your digital home base
As a yoga teacher trainer, I frequently interact with beautiful humans who are just starting their businesses (this blog was inspired by a chat I had just this morning!).
So, if you’re already established, this post might feel a little “duhhh.”
However, I want to share this as a service to anyone who questions whether having a website is really necessary.
Spoiler: It is.
Why a Website Matters
Social media is an amazing tool. It’s free, accessible, and a great way to grow your audience — but here’s the big bad truth:
Social media is borrowed land.
We don’t own it.
Algorithms change overnight.
Platforms shift constantly.
Content usually disappears in 24 hours.
A website, on the other hand, is yours.
It’s your home base. It’s permanent, searchable, and always there for your audience to find you — no matter what happens to Instagram, TikTok, or whatever platform all the kool kidz are on this year.
The Real Cost of a Website
Building a website isn’t as expensive as people think.
For this site — www.annikasaigi.com — I used Squarespace:
Domain: Around $20/year (purchased directly through Squarespace, SO EASY compared to 8 years ago my golly).
Website plan: $144/year (I grabbed a discount code they offered via email near the end of their free 14-day trial).
Ease of use: Beginner-friendly, clean, and simple (trust me, if I can do it, YOU CAN TOO!!!!)
Disclaimer: I’m not affiliated with Squarespace — I just genuinely like them.
For Kaya Academy, I use Kajabi because I needed a platform back in the COVID days to handle online courses, memberships, and a full training hub:
Cost: Starts at $199 USD/month (yes, a month!).
It’s pricier and a bit more complex, but it's worth it for what I needed, plus paying lots right off the bat keeps you acocuntable in REALLY learning how to use the thing.
Fun fact: Squarespace now has online course functionality too. If it weren’t such a huge effort to move everything, I’d maybe consider switching. For now, we’ll stick with what’s working; we've got bigger fish to fry.
You don’t need to spend thousands or hire a web developer (sorry to the web devs out there). Most platforms come with beautiful, ready-to-use templates. Both ninyoga.com.au and this site are just preloaded templates — I simply swapped in my copy, pictures, and colour scheme, and… oh look, a fancy website. Dont even spend a lot of time picking a template. you can move everything around anyways.
Let’s Talk About Pictures
I’ve collected a lot of photos of Nin Yoga over the years because I love photography and know some exceptionally talented photographers who’ve helped capture our vibe.
But just so you know: you don’t need professional photos to start.
Smartphones take ridiculously high-quality pictures now. It’s insane!
Portrait mode can make your space and your team look totally babe’n.
“Real” photos are often more engaging than polished, staged ones.
If there’s one thing I don’t recommend, it’s stock photos.
Stock images are awkward to look at. They don’t tell your story or represent your business. A slightly imperfect but authentic photo will always connect better than something staged and fake.
Why You Should Control Your Website
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is this:
Never outsource all control of your site.
Websites are never finished. They’re living, breathing tools that evolve with your business.
You’ll want to update them often — add new services, blog posts, photos, and events.
Paying a web developer every time you need a change can quickly drain your budget.
As a business owner, especially when starting, learning to update your own site is an invaluable skill. It keeps you in the driver’s seat (you know, till you scale and you are the all “who not how”, till you have the budget for staff, it’s all you baby).
For Future Business Owners
If you’re thinking about starting a business — maybe you’re still in yoga teacher training, a performer, a writer or just tossing around ideas and keen to just keep trying to see what sticks — creating a simple website is one of the best ways to build trust and an audience before you even launch.
Here’s how:
Set up a simple site.
Start a blog.
Share your blogs on social media to reach more people.
On social media, content typically lasts only 24 hours.
On your website, it lives foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
This is exactly what I’m doing here on annikasaigi.com — blogging consistently to share my journey, connect with people, and build trust long before I “need” it.
* insert evil laugh here *
When you’re finally ready to launch your business, you’ll already have an audience that knows you, likes you, and trusts you.
Quick Recap
Websites are affordable and accessible.
You own them (unlike social media).
Learn to manage your own site — it’s one of the most valuable skills you can have.
Start early. Start messy. Just freaking start.
Skip the stock photos. Use your phone. Be real. Show your pretty face, even if it makes you cringe.
Your website is your anchor. Your home base. Your biggest digital asset.
Whether you’re just starting or scaling your business, having a website isn’t optional — it’s essential.
Thank you for reading my public service announcement and getting all the way to the end! I appreciate you!
Annika xx
