Welcome! Before you start writing anything for your academic website, the first and most important step is to clarify why you’re building it and who you’re writing for.
This module will guide you through that process.
Step 1: Why Are You Creating This Website?
A one-page academic website doesn’t need to do everything. In fact, it shouldn’t. The most effective websites have a clear purpose and stay focused on it.
To get a clear understanding:
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Ask yourself:
- Are you on the job market?
- Do you want to attract collaborators?
- Do you want a place for students to learn about your work?
- Are you trying to increase your visibility beyond your university profile?
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Then, complete the sentence below. Remember to keep it short—just one sentence.
“The main purpose of my website is to ________.”
Step 2: Who Will Visit Your Website?
Next, identify the primary audience (the people you’re mainly writing for) and possibly a secondary audience.
Here are a few examples:
| Primary Audience | What They’re Looking For |
|---|---|
| Hiring committees | A quick, clear summary of your research and impact |
| Potential collaborators | Shared research interests, current projects |
| Grad students/postdocs | Your academic identity and teaching or supervision style |
| Journalists or readers outside your field | Your field, your focus, your recent work |
You’re not trying to impress everyone. Just be useful to the people who matter most for your goals.
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Complete these two sentences:
- “My primary audience is ________.”
- “They are looking for ________.”
Step 3: What Should Your Audience Take Away?
Now connect your purpose with your audience. Ask:
- What 1–2 things should they know about you when they leave your site?
- What kind of impression do you want to make?
Examples:
- “I want them to understand that I work at the intersection of AI and healthcare.”
- “I want them to see that I’m a serious candidate with strong publications and teaching experience.”
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“I want them to quickly find and read my latest article.”
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Complete this sentence:
“When someone visits my site, I want them to walk away with this impression: ________.”
Your Module 1 Mini-Assignment
As you were going through the lesson, I hope you took the time to completed the provided sentences. If you did not, open your notebook and write down sentences below and complete them with your answers.
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My website’s main purpose is to: [Your one-sentence answer]
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My primary audience is: [Who they are]
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They are looking for: [What they want to find or understand]
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I want them to leave with this impression: [Key takeaway or message]
✅ Done? Great.
You now have a clear compass for everything you’ll write in the coming modules. Keep these answers handy—you’ll refer back to them as you write your content.
Next up: Module 2 – Decide What to Include.
