Podcast Transcript for hearing impaired

Hello and welcome to another edition of elevating with Marcia. I'm your host, Marcia Hawkins. And today we're going to be talking about free websites and how everybody is building a free website. But it begs the question, is it really the way to go? Let me explain. So a free website, usually, um, you're going to do that through Google or wix or godaddy.

You're basically just going to put some templated, framed website together. Um, in fact, sometimes they even have some of the text in there that you can use. And basically you'll do an about us, um, you'll do a contact information, you can pick your colors, you can change your colors.

Really, it's super easy. Um, but the problem with it is, is it really the best representation of what you're trying to convey online? And the answer is probably no. And let me explain why, uh, templated free websites, um, really benefit the company or the person who is providing it.

I see on Facebook a lot people are offering free websites. Well, a, you get what you pay for, and b, um, you're really benefiting that person more than anything. A lot of times it's just a, uh, ploy to do a big upsell. And I understand why some people do it.

They're either trying to get going in the industry or they want to, um, build out their portfolio. And I get all that. But the challenge of that is that it really does not accomplish the goals for the business owner who really needs a website. Think of it like this.

So if your website really is a representation of your business, so think of it in the terms of a brick and mortar presence. Would you really want somebody building you a free brick and mortar place to put your business? Probably not, because it's probably going to be the bare bones minimum.

And that is exactly what a free website is. It's nothing, merely, uh, more than just a framework of website. It's like a place card holder, a business card, if you will, online. And your online presence really should be one of the most important things that you do because everybody will pre qualify your business through a templated, uh, excuse me, a website.

So please try to refrain. I know, especially if you're starting out, it feels like the way to go, but it's the equivalent of somebody building you a brick and mortar website. Um, it's like rather than having something stick built and solid with a good roof and nice windows and nice storefront or whatever it happens to be, or a nice office building, they're basically handing you a cardboard box and that's really all it is.

While it could be pretty, I mean, you could paint it and put some, uh, aesthetically landmarks on it. You know what I'm getting at? But it really is the equivalent of a cardboard box. And you really do not want to have that image for your presence. And furthermore, it does nothing for your page ranking in the search engines.

And that ultimately is what you want, because everybody is going to pre qualify your business through your website, through your social media presence. But overall, your online presence, so free, does come with its challenges. And I highly recommend, if you're starting out, that one of the main, uh, things that you think about is what is your online presence going to look like?

Also, think long term. Please understand that whatever you do for your website and whatever presence you build out, the phone number you have, the domain that you have, all of that becomes part of your property. And down the road, if you ever want to sell your business, imagine being able to sell your business, your domain name, your traffic, your following, your online presence.

hat is ultimately going to have value. If you put a free templated website up, you're not going to be able to build your online presence the way you think you can. I understand the strategy because something is better than nothing. But long term, it's not the way to go.

Again, cardboard box or something stick built that looks beautiful and tangible and long term is going to provide you with the traffic and the online presence that you need in order to be successful. Um, I highly recommend that you talk to a professional. Um, people are going online, and they're having people overseas build them a website.

They're spending a couple of $1,000. Even those, um, have their challenges. And a consultation, uh, with either me or someone on my team, we can briefly explain to you the pitfalls of, um, slap together a templated website and throwing it out there and anticipating that it's going to drive traffic over to your website, because it simply will not.

And I can explain why. All right, you've been listening to another edition of Elevating with Marcia today. We were talking about the lack of benefits that come with a free templated website. All right, make it a great day.