The world is rapidly progressing towards a digital economy. Although searching your name on Google or other search engines return results about you through a series of random links, it gives you little control over your online presence. Having a research website gives you that control in addition to several other benefits. Besides, a good first impression matters a lot, and your website can provide this.
Benefit of having a research or lab website
A successful research career will depend on your ability to attract good postgraduate students, research fellows or potential funders. However, they need to know that you exist, be able to understand your work, get a feel of your achievements, know how it is like to work with you or understand your impact in the research community. A website presents your work in a professional and accessible manner. This provides your audience with concise information about what you want them to see as well as what they might want to know about you.
Many researchers like you are constantly searching for solutions to difficult problems or questions. A research website could help them find solutions by navigating through your blog post and videos in addition to useful resources. You can use hosted blog posts and videos on your website to quickly communicate your work in conferences. All these will boost your impact in the research community.
A website offers a sense of professionalism and gives a feeling of legitimacy to the research community and general public. On the other had it acts as a confidence booster when you are able to quickly view your achievements. Also, your students or research fellows get excited and motivated when they get showcased online or are given the opportunity to explain their work to the general public.
A website is very visual and can tell a thousand words. It can act as a graphical and dynamic CV for you to showcase yourself. Such a CV is easily accessible and helps to enhance any elevator pitch you might need to make.
Besides showcasing your own ability, research or academic achievements, a website gives you the opportunity to display your outreach works or share useful resources with the research community and general public. It also helps to explain your work in lay terms to the general public. Explaining your work in lay terms could be very fundamental for funding.
Why do many researchers shy away from owning a research website?
The thought of owning and running a website can be intimidating to many researchers. This is because of limited knowledge on web design and where to get started. This article gives you a step-by-step guide on how to get started.
Also, many are confused as to which platform to choose to run their website amongst the different options. Well, there is a saying that “heroes are created by popular demand”. WordPress is the most popular web design platform. It is just like Microsoft Word in that it is easy to be used for inserting words and images on pages. Anyone can create a blog post or page with WordPress even with zero coding skill.
Setting up and updating content can be intimidating and time consuming. This has caused many researchers to abandon their websites. If that is your fear, then KoxyDesign has a good news for you. With just a little fee you can hire us to setup, maintain and update your website for you. Such little investment will pay off with time. Besides, a professional looking and up to date website can create a lasting impressions and impact. Click here to request quote or inquire.
Should you use your institution’s template to create your website?
Most universities or institutions offer a free design template for researchers to enter relevant information about their work. Off course, your institution can update your publications list and section when necessary and this is entirely free but:
- You do not have full control over your research website or content.
- It becomes difficult to monetize your website, sell info products or receive donations.
- As an early carrier researcher, what happens when you leave that institution?
- Also, it is difficult to stand out of hundreds of other research group in the same institution
- Having an original, modern, and stand-alone template shows more professionalism in displaying your research to the world.
- A stand-alone website which is relevant in your community will get its own audience. With an audience of just 4000, you could get more reads and access to your work than any journal can offer you.
Choosing a lab name
Conventionally, many researchers name their group website after their name. Although this is perfectly normal, it is not inclusive of every member in the group. Best practice will be to use an acronym which is easy to remember or a name which speaks to what you are doing. This will create a sense of belonging for all members. Similarly, such a research group name could live far beyond after you are gone rather than one which carry your name.
Important tips when running a research website
Having a website sure offers lots of advantages but there are things you need to constantly do to stand out:
- Link your social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube) to your website. This increases your visibility on search engines by ranking you higher on search engine results. This is part of search engine optimization (SEO). Click here to learn more
- Constantly maintain and update your website with contents such recent publications, achievements, current projects, and students amongst others. Having old information can be as bad as having no information at all.
- A picture tells a thousand words. Use appealing images to visually educate your visitors whenever necessary.
Considering building your own research website?
Koxydesign offers several services meant to support researchers stand out. We build, maintain, update, manage websites, and much more. Click here to view our full list of services. We also write contents and have writers from several disciplines including science and technology.
Still not sure where to get started, see this article or contact us.
Demo Project
Sample Research Website
This is a demo website demonstrating our ability to provide you with the best research website. This demo website is up for sale. If you love it, then contact us. Again you will have the complete freedom to add, remove or modify whatever is not of interest to you. It comes with 2 different home pages you can choose from: Home 1 and Home 2. Again, it comes with a template which beautifully showcase your profile or that of your group members. Click here to see it.
