What Kind of Website Does Your Business Need?

Paying attention to website design is an essential part of any business that wants to grow. And given that there are no nearly 1.7 billion websites online of all types, it can be challenging to figure out what might work best for your business. We’ve put together a guide that goes over the different types of web pages out there to help you decide on what might work best for you.

Blogs

Blogs first started out with a more casual, more personal approach to content in comparison to, say, magazines. But since then, blogs have changed quite a bit, and most major brands and other businesses have their own blog. Including a blog with expert content adds to a brand’s credibility and provides customers with valuable information. It also serves as a provider of content for social media posts. Keeping a blog current can be a time-consuming process, so if you plan to write your own blog posts, be sure you update the blog regularly—or don’t start one. You are better off not having a blog rather than having one that is completely outdated because you haven’t posted in years. You can also have professionals write your blogs for you, so that is another option to consider.

Portfolios

Creative professionals use online portfolio websites to showcase some of their best work. These types of websites are suited for designers, artists, writers, filmmakers, woodworkers—anyone who creates some kind of product. You don’t need to include every single project you’ve ever worked on. Just choose your best stuff to highlight your skills.

E-Commerce

If you sell products, you probably need an e-commerce website. This type of website is an online shopping destination where users can purchase products from your company. You might also have an e-commerce site if you sell a service, although this is less common.

A good e-commerce site is very user-friendly, making it easy for visitors to find and browse products, highlight special sales, and make purchases. There are plenty of platforms that makes it pretty easy to set up an e-commerce site, such as Shopify or Squarespace. These platforms offer different templates businesses can use that are usually quite effective.

Magazine

More common these days than print magazines, magazine websites include articles along with photos and videos on a range of topics. Magazines are usually informational and educational. The magazine website type works well for websites that intend to provide information to visitors, particularly publications from universities and organizations.

Building a magazine site starts with a basic framework. Users will expect to recognize a similar layout no matter what day they land on your homepage, so each article should have a similar layout and the same type of navigation. Not everyone will be visiting from a computer screen, so make sure your content is easily readable on any sized device.

Social Media

With nearly 3 billion people on social media today, having a presence on some kind of social media is essential. It doesn't matter who your target audience is. Chances are, you’ll probably find them on at least one social media site—Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and the like. Of course you won't be able to redesign the platforms themselves, you do have some control over the way your page looks. Using social media is a way to create content that drives social media shares.

Keep your business’s look similar on all social media pages and web pages. This makes it easier for users to identify that your brand is being represented. This means sticking to the same logo and color. Choose a specific voice and personality that is clear across all branded content.

When you create social media content, focus on things that can potentially be shared on social media, such as infographics, videos, memes, in-depth reports and whitepapers, and freebies.

Home Page

The homepage is the “face” of your brand. It’s where most visitors will start navigating your site, so it should be easy for them to get to different areas of your site. A home page can take on various forms, but there are some things that will be the same no matter what. It should be immediately clear to visitors what your business is and what your unique value proposition is. Use your brand’s color palette and logo. Images should be relevant to your business. The home sets the tone for your brand’s image, so tell the right story through words and images.

Landing Page

This type of page is created for a marketing campaign that drives visitors to take a particular action, such as signing up for weekly emails or a free ebook. Content on this page should be focused on the call to action you’d like visitors to take. The page should have plenty of white space and should include only those items that are part of the campaign for that page.

Directory or Contact Page

A directory or contact page is a type of site where users can find what they are looking for. An example would be a restaurant directory that lists eateries nearby and includes links to menus, price ranges, reviews, and a phone number.

The Right Type of Website Will Depend on Your Audience

Good website design is about much more than simply having something that looks appealing. It should also serve to drive user engagement and should be targed to the potential audience of the site. You should pay attention to what other businesses in your niche are doing with their websites to help determine what kind of site you should have.

It also helps to work with a professional website design firm that can help ensure your site looks good, works well, and converts clients. We have the tools you need for your website, regardless of the type of business you own. Some of our services include:

• Responsive Website Design
• Customer Relationship Management
• Email and Social Media Marketing
• Automatic Reviews and Ratings
• Organic SEO and Content Marketing
• Logos, Graphics, and Professional Photography

Contact us today!