Whether looking for certain products or services, or researching a specific topic, the internet is almost everybody’s go-to resource. It is therefore very important for companies, organisations and self-employed people or freelancers, to have their own internet presence. These days, this is the only way to ensure that your services and offers will be noticed.
If you want to build your own website, there are many options. There is a wide selection of web design services for both advanced users or professionals, and beginners alike. Even without any prior knowledge of designing a website, there are a number of tools available to assist you in making your own website. Before considering exactly how you will create your website, first think about what kind of site you are interested in – different sites serve different purposes. Some of the most common website formats are as follows:
Personal Website
Websites can be used to display a personal story or a family story. With such sites, it is common to explain one’s interests and career path with photos – and the themes are more often than not part of the webmaster’s personal experience. In addition to this, personal websites are often created for special occasions (weddings, additions to the family, etc.). This type of website is often used as a diary that is viewable to the public.
Blog
A blog (long form: weblog) is a website that mostly publishes content in the style of a diary or a magazine. Similarly to the private website option above, all content focuses on the blogger. However, in contrast to a private website, a blog usually centres on one specific theme or topic. In terms of blog content, there are almost no limits; popular themes include popular culture, fashion, lifestyle, technology or politics.With high-quality and sought-after content, texts suited to your target audience and an appealing web design, it is easy to set up a successful blog that also earns money. The most common web applications for the creation of a blog are wordpress.com, blogger.com and tumblr.com.
Photo Gallery
The internet is full of images in all shapes and sizes – so much so that some there are a number of websites that are almost entirely dedicated to them. Artist and photographer websites, as well as sites for furniture, jewellery or fashion brands, also include a lot of imagery. Generally speaking, photo galleries are a great option for companies or businesses that need to display a number of products or references. The way in which a photo gallery is embedded on a website depends on the system used to create your website, or your website builder. There is also a large selection of social media platforms that offer a simple method of publishing and circulating images (for example: Instagram, Pinterest or Flickr).
Promotional Website
Some people use their website for professional purposes and upload their C.V. as well as further information on their professional career and some work samples. A referral to somebody’s promotional website can make your application stand out from the crowd and act as a testament to a forward-thinking and initiative-showing applicant – as long as it is well presented and aesthetically pleasing.To ensure that your personal data is not open to the public, protect your private documents (personal résumé, certificates, etc.) in a password-protected section of your website. This way, you simply have to send the password to the relevant person dealing with your application.
Online Business Cards
For business relations it is a good idea to build a website in the style of a business card. The great advantage of business cards is the speed with which they can be designed. A single page for basic information and contact options is also sufficient. Some online business cards are made from a number of web pages in order to display certain information separately, such as your own portfolio. Online business cards for both companies and self-employed people, have the same purpose as promotional websites for people on job hunts; your internet presence displays your personal strengths and should contribute to your personal success. Regardless of whether your digital business card is a single page or a complete website, this is normally the starting point for small companies in the digital world – especially for small businesses and self-employed people – and eventually grows into a full-fledged business website.
Company Website
Company websites usually have a larger amount of content and a deeper structure than online business cards. Depending on the sector or the firm, business websites usually contain content that has an informative or entertaining function. An online presence can strengthen a company’s image, it can be used as a marketing platform for new publications and services, or provide support as well as communication channels for the target group. The same applies to the websites of self-employed people and organisations that do not solely aim to make a profit. Many company websites do not just inform about their various products and services, but also offer a service to purchase or order such items directly via their website. There are also many sites that exist exclusively for specific products or brands. If the focus of a commercial website is on the sale of goods, then it is considered an online shop.
Online Shop/Web Shop
E-commerce is an integral part of everyday life for many people and an end to the online trading boom is nowhere near in sight. For those wanting to create their own online shop, a fully-functioning and specified website is of course required. In addition to this, there are a number of other aspects to take note of: before creating an online shop, it is important to first create a business plan. Other areas of responsibility include the distribution of purchased goods and the search engine optimisation (SEO) of the online shop in order to make it more visible in Google search results. In addition to this, as an online retailer there are various legal frameworks that must be adhered to.
