If you are thinking of creating a websiteit is very important that before you do so you understand what types of website there are.
Websites have become a crucial part of developing a business in today's world. Almost every type of business has its own website so that it can be found on the internet.
However, creating websites can be confusing for those trying to develop their own brand. Choosing the right website category is key to creating a better and clearer connection with your target audience.
Not sure which types there are? No problem! In this article, we'll talk about the most popular types of website to help you choose the one that's right for your business.
What Are the Most Popular Types of Websites?
Here's our list of some of the most popular types of websites that you might consider creating.
1. Business websites
The business website is one of the most popular types of website available, as it can take many shapes and forms, depending on your brand. The main aim of this type of site is to sell, so it is designed to lead the customer to the product or service on offer.
If your brand is selling a specific product, a business website is the way to go, as it clearly shows the product and usually has features that allow you to make money directly from it.
The commercial form is also a good option if you're trying to sell a service, as it can include an appointment system, for scheduling consultations, for example.
As a second example, if you are creating a page for renting apartments, formatting it as a commercial website, using an integrated booking system, will help your guests find the exact service they are looking for.
If selling is your goal, you should definitely consider a business website template!
2. E-commerce sites
Similar to the business website mentioned above, e-commerce sites are used by companies that want to sell their products to their users. However, the e-commerce brand simulates the experience of real in-store shopping and can become more attractive because of this.
Generally, there is a page where you can show your products and the customer can add them to a virtual cart that they can "check out" after they have finished shopping. This type is perfect for retail stores that offer numerous products to the customer.
The potential of online shopping has undoubtedly been proven during the Covid-19 pandemic, so this type of site will bring great success to you and your brand if your core business is based on products.
3. Blogs
Do you have a wealth of knowledge on a specific topic and want to share it with the world? We highly recommend you start a blog!
It's a type of website that allows you to publish your knowledge through text and images to capture your audience. Whether it's food, travel or sports, a blog site is a good choice for your website because it's one of the easiest types to create and maintain.
Blogs have become very popular recently, especially as bloggers have found new ways to monetize their online presence.
Many of them directly advertise products connected to their topic via WordPress plugins, some sign sponsorship agreements with companies and others use affiliate marketing to make money.
In any case, you don't have to worry about running out of money if you choose to follow this path. There are many ways to monetize your content!
4. Portfolios
Many people work in professions where it is important that their work is recognized. If you're one of those people, making a portfolio website is the perfect choice!
Portfolios include a gallery that displays your work to the world, allowing users to familiarize themselves with your content. They also incorporate texts about the author and the meaning behind the work displayed.
For example, this category of site is used by people who work with art.
Photographers, painters and writers use portfolios to display all their work in one place. This way, potential clients can see your previous achievements and decide whether you're right for the job or not.
For designers of all kinds, a portfolio is very important. We advise you to choose the portfolio type of website if you are trying to promote your own work, as it will give your target audience easy access to your content.
5. Personal websites
In many ways, personal websites and portfolios are very similar. Both help you promote your personal brand and your work on the internet. However, a personal website focuses specifically on you and your achievements, increasing your online presence.
Presenting yourself in such an organized and accessible way can help you get hired, as it gives you a clear picture of who you are and what your job is.
Creating a personal website can be very useful for up-and-coming professionals, as it shows that they take their personal brand seriously, as well as promoting their work and achievements.
6. Event websites
As the world has moved more online, so have the world's biggest events, especially the Pandemic!
People who organize concerts, sporting events and festivals have had much more success using event websites.
They allow you to provide your users with information, book tickets and schedule the event, making it easier for both sides to get the best experience.
Event websites are specific because the main theme is the actual event, so the entire design is geared towards your vision of the event. Designers can be creative and fully implement the event's brand vision into the website design.
7. Online forums
Do you want your users to have a voice in your Internet presence? Online forums are the solution!
This type of forum allows your audience to interact with each other on the topics they are most interested in. In addition, many companies have included forums on their websites to get more information from customers about their services.
Your customers are likely to have similar difficulties, so a forum where they can discuss their problems and explain ways of overcoming them can serve as informal customer support for your business.
Forums can exist on their own and don't support business pages. Just like blogs, people spend time on forums to learn more about the subjects that interest them.
However, in this case, they have the option of talking to other people about the subject. Forums therefore have much more flexibility for the user and can be considered a version of modern social media.
8. Non-profit websites
This type of site is used by non-profit organizations that depend on the community to finance their actions. The site presents information about the organization, details about their work in the community and galleries showing how they do it.
The non-profit site is perfect for you if you're fighting for a cause and need a platform to expose it to the world.
However, it doesn't have to be an innovative social movement. Community institutions, such as churches or schools, also use the non-profit format to guarantee their online presence.
9. Information sites
The main purpose of informational websites is to act as a platform that is a source of material on various subjects. They contain long-form content and are generally designed so that users can easily navigate through the categories they are interested in.
This site is mainly used by online encyclopedias or news companies. However, they should not be used as a source for making money. The main objective is to provide free information to people, and it is financed by donations (as Wikipedia does).
10. News Portal
Although printed newspapers still exist, there's no denying that nowadays most people follow the news online. Therefore, digital has gained momentum and news portals are a major highlight in the online universe.
From news portals to digital magazines, there is a huge variety of information online. If this is the kind of website you want to create, there are plenty of examples out there.
And don't think that creating this kind of site is extremely difficult. If you want a basic news site with advertising templates, you can simply use a CMS like WordPressfor example.
11. Brochure
Brochure sites are like digital business cards. Used mainly by small businesses, these types of sites are used to advertise services and display contact information, with just a few pages.
For example, a small plumbing company would build a brochure site with a home page to display contact information, an "about us" page describing the company and perhaps some photos of its work.
12. Collective Financing
Crowdfunding is the practice of financing a project or venture by raising small amounts of money from many different people. These types of sites are becoming an important resource for new startups.
In the past, the only way to finance a new business venture was to seek large investments from just a few people.
But nowadays, you can create a crowdfunding website with ease - you just need to create a presentation video for your project and then set a target amount and a deadline.
Internet users who believe in what you're working on will donate a sum of money to your cause. You can also offer incentives in exchange for donations, such as discounted products or VIP experiences.
Different Types of Website and How to Create Them
As a designer or small business owner, you should be familiar with the different types of website available to determine which will best suit your needs.
You can build the ideal structure for each brand and its consumer base by studying what competitors have chosen and carrying out tests.
There are many tools that offer templates for each of the categories we've discussed above. These businesses can help you create your unique pages, but it's essential that you know which website format best suits your brand.
By creating a perfect fit, you will succeed in offering your users the best experience!
How Important is Web Design to Your Audience?
Your website is one of the most important components of your company's online presence, so make sure it is well designed. Your website is also where you nurture leads from the bottom of the marketing funnel to convert them.
Any problems with the site that cause your potential customers to leave are unacceptable, so you need to create a design that is easy to use.
Websites should be designed with the target audience in mind and should provide users with a positive experience. There are numerous other advantages to having a professional design for both your company and your target audience.
For example, if your target audience is people over 40, the design of your website should be simple enough for less tech-savvy people to use it easily.
The customer is always right, so make sure your design is what your target audience would like it to be!
So, what kind of website will you create?
Although building a website is an excellent first step towards establishing a digital presence, be prepared to work very hard.
It's not as simple as some people say, it's not enough just to create a website and then sit back and watch the visitors come to you. It would be nice if it was a "build it and they will come", but that's not the case.
Once completed, there is more to be done to ensure that you achieve the desired success. Usually, this means analysis, marketing, optimization and much more. However, once you get the process right, running a website can be incredibly beneficial.
We hope you enjoyed the content and that it's now clearer to you what types of websites there are and which one best suits your needs!
*This guest post was written by the Up Sites marketing team.
