It’s estimated that there are more than 1.7 billion websites and 4.2 billion internet users browsing those sites around the world.

You could say that the internet is kind of a big deal.

That’s why so many people are turning to the web to start and build their careers, without dragging their heavy feet – and sometimes heavy hearts – into the office for a 9-to-5 job.

When you’re starting from square one, it can be intimidating to pick the perfect idea from the different types of websites.

Here, we’ll give you a rundown on some of the top types of websites and what they typically entail. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better idea of what to make a website about, and some insight into how to make it awesome.

Don’t wait for someone else to do it. Hire yourself and start calling the shots.

Get Started Free

Here’s a list of eight types of web pages, along with a short description of each type and a few tips and resources to get started.

1. Ecommerce website

types of websites

Source

If you’re looking to earn income from one of these categories of websites, ecommerce is generally the most direct route. That’s because the whole point of an ecommerce site is to sell items to your customers, as opposed to monetizing content via ads or using content to generate business.

In a nutshell, ecommerce is defined as using the internet to buy and sell goods or services, including the payment process. A site generally qualifies if it includes a shopping cart and a way to pay with your credit card, PayPal, or any other type of payment gateway.

AliExpress dropshipping is one of the types of ecommerce websites that saves you the headache of managing your own inventory. It allows you to send items directly from the supplier to your customer after they place an order on your website.

Resources to get started:

2. Personal blog

personal blog

Source

You’ve probably seen loads of personal blogs. These are typically written by a single person and focus on a specific niche.

Common types of sites in the personal blog category include (but certainly aren’t limited to):

  • Travel and lifestyle
  • Business and entrepreneurship
  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Health and wellness
  • Food and recipes
  • Parenting
  • Self-improvement
  • Tech and gaming
  • Dating and relationships

While these are common, you can start a personal blog about pretty much anything. You can even use your personal blog as a diary.

However, if you’re looking to monetize it in the future, it’s smart to narrow your focus to a specific topic. This way, you can build a loyal niche audience that knows what to expect from your blog, and even views you as an expert in your subject matter.

This is recommended because you’ll generally need lots of traffic to make money off these types of websites. Once you have a following, you can try monetizing through Google AdSense, affiliate marketing programs, or selling your own products or services.

Resources to get started:

3. Business website

what is a business website

Source

Do you own a business? If you do own one, and you don’t already have a business website to promote it, you should create one. As soon as possible.

These types of websites are proving more crucial by the day, as it’s estimated that 70 to 80 percent of consumers look up businesses online before they decide to make a purchase. However, only about 50 percent of businesses actually have a website.

This means you could be losing critical business to your competitors that do have a website.

When business owners create a website, they should make sure that they’re using the same branding elements that they’re already using on other collateral and marketing materials. These include your logo, brand colors, images, and the like.

Ideally, these types of business websites will also include a collection of informational pages describing the business, which goods or services it provides, and the types of customers it serves. This helps to generate business from online sources, as well as to boost the website’s SEO ranking.

As an added bonus, you might even be able to convert your business website into an ecommerce channel where customers can buy your products or services directly through the site.

Resources to get started:

4. Brochure website

brochure website

Source

You can think of a brochure website as a simpler version of a business website. It typically includes less information about the company than a traditional business website, which is more robust and SEO-friendly. In other words,you should opt for a full business website if you have the resources to make one.

However, it’s not critical. You might opt for one of these simplified types of business websites if you know that your online presence won’t be a significant driver for your business.

In this case, you wouldn’t rely on the full functionality that a business site is typically used for – your site is primarily to have an online presence for the sake of it.

If you’re 100 percent sure that your website wouldn’t be a valuable lead generation tool, then a brochure site might be right up your alley.

Resources to get started:

5. Portfolio website

portfolio website

Source

Next up on the list of website types is a portfolio website. Just like the name suggests, these are used as an online portfolio of your creations, in the same way that a physical portfolio might work.

Portfolio websites can be used to showcase your talents and abilities, and even help to get you more customers or improve your chances of securing a job position. That’s why they’re a must-have for creatives and freelancers who are looking for work.

Portfolio websites are commonly used by service providers with technical online skills, like graphic design, website design and development, and marketing skills.

While these types of sites are popular, you can create a portfolio for virtually anything.

Do you paint, sculpt, or create other tangible art? Post photos on your portfolio site.

Do you make music? Upload songs or samples.

Resources to get started:

6. Entertainment or media website

entertainment or media website

Source

If you browse the internet to get your news or to pass time during your lunch break, you’ve certainly come across these categories of websites.

They’re everywhere, and they make up a huge chunk of the world’s time spent on the web.

While entertainment and media sites have a blurred line between them, they’re typically distinct in the fact that media websites most commonly have stories by reporters or journalists covering current events and “breaking news” on various topics.

On the other hand, entertainment websites might include less important “news” like celebrity gossip, as well as humor pieces, web comics, fun quizzes, and other types of content that spark your intrigue or make you giggle.

But it’s extremely common for media websites to feature entertainment content and for entertainment websites to cover media topics – as I’m sure you’ve noticed if you’ve ever spent some time browsing The New York Times or BuzzFeed.

Resources to get started:

7. Nonprofit website

nonprofit website

Source

Do you have a nonprofit or are thinking of starting one? You should definitely build a site for that.

These types of business websites can be a huge help when it comes to a nonprofit’s biggest challenges: finding funding and building support and awareness.

You can use your nonprofit site to explain the ins and outs of your organization, including why you’re devoted to the cause and how you’re carrying out your mission.

Use the site to educate, empower, and motivate your readers to take action – whether it’s through volunteering, donating, or other means of collaboration.

You can even set your nonprofit site up similarly to an ecommerce store, where you can receive donations directly from the website.

Resources to get started:

8. Community forum or wiki

community fourm

Last on our list is a community forum or wiki. These websites are founded on participation from your readers.

Community forums are designed to create a conversation around certain topics. Here’s how they work: One user creates a post with a question or concept, and other users chime in with their own comments. And then the process keeps going indefinitely.

Wikis are made for educational purposes. Surely you’re familiar with the world’s most famous wiki site, Wikipedia.

These types of websites go into detail about certain topics, and users collaborate by adding their own information to existing pages or creating their own pages to add to the collection.

To ensure that your wiki doesn’t get out of control, we recommend reviewing it regularly to validate what your users are posting. Wikipedia has a massive team of voluntary reviewers who are constantly fact-checking and removing incorrect information.

Resources to get started:

What Type of Website Should I Make?

Whatever type of website you’re interested in creating, you should always make sure that your final decision offers real value to your audience.

The last thing the world needs is another terrible website added to the mix of distractions.

To avoid this, consider things like: Would your idea sell products that people actually want? Give advice that people can actionably follow? Or create a community where people genuinely want to participate?

As you read through this list of website types, there were likely specific ones that stood out to you. Take notes on which ones these were and why they piqued your interest.

Ask yourself exploratory questions like:

  • Which of these sounds most interesting and fun?
  • Do I have special skills to build and maintain any particular types of websites?
  • If I don’t already have the skills, would it be feasible for me to learn?
  • What other resources would I need to make these types of websites work?

Think, plan, and go for it!

Planning for Success With Your New Website

There are a lot of options when deciding what to make a website about. From an ecommerce store to an entertainment website to an educational wiki, there are several that can fulfill whatever goals you’re looking to accomplish.

Ultimately, your choice should be a balance between your existing skills and resources, as well as what you’re willing to build in order to make it successful.

From there, it’ll take some more research and planning to ensure that you’re following best practices to create a site that’s both aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly – which are key to setting yourself up for success in the long run.

What type of website are you most interested in? Let us know in the comments below.

Want to Learn More?