What is Website: Definition and Impact on Business

From blogs to marketplaces, websites form the foundation of our internet experience. It’s where we build connections, share knowledge, and create a strong online presence as we reach users far and wide. With their multifaceted roles, websites have become a must-have for brands.

In this article, we delve into the building blocks of a website and how your brand can benefit from it.

It contains web pages under a single web address hosted on a server. It also integrates tools that allow users to navigate and find information within the platform. 

A website is a cost-effective tool for organizations that serves various functions. For starters, they are great at boosting brand recognition. Other benefits include: 

• Educating customers about your brand;
• Reaching potential customers;
• Enhancing customer relationships and
• Increasing your brand credibility.

Before launching one, you must understand what you need to identify which type to use to communicate with others about your brand.

If you're wondering which site is right for you, read on as we break down the different types of websites.

1. Landing Page

A landing page is a standalone web page that persuades users to take action. It limits distractions, increasing the likelihood for users to engage and move forward in their journey. 

Among its wide range of uses includes encouraging potential customers to sign up for your newsletter or place orders online. A landing page is also helpful in lead generation.

2. Business Sites

Websites serve as a digital introduction to your business. It can be as simple or comprehensive as you want. However, a business website must include information about your products or services, your team, and your brand message. 

You can add and customize other features to optimize how you communicate with others about your brand. For example, consider including blogs, interactive elements, intuitive design features, client lists, customer chat support, and FAQs. 

Think of a business website as a straightforward digital pitch that reflects your brand. If the visitors like what they see, it becomes a vital touchpoint for them to connect and contact your team.

3. E-commerce

E-commerce has grown exponentially as more customers demand online accessibility to products and services. Case in point, sales across global e-commerce sites are projected to reach over eight trillion US dollars in three years. 

Through e-commerce, many businesses can bridge the brand experience they provide in their physical stores to the digital space. It has also enabled small entrepreneurs to set up shops solely online. 

Over the years, e-commerce platforms have become sophisticated, with accessibility and flexibility at the core of their features. For instance, you don’t need a coding background to create an e-commerce site. Thanks to user-friendly editable templates, anyone can build a digital store in a few hours. 

E-commerce also provides end-to-end services with features like a shopping cart, order management, payment processing, shipping, and reporting.

4. Informational Sites

Informational sites provide access to knowledge on specific topics. Its main goal is to offer value through tutorials, statistics, visual content, etc. 

Informational websites are by subject experts or enthusiasts who organise related content. They aim to raise awareness or interest but not necessarily to promote a brand or a business through these static websites.   

5. Educational Sites

Educational sites can be easily confused with informational sites. However, the distinction lies in the delivery and contextual use of content. While informational sites serve personal or corporate agendas, educational sites are anchored to schools or institutions. And because of this, they are often highly vetted, ensuring reliability. 

Educational sites provide courses, academic articles, and research papers. These dynamic websites are also more interactive as they encourage visitors to engage through quizzes to reinforce what they learn.

6. Forums and Communities

If you like to dive deep into specific topics with like-minded individuals, then forums and community sites are for you. Forums are giant chatrooms where you can share information, type what’s on your mind, and explore it with knowledgeable people. 

Some popular forums include Reddit and Quora.

7. Blogs

Blogsites gained popularity because they enable online users to publish articles, opinions, thoughtful essays, and experiences in digital form. It gained a following in the early 2000s because of controversial political blogs, but this type has expanded. 

Nowadays, you can read blogs on how-to articles, travel, kitchen recipes, and anything you can think of. Some well-known blog sites include TechCrunch for tech news and trends, The Verge for news blogs, and Mashable for anything tech, life, and entertainment across the globe.

8. Government Sites

Government sites are communication tools for governments wanting to connect with their constituents. These portals contain vital information like public announcements, official forms and documents, guidelines, policies, and news about the latest developments. 

They have eased the burden of administrative offices by streamlining administrative processes and implementing feedback mechanisms for service improvement. In effect, governance has become more efficient and convenient. 

9. News

Are you looking for the latest news without picking up a paper? Then check out news sites offering diverse content, from current affairs to games and entertainment. 

Many online consumers prefer news sites for their real-time delivery. They are also easier to access on any digital device. Finally, they offer a variety of multimedia content like videos, texts, and other interactive visual elements, making it more appealing than a newspaper.

Your website can serve a combination of specific purposes. You can integrate a news section, a blog section, and a forums section. Remember to keep your structure in mind to avoid confusing your visitors.

While websites can be personalized to fit the needs of diverse users, here are some key components you should include in your web design. 

1. Domain Name

The domain name is the address of your website that appears on your web browser, like Google Chrome. Ideally, it should be short, memorable, and contain your brand name so people can easily find you. 

2. Hosting Service

A web hosting service is akin to a digital landlord. They provide the space to publish your website online for a fee. They store all your data, like photos, videos, and texts, on a web server, accessible as users surf your website. 

3. Web Pages

A web page is your content's HTML version containing texts, images, videos, etc. They are accessed via the home page, where users can click tabs and buttons. A web page can also appear when keywords or web addresses are searched on web browsers and search engines. 

4. Menus

Provide structure to your website by integrating menus. 

A menu allows for easy navigation as they are linked to other subpages. Think of these as guides or blueprints for users to follow. Some menu types you will encounter include hamburger, dropdown navigation menu, mega menu, and full-screen menu.  

5. Content

On average, it only takes 52 seconds before people exit a website. You need to get them hooked and encourage repeat visits. One way to achieve these is through your content. But you have to be strategic with what you put on your website, ensuring they resonate well with your audience. 

Now that you understand the building blocks of a website, you're ready to create one! Below are six steps and practical advice for creating an efficient and unique one.

Step 1: Choose a Platform

A website platform or builder is an easy-to-use tool that allows you to create a website without coding languages. But choosing the right platform is easier said than done. 

Your first step is to list down what you want your website to accomplish. While it can be tempting to make a website perform everything you can think of, it’s best to prioritize your goals. 

If you aim to scale in the future, then go for WordPress. It offers multiple features to optimize your website. If you prefer a simple interface that is easy to navigate, opt for a user-friendly website builder like Wix. 

For online retailers, you can create a simple online store via Squarespace. However, choose Shopify if you require comprehensive services and want to reach international customers.  

Another factor to consider is your budget. Many drag-and-drop website builders are free to use. However, freemiums usually provide limited features.

Step 2: Select a Hosting Service

You can host your website, but implementation and maintenance can be tedious. Your best bet is partnering with web hosting services. 

When selecting a hosting service, the safety of your website files is crucial. Go for a web host with iron-clad cybersecurity in place. Research past issues of web hosting companies and see how they’ve handled them. 

Running a website is also more than just a one-and-done process. You can run into several issues, so reliable customer support from your web host is a must.

Check if they provide 24/7 support through live chat, phone, or email. You can also review feedback from actual users about their experience before committing to a web host company.

Step 3: Register a Domain Name

After you’ve chosen a unique domain name, it’s time to register. Doing so ensures your competitors can’t copy you, protects your brand identity, and makes your brand more visible via SEO. It also allows you to customize email addresses, which helps to make you look professional.  

Your hosting server often offers domain registration, so check this when looking for a web host. You can expect to pay up to $20 a year. In rare cases, some domain names are free!

Step 4: Design Your Website

It’s time to bring your website to life through web design! 

Technology has allowed web designers to integrate design elements for a more interactive experience. But web design goes beyond cool effects and visually appealing looks.  

When designing your website, it helps to have a dynamic and straightforward navigation in place so as not to overwhelm users. Your design elements must align with your brand personality and identity.  

Fortunately, you need not start from scratch to achieve these. Web builders often have free and paid web design templates that even non-designers can easily edit, navigate, and maintain. 

But if you want a highly personalized website, we suggest enlisting the help of web designers. By working with professional designers, they can build a website that accurately represents your brand.

Step 5: Create Website Content

Web content creation is multi-layered and depends on various factors, such as your audience, brand personality, and brand message. Weaving in storytelling in your narrative can also make an engaging experience.

While you can DIY your content, partnering with content experts like copywriters and content creators is best. Ensuring high-quality content can effectively reach your audience and improve your brand visibility over time. 

Content can also increase your profitability. So, leave them to the experts! 

Step 6: Optimize Your Website

Now that your website is up and running, your next step is to optimize it. 

Gather and heed feedback from your team and customers on your website performance, and improve your UI (user interface) and UX (user experience) as needed. You can also schedule regular performance tests to catch any problems early.

Next is to keep your website SEO-friendly. For instance, some SEO techniques include using keywords in your content that rank high on search engines. 

Ensure you have new and refreshed content so your information remains relevant and valuable to customers. And keep track of how your website ranks through analytics tools.