A website can be defined as an online version of your personal blog or journal that allows people to communicate in real time about events happening within your community, city, country, or even world. Websites allow you to share your thoughts on current affairs, news, social issues, hobbies, sports, entertainment, music, art, technology, religion, politics, etc., but they also serve another purpose - to sell products or services. In other words, it’s not just about sharing information anymore; it’s now more than ever about selling stuff!
There are several categories of websites out there. Some are static pages where only one copy exists forever while others are dynamic sites which have their own database in order to update contents without being manually edited by anyone. There are also eCommerce stores (online retail shops) and blogs among the most popular ones. These days, almost anything goes when building a website so we decided to break down the process into three main categories based on its content. This way, everyone who wants to start creating his/her first site will know exactly what steps he/she needs to take.
First off, let us define what a Static Website is. A static website is simply a webpage that doesn't change over time unless you make changes yourself. It means that every single line of code stays the same from day 1 until today. You don't want this because if something happens to your computer, then everything would get lost too. So basically, you're better off making sure that you back up everything on regular basis so nothing gets deleted accidentally. The next category is much more interesting though...
Nowadays, the internet has become a place where people spend hours upon hours each day browsing through hundreds of thousands of different articles, videos, images, podcasts, and posts. Even professional journalists like to write long stories with detailed descriptions of things going on around them at a certain point in history. All these activities bring traffic to our favorite websites, and since we rely on advertising revenue to keep those businesses running, we'd love to see how much money we could earn from those visitors. To do so, we must create a compelling website design. But before doing that, let's talk about two important factors to consider. First, the website should match the niche market of your product and service. Second, it should give visitors a reason why they shouldn't leave your website right away. Let's say you run a bakery shop. Your customers might visit your store for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks, desserts, coffee, cakes, cookies, pies, pastries, sandwiches, pizzas, salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, etc. If you focus on providing great food rather than focusing on marketing your brand, then you'll probably end up losing potential clients due to poor website navigation. Instead, you could use a simple menu bar along with photos of delicious dishes instead of trying to explain what you offer. That way, users will instantly understand what they can expect once they enter your restaurant. Another example is a company that sells cars. They may provide very detailed information regarding car models and features, however, if someone visits their website looking for a specific model of vehicle, chances are high that they won't find what they were searching for. What if they wanted to buy a new Honda Civic last year? How does one find such details? By adding a quick search box to your website, you've made it easier for your clientele to locate whatever they're interested in.
The second factor is user experience (UX). UX refers to how easy it is to navigate and interact with various elements of a website. For instance, if you decide to add a sidebar to your homepage, you should pay attention to how it looks and works. If it seems confusing, then chances are high that visitors will bounce off after seeing half of your site. However, if you put effort into designing it properly, the odds are pretty low that they will abandon it. Users tend to stay longer on websites that look and feel nice. As far as SEO optimization is concerned, Google uses several signals to rank results in its algorithm. One signal is called "freshness" and it determines whether or not a particular website was updated recently. Since fresh content attracts readers, you should try to regularly publish new material to increase your visibility. Also, make sure your meta description matches the keywords used in the title tag of your article. When done correctly, both titles and descriptions play a crucial role in improving your rankings. Lastly, avoid using JavaScript whenever possible. While some modern browsers support it, older ones still prefer text links and buttons. So you should always opt for HTML5 over Flash.
Once again, I'd like to emphasize that you need to carefully choose the best keyword phrases for your niche market. After analyzing your target audience and identifying key terms related to what you sell, you can then use free software like WordStream to discover relevant keywords for your content. Then, you can research competitors' websites to determine which keywords they're targeting and how well they perform using Google AdWords. Once you've found the best keywords, you should test them against the competition using SEMRush.com. Doing this analysis is essential because it helps you identify underperforming keywords and gives you insights on how effective your ads are.
Let's move onto the third section of websites known as Dynamic Sites. We call them dynamic because they contain databases that constantly feed data updates to the website. Unlike static websites, these kinds of websites do require maintenance and updating. In addition to that, they cost a lot more to maintain. Therefore, they usually aren't suitable for small businesses and startups. Nevertheless, they come in handy for big companies that have complex systems and processes. In fact, it's quite common for large corporations to employ custom websites designed exclusively for their employees. Companies like Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Netflix, Twitter, YouTube, Yahoo!, eBay, WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace, Tumblr, Wix, etc. belong to this group.
So far, we talked about three major types of websites. Now let's dig deeper into the basics of each one. Below are five of the most commonly seen website types.
Personal Blog – Similar to a diary, this kind of website contains individual writings written by a person. Usually, an author creates multiple entries per day, week, month, or sometimes even annually. On top of that, bloggers often post short snippets of articles shared by friends, family members, and colleagues.
Online Newspaper – An online version of a traditional paper, this type of website serves as a source for local and international news. News organizations hire writers to produce daily articles that cover topics ranging from tech industry trends to breaking health news.
E-commerce Store – This type of website aims to promote goods and services offered by brands and retailers. Visitors typically browse through categories organized according to product groups and subcategories. Each item includes pricing, shipping costs, reviews, ratings, and specifications.
Social Media Site – Most social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Reddit, Snapchat, TikTok, Vimeo, Vine, Youtube, etc. fall under this category. People upload beautiful pictures and videos, comment on trending news, engage in discussions, and follow celebrities.
Website Template – Like a blank canvas, this kind of website comes preloaded with readymade layouts and components. Its developers include predefined functionalities such as contact forms, footers, headers, menus, sliders, sidebars, widgets, tabs, etc.
If you already know what type of website you want to build, you can quickly download a template from Webflow and customize it accordingly. Otherwise, you can easily purchase a fully editable website template directly from the marketplace. With this tool, you can change fonts, colors, layout, navigation bars, backgrounds, icons, video embed codes, logos, etc.
As mentioned earlier, there are dozens of ways to approach website creation. Although it takes a bit of work to learn, you'll eventually master the skills required to build your dream website. Here are 50+ useful tips on how to go about it:
You may think that having 50 types of websites is unnecessary, but believe me, knowing all of the available options will help you save precious time later on.
50 Types of Website Examples [Broken URL Removed]
While personal websites are perfect for individuals who wish to express themselves freely, eCommerce websites are meant for entrepreneurs who aim to grow their business. Businesses can use them to showcase products and services, receive orders, manage customer accounts, collect payments, and track sales and inventory statistics.
In conclusion, it's safe to say that there are plenty of opportunities to profit from websites nowadays. Whether you want to attract new customers, develop your career, sell merchandise, advertise your brand, or generate leads, you can achieve success with a simple yet powerful piece of software like Webflow.
When building websites for your business or personal use, there’s a lot more than just putting some text on it. You want that site to look good as well as be functional, so you can reach people easily through search engines like Google. If you have never built a website before, chances are you don't know where to start. Fortunately, we've got you covered! In this article, I'll show you everything you need to know about website development in order to get started creating one yourself.
There are plenty of resources out there -- tutorials, articles, videos, books, software packages - but they're not always easy to find. While most will teach you how to code HTML (the language used by every website), many do not offer much guidance when it comes to actually designing an attractive layout from scratch. This post aims to fill that gap.
First off, let me explain exactly what a "website" is. There are three different ways in which someone could refer to a website:
They may call it a static webpage. These are typically viewed online via browsers such as Chrome and Firefox. The difference between these and other kinds of websites is purely aesthetic. Static pages are made up entirely of plain text and images. Nothing else is added.
A personal webpage might also be referred to as a blog, portfolio, etc. Websites created here often include photos, logos, videos, audio files, links to social networks, contact information, etc., and are usually designed to showcase the creator's work.
An e-commerce store would fall into category 2 above. It has similar characteristics to category 1, except that products are sold directly from the website instead of being purchased elsewhere. Most stores sell physical goods, while others focus solely on digital ones. To learn more about e-commerce, read our guide to starting an online shop.
Now that we understand the differences between categories 1 & 2, let's take another step back and talk about the third way in which a person might describe a website:
A news portal is simply a website that delivers breaking news stories. News portals are typically run by large media companies who work closely together to create content that readers around the world enjoy reading. Some notable examples of popular news sites include BBC News, CNN, New York Times, Washington Post, etc.
In addition to those, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of smaller blogs and newsletters scattered across the internet. Many of them feature regular updates and original content.
So now that you understand what a website is, and what each kind looks like, let's dive right in! We'll cover the basics first, then move onto advanced topics like SEO and user experience design.
The beginning steps of learning to develop a website begin with choosing a template. Templates help designers quickly build attractive layouts without having to worry about coding anything. It's important to choose wisely because once a designer builds something beautiful, they're stuck with it forever unless they pay a developer to make changes.
To get you started, below are five free website templates available through WebFlow. Each one is unique enough to cater to various needs. For example, the Fashionista Template includes a logo, header image, video player, gallery, product feed, footer navigation bar, and contact form.
We've also included some additional tips at the end of this post to help you decide whether or not any of these templates suits your project requirements best. If you'd prefer to skip straight to the nitty gritty, scroll down further until you see "Continue", and click it to go ahead immediately. Otherwise, keep scrolling for even more helpful advice along the way...
Let's say you're interested in building a website for your small business. Which kinds of websites should you consider making? Well, let's take a quick tour of some options:
Online newspapers: Newspapers were among the earliest forms of online publishing. Today, most major publications still publish their own versions of the printed edition online. Examples include USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Reuters, etc.
E-commerce stores: Selling things online is nothing new, and it makes sense to incorporate commerce features into an existing website. Examples include Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, etc.
Personal webpages: These are pretty self-explanatory. Here you can upload pictures, videos, documents, and share your thoughts with friends and family. Your profile picture, bio, location, interests, etc. are likely displayed prominently on the landing page.
News portals: Popular news outlets are a great place to launch a new project. People love to stay informed, especially during big events like elections or natural disasters.
Social media profiles: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube, etc. are all platforms that allow users to connect with others and share messages. All of these require custom designs, so they aren't ideal for beginners. However, anyone looking to build a brand presence through social media should think about doing so sooner rather than later.
Every website consists of four main components: Header, Content Area, Footer, and Navigation Bar. Let's break these down:
Header: The header contains branding elements like the company name, motto/tagline, slogan, logo, colors, fonts, etc. It helps users identify the owner of the website.
Content area: This is where visitors land after clicking the link inside the navbar. Typically, this space focuses on showcasing the products featured within the site. Visitors must enter their email address and submit their names and phone numbers in order to purchase items.
Footer: The footer is where you put copyright info, privacy policy, terms and conditions, contact details, etc.
Navigation bar: Links to key sections of the website are placed in the top portion of the screen. Users can navigate anywhere within the website by following these simple instructions.
That was quite a mouthful, didn't it?! Now we're ready to dig deeper into the specifics of website structure.
Webflow offers seven distinct styles of website design based on common patterns found throughout the industry. Below are brief descriptions of each style. Keep in mind that these descriptions are only general guidelines. Feel free to customize your site however you wish!
1) Flat Design
This style uses minimalistic visuals and white backgrounds. Since its inception, flat design has become widely accepted among developers due to its simplicity and consistency.
2) Minimalist Style
Minimalism encourages viewers to concentrate on the fewest possible visual cues. Colors are kept light and subtle, and imagery is limited to icons, typography, and shapes.
3) Clean Design
Clean design is characterized by a lack of clutter and attention to detail. White spaces are emphasized, and typographic choices are carefully considered.
4) Visual Hierarchy
Visual hierarchy refers to how high certain objects appear relative to others. Elements of higher importance are given greater emphasis than lower priority ones.
5) Grid System
Grid systems organize content vertically and horizontally to achieve optimal alignment. Commonly employed grid styles include 960px grids, mobile grids, flexible grids, etc.
6) Responsive Website Design
Responsive websites respond automatically to device widths, allowing users to view full-page experiences regardless of browser size.
7) Single Page Application (SPA)
Single page applications load data and display results instantly upon visiting a URL. As opposed to conventional multi-page websites, SPAs tend to consume less bandwidth and perform better overall.
All websites contain two primary components: Headers and Bodies. Headers consist primarily of navigational elements like buttons, tabs, menus, headlines, etc. Meanwhile, bodies consist of the actual content that drives engagement.
Here's an example:
Headers: Home, About Us, Contact us
Bodies: Our mission statement, testimonials, services offered, FAQ section
It doesn't matter if you're trying to build a professional website, a personal homepage, an e-commerce storefront, or a news publication - knowing the basic terminology is crucial. Without them, you won't be able to communicate effectively with fellow professionals, clients, or potential customers. So, let's review the vocabulary you need to know to succeed:
HTML: Hypertext Markup Language
CSS: Cascading Stylesheet
JavaScript: JavaScript is a scripting programming language commonly used for adding functionality to websites.
PHP: PHP stands for “Hyper Text Pre Processor". It allows programmers to write scripts that interact with databases, generate dynamic web pages, and integrate with server side technologies.
SQL: SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It’s a database query language used by programs running under Microsoft Windows.
MySQL: MySQL is an open source relational database management system written in the C++ programming language.
WordPress: WordPress is a blogging tool that powers over 40% of the entire Internet.
SEO: Search Engine Optimization is the process of improving rankings in search engine result lists.
As technology continues to evolve at an incredible rate, it’s important for businesses to keep up with these changes in order to stay competitive. This is where having your own custom-built website comes into play - not only will this help you stand out from other competitors but also provide access to new information about your business that may be hard to find elsewhere online.
In today’s article we'll take a look at some of the most common types of websites, as well as how they work. We've gone through each one individually so that if you're looking for a particular type of website, or would like more information on a certain topic, then you can check them out below!
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language (or just “markup language”). It allows us to mark up our text so that when someone views it, they know exactly what words mean without needing to click anything else. When used correctly, it makes writing articles, creating pages, designing images, videos, etc much easier than before. While there are hundreds of different tags available, here are three key ones which make up a majority of every webpage.
Heading Tags: These give structure to the content on a page by identifying sections such as titles, subtitles, subheads, headers, etc. They are usually enclosed within.
Body Text/Content: This section contains the actual written material that needs to be read and understood by users. The best way to do this is to break down everything into paragraphs containing sentences and proper punctuation. You should include plenty of white space between lines of text too - otherwise people won't be able to see it properly.
Links/Images: Links allow visitors to navigate around the site easily while images add visual interest and style to the overall design of a page. Both links and images must be included under their respective headings, however, since the latter aren't actually part of the body text itself.
Webpages come in all shapes and sizes depending on the purpose of the page, who is going to view it, and whether it has been created manually or automatically. For example, a personal blog might consist of several posts linked together, whereas a news website could contain dozens of stories with various categories and topics. In general though, webpages fall into five major groups based on their function.
Homepage: A homepage serves as the landing point for anyone visiting your site. Typically consisting of a few introductory text blocks followed by a list of links leading off to related pages, it acts as an introduction to your brand and offers potential customers something to get excited about. As mentioned above, homepages often feature prominent headlines and photos in order to attract viewers' attention quickly.
Blog: Blogs serve as repositories for user-generated content, meaning that readers submit original pieces of content (usually via comments) rather than relying solely upon static text provided by editors. Unlike traditional blogs, those found on social networks don’t necessarily require human authorship - instead, algorithms decide which posts to display each day after considering popularity and engagement metrics, among other things.
News Site: News sites usually offer a variety of breaking stories sourced from reputable sources, including newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV channels, etc. Each piece of content typically includes its headline, author(s), publication date, short description, and possibly even a video clip if applicable. Users are encouraged to share, comment on, and vote on stories, thus contributing towards the longevity of the outlet.
E-Commerce Store: An e-commerce store provides easy access to products offered by a company. Since online shopping requires consumers to purchase items directly over the internet, it’s essential that retailers create a storefront that looks professional and trustworthy. To accomplish this, visitors are greeted by a homepage featuring a clear call to action, along with product descriptions, prices, shipping costs, customer reviews, and a promotional banner offering further details.
Social Media Page: Social media platforms act as virtual communities allowing members to interact with others sharing similar interests. Some of the most popular options include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Tumblr, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Google+, Medium, Reddit, and Wikipedia. Visitors can connect with brands and companies, ask questions, receive answers, and post updates to their profiles.
If you were to visit a random website, chances are it wouldn’t be long until you realized that the owner had spent hours crafting it specifically to fit a specific audience. After all, why spend time building a website that nobody visits? Instead, it’s far better to focus on developing a single website that covers all bases and caters to everyone regardless of age, gender, location, or demographic. Here are four of the most commonly seen types of websites:
Personal Website: Personal websites tend to be smaller in size compared to corporate websites, although some larger organizations still opt to host their entire portfolio on a single domain name. They typically feature a simple layout made up of a handful of carefully chosen pages with little emphasis placed on aesthetics. Most are optimized for mobile devices due to the fact that they rarely receive traffic from desktop computers, making it difficult for search engines to index them effectively.
Online Newspaper: Online newspapers operate similarly to print publications, providing daily coverage of local events and issues, sports teams, celebrities, politics, etc. However, unlike physical editions, digital versions remain accessible 24/7 thanks to the Internet. Many outlets also publish special themed editions during holidays and times of crisis.
Boutique Shop: Boutiques sell unique items ranging from artwork and fashion accessories to furniture and electronics. There isn’t really a standard set of features associated with boutique shops, but they generally offer a wide range of merchandise and cater to a very niche market that doesn’t exist anywhere else online.
12 types of websites:
Blogs: Blogs are essentially miniature websites dedicated to covering a certain subject matter. Although they are largely automated, writers are required to write regularly and manage incoming comments and feedback. Popular subjects include health & fitness, parenting, cooking, DIY projects, travel, and pets.
Magazines: Magazines are collections of articles covering a specific area of interest. Articles are typically published on a regular basis and contain large amounts of text. Due to the nature of the medium, magazine publishers rely heavily on advertising revenue to maintain profitability.
Portfolio Websites: Portfolios showcase the skills of individual designers, photographers, illustrators, programmers, artists, musicians, actors, and other creative professionals. Often referred to as "creative agencies," they aim to establish the credibility of both individuals and organizations.
Event Calendar: Event calendars are useful for publicizing upcoming gatherings, concerts, festivals, conventions, fundraisers, etc. They allow attendees to plan ahead and ensure that they attend events that they care about.
Local Directory Sites: Local directory sites enable users to discover places near their current residence or workplace. Commonly known as Yellow Pages, they cover a broad array of industries, including restaurants, doctors, dentists, plumbers, lawyers, mechanics, accountants, etc.
Crowdfunding Platforms: Crowdfunding platforms facilitate donations to charitable causes, political campaigns, scientific research, and artistic endeavors. Donors contribute money to fund a project, either because they believe in the cause or simply want to support the creator financially.
Travel Guides: Travel guides are intended to assist tourists planning trips abroad. They contain detailed maps showing points of interest, hotel recommendations, restaurant suggestions, sightseeing tips, etc.
Community Forums: Community forums are designed to foster discussion amongst interested parties regarding a particular topic or hobby. Unlike message boards, threads aren’t limited to a specified group and conversations are open to anyone.
Video Sharing Sites: Video sharing sites encourage users to upload and share clips taken from smartphones, camcorders, DSLRs, GoPros, drones, etc. Videos are categorized according to genre, uploaded by creators, and shared by fans.
Social Networking Sites: Social networking sites bring people together and help them form friendships, meet romantic partners, network professionally, etc. Popular options include Facebook, LinkedIn, Myspace, WhatsApp, TikTok, and Instagram.
5 types of websites:
Business Website: Businesses primarily use websites to promote themselves, advertise services, conduct transactions, and generate leads. They frequently feature a header image, logo, contact info, testimonials, case studies, pricing tables, payment methods, and a small selection of products or services.
Corporate Website: Corporate websites serve as the face of an organization, showcasing its mission, vision, values, history, leadership team, employees, staff, awards, partnerships, clients, and achievements.
Educational Website: Educational websites teach children, teenagers, adults, and seniors all sorts of life lessons ranging from math equations, grammar rules, spelling techniques, computer programming languages, financial literacy, etc.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.