Types and Purposes of Websites

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The first thing you have to consider is what type of website you will need to support your website idea. There are many different reasons someone would want to create a website. You can use a website to support an up and coming business, to show off your work to the world, a website is a great portfolio platform. You can even use your site to keep others informed. Create a guide, answer frequently asked questions about a topic you’re an expert in. The opportunities are endless but here are the three main categories types of websites can be broken down in to.

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E-Commerce

An E-Commerce site is a website that has shopping capability straight from the site. Some examples of this store are online retail stores like Target or Amazon. These websites allow you to add items to a cart and checkout online while you order is shipped to you.

Fill out our free ecommerce website cost calculator to find out the average cost of website design for small business e-commerce websites!

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Lead Generation

A lead generation website does not sell physical items online. Rather, this type of business will have you fill out a contact form or have you call to get more information. It is recommended to at least have the option for a contact form, even if you or your business prefer phone calls. Some examples of this type of business are HVAC, plumbers and pretty much any business that would be providing a service.

How much does a website cost for a small business lead generation website? Fill out our free custom website cost calculator to find out!

Do you have a style guide?

When first starting a business or website it is recommended to put together a style guide. This guide holds all of your colors, themes, logos and names associated with your site. This helps when you hire an agency or designer to build your website. It helps keep branding consistent across all media.

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Creative and Entertainment Websites

NA personal website to display your creative masterpieces. Express yourself, inspire others and catch the attention of someone that could lead you to a career. Why not put your art out there to be enjoyed?

Photography

Use your website as a portfolio for all of your photography! It’s best to make sure you’re working in a CMS that supports the amount and size of the images you plan to upload. It’s also a good idea to find a template that goes nicely with the idea of a portfolio and has the ability to show multiple at once and also zoom in on each photo.

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Blog

Blogs are gaining more and more traction every day. From mommy bloggers, the foodie blogs to the political blogs. You can write about anything your heart desires. If you have a dream of writing a novel someday, some authors have been known to release a few pages at a time on their blog to judge the public’s interest. Again, it is important to ensure you are choosing a CMS that lends itself nicely to a blog, WordPress is a great one for bloggers!

What’s the best way to create a website?

We put together a free website cost estimate calculator that will help you gain a better understanding of what goes into the website creation process, specifically for what type of website you want to build. It provides you with an overall cost estimate based on your personal needs, so you’ll have a point of reference going forward. Get your free estimate now!

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