Friday's Digest Podcast

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Table of Contents

1. Preface

2. Main Article

3. Online Presence Course for Doctors & Scientists

Preface

I launched my website in 2012.

It was a single page with just a short bio.

Back then, building a website was complicated and required time and computer knowledge.

But creating a website is a breeze nowadays!

So, I prepared a guide to walk you through building your website.

And then I thought to myself, why stop there?

I've spent so much time learning about writing newsletters, running a YouTube channel, publishing podcasts, and posting on social media. So, why not share it with the world?

Welcome to my Online Presence Course for Doctors and Scientists!

You can watch the course here.

Today's newsletter will be the first lesson - building your own website.

Number 81.

Enjoy!

Main Article

Do you have your own website?

If not, you're missing out on many benefits. We'll discuss them shortly.

If you do own a website, can you edit it directly? Do you control its content? Can you make changes without asking for permission?

If you answered "no" to these questions, you don't truly own a website. Instead, you might have a webpage hosted by your institution, which is a different scenario altogether.

I've come across numerous web pages hosted by universities and hospitals. Often, they suffer from poor web design, broken links, and bland, unexciting content.

They're also frequently outdated. Professors are listed as doctors, senior attendings as residents, and publication lists are incomplete.

Worst of all, these websites often have compatibility issues. Their appearance varies between Android and iPhone devices, and some even specify a preferred browser for optimal viewing. That's hardly user-friendly.

Today, I'll guide you in setting up your website. Yes, your very own website.

It will take approximately 10 minutes. The overall time will depend on the effort you put into the design and content.

Before we start building your website, let's address some questions you might have:

Q: Will it cost me money?

A: No.

Q: How much computer experience do I need?

A: The same amount it took you to read this newsletter.

Q: What if I change my mind and want to delete my website?

A: There's no need to delete. Click "unpublish," and it will be removed from the internet.

Now that we have addressed those topics, let's discuss the benefits of having your own website:

1️⃣ It allows people to find information about you easily.

2️⃣ You control the information displayed.

3️⃣ The website remains consistent, even if you change jobs.

4️⃣ It's an excellent platform for networking and establishing connections.

5️⃣ It saves time. For example, if you're interviewing a student, they can learn about your projects from your website. Or, if you're introducing yourself via email, you can simply provide a link to your bio on your website.

6️⃣ You're not reliant on a "rented audience" or social media algorithms.

Now that we understand why having a personal website is so awesome, it's time to start building it!

I will also publish a step-by-step YouTube video guide, which you can find here once it's published.

We'll use Google Sites, a free platform that requires minimal computer skills. I'll explain why in the video.

Exciting! Let’s do it!

🔵 Step 1 - Use a Desktop or Laptop Computer

You can’t do it on a mobile phone.

🔵 Step 2- Prepare Your Gmail Account

If you already have a Gmail account, you can move on to the next step.

If you don't have a Gmail account yet, you'll need to create one.

Visit the Google Account Page, click "Create Account", and follow the instructions.

🔵 Step 3 - Select a Website Template

Navigate to Google Sites.

You may be prompted to log in to your Gmail account. If so, proceed with the login.

In the top row, you'll find a selection of templates. Click "template gallery" to view more options. Feel free to explore each template to find the one that best suits your needs.

Note: Opening a template will save it as a new draft, but don't worry. You can delete these drafts later.

❓What if I can't see any templates and only have the option to start from a blank page?

This issue usually arises when your Gmail language is not set to English.

To resolve this, you can temporarily change the language to English until you find a template you like. After selecting a template, revert the language to its original setting.

Here's how:

1️⃣ Click the circle with your initials at the top right or top left of the screen.

2️⃣ Choose "Manage your account".

3️⃣ Select "Personal info".

4️⃣ Scroll down to "Language".

5️⃣ Set the language to "English" and the region to "United States".

🔵 Step 4 - Insert Your Information

You can navigate between different pages by clicking the categories on the side of the screen. Replace the template information with your own.

All changes are saved instantly. Therefore, if you exit, you can resume from the same spot later.

Nothing has been published yet, so there's no need to worry.

If you only want a basic website, fill in your information on the main page and delete the other pages.

🔵 Step 5 - Publish Your Website

Completing this step will make your website publicly accessible on the internet.

1️⃣ Click "Publish."

2️⃣ A dialogue box will appear, prompting you to define an address for your website. Think of it like choosing a username: pick something unique and appealing.

3️⃣ Your address will be something like this: https://sites.google.com/view/the-name-you-chose

4️⃣ Finally, click "Publish" again, and your website is live!

Congratulations! You now have your own website that you can share with the world.

Bonus:

My video will provide a deeper dive into the many things you can do with your website.

For instance, I recommend setting up a personalized domain for a more catchy web address than the standard https://sites.google.com/view/your-name. Take my own domain, https://www.shaysharon.com, as an example.

The video will guide you on setting up your domain. It will also show you how to add pictures, videos, links, and banners to your website.

You can watch the video here once it's published.

Online Presence Course for Doctors & Scientists

In the coming weeks (or months, depending on my schedule), I'll publish a YouTube video series to help doctors and scientists enhance their online presence.

The series will include:

1️⃣ Introduction

2️⃣ Building your own website

3️⃣ Social media 101 (Fundamentals)

4️⃣ Starting your own newsletter

5️⃣ YouTube 101 (Fundamentals)

6️⃣ Starting your own podcast

7️⃣ Gear and apps I use for online presence

8️⃣ Q&A

You can watch it here.

Epilogue

If you received this newsletter from a friend and would like to join Friday's Digest, visit: https://newsletter.shaysharon.com

That’s it for this issue.

Hope for better times.

Shay