It is estimated that there are now close to 2 billion websites online. This number increases by the second, with some becoming huge magnets for traffic while others quickly fall by the wayside. But if you are building a website, do you know which type you want?
With so many to choose from, it can be overwhelming. Below, we discuss the types of websites available.
eCommerce
These websites have grown more and more popular over the past few years. They allow you to sell goods and services online. Websites will contain listings of products and have checkout features so that customers can purchase the items and get them shipped.
Many eCommerce websites can be purchased out of the box. What is harder than setting them up is customising them to your own individual needs.
If you are selling standard products like goods and fashion items you may be able to get away with off-the-shelf solutions. But for more complex offerings and multiple listings hire a web design company to assist.
One of the defining success factors in an eCommerce website that you will need a web development agency to assist with is security. You can’t expect people to provide payment details to websites that are not encrypted and secure. Google will also penalise you for this in regard to SEO, meaning you are less likely to get traffic.
Blog
A blog is a website that contains information on a given topic. They can be quite personal, sharing people’s thoughts and ideas. In many cases, they have a theme, with topics as wide-ranging as recipes to news and reviews.
They’re good for people who are just building a website, as a blog can be very simple to manage. All it really needs is text and photos for its website layout, with menus for navigation. As categories increase, it may be better to get some help on how to lay it out.
Blogs can be taken up as hobbies, and then later monetised when they get traffic. Making a blog profitable takes a long time, but is probably one of the more enjoyable ways to earn a side income or even promote a business.
Portfolio Websites
A portfolio is a place to showcase a body of work. Usually, this includes work that has visual appeal, such as architecture, artworks, graphic design, and photography. However, it can be used for other purposes.
They are excellent for anyone who offers a service, as opposed to selling a range of products. Examples can often be contained on the main page, limiting the number of web pages needed for the site. This makes navigation easier and is a reason why many businesses prefer to adopt a portfolio-style website.
Educational Website
Educational websites can serve two different purposes, or even work as both. One of them will be the business face of an educational institute. It may provide information on courses, news about the organisations, or have portals for staff and students to access.
The second type will sell educational tools and materials. These may be in the form of online courses or video tutorials.
This is usually a less formal method of education. Websites like Coursera and Udemy have made this form of education hugely popular and lucrative.
Entertainment Websites
Entertainment websites are a form of a blog, though they’re often less personal and exist purely for the purposes of entertainment as opposed to being informative. Many of them aim to make money through traffic, which they bring through articles, quizzes, and other forms of content. They may be humorous, or just contain entertaining features like lists.
When starting an entertainment website, you are up against a lot of competition. You need to find a niche audience that loves what you do, instead of taking a blanket approach. For example, instead of targeting cinema, you may decide to look at low-budget horror or eighties kung fu movies.
Making money can be hard with these websites, as people visit them for light entertainment, not to make a purchase. When traffic eventually comes, you can monetise it through advertising and affiliate products.
Forum
A forum bridges the gap between social media and a website. It is a place where people can go to discuss topics or ask questions. Good examples of this would be Quora and Reddit.
Once they get going, these websites can easily bring in high volumes of traffic. They are also easy to build. Where the work comes from is in policing and maintaining them, as you will need to have regulators for the content submitted by guests.
Auction Sites
Auction sites are very specific types of eCommerce websites. Instead of selling products, they allow people to list them and others to place bids. The most famous of these is eBay, though others such as Etsy and Vinted also exist.
These websites are very hard to create and manage. There are so many options and parts you will need a professional to assist.
You should also ensure you have all the correct legal requirements in place and policies for disputes. These are bound to occur when different parties are buying products from each other.
Directory Websites
A directory is a collection of information and reviews about local or national businesses. These can be from an area, or they may just relate to a certain service. For example, it may be a local restaurant directory or could be a national graphic design hub.
The key element of these websites is that the search functions work. Get a web design company to craft one for you and make sure it works after any updates. Luckily, these websites pull lots of traffic.
Choosing the Right Types of Websites for Your Needs
Now you know the types of websites available, it should make it easier to decide what you need. For many, a small business website will suffice. However, other types of websites can be a great way to make an extra side income.
WeAgile is a London-based digital agency that can bring your ideas to life. From marketing to social media management, we can help with all your online ventures. Contact us here and let us improve your digital presence.
