Episode 632 Why You Need a Website With Ryan Waterbury
Show Highlights
In an era dominated by AI and social media “walled gardens,” Rob and Ryan discuss the dangerous trend of businesses relying solely on social platforms. They break down why owning your digital real estate—specifically a self-hosted website and an email list—is the only way to future-proof a business against platform instability, censorship, and “AI slop.”
Show Notes
Key Discussion Points
1. The Fallacy of Social Media Ownership
- The “Digital Landlord” Problem: If you build your business on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, you are a tenant, not an owner. If the platform changes its algorithm or locks you out, your business disappears overnight.
- Case Study: Rob shares a story of a client who lost $37,000 in a single day during an Instagram outage because he had no external website for sales.
- The “Free” Trap: As the saying goes, “If the product is free, you are the product.” Social platforms prioritize their own bottom line, not your business growth.
2. The Website as a “Trust Hub” for AI Search
- AI Needs Sources: AI search engines don’t pull information from thin air; they crawl the web for authoritative sources. Your website is the primary driver for answering customer questions and feeding AI models accurate data.
- Controlling the Narrative: Unlike social media, a website allows you to fully control your brand’s information, terms and conditions, and customer support channels.
3. The Rise of “Vibe Coding” and AI Slop
- The Risk of DIY AI Sites: Building a site via AI without technical knowledge leads to security vulnerabilities and lack of authentication.
- “AI Slop”: Much like the 1970s trend of replacing professional photographers with reporters carrying “point-and-shoot” cameras, cutting corners with AI-generated web design often results in a poor, indistinguishable product.
- The Human Edge: Professionals (devs, designers, SEOs) will become more valuable as they navigate the mess created by low-quality AI outputs.
4. Ownership of Data and High-Risk Industries
- The Importance of Email: Your email list is a critical asset. Both hosts stress the importance of regularly downloading your list from providers like Mailchimp or Substack to ensure you can move it if needed.
- Censorship and Terms of Service: Industries such as cannabis, firearms, and “adult” entertainment face constant de-platforming. Self-hosting via open-source platforms like WordPress is the only way to ensure your voice isn’t silenced by changing social mores or corporate policies.
Notable Quotes
“If you’ve got your entire business on social media and you get locked out tomorrow, you don’t have a business anymore.” — Ryan Waterbury
“Social is only invested in their business. They aren’t invested in yours.” — Rob Cairns
Resources Mentioned
- WordPress: Recommended for its open-source nature and “democratization of publishing.”
- Substack: Mentioned as a successful community-building tool, provided you back up your subscriber list.
- Billy Host: High-quality hosting recommended by Rob (run by Owen Greaves).
- One Dog Solutions: Ryan Waterbury’s agency.
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