If you're thinking that you definitely don't need a website, you may want
to think again. A website gives you:
- The ability to further communicate with others
- Professionalism
- Complete creative control
- A low cost alternative to "free" services
- No one "scanning" your emails
- Not bombarded by ads just to check your email
- No such thing as "free" email
Communicate with others
We all want to keep in touch with others or put our stamp on the world.
The plus side of so many "free" services is that if someone you know
has an account with them, your means of connecting is a bit easier.
Websites as well allow you to communicate, and yet, people would
have to go to your specific website - perhaps not as easy as with
other services. Also, some of the other features of the "free" sites
may not be available through your own site (games, etc...). These are
quite possibly the only advantages free services have over your own
website
Professional
If you have your own website, you come across as being more professional.
People will generally recognize that you've invested in having your
own site and will (unless it looks quite bad) most likely think more
favorably of you (or your business) for spending the time, money, and
effort to create a space that defines you, your group, or your brand.
Complete Creative Control
While free services tend to allow users to customize their pages, in the
end you're still playing by their rules. With your own site - the sky
is the limit! Want to make your whole site hot pink? Go ahead.
Many people enjoy the creative aspect of websites and being able to
define the experience a user has when visiting their site.
Low Cost
Believe it or not, there are some rather low cost options for hosting
your own site. Some range from about $30/yr including the domain
name.
No "Scanning" of your emails
Believe it or not but the major "free" email providers scan your
emails. They do this so they can make money by bombarding you with
ads that are relevant to your emails. For example, have you ever
made an online purchase and then begin to see ads for that
company on various webpages. You can thank your "free" email provider
for that.
Not bombarded by ads just to check your emails
One of the reasons many enjoy their own website is that they don't
have to enter their credentials everytime they want to check their
email and there are no ads. Let's face it, ads waste people's time.
So, if your time is valuable enough to you, you may be interested
in getting your own site and skipping the ads.
No such thing as "free" email
Believe it or not, but "free" email is not really free - it costs
you, and the providers make money off of it. It costs you because
you are constantly bombarded with ads while using their services.
In turn, by showing you those ads, they make money - more so if
you click on them. Thus, while you may not pay monetarily for
your email, you will pay with time and annoyance.
Many have found their own website to be a very valuable asset to
them. This does not even touch the aspect of SEO and competing
in the search engines so people who don't even know you can
find you. While social media and other "free" email providers
can allow you to interact with others in unique ways, there's
much to be said having your own website.