Watch This Before You Start a Website (Unless You Like Wasting Time)
Building a website used to be the first step when starting a business. I've built dozens, and although the tech is there that makes it easy, there are better ways to spend our time as a beginning entrepreneur.
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Great analogies!
Great info. Thanks
Top stuff as always Pat.
Social media is like going to Times Square with a sign trying to get peoples attention
Especially when you scroll down and see the website was made recently and I don’t trust that yes they are mostly legit but when it comes to Pokemon things are way to sketchy these days to find out
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Pat! 100% agree on what you’re saying.
Not true in all cases, it depends on the business. It depends how customers look for them. Not all people search on social media and prefer Google search. Also, you might have a great blog or news feed on your website that attracts people. They’re still useful
You’re correct – it’s not a blanket statement entirely, but in general, as a first step, a website with something like a blog isn’t going to attract people. If you have a store or need some sort of “website as a business card” for people who want to explore more, but the website is no longer a part of the starter kit, if that makes sense.
@@patflynn As a starter kit, sure it’s not necessary for most. First make some sales, make some money and than add on whatever works best for your type of business 🙂 . For some businesses it’s social media and for many all they need is just a website, as a business card and bunch of of salesman on the phone or out in the field. For online coaches, online business etc. sure, a website is not even necessary, just a simple lead page is sufficient to gather some leads and sale your stuff. But thankfully now it’s so easy and cheap to built a basic website with Ai that it’s not a big deal like it was 10 or 20 years ago 😄It was big deal back then haha
No one needs a website when you can just start a YouTube channel and open Pokémon cards 😎
Okay, but in all seriousness, that Stan looks awesome. I’ll actually click your link and try it out. Thanks patt, and p.s ITSPIKACHU 😉
What happens when you are taken down by social media or hacked? I do not like strolling through content on social media pages.
This is answered in the video as well. Email list + something like Stan where you can “Own what you’ve Grown”, as I say. – this is a must once you build a following on a platform.
Someone didn’t watch the video
​​@@patflynnOr until stan makes no money and makes no sense to keep operating and then you are out of the door.
I can totally relate to the process of relearning how to build websites, even with familiar platforms like WordPress! Also, the Google algorithm updates have made it difficult to rank organically for keywords, so it feels like you’re on a dead-end road at times! I do like having a ‘homebase’ that I own, and I feel that I’ll always have a website and my own email list. I’ve been using shopify for years and may have to look into Stan store. Thanks for the video Pat!
Having a homebase is great, but removing all the friction at the start, removing a website build from those beginning steps is my argument here. I still think a website is useful – don’t get me wrong.
Funny that you say this when your description is filled with links to pages on a, wait for it, website away from social media, ie Stan Store! A website without a home page i guess! Still don’t get what you are trying to say other than sending us to pay pay Stan Store, instead of say wix etc. 😕
Websites still exist and are we use them every day. My argument is when starting out, you don’t need to build a website from scratch like we used to. Stan, in my opinion, is not like building a website. Technically yes it uses a website address to host it, but again, you set up the easiest leverage place online to setup shop, and then go help your audience.
@@patflynn I get that but you can create a page or just a shop on any one of these website platforms today using Ai, for those that don’t have the time or the know how, then they have the choice to grow with that same platform when they are ready to take advantage of the perks a full website offers.
I didn’t know pat had this channel
Except STAN is also a platform that could shut you down at a whim and cost you your entire business..
And so could your email list provider, your website host, etc. They can all be shut down. But social media is based on algorithms that change every day – you need a place to take those people where you have the most control possible.
@@patflynn I don’t disagree with a lot of what you said, but your whole premise was that you don’t own what you’ve grown on social media platforms because they could wipe you out at any time. You then pitched Stan as “own what you’ve grown”… except it’s not. It’s just a different platform with the same basic risks. The only way to truly own what you’ve grown is to own the customer data, and be in control of your ability to outreach to them.
Guy posts a video stating that you no longer need a website to have a successful online business. Most of the ecommerce links in the video description will take you to… [checks notes] his website. 🙄🙄
I never said don’t ever use a website do away with them entirely – I should have specified this more directly in the video, so I appreciate the opportunity to response. That’s on me.
My argument is when starting out, you don’t need to build a website to succeed. It used to be the first step for everyone, and that’s no longer the case. Selling to customers on social media through these much easier to setup, social-facing specific platforms can happen today without the technical know-how or time that a website would require.
You can set up to have someone book a call with you for $50 right now without the need for a website.
(Yes, technically Stan still uses a webpage to serve what you create – but in my opinion when setting up a Stan Store, that’s not setting up a website like how we’re used to understanding). A stripe checkout page is still technically a website, or a payment processor’s screen at the store. Hope that makes sense.
@@patflynn The title of this video is “No One Needs A Website Anymore”, Pat. I’m legitimately astounded that you are directing people to a platform over the independence a website brings. Platforms die. Platforms get bought by larger, worse platforms. I can see you are backing a product that you believe in and feel can do some good, but building and owning a website is a dying skill that should be encouraged and supported over platform adoption.
@@patflynn The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks. 😂
You update your channel very, very infrequently. It’s OK imo.. your choice. But if you think you can just drop an occasional bomb with a super hot take to drive engagement or views, I think that’s a disservice to your long time, loyal audience.
And btw, every one of your now super rare videos are only here to sell us something. In this case, it’s a ‘storefront in a mall’ called STAN. And that is just bad form. But hey.. maybe I say that because I’M getting old (and I remember Pat Flynn differently).
I’d say a website gives you credibility over just being a kid on social. To me it shows you have money invested into your craft. Totally see your point this new gen does not care, just brand names like Shopify n how cool it is
I would counter that with websites aren’t dead, but SEO optimization is dead.
While social media has its place, it’s a platform you don’t own. People have literally lost their entire social media platform overnight and, with it, their business. Try talking to YouTube if they suspend your account.
Hence the warning at the end of the video. “Own what you’ve grown”. Email list + something like Stan where you can create a CRM you can access and control more than on social.
@@patflynn I didn’t get to the end yet 🙂
Great advice, super agree with own what you’ve grown.
Hard to do though! Converting people from your audience to other avenues takes a level of wizardry. Great that there’s tech out there to help people do it