Most web agencies and freelancers have only 3-5 types of web sites in the list of services. This is done in order not to confuse the client. So I decided to tell you a bit more about what types of sites are. Hope the information comes in handy.
Types of sites by a purpose: sites are divided into commercial and non-commercial
by availability: without registration, with registration, closed by invitation
by functionality: updatable and static
by volume of content: narrow subjects and large portals
by type of content: mainly text, graphic, photo or video content
by authorship sites: personal, collective, corporate
Types of Commercial Sites
Business website. This is suitable for small businesses, young firms. Acts as an online business card. Usually consists of 3-5 pages. It contains information about the type of activity, about the service or products, without the possibility to buy/order online. The obligatory section “Contacts” is sometimes with a map and a working time.
May include additional sections:
Terms of cooperation
News
Stocks
Price list
Corporate website or company website
This type of site consists of many pages and has advanced functionality. When visiting, the user should have the feeling that he was in the virtual office of the company. The site should provide comprehensive information on most issues.
As for the image, such sites are designed in accordance with the corporate identity of the company. Convenient navigation, a nice interface and an abundance of useful up-to-date information. Here are the basic principles of the company website.
Catalogue site. This is a business site, but with a section “Catalogue”. You cannot order goods from the catalogue, the site is intended only for acquaintance with the assortment.
Storefront Site. The site will have pages:
About production
Sample Collections
Terms of cooperation
Contacts
There may also be a section for individuals – places where you can purchase their products. List of retail stores.
This is no longer a catalogue because the full range on the site is not published. Only product examples are shown.
Portfolio Website. It can consist of one page or several. This type of site is aimed at attracting new customers by demonstrating the work performed. At such a site, the main task is to show your work.
In addition to the gallery of works, information on the author should be indicated on the site.
Promotional site
Not to be confused with the landing, we’ll talk about them later …
The promotion site is intended, you guessed it, to conduct (announce) promotions.
The main feature is the emphasis on image.
The main task is not to leave the visitor indifferent.
Such sites are created temporarily and live only until the end of the event. From a week to a year. Often such a site is complementary to the existing main site.
the promotional site does not sell, but only introduces the user to a specific product.
There is another purpose of promotional sites – this is the announcement of events. It can be a conference, exhibition, concert.
Landing
The key difference between a landing page and all other types of commercial sites is that it always consists of one page and is created only for one product or service.
You say, but after all, promotional sites can also consist of only one page and advertise one thing. Yes, and they will be called promotional landings. Remember what I wrote about the image. Landing is not obliged to be fashionable in nature.
One-page, with all its narrow focus, has wider application. Of course, it should cause emotions. But its main goal is to convert a visitor into a buyer or subscriber.
On the correct landing page, you will not find extra buttons and links that can distract you from the essence of the proposal or take you to another site.
On one long page, screen by screen, they will step by step talk about the benefits, introduce you to the benefits, put pressure on “sore blisters”, work out your objections and convince you to buy/subscribe/register.
Due to this, landing pages have much higher conversion rates than multi-page sites.
Online store
I will not talk about this type of sites for a long time. All of you perfectly know what online stores are. I am sure that most of you regularly shop online.
I can only say that it is very important for the online store to provide the user with convenience. Stores have a lot of pages and often a complex hierarchy. Therefore, it is extremely important to develop clear navigation. All steps of placing an order should be convenient and not cause unnecessary questions for the buyer.
In the next article, I will tell you about non-commercial sites.