I wish I could say tons of people have come up to me asking, “Danish, why did you create a website for yourself?” but the reality is, no one’s asked me that question yet. So I figured I’d proactively tell you why I created this website. There are quite a few reasons I’ll be delving into, but I’ll split them into Primary and Secondary factors. Primary factors are the main drivers behind this decision, whereas Secondary reasons are the cherry on the icing; unintended benefits that are more of a “nice-to-have.”

Primary (in no given order)

Like almost everyone, I have a lot of interests that keep changing over time, which means I work (or at least give that illusion) on single or multiple projects at any given time. For example, currently, I’m into politics (more specifically, US politics), so I’m going down that rabbit hole of consuming related content. Previously, it was sports whether that’s playing semi-competitively or socially . Yes, I’m aware it’s not the most efficient strategy to move from one task to another, but this keeps me on my toes and makes me a bit of a jack of all trades. This website then acts as a showcasing platform for everything I’m working on that’s worth sharing with others. You can check out the projects I’ve worked on or am working on here.

I also somewhat dabble in journaling, and the best way to satisfy this itch is with my own personal blog, where I’m not limited by word count or a specific topic. My personal website became the perfect platform to host the blog and post whenever I like. It’s a bit of a bonus for users who might be interested in learning more about my journey or experiences and would like to take some inspiration from it. For now, I’ve committed to posting a new blog post monthly, but that frequency can change depending on my external circumstances.

This is also a great learning experience for me, given that I’ve never created a website without Wix or Squarespace. This time around, I purchased a domain name from GoDaddy, created the website from a blank template, and transferred the domain using Hostinger so I have complete control over it (I’m also using Hostinger to host the website). All of this was completely new to me, and all in all, it took me around 3–4 months to build. This got my creative juices flowing while giving me a completely new experience. I’m treating this website as a constant work in progress, where I’ll be updating the layout and content as time goes on. I already have some unique ideas to work on, which I’m super excited about.

Lastly, the website allows me to build a “Danish Karmally” brand and promote myself, my skills, and my projects in a manner that suits me. I don’t have to rely on LinkedIn’s algorithm or any other platform or worry about coming off as obnoxious. If people want to learn more about me, they can visit my website and get a good understanding of who I am, access my resume, and even reach out to me – all through my website. I think this sums up the above points perfectly. DanishKarmally.com isn’t just personal, it’s professional as well, with me in the driver’s seat, deciding how I’d like to portray myself.

Secondary (in no given order)

A small perk of having my own website is that I can upload anything I’d like, including my resume. I have two versions: one in ATS formatting and another that is more aesthetically pleasing. Since the latter isn’t ATS certified, I can’t really use it when applying for job postings, but this lets me share it with any potential recruiter while showcasing my personality through my resume. You can find it here.

I’ve hinted at this before, but since I’m in full control of my website, it’s incredibly customizable, and that lets me be creative and really think about what I’d like to host. I’ve limited my pages mostly to professional ones (About, Projects, etc.), but I could easily add something more fun without compromising professionalism. One of the pages I’d like to (and probably will) implement is a Personal Interests page that will detail all my interests: books, hobbies, travel experiences, etc.

Lastly, the biggest secondary perk is that in a sea of LinkedIn connections, my blog posts and website help me stand out, even if just slightly. It shows my connections what I’m working on, what my strengths are, and what fuels my creativity. I think this is working, given that you’re probably in my connections and have somehow landed on this page (thank you for that!).

Conclusion

Okay, I’ll come clean: my intention for this blog post was to convince you to start your own personal website, and hopefully, now that you’ve read this far (hoping you’re not one of those who just jumps to the conclusion), I can convince you to do the same. If you don’t know where to start, feel free to reach out, I’d be more than happy to chat with you and talk about my experience, the software I used, and the roadblocks I encountered during this process. If not, I wish you the best of luck, and I’m super excited to check it out if you decide to go for it.

What do you think of my website? Is there something I can improve? Please do let me know 😊