What Sort of Website Do You Need?

Websites help showcase your products and services, attract new customers, grow your brand, create a more professional look, build trust and ultimately boost your profits.

When you’re a new business, an entrepreneur or an established business that is looking to update their online presence, it can be difficult to know how to get started.

So, let us walk you through why you need a website, explain what the main kinds of websites are, and finally, share a few pointers that can help you decide which website is right for you and your business.

Do you need a website?

Yes, every business needs a website, even if you have a strong following on social media and don’t think you need more. Debatable? We don’t think so. Here’s why…

Firstly, a website is the first place your ideal clients will visit when they’re searching for an answer to a question or a solution to their problem. It’s up to you to be there online, sharing your brand story and offering them their perfect solution.

Secondly, it’s a space that you own that allows you to build your brand, boost your professionalism and create exactly the business image that you want.

Thirdly, and probably most importantly, when you stick to social media for your digital marketing and avoid creating a website, you don’t actually own your content; they do. Social websites also change their algorithms on a regular basis, making it even harder for your ideal client to see your valuable content and harder still to compete in the modern market.

That’s why, if you want to create a successful business, you must have a website that represents you in the best possible way. Nicole Leinbach-Reyhle writes about it here, on Forbes

What are the different types of website?

There are many types of websites that you could use for your business.

Below we summarise four of the most common: the brochure website, the e-commerce website, the personal blog and the lead generation websites.

What is a brochure website?

A brochure website is designed to showcase your business and the products and services that you offer.

It’s often used for businesses in the service industry who want to share more information about their products and services, but don’t want to sell online.

As well as showcasing your business, they’re a great way to build trust, grow an online presence and to add extra value to your customers.

What is an e-commerce website?

An e-commerce website is designed to display your products or services whilst also accepting payment. They’re a great way to reach anyone and increase your profits at any time or day and in any time zone.

You can usually choose the structure of your e-commerce website and integrate it with your choice of e-commerce platforms such as Magento, Prestashop, WooCommerce and Shopify as well as a variety of different payment methods and delivery options.

What is a personal blog?

A personal blog is an online space that allows a person to highlight his or her interests and hobbies and share them with the world.

Many people end up building successful businesses around a personal blog, and as far as personal branding is concerned, this type of website is an ideal vehicle for showcasing you and your message.

What is a lead generation website?

Lead generation websites are designed with just one mission in mind- to attract new customers. They can help those people searching for an answer to their question or problem to find you, then help you turn them into leads.

They usually form part of a wider sales funnel and can attract referrals that give a commission for converted sales. They can also help you stand out against your competitors and build brand recognition and trust.

Most business websites use a combination of the above elements to create the perfect website for their needs. For example, a brochure website might want to feature specially designed landing pages to attract new leads or referrals, or a personal blog might benefit from adding an eCommerce facility to the site.