Creating a website, you might find yourself wondering what the different options are and what type of website is right for you. To help you understand your options, here’s a list of some of the most popular types of websites
01. Business Websites
Being one of the most popular and versatile types of websites out there, a business website can take many forms. Business websites enable you to sell a certain service or product. They often include sections for displaying and describing what you are selling and have built in features that let you make money directly from your site.
Service business websites typically include a booking system which enables customers to easily reserve an appointment to receive your service. Some services may be SaaS (or software as a service) in which case these websites allow you to display your software and help users purchase it.
02. Blogs
Blogs are a type of website that enable you to write long-form content about virtually anything. They consist mainly of articles and images, typically surrounding a specific topic. Some of the most popular types of blogs include travel blogs and food blogs.
You may have noticed that in recent years blogs have taken the internet by storm. This has occurred for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is one of the simplest websites to create and you can easily learn how to start a blog. Also, blogs enable you to write about your niche and express your expertise to the world. They are also a good way to keep friends and family up-to-date with what’s going on in your life.
Lastly – but perhaps most importantly – blog monetization has become a popular means to make money. Many bloggers turn their website into a source of income and utilize tools that can help them make money blogging.
03. eCommerce Websites
Similar to the business websites mentioned above, eCommerce websites, or online stores, allow you to sell products online. These sites typically include product sections which enable you to display your products, as well as shopping cart and checkout features.
These types of websites are best for individuals who are looking to make money online. You can utilize an eCommerce website if you have your own products to sell, or you can start dropshipping which essentially enables you to sell items from a third party at a profit.
04. Portfolios
Oftentimes, people make use of websites in order to display their own work or skills. Portfolios are the perfect type of website to create in order to do just that. They often contain a gallery which displays your work and text which enables you to explain your expertise and provide details about your work.
There are myriad types of portfolios that take on slightly different forms depending on the kind of work you have done. For example, you can create anything from a design portfolio to a marketing portfolio depending on your line of work.
Portfolios are often used in conjunction with resumes when applying for a job, or as a sort of business card that enables people to learn more about you.
05. Event Websites
As more and more of the world has moved into an online space, event websites have become extremely popular. These sites allow you to display detailed information about your event, include comprehensive schedules, transportation suggestions, maps and more. They also might contain scheduling and ticketing softwares which enable people to reserve a spot at your event. This is especially useful for concerts, shows or conferences, and can also be used for virtual events.
One of the most popular types of event websites is a wedding website. When considering how to create a wedding website, you might think to include details about the couple, information about the wedding itself, a place to RSVP and links to registries.
06. Online Forums
Another product of our virtual era is online forums. Forums enable people to discuss topics, ask questions and interact with one another. More and more websites are beginning to include an online forum to enable their site’s members to talk to each other and encourage conversation on their site. This often serves as a type of informal support that allows site users to help one another.
You can also create a forum as a standalone website. This would enable people from around the web to connect to one another through your site. Often forum websites will focus on a certain niche to help bring like-minded individuals together.
07. Personal Websites
Creating a personal website is a simple way to boost your web presence. This type of website is essentially a site surrounding and representing a given person. Many people utilize personal websites to display who they are and what they have accomplished. In many ways it is similar to a portfolio with fewer visual elements making it the perfect format for author websites and actor websites, among others.
One of the most popular types of personal websites is a resume website. Resumes, used globally as a way to summarize who you are and what you’ve achieved professionally, have moved increasingly into the online sphere. A resume website has become a popular medium for people to display their accomplishments neatly and in one place.
08. Membership Websites
A method used by many website owners is to require membership in order to receive full access to their services, tools or resources. This type of website typically enables site owners to make money off of their offerings to members or simply to have more control over their site’s audience.
Membership websites are used in a number of contexts. Perhaps you have an online magazine or publication that requires membership to join. Alternatively, you might have a club or private group that you would like to have a website for, however you only want to give access to members. These scenarios, and many others, make a membership website a surefire way to manage your audience and potentially make money off of your site.
09. Nonprofit Websites
Another website type is nonprofit websites. Resembling business websites, these websites often include a description of the nonprofit organization, details about the work they do, a gallery of past events and a place to donate.
Nonprofits can take on many forms. Some examples of common nonprofit websites include church websites, petition websites and often even school websites. While each of these organizations have different purposes, they all can be well represented with a nonprofit website.
10. Informational Websites
Informational websites are a type of website that encompasses many different things. Generally speaking, they are used as platforms whose main purpose is to convey information and act as a resource. Informational websites are not intended as a source of income, rather are meant to simply be informative.
Some types of informational websites include encyclopedias, news websites, wikis and more. Often these types of websites have many aspects that are similar to blogs in that they include more long form content. Another unifying feature of informational websites is that they tend to make use of search functions so that site visitors can find what they are looking for.
To choose the right type of website
Considering the many types of websites available to you, it might feel overwhelming to decide on which one is just right. In order to choose, start by thinking about what the end goal of this website is, and consider what resources are available to you. For example, if your objective is to make money online, you may consider selling products – however if you don’t have products to sell, you can try monetizing a blog.
