. Additionally, one may need to purchase copyrights to certain content, such as images.
To sum it up, the purpose of a personal website is fun, expression, information, entertainment, networking, communication, personal growth, creative expression, intellectual stimulation, financial gain et cetera. I think the better question really is "What isn't the point of a personal website?"
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