Creating a website is one of the most effective ways to increase your online presence. A website can be anything but chances are, you want it to be one of the most popular types of websites already on the internet. When it comes to the internet as a whole, most sites fall into one of these neat, clearly defined categories, each with its own set of guidelines and recommended features making it easier to hit the mark when designing your own site to meet the definition.
A good business website includes all of the necessary information about a company, such as not only the basics, such as an address or contact information but also extras, such as short staff default settings or a mission statement. The goal is to introduce people to your company and get them excited about working with you.
We present the 9 most common website types and purposes below, with the exception of social media sites, which are less common to start from scratch:
Business-
Business websites typically prioritize a call-to-action (CTA), such as a direct message widget, through which visitors can schedule a meeting or phone call, or have their questions answered by a real person rather than a bot. CTAs for direct messaging work well on business websites because they accelerate the process of converting window shoppers into clients/customers and influence visitor actions when they are at the peak of their passion.
Ecommerce-
Ecommerce sites share the same goals and functions as retail stores because they are simply digital versions of retail stores. You want your products to be as appealing as possible, but first make sure you have the technical capability to accept credit card transactions (or whatever payment methods you prefer, such as PayPal or crypto).
Blogs/news-
Traditional print media such as newspapers and magazines are being rapidly replaced by blogs and news websites. According to Research, 86% of adults prefer to get their news online, and the fact that most sites are free doesn't affect either.
Because each blog/news site has a large number of articles available at the same time, browsing and navigation are top priorities. Most websites use a tag or categorization feature that allows visitors to narrow down the types of articles they see, similar to how newspaper sections such as "Sports" or "Entertainment" allow visitors to narrow down the types of articles they see.
Portfolio-
Portfolio sites are similar to business websites, but they include work samples, making them ideal for visual-based businesses like design firms or photographers. They serve the same purpose as business websites in terms of informing visitors and attracting new business, but they usually include real-life examples of work so prospective clients know what to expect.
Service provider-
Sometimes the website is the business. Sites such as Netflix, DuckDuckGo, and Google Translate are usually one-stop shops for their customers' needs, whether it's entertainment or a specific service such as a search engine or online tool.
Websites that offer services are usually designed around them, with access clearly visible on the home page. For example, the Google homepage, which prominently displays the search bar in the center, or the Grammarly spell-checker, which prominently displays the text box. There is no doubt about where to begin.
Landing page-
Single-page websites that offer a single purpose are known as landing pages. The most common application is to collect email addresses, such as when signing up for a newsletter, but they can also be customized for other purposes, such as downloading an app or redirecting visitors to a different website.
A good landing page should focus all of the visitor's attention on a single CTA, such as an email signup, which should be displayed prominently and importantly –. Include lead-in text that either explains the value of the CTA or addresses user concerns.
<4>Wiki/database-
Wikis like Wikipedia and databases act as online encyclopedias for anyone looking for specific information quickly (or just wants to browse for leisure). Each topic usually gets its own page with all of the relevant details. Wikis, frequently allow users to edit pages or create new topics, though this requires the creation of an account as well as the presence of site moderators.
Aside from general wikis like Wikipedia, the majority of these are dedicated to a single field of expertise. Individual interests, such as specific TV shows, video games, books, or musicians, are frequently the focus of fan-created wikis. Similarly, specific hobbies and interests, such as making paper airplanes, frequently have their own wikis.
Forum-
Online forums, like social media websites, do not necessarily provide content, instead providing a space for users to share their own. Online forums, like the historical forums from which they derive their name, are a place for visitors to meet and discuss their common interests, as well as share useful content such as links.
Your first goal when creating a forum should be to create an organized navigation system for hosting and finding various discussion boards. Some forums host their own discussion boards, while others allow users to create their own. In any case, you should make it as easy for users to find what they're looking for as possible.
Event-
Finally, one-time events are increasingly creating websites to help all invitees. Weddings, conventions, and general social gatherings frequently use these websites to share important information such as dates, addresses, schedules, and general rules.
By removing the need to explain the same things to each new attendee, these websites can save you a lot of time. Simply sharing the site's link will provide the visitor with all the information they require, even if they forget and need to look it up later.
