The web is boundless. There are now 1.8 billion websites being available on the scope of the internet. What is more, this figure is constantly growing. One can wonder: how to navigate through this enormous amount of digital platforms? How to choose the right path for your own business? How to catch users’ eyes and what to do to keep their attention? There is an answer. Those numerous websites fall into many different categories and types, each type of website pursues different goals. Therefore there is a possibility to narrow down the actual list.

Here are the 10 most popular types of websites:

1. Business website

The purpose of a business website is to represent the specification of your enterprise. In the context of today’s digitally-minded world, it’s hard to imagine a business, even a small one, without its own website.

The business website contains all the essential information about your company, the service it provides, its aims and values. This is one of the rational ways to present yourself on the market and to find your potential clients.

A business website should have an about page and means of contacting you for further communication. Another important point is that your brand identity should be traced on all web pages and even sub portals to ensure brand coherence and brand recognition.

2. E-commerce website

An e-commerce website is an online shopping platform that sells products or services. Such websites usually have categories and filters of products or services (for instance, category – clothes; filter – women – top – blouses). Unlike business websites, e-commerce platforms have shopping carts, where customers can put products and then pay for them through the site.

To make an e-commerce website work properly, you need to implement certain obligatory items – to apply full e-commerce software and get your SSL certificate to ensure your customers can make purchases securely.

The fundamental goal of such websites is to make sales. Every aspect of the platform has to serve this purpose. That is why it’s important to provide users with a great experience and make the site’s usability as high as possible.Otherwise, you’re running the risk of cutting down your possible customers and thus decreasing your profit.

3. Blog

A blog is a platform that focuses on a specific niche. Generally, it features more casual and personal content – posts, images, and videos.

The traditional picture is changing though, and now it’s extremely popular for major brands and companies to have their blogs. Blogs include materials for social media updates and email promotions. It increases the overall reputation and enhances brand recognition. Blogs are also perfect to showcase your personal style, present your hobbies, share your special thoughts and experience, and find like-minded people.

Launching a blog can require quite a lot of time and a lot of resources. Blogs are typically updated regularly, that is why you have to make sure you have a team and a relevant content plan before you consider starting one.

4. Social media website

Nowadays social media platforms, such as Facebook (News - Alert), Instagram, LinkedIn, have become extremely popular for most people, as they serve as a primary source of information and content.

What is appealing about social media platforms is that users have some control over their profile's looks, and they can build their own content independently. It allows individuals to exchange views and merely interact with each other.

Such websites need to be easily accessible, have clear navigation, and be user-friendly. What is more, they should have responsive design since half of the overall internet traffic comes from mobile devices.

5. Non-profit website

A non-profit website lets potential donors make donations and allows people to learn more about non-profit activities and determine if they want to support them. The main goal of such websites is to promote various projects and to encourage visitors to take action. Non-profit platforms should be convincing and reliable enough to urge supporters to step in.

Such websites usually don't contain any creative and sophisticated design elements: they should be informative, captivating, and encouraging enough to make people take action and tackle different causes.

6. Portfolio website

A portfolio website is a platform for creative individuals to exhibit their works. Portfolio websites are sites dedicated to demonstrating examples of one’s past performance.  Also, it is a good instrument not only for individual professionals but for creative businesses and companies as well. By applying a portfolio, you can find potential clients and partners.

Moreover, it is a good way to express your exceptional individual style and highlight your best sides. You are completely free to choose the form and the content of your portfolio. But do not forget about a contact page and a clear and visible link to it. 

7. Media websites

The main purpose of a media website is to collect news stories or other reporting and post up-to-date articles. Many media websites represent the online forms of already existing resources, such as TV channels or newspapers. Some of them offer only relevant and objective information, while others are created purely for entertainment. Such websites generally make money via pop-up advertisements or special subscription services. 

Media sites usually consist of thematic blocks, which makes it easier to sort out the data. The content should be relevant, therefore the information needs to be regularly updated. The main purpose of the design is to provide a good experience to the user, to make the content readable and the text clear-cut.

8. Educational websites

The websites of educational institutions and those offering online courses fall into the category of educational websites. Such websites are created for providing users with comprehensive information about an institution, its values, opportunities, and achievements.

The main thing about the design of an educational website is that it has to be engaging and interactive. It’s a good idea to use videos to present all the important information and capture the attention of website visitors.

9. Wiki websites

The purpose of a wiki website is to organize all the data available on the internet and to keep it in a digestible way. Wiki platforms can cover a broad range of subjects or be dedicated to one topic. Such websites allow users to put all the information in order themselves and give access to it to everyone. The design of wiki websites is usually simple and straightforward.

10. Forum websites

Forums are platforms where users can participate in a discussion, interacting with each other. What forums provide is a specific space for discussion. Users can explore different topics, like, ask and answer questions, give or get advice, vote, and publish their own content. 

The forum website design should be convenient for sending and reading messages. Excessive use of design elements can disturb a user’s attention from the main issue.

“Which type of website should I create?” is one of the most important questions you need to ask yourself as a business owner. In today’s world website is a tool with the help of which it is possible to control and develop your business. That is why it’s important to define some essential points  before implementing a website:

• What is your niche? Is it profitable?

• What is your business’s purpose?

• Your website will be merely a form of self-presentation or one of the main business’s components?

• What do you want your audience to do on the website?

• What are the benefits of this particular type of website that your target audience can get?

• What are the benefits of this particular type of website that you as a business owner can get?

After thinking about the business itself, its objectives, and your target audience, you are up to make sure your website design is based on those particular answers you have in mind. Designing the website according to its purpose and type is the right way to make the process easier and less time- and effort-consuming. 

Moreover, a thoroughly chosen and elaborate plan will definitely help your business to prosper and win the market.

These are the 10 most popular types of websites, but still, each type has its own peculiarities that should be considered, especially while creating the website for your own business.

Written by Dasha Malash

Dasha Malash is a content manager at the Ester Digital web design and development agency. She is interested in UI/UX design, corporate identity, and digital marketing.