The internet has been around for over two decades now and a lot has changed since those early days of dial-up. Today, the web has exploded into something of a new realm in our lives. On average, we each spend twenty-four hours a week online.

That’s a lot of time and a lot of power to harness if you choose to stake your claim in the virtual space. First, you’ll want to get familiar with the types of websites out there.

The more websites you learn about and understand, the more you’ll understand the potential and opportunities you can take advantage of online. What are some of the most common types of websites?

Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know

E-Commerce Website

If you’re interested in making money online, the most common way to do this is through an e-commerce website. It’s one of the most common types of websites. This is a website that works as something of a digital storefront.

People can log onto the website and browse and purchase products. If you’ve spent any time online, you’ve likely experienced websites and e-commerce stores like Velvet Caviar known for cute phone cases as they are extremely common.

If there is a shopping cart feature and they accept your credit or debit card information in exchange for a purchase, they are by definition an e-commerce website. However, the appearance and flow of e-commerce sites can vary wildly.

If you’re hoping to create a website to sell your products or sell merchandise related to your business brand, an e-commerce site is certainly the type of website you’re going to need to get involved with.

You’ll need someone well-equipped in Website Development in order to do this, as the design of an e-commerce site is key to ensuring that sales are going to be made.

Business Website

It’s one of the common types of websites. Adjacent to an e-commerce website would be a business website. This is a homepage for a business that is engineered more towards information about a business as opposed to the actual sale of products.

The branding of the website will likely be similar, if not identical, to that of the business in question. Most business websites break down the products or services that the business offers, provide customer testimonials, and leave a space for an interested customer to get in touch.

These days, it would be quite drastic for a local business to forgo having a business website. The modern consumer expects to be able to look up the name of a business and find all the information they need about it.

Failure to have a website could potentially make a business seem less than professional.

The end goal of a business website should be to encourage a consumer to get in touch or to get in their car and head towards the brick-and-mortar location. Designing types of websites with this in mind is key.

Portfolio Website

A portfolio website is very similar to a business website except it serves to advertise the services of an individual as opposed to a business. It’s one of the most common types of websites. Portfolio websites are often used by artists who are attempting to get their work out there to the public and possibly interested parties.

Freelance workers of all kinds often use portfolio websites to help garner further work as well. A graphic designer, for example, might host a portfolio website to showcase their previous work.

The hope is that potential new clients looking to hire a designer might stumble upon or be sent this portfolio. Portfolio websites are often clean, simple, and place a large emphasis on the work itself.

Sometimes artists and workers create these sites themselves, in other instances, they hire someone who might be skilled at website design.

Media Website

Much of the internet is made up of what is known as media websites. These are common types of websites dedicated to the creation and curation of print, video, and audio pieces. Most print newspapers have their equivalent online websites, whether it be the New York Times or any plethora of publications. It’s one of the most common types of websites.

However, many media websites, such as sites like Crackle, Slate, or many others, exist solely as digital publications and content creators.

Most media websites run ads prior to or around their content in order to create revenue. The business model is that they run ads and try to attract as many viewers or readers as possible to their site.

In other instances, a media website might ask for a subscription fee from viewers in order to be able to access the content. Revenue would then be based on the number of subscribers.

Educational Website

There are some websites online that are run by large institutions or the federal government that strictly serve to inform. These websites are often denoted by a different ending to their URL. Instead of.com,’ they might end in ‘.edu’ or ‘.gov.’

Often, these sites are seen as official as can be, as they are not controlled by exterior businesses or larger media companies. They are the official word of these institutions and thus are often precise and official in their form of information sharing.

The goal of these websites is to inform those looking for particular information relating to the institutions in question. For example, if you were curious about laws regarding driver’s licenses in the state in which you reside, you could find this information on an official government website.

Understanding Various Types of Websites

The worldwide web is a busy place with a lot of different types of websites going on. If you’re looking to make a stake in the digital realm, you’ll first need to take the time to understand the various types of websites out there.

The above are some of the most common website varieties that you would run into. They each serve a different function and one or more might appeal to you.

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