When preparing to build a website, first find out "what kind of website I want to do" can save a lot of time and cost. This article is practical-oriented, to help you sort out the common types of websites (official website, blogs, shopping malls, etc.) features, advantages and disadvantages and applicable scenarios, and to give advice on the selection and implementation of the list, so that you can make decisions based on the goals, budget and technical capabilities. This article uses the keyword "website type selection" many times to help you focus on the essential needs in planning.
Why is the choice of website type important?
The requirements for technical architecture, content production, operational costs, security and compliance vary greatly from one website type to another. Choosing the wrong type can lead to:
- Over or under functionality, wasting resources;
- Prolonged go-live cycle and high cost of post-production transformation;
- Poor user experience and conversion, affecting business goals.
H3: Ask three questions first
1. What is the core goal of my website? (Showcase branding/customer acquisition/sales/content operations/community)
2. What is the expected traffic and complexity? Will there be payments, user systems or lots of dynamic data?
3. What is the team's capacity and budget range?
Common website types and features (itemized)
H3: Corporate website / Brand website
Characteristics: company introduction, product services, cases and contact information, emphasizing brand image and trust building.
Advantages: clear structure, low maintenance cost, SEO friendly.
Disadvantages: weak interactivity, conversion relies on landing pages and external channels.
Suitable for: most small and medium-sized enterprises, traditional service industry, B2B companies.
H3: Marketing website / landing page
Characteristics: Designed around a single campaign or product, the goal is to quickly capture user conversions (forms, appointments, purchases).
Pros: high conversion rate, quick launch, easy A/B testing.
Cons: Short life cycle, need to be continuously placed and optimized.
Suitable for: short-term promotions, new product promotions, advertising support pages.
H3: E-commerce / mall (including multi-store platform)
Characteristics: Contains product management, shopping cart, payment, order, logistics and after-sales process.
Advantages: strong direct cash flow, traceable data.
Disadvantages: high development and operation and maintenance costs, high security and compliance requirements (payment, privacy).
Suitable for: B2C/B2B e-commerce, retailers, brand direct sales.
H3: Blog / Personal Portfolio
Characteristics: content-based, emphasizing update frequency and reader stickiness. Technically it can be a static site or lightweight CMS.
Pros: low cost, good SEO, suitable for content marketing and personal branding.
Disadvantages: traffic and cash need time and strategy.
Suitable for: authors, creatives, independent consultants, personal brands.
H3: Media/Portal
Characteristics: a large number of content release, multi-person collaboration, the need for strong content management and categorization system.
Pros: suitable for building traffic pools & realizing ads/members.
Disadvantages: high technical requirements, complex editing process, the need for stability to support large traffic.
Suitable for: news media, large content platform.
H3: community/forum/question and answer platforms
Characteristics: user-generated content-based, heavy social relationships and activity.
Advantages: strong user stickiness, high long-term operational value.
Disadvantages: complex content audit, community governance and continuous incentive mechanism.
Suitable for: interest communities, product user communities, Q&A platforms.
H3: SaaS Product/Application Official Website
Characteristics: Showcase software features, cases, pricing and provide a trial or registration portal, often with the back-end system.
Advantages: highlights the conversion path (trial → pay), easy to track user behavior.
Disadvantages: need to be combined with product back-end development and rights management.
Suitable for: SaaS companies, online tools, service subscription business.
Comparison and Generalization (Table)
| Type | Core Objective | Key Functions | Cost & Cycle Time | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise official website | Brand display, trust | Company page, cases, contact | Low-medium, fast on-line | SME, B2B |
| Marketing landing page | Increase Conversions | One-page forms, A/B testing | Low, very fast | Campaigns, Ad Placement |
| E-commerce/Mall | Sales Conversion | Products, Payments, Orders | High, long cycle | Retail, e-commerce |
| Blog/Portfolio | Content is King | Articles, categories, comments | Low, fast | Individuals, content creators |
| Media/Portal | Traffic & Realization | Multiple editors, recommendations | High, O&M required | Media organization |
| Community/Forum | User interaction | Posts, messages, permissions | Medium-High, Long Term | Community Operator |
| SaaS official website | Lead trial/payment | Registration, billing, API | Medium-high, synchronized with product | Software Company |
How to choose according to the goal (practical advice)
- If the main goal is to "display information and limited budget", choose the enterprise official website or template website, which can be expanded later.
- If the goal is "fast customer acquisition/promotion", give priority to the landing page or marketing station, with advertising and conversion optimization.
- If the goal is to "sell goods directly", consider e-commerce platforms or mature e-commerce systems (Shopify, Magento, domestic cloud store solutions) from the beginning.
- If the goal is "to do content and long-term precipitation of traffic", prioritize the blog / media structure and develop a content plan.
- If the goal is to "build community and repurchase", community platform or embedded in the product community function is more appropriate.
H4: Mixed and Progressive Strategy
You can start with a low-cost type of quick validation (e.g., using the combination of enterprise official website + landing page), and then upgrade to a complex type such as e-commerce or community when the demand is clear, to avoid a one-time investment is too large.
Quick checklist before building a website (executable steps)
1. Define the main goal and core conversion path (one page vs. one CTA).
2. List mandatory vs. optional features, distinguishing between MVPs and future iteration items.
3. Choose hosting solution (static site/CDN, cloud hosting or dedicated server) based on traffic estimates.
4. Choose technology or platform: template site (Wix/Shopify), CMS (WordPress/Ghost), custom development.
5. Prepare content and materials: copywriting, product images, case studies, privacy policy.
6. Configure monitoring and backup: Buried points, logs, automatic backup and HTTPS.
7. Focus on tracking conversions and adjustments within 30 days after launch.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
H4: Q: I don't know which type to choose, what should I do?
A: Do 1 page of PRD (Purpose, Users, Core Metrics), verify user response with Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and then decide on the expansion path.
H4: Q: Can multiple functions be merged into one site?
A: Yes, but pay attention to complexity and performance, suggest modularized design, or use microservice/subdomain strategy to share the pressure.
H4: Q: Is it necessary to do mobile adaptation?
A: Must. Now most users come from mobile, mobile-friendly affect SEO and conversion rate.
Conclusion
There is no one-size-fits-all "best website type", only the best choice that matches your goals, budget and team's capabilities. Put your core goals first, prioritize the smallest viable site that delivers business results, and continue to iterate based on data and user feedback. By following the advice above, you'll be able to find the right route to building a site faster.
Reference:
- MDN Web Docs: building a website - https://developer.mozilla.org/zh-CN/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web
- Shopify Teaching Center (Getting Started in Ecommerce) - https://www.shopify.com/learn
- Google Web Fundamentals (Performance and Mobile Optimization) - https://developers.google.com/web/fundamentals?hl=zh-cn