August 30, 2022

5 examples of personal websites we should learn from

In these examples, we will examine the purpose of the website, the text copy, and the visual brand look that makes each personality unique and authentic.

In these examples, we will examine the purpose of the website, the text copy, and the visual brand look that makes each personality unique and authentic.

A personal website is a crucial tool for building a professional brand; it lets you show the world your skills, your interests, and your personality in a way that resumes and LinkedIn profiles simply can't do. It's an easy way to establish credibility, reach more of your audience, and stand out among the crowd.

Personal websites are important because they provide a space for people to connect with you online. They help establish your credibility and expertise, they're a great way to collect email addresses, they can be an effective part of your marketing efforts, and they even let other people get to know you better.

One of the most important things to remember when you're trying to build your personal brand is that it's not just about you—it's about how your viewers perceive you, and how they perceive themselves in relation to you. When we look at other people's websites, it gives us an opportunity to learn from their successes and mistakes.

Here are 5 examples of personal websites we could all learn from.

1. Gary Vaynerchuk

GaryVaynerchuk.com

Clicking on the hero image on Gary Vee’s website plays a Youtube video of his story as an entrepreneur. Just from there, you get to know him and what he does. Beside this is the list of all his affiliations and his different businesses. Below that is a short bio section and a link to read his story, which he was featured in, and another section for his latest blog posts. Finally, there is his contact form. Other pages include his podcast, blog, upcoming events, how to contact him, and finally his story.

The website does a great job showing the activities that Gary Vaynerchuck does through the year, which makes it easy for users to follow his next moves.

His personal website is straightforward and does what it has to do. More than that, it highlights his personal brand story, and he is great at telling that.

2. Neil Patel

Neil Patel: Helping You Succeed Through Online Marketing!

The main thing to like about this website is how simple it is without sacrificing any usability or information density. This can be tough to do—especially when you're talking about a site where you're trying to show off your skills as a marketer. But here, it works beautifully.

It starts with a question, and a tagline customized to your location. The next section is his bio, and finally, different steps to learn marketing all with links to resources he personally made.

The ability to have a simple page comes from having a clear & understandable purpose, which in this case is “lead generation”.

3. Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek – The Optimism Company

Simon Sinek's blog demonstrates his purposeful approach to both his work and life. He is a motivational speaker who inspires people to do better work by leading by example. This personal website is the product of that ambition.

Because his strength is in teaching and public speaking, we can find a library of blog posts and courses.

The site is easy to navigate and understand, with an "about" page, blog posts, and contact information all linked clearly at the bottom right of the page. It never feels cluttered or overwhelming; everything has its place without seeming too obvious or lacking in effort. There is a section dedicating possible resources whether you may be for businesses or individuals.

4. Matthew Encina

MATTHEW ENCINA

Matthew Encina is a creative director and sheds focus on his solid credentials and the most relevant points in his career on his personal website. There is also the tagline “Learn all about me in 60 seconds.” This can be essentially used as a rule in personal websites. It is where you want people to know who you are and what you do.

He has also written a short section about career highlights and fun facts about him. This is followed by a section on booking to speak to him, a link to his portfolio, for more information, and a link to contact him. It is packed with relevant information, compact, and concise. Matthew does a great job storytelling his passion, his work and the accomplishments through a simple but efficient page flow.

5.  Damn Write

Damn Write | Ecommerce DTC Email Strategy

A copywriter stands out with good copy–especially on their personal website. Damn Write accomplishes this with a straightforward and concise copy with a personality. The site features a biology-themed page (another extension of the owner’s personality).

The site features an about page, their process, how to work with them, the courses they offer, their blog, and a contact page. Overall, what you can find appealing is the use of a copy that targets their market–only fit for a copywriter.

These are just examples of sites that make good use of their own expertise and concretely show their skills on their sites. Now, if you are trying to build your own personal website, consider asking these questions before working on a framework.

  • What is the purpose of your website?
  • Who is your target audience?
  • What do they want to know about you?
  • How will you lead your audience to your website?
  • What will keep them coming back?
  • What is your call to action?