Different Types of Websites, and How to Choose the Right One

A few short decades ago, the internet was just starting out. Instead of the millions of websites we had today, there were a few thousand. Back then, there was even a ‘notice board’ that announced the creation of each new site on the net! Something like that would be unimaginable these days, and plenty of other things have changed over the years too!

Back in those days, websites were very different to the sites we have come to recognise today. They were based on text, and were purely a means of sharing information. All the advertising, images, and interactivity only came along later.

Since then, however, several distinct types of website have emerged, and choosing the right one, or the right mix of elements from each to create your own unique online presence, has become more important than ever for the online business owner or entrepreneur. Let us look at the various types of sites that you will find online these days.

First, there is the traditional company or corporate site. These sites tend not to feature any advertising, or they feature only very specific advertising that is non-competitive with the site owner. They typically offer information about a company, their products and services, and news that is specific to their industry, product, or service. They may include a blog and a contact form, but often, they are fairly static, and used mainly by a real world business to share information with clients and potential clients.

Next, there is the online business site. These sites are built around a web store, that sells a particular product or group of products, and may feature content such as articles, videos or pod casts, but usually all related to the theme of the web store. These types of sites are usually very much like a retail store, and tend to be designed with their target market in mind, in terms of colour, sound, and features.

Another type of site that has emerged over the years is the niche information site. These sites may have a small web store area, but their primary purpose is to share information about a specific topic, and their main source of revenue is through advertising, and through affiliate programs. Niche information sites can be about any topic or area, from parenting to pets, abseiling to art, and they tend to focus on building communities who rely on them for information, returning over and over again to the site for news and other items.

Then there are news sites themselves. Many people have realised that the internet is a vehicle for information, and that that is what people want when they are online. So while you will certainly find big news sites like CNN, and BBC online, there are also plenty of smaller sites that share news stories online too. Some focus on presenting the news from a particular viewpoint, while others focus on a particular geographical area or industry, and still others offer a quirky take, such as satire or humour. Nearly all of these sites use advertising as their primary revenues.

Blogs are another popular type of site, however, these tend to be more personal, and less formal than websites. There are blogs that deal with everything from fashion to business, and technology to pets, and some of these make hundreds of thousands of dollars every month from advertising revenues.

In my opinion, the ideal website for your business is probably somewhere in between. The most successful websites tend to borrow from several different types of sites, fusing static content with news, including a blog area or forum that encourages community development, and perhaps integrating a small web store where visitors can buy your product or service online. Advertising revenues from related products, services, or businesses are a great way to earn money off your site, and even a ‘real world’ business can get involved in affiliate marketing if done correctly.

In fact, these days, there are very few limits to what you can do with your website. So, whereas before, your website was merely a means of driving traffic to your real world business, these days, your website can be a profitable part of your business in it’s own right.

The good news is that your website, in essence, becomes a part of your business, that will grow and change with your company as time goes by. You can always start with a simple, static platform that outlines what you do, and then add information as you go along. In the mean time, it is a good idea to learn a little more about the internet, and how it works, and to take a closer look at the many types of websites out there. Make notes of the elements you like, and those you do not, so that when you are planning your own site, you have something to refer to.

Whatever you do though, remember that these days, a company without a website is one that is unlikely to be competitive, so even if you have to build yours in stages, make sure that you have some kind of online presence. If you do not, and your competitors do, you are in for an uphill battle!