Websites come in many different types and categories. While it can be overwhelming to remember them all, it’s important to know that you have a lot of options available. Having a wide selection of websites to choose from allows you to pick a type that aligns with your business and reaches your goals.
To get you up to speed on the most common layouts you can create, we’ve included a list of our top seven most popular websites.
1. E-commerce Website
An e-commerce site is a website where people can buy products. Most big brands have them, and many smaller businesses do as well. If you plan to sell products to customers, an e-commerce site is what you need to build. Because you’ll be asking for credit card information, your website will need to have an SSL certificate.
2. Portfolio Website
Portfolio websites have the purpose of showing visitors examples of previous work. They are beneficial for creative professionals, freelancers and other businesses that are dependent on skilled work experience. The goal of this website is to collect work samples and build a strong portfolio.
3. Business Website
A business website is any site that is dedicated to representing a specific business. It communicates their products and services as well as features their logo. Often times, business websites are for lead generation purposes. They are designed to encourage visitors to call the business directly rather than buying something on the spot.
4. Brochure Website
Brochure sites are just like business sites, except simpler. This layout is a great option if your business needs a web presence but doesn’t depend on it. A brochure site is lightweight and simple, so it’s easy and inexpensive to maintain. But, it at least allows you to have an online presence for when people want to look you up.
5. Entertainment Website
If your website is meant to entertain people with interesting content and funny memes, an entertainment website is a great fit. These websites are aimed at making money, so they often have a lot of advertisements. If you choose this layout for your site, make sure the theme and the content appeals to your audience.
6. Media Website
Media websites share news stories and other reporting. They are similar to entertainment sites, but the content is news-oriented. The news can be serious, funny or inspiring. To keep readers engaged, media websites include plenty of great visuals like photo slides, videos and memes.
7. Educational Website
Educational websites are generally used by higher institutions and programs that offer online courses. Sometimes they include a lot of advertisements, just as entertainment sites do. These sites have the goal of providing educational materials to visitors.
If you are building a new website, it’s important to consider the various types that are available. By knowing your options, you can choose a website that aligns with your business and helps you reach your short- and long-term goals.