10 answers
Harshitha
Student
Arlington, Texas
7
Questions
Asked
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What are the platforms available for creating a personal portfolio website with a custom domain (myname.com)?
Is it considered unconventional to use platforms like Wix or WordPress for creating a portfolio? I'm interested in building my own website, so I'm seeking suggestions for suitable platforms. Any recommendations are welcome.
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10 answers
Laura Roty
Study Facilitator
2
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Laura’s Answer
Hey Harshita!
In my experience with developing an online presence, I have never run into any discouragement from using online website builders. There are a handful of programs you can utilize to help build your brand and showcase your work. It’s just a matter of which services and tools will work best for you!
Personally, I use GoDaddy Website Builder to develop my online portfolio and that has worked well for me and my goals but that’s not to say that other website building platforms won’t work just as well. For this reason, I highly recommend doing some initial research of each platform and then trying them out for yourself to see which one aligns best with your preferences and needs! Many of these programs offer free versions of their services so you don’t have to pay any money to explore your options!
Another option you may consider would be creating your website from the ground up. If web development is of any interest to you, or you have previous coding experience, you may find it worthwhile to spend time developing your HTML and CSS skills so that you can create your website the way you want. To boost your coding skills, there are many certification classes and workshops to learn more about web dev or UI/UX designing which would all be a great benefit to your process developing this project! LinkedIn, CodeAcademy, and Coursera are a handful of places where you can learn or enhance these skills! If you get stuck, resources like MDN Web Docs and Stack Overflow are great tools to troubleshoot and practice your new skills!
Now when it comes to owning a custom domain through a website building platform, you’ll have to check to make sure it’s available, then register the domain and configure the Domain Name System (DNS) records. If you are establishing your custom domain outside of a website builder, you’ll need a web hosting service to store your web files and, in addition, you’ll have to link your domain to hosting.
If you’re using a web hosting service, it’s recommended to get a SSL certificate to secure your data. Luckily most web hosting services offer this security service for free. Set up for the DNS may take a while but once the setup is complete your custom domain will be accessible allowing you to troubleshoot and test your new domain. It’s important to note that custom domains often operate like a lease with payments needed to maintain ownership of your custom domain. The payment is usually on an annual basis with yearly renewals. The renewal needs to be paid each year in order to maintain ownership.
Thank you for posing this question! It can be a little confusing to understand at first but I hope I was helpful in clarifying the information. I wish you the best of luck with your online endeavors!
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Cheers,
Laura
In my experience with developing an online presence, I have never run into any discouragement from using online website builders. There are a handful of programs you can utilize to help build your brand and showcase your work. It’s just a matter of which services and tools will work best for you!
Personally, I use GoDaddy Website Builder to develop my online portfolio and that has worked well for me and my goals but that’s not to say that other website building platforms won’t work just as well. For this reason, I highly recommend doing some initial research of each platform and then trying them out for yourself to see which one aligns best with your preferences and needs! Many of these programs offer free versions of their services so you don’t have to pay any money to explore your options!
Another option you may consider would be creating your website from the ground up. If web development is of any interest to you, or you have previous coding experience, you may find it worthwhile to spend time developing your HTML and CSS skills so that you can create your website the way you want. To boost your coding skills, there are many certification classes and workshops to learn more about web dev or UI/UX designing which would all be a great benefit to your process developing this project! LinkedIn, CodeAcademy, and Coursera are a handful of places where you can learn or enhance these skills! If you get stuck, resources like MDN Web Docs and Stack Overflow are great tools to troubleshoot and practice your new skills!
Now when it comes to owning a custom domain through a website building platform, you’ll have to check to make sure it’s available, then register the domain and configure the Domain Name System (DNS) records. If you are establishing your custom domain outside of a website builder, you’ll need a web hosting service to store your web files and, in addition, you’ll have to link your domain to hosting.
If you’re using a web hosting service, it’s recommended to get a SSL certificate to secure your data. Luckily most web hosting services offer this security service for free. Set up for the DNS may take a while but once the setup is complete your custom domain will be accessible allowing you to troubleshoot and test your new domain. It’s important to note that custom domains often operate like a lease with payments needed to maintain ownership of your custom domain. The payment is usually on an annual basis with yearly renewals. The renewal needs to be paid each year in order to maintain ownership.
Thank you for posing this question! It can be a little confusing to understand at first but I hope I was helpful in clarifying the information. I wish you the best of luck with your online endeavors!
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Cheers,
Laura
Thank you for the advice.
Harshitha
Johannes Muckel
Program Management
3
Answers
Orinda, California
Updated
Johannes’s Answer
There's a ton of options for you to explore!
You could grab URLs from sites like Godaddy.com, or even my personal favorite, porkbun.com.
For my own little corner of the web, I chose https://carrd.co. It was the perfect fit for me, being both budget-friendly and super easy to navigate. But remember, there's a whole world of alternatives out there, each with different levels of user-friendliness and pricing. If you're looking for something straightforward, Carrd is a great place to start.
You could grab URLs from sites like Godaddy.com, or even my personal favorite, porkbun.com.
For my own little corner of the web, I chose https://carrd.co. It was the perfect fit for me, being both budget-friendly and super easy to navigate. But remember, there's a whole world of alternatives out there, each with different levels of user-friendliness and pricing. If you're looking for something straightforward, Carrd is a great place to start.
Keyston Rice
Supervisor
180
Answers
Lawrence, IN
Updated
Keyston’s Answer
Exploring platforms for crafting a distinct portfolio website is a smart move. Consider options like Google Sites, which allow you to create with flexibility. While Wix or WordPress might be more common, using them isn't necessarily unconventional – it's about how you shape your portfolio. For a unique touch, experimenting with different platforms, or even coding your site from scratch, can set you apart. Keep in mind, your website reflects you, so go for a platform that aligns with your vision and goals.
Janis Ransom
Resume Writer, Interview Coach and Career Strategy Consultant
23
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Janis’s Answer
When it comes to deciding on website design and hosting options, the level of support you receive can be a game-changer. My initial experience began with a simple one-page website created using a template from Yahoo Small Business.
This platform was recently acquired by Turbify, and despite minor hiccups during the transition, they have consistently provided round-the-clock assistance to resolve any issues.
I took advantage of their templates to personally design my website. Over time, it has evolved from a single-page site to a comprehensive, fully-equipped website that caters to my needs at a very affordable price.
This platform was recently acquired by Turbify, and despite minor hiccups during the transition, they have consistently provided round-the-clock assistance to resolve any issues.
I took advantage of their templates to personally design my website. Over time, it has evolved from a single-page site to a comprehensive, fully-equipped website that caters to my needs at a very affordable price.
Thank you, Janis!
Harshitha
david kirk
Retired Computing Manager
472
Answers
Syracuse, New York
Updated
david’s Answer
Your idea can work very well. I presume cost is a factor, so here are two sites that I have used frequently. Namesilo.com will register a domain for approximately $10, including privacy. That is approx $20 less annually than most other registrars. For webhosting, ifastnet.com is unbeatable, with annual fee of just $20 - https://ifastnet.com/portal/sharedhosting.php They do an excellent job of hosting Wordpress. Wix is good, but you will pay four times as much. A positive aspect of using Wordpress as that it can be part of your resume. Good luck.
Gabrielle Palinkas
2
Answers
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Updated
Gabrielle’s Answer
Hi Harshitha,
For my small business I use Strikingly. They have free and paid options as well as the ability to purchase and use your own domain. They have lots of page layout options, so I'm sure they have one for a personal portfolio. They have options to create multiple sites as well in case you ever want to use it for a business website.
For my small business I use Strikingly. They have free and paid options as well as the ability to purchase and use your own domain. They have lots of page layout options, so I'm sure they have one for a personal portfolio. They have options to create multiple sites as well in case you ever want to use it for a business website.
Diya Dwarakanath
Science & Engineering Writer, ex-Sr R&D Engineer
11
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Diya’s Answer
Hi Harshitha,
Those are two of the most common website builders, so nope it’s not unconventional at all. It depends on the type of portfolio you’re building - if it’s a resume/CV, both are good and have their pros/cons. If you’re an artist or developing a creative portfolio, SquareSpace is popular too. A custom domain can be purchased on these site builders but you can also get one for free on certain web hosting provider websites. Infinityfree was recommended to me by a web developer instructor. It requires some active monitoring though.
Hostinger is a web host that also provides site builder services. Many web hosts do that nowadays.
You can also buy a custom domain separately on register.com for example. When you pick a web host (who will provide you with a web server address to store your website which can be reached through your URL), you can tell them your custom domain and URL and they’ll link it to your website. The benefit of this approach is registering or saving your domain name for future use before others register the same name.
If you’re looking to build a website for your business or do any type of e-commerce, then other platforms like Shopify might be more suitable.
Those are two of the most common website builders, so nope it’s not unconventional at all. It depends on the type of portfolio you’re building - if it’s a resume/CV, both are good and have their pros/cons. If you’re an artist or developing a creative portfolio, SquareSpace is popular too. A custom domain can be purchased on these site builders but you can also get one for free on certain web hosting provider websites. Infinityfree was recommended to me by a web developer instructor. It requires some active monitoring though.
Hostinger is a web host that also provides site builder services. Many web hosts do that nowadays.
You can also buy a custom domain separately on register.com for example. When you pick a web host (who will provide you with a web server address to store your website which can be reached through your URL), you can tell them your custom domain and URL and they’ll link it to your website. The benefit of this approach is registering or saving your domain name for future use before others register the same name.
If you’re looking to build a website for your business or do any type of e-commerce, then other platforms like Shopify might be more suitable.
Thank you for sharing your perspective.
Harshitha
PwC Impact
419
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
PwC’s Answer
If you're passionate about web development, it's worth your time to enroll in a mini web dev course. Here, you can construct your own personal website using simple tools like HTML, CSS, and JS, or even advanced ones like ReactJS. Discussing what you've learned during the process can impress recruiters and serve as a valuable side project. In essence, investing time and effort into creating your unique space on the web is highly beneficial. If you're looking for a quicker route, consider no-code development platforms like Carrd, or AI development tools that enable website creation through natural language.
Thank you for this highly impactful piece of advice!
Harshitha
Diana Lee
Senior Software Engineer
10
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Diana’s Answer
Hi Harshitha, the free website builder tools and platforms like Wix and Wordpress are great ways to help you build your first portfolio or personal website. Many of the companies that provide this service (for example, GoDaddy or SquareSpace) can also offer free or discounted pricing on websites for students. If you're interested in coding, you can even code your own website using tools like Github Pages. There are so many options out there and hopefully you can find one best suited to your needs.
Olivia Blackshear
1
Answer
Updated
Olivia’s Answer
From my journey of exploring website creation, I've never felt disheartened about using website-building platforms. On the contrary, I've felt inspired to try tools like Adobe Portfolio, Wix, and WordPress. These platforms are ideal for crafting a distinctive website, especially if you're a beginner in the field. I'm a regular user of Adobe Portfolio, which comes as part of an Adobe Suite subscription. However, keep in mind that this option does involve a fee. I trust this information will be beneficial to you!