Google down: A reminder that having a website is still the best backup plan

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Google was down. Thankfully, it was only for less than an hour. When things like this happen, it is a massive reminder to small business owners and organizations relying heavily on various platforms to build their audience that it can easily shut down one day. Though the chances of this happening are low, you still have no control over the existence of any social media platform you use. That is why having your website is still a way to go.

TechCrunch mentioned in an article that what happened with the Google outage is an "alarming reminder" of how many people rely on a single proprietary provider, Google, for multiple services for productivity, entertainment, home, and utility. 

In social media, Facebook and Instagram are owned by one company. Imagine building your audience on both platforms and finding out one day that it's shutting down, and you have no backup plan on how to reconnect with your audience.

As mentioned earlier, the chances of it happening are low, but what if it does?

An article on Medium explains why you should not rely on social media alone. It breaks it down to three reasons, one of which is that "You don't own the platform." No one knows when the next outage will be, and it should be a good enough reason to diversify by building your audience through your website.

Owning your website gives you the power to back up and rebuild if anything goes wrong, giving you security and assurance that your business can stand on its own.

Let's explore why having a website is crucial and how it can provide a reliable safety net in the face of unexpected online disruptions.

 

Dependence on Online Platforms

The widespread reliance on online platforms like Google has become an integral part of our daily lives. From email communication and document storage to search engine queries and cloud services, we often entrust our digital presence to these platforms. However, recent events have shown that even the most established online services can experience temporary outages, leaving users without access to their data and tools. This dependence highlights the importance of having a backup plan in the form of a personal website.

 

Uninterrupted Online Presence

Having a website ensures that you maintain an uninterrupted online presence, regardless of the availability or performance of external platforms. While social media profiles and third-party platforms can be useful for reaching a broader audience, they lack the reliability and control that a website provides. With a website, you have complete ownership and autonomy over your content and data, allowing you to present yourself or your business consistently, even during times of service disruptions.

 

Diversification of Online Channels

Relying solely on a single platform, even one as dominant as Google, can leave you vulnerable to unforeseen circumstances. By having a website as an additional online channel, you diversify your digital presence and reduce the risk of losing connections, customers, or opportunities during periods of platform downtime.

A website acts as a central hub, enabling you to redirect visitors, communicate important updates, and continue operating seamlessly, regardless of external disruptions.

 

Branding and Control

Having your own personal website empowers you with full authority over your online brand and communication. Unlike social media platforms, which frequently enforce constraints or modify their algorithms, a website enables you to tailor the user experience, design, and content display according to your unique brand identity. 

It affords you the freedom to adapt and grow your online presence over time, unaffected by the limitations imposed by external platforms.

 

Enhanced Security and Data Privacy

While major platforms invest heavily in security measures, no system is entirely immune to breaches or technical failures. By owning a website, you can implement robust security measures tailored to your specific needs. This includes regularly updating software, implementing SSL certificates for secure connections, and having backup systems in place to protect your data.

With a website, you have greater control over your security practices, reducing the potential impact of a security incident or data breach.

 

 

 

Expert Guidance for Creating a Successful Website

At Flexible Sites, we believe that establishing a strong online presence should be accessible to all businesses and organizations. We understand the importance of budget considerations, especially for small ventures and nonprofits. Our commitment is to provide cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality and functionality.

To learn more about how Flexible Sites can help you get your business online, we encourage you to contact our team.

We would be happy to provide you with further information, answer any questions, and guide you through creating a successful website tailored to your unique needs.



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