Beyond the Digital CV: Argue for Your Scholarly Identity
Turn your academic website into a thesis-led argument with clear evidence, structure, and audience pathways.
Key takeaways
- Lead with a thesis that articulates your intellectual identity, not just your title.
- Curate publications, teaching, and service as evidence that supports that thesis.
- Structure navigation around visitor pathways for committees, students, and media.
In the current academic landscape, a personal website is table stakes. Yet many scholars treat their site as a digital filing cabinet—an exhaustive CV clone with little narrative. That approach overlooks a more persuasive framing: your website can (and should) deliver a clear argument for who you are, why your work matters, and how visitors should engage.
Think about how you craft a compelling article, conference talk, or grant proposal. You lead with a thesis, marshal evidence, structure ideas for clarity, and speak directly to a particular audience. The same discipline belongs on your website. Here is how to make it happen.
1. Begin with a thesis
Your thesis is the through-line that sits above job titles or institutional affiliations. It is a succinct statement about the questions you pursue, the methods you bring, and the impact you seek. When someone lands on your homepage, they should grasp this within seconds. A single sentence—supported by a compelling headline, hero copy, or short intro—anchors the rest of the site and connects everything you share.
Do
Lead with a thesis visitors can repeat. “Stories of migration reveal how borders shape everyday lives.”
Translate that thesis into visible hero copy and imagery.
Reinforce the thesis in the first paragraph on every major page.
Don’t
Open with an autobiography that hides your focus.
Bury the thesis behind jargon or acronyms.
Assume people know the context of your field.
2. Curate evidence that backs the thesis
Publications, talks, media appearances, and teaching experiences are not just bullet points—they are your evidence. Instead of listing everything, group artifacts that best demonstrate your thesis. Pair each piece with a short explanation that makes the connection explicit. Highlight the project that changed how a community thinks, the course that demonstrates your pedagogical philosophy, or the service role that showcases leadership in your field.
Do
Create headings such as Proof of Community Impact.
Explain in plain language what each artifact demonstrates.
Spotlight outcomes: numbers moved, communities reached, ideas reframed.
Don’t
Copy your CV line for line without interpretation.
Link to raw PDFs with no framing.
Make visitors guess why a piece is included.
Key takeaway
Treat your site like a paper: thesis, evidence, context. Every section should advance the argument.
3. Structure the story for clarity
Organise navigation and page sections around outcomes, not generic buckets. Use descriptive headings and short summaries so readers can scan quickly. Visual hierarchy, white space, and consistent design choices make it easier for readers to follow your argument.
Do
Rename navigation items to mirror your thesis (e.g. Borders & Migration instead of “Research”).
End key pages with a next-step prompt (“See the climate adaptation toolkit”).
Maintain visual rhythm—consistent headings, spacing, and imagery.
Don’t
Dump everything into one generic page.
Let layouts shift wildly from section to section.
Make visitors guess where to go next.
4. Write for the audience you need to persuade
Search committees, students, collaborators, journalists, and funders each scan your site differently. Decide who you’re prioritising and tailor the tone, evidence, and calls to action accordingly. Job market season? Lead with your research agenda and future plans. Trying to attract media partners? Surface impact stories and plain-language explanations.
Do
Name the audience directly (“I help community organisations integrate behavioural insights…”).
Offer tailored pathways (press kits, “Work with me” pages, advising info).
Reinforce the same call to action across the page.
Don’t
Mix conflicting asks in the hero (“Hire me as RA” versus “Book me for consulting”).
Adopt a tone that clashes with who you need to reach.
Hide crucial information behind jargon or PDF downloads.
5. Invite the next step
Every major page should end with a clear invitation: contact you, download a resource, request a talk, subscribe, donate. Make it effortless for visitors to continue the conversation while they are still excited about your work.
Treating your site like an argument also unlocks a useful checklist for future updates. When you add a new publication or project, ask how it reinforces the thesis. Does the structure still make sense for your evolving audience? Do the calls to action match the opportunities you are pursuing now?
Key takeaway
When your site argues for your scholarly identity, every section works together. You move beyond a digital CV and into a persuasive narrative.
Ready to build your argument?
Start with a thesis statement for your homepage and sketch the evidence that supports it. When you are ready for a flagship build, we can help you shape the narrative, structure, and visuals.
You might also like
Keep exploring thesis-led playbooks and case studies.