How Do I Know What Kind of Website Is Right for Me?

I want a website for my company, but I don’t know what’s right for me.  How do I decide what kind of website I should use?  What are my options?





Key takeaways:


How to determine what type of business website will meet your needs
The four types of business websites and examples of each
With so many websites currently on the Internet, it can be confusing to determine what type of website your company could benefit from.  With that in mind, however, there are a few questions you should answer that will help you make that decision.


First, you need to consider what type of business you are and what your company wishes to gain from having a website.  Fortunately, there are only four basic types of business websites, all of which serve a specific purpose.


Four types of business websites:


Websites that are an online representation of your company
Websites for internet-only ventures
Websites that facilitate online and in-store purchases
Websites that do not sell goods or services
The first type of business website is an online representation of your company.  On this website you will provide information about your company, your products or services, and your contact information. This type of website is for companies that provide a service that cannot be shipped or purchased through the Internet.  Examples of this could include a design firm, a roofing company, or even a doctor’s office. By allowing your consumers to search for you on the Internet, to read about your products or services, or perhaps to even receive a price estimate, they will likely give you a call to see how you can strike up a working relationship.


Next is the type of business website that works in an opposite way of the first.  This is the perfect website if your business is solely based on Internet purchasing and shipping.  For example, Amazon.com or Zappos.com offer great insights into how an Internet-only venture can be successful via an eCommerce website platform.


In between these two types of business websites is one that facilitates a combination of both in-store and online purchases.  A good example of a business designed this way is JCPenney.com.  Customers can find stores throughout the United States to visit and shop from, but they can also find what they are looking for online and purchase it there as well.  This option would be good for your business if you have both a bricks-and-mortar store and the capability to sell goods or services online simultaneously.


The fourth type of business website is for those who do not sell goods or services at all.  These types of websites are for companies whose sole purpose is to help others find the information they are looking for, answer questions, and point them in the right direction.  These businesses make money through selling advertising slots on their site.  Other businesses that know the popularity of these particular sites is rising will invest money to advertise on their websites, thus resulting in a mutually beneficial relationship.  Google is a popular example of this, as companies can purchase ads through Google that show up as sidebar links whenever someone searches for related content.


Once you narrow down your company’s specific needs, it should be easy to determine which of the above four options is right for you. When in doubt, seek counsel form a website design and development professional, as they will be able to guide you in the right direction.


-Gaurav