I built mine about a year ago and the difference has been noticeable. Recruiters reference it before calls. Consulting conversations start differently when someone has already read my story. And there is something clarifying about having to articulate who you are and what you do in one place.
For a long time I put it off. I had LinkedIn. I had a resume. That felt like enough.
It wasn't.
Here is what I kept running into. When someone Googles your name — a recruiter, a potential client, a hiring manager, a board member — what they find in those first few results shapes their impression of you before you ever speak. LinkedIn shows up, sure. But LinkedIn looks like everyone else's LinkedIn. A personal website is yours. It tells your story the way you want it told, not the way an algorithm decides to display it.
What a good personal website actually does for you
It shows up in search results when someone Googles your name. That alone is worth it. Owning the first page of your own name search is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do for your professional reputation.
It gives you a place to publish your thinking. Even a few short articles on topics you know well establish you as someone with a point of view. That matters more than most people realize, especially at the senior level where everyone has credentials but not everyone has a clear perspective.
It works for you around the clock. Your resume sits in someone's inbox waiting to be opened. Your website is always on, always findable, always making an impression.
It separates you from the crowd. At the VP and C-suite level, the difference between candidates often comes down to intangibles. A polished personal website signals that you take your professional presence seriously. It is a small thing that makes a real impression.
You do not need to go big to start
The version I built is comprehensive — experience, services, articles, an AI section. But you do not need all of that on day one. A clean single page with your background, your results, and a way to contact you is enough to make a strong impression.
The most important thing is that it exists, that it looks good, and that it sounds like you.
If this has been on your list and you just haven't gotten around to it, I started a service that builds these for senior professionals. You send your resume, pick a design, and walk away with a professional site in days. Starting at $300.
Check out GetFoundExecutive.com