Website design plays a defining role in how users interact with digital content. With over 1.1 billion websites live globally as of 2024 (Internet Live Stats), businesses and individuals must adopt design structures that meet specific functional and user expectations.
Each website type, whether built for commerce, communication, or personal branding, follows design principles tailored to its goal. For example, e-commerce platforms prioritize conversion speed, while blogs focus on readability and content discovery. These design choices are not aesthetic preferences; they influence metrics like bounce rate, session duration, and conversion rate.
According to GoodFirms, 73.1% of users judge a company’s credibility based on website design alone. Meanwhile, mobile-first layouts and fast load times remain crucial, as over 60% of web traffic comes from smartphones (Statista, 2024).
In this guide, I will provide clear explanations of the 12 most common types of websites. You’ll understand what each one is used for, how the design supports that purpose, and why it matters. Whether you’re a small business owner, a freelancer, or just curious, this article will help you understand what type of web design fits your needs.
1. Portfolio Website
A portfolio website helps creative professionals showcase their work in a clean and visual way.
These websites are used by designers, developers, writers, photographers, and artists to display their best work. The layout is usually simple, with a focus on images or project previews.
Visitors can quickly browse through past projects and learn about the person behind the work.
Most portfolio websites use large visuals, short descriptions, and easy navigation. Some include case studies or testimonials to add credibility.
A well-designed portfolio can help you land jobs or freelance projects. According to a study by Adobe, 59% of people prefer beautifully designed content over something plain, even if the information is the same.
Tools like Webflow, WordPress, and Squarespace make it easy to build one. These platforms let you customize how your work is displayed without needing to write code.
2. Personal Website
A personal website is your own space on the internet to share who you are and what you care about.
People use these sites to introduce themselves, post blogs, share hobbies, or create an online resume. They’re popular among students, job seekers, and anyone who wants to have a personal presence online. The design often reflects the personality of the owner, and colors, photos, fonts, and layout can all be customized.
These websites don’t follow a strict format. Some focus on blogging, others on life updates or creative writing. What matters most is that the design is simple and easy to explore. Most personal websites include an “About Me” page, a contact section, and social links.
Platforms like Carrd, Wix, or WordPress are commonly used because they’re beginner-friendly and allow full control over how the site looks.
3. Blog Website
A blog website is made to publish written content on a regular basis, organized by topics or dates.
Blogs are used for many purposes, some for personal expression, others for business marketing or news. No matter the goal, the design must help readers easily find and read content. That means clean typography, clear navigation, and mobile-friendly layouts.
Blog posts are often grouped into categories or tags to help readers explore more content. Many blogs also include featured images, author bios, and comment sections. Good design keeps readers on the page longer and makes them more likely to return.
Data from HubSpot shows that businesses that blog regularly get 55% more visitors than those that don’t. Most blogs are built using platforms like WordPress, Ghost, or Medium, all of which offer tools to manage content and improve readability.
4. Business Website
A business website represents a company online and gives visitors a clear idea of what the business offers.
These websites usually have a professional look and include sections like services, about us, testimonials, and contact forms. The design is meant to build trust, show authority, and guide visitors toward contacting or buying from the business.
According to Stanford research, 75% of people judge a company’s credibility based on its website design. That means things like layout, colors, fonts, and spacing all play a role in how serious and trustworthy your business appears.
Most business websites use clean navigation, bold headlines, and strong calls-to-action like “Get a Quote” or “Book a Call.” Speed also matters. A fast-loading site keeps users engaged and helps with search rankings. Some businesses also connect their site with tools like email marketing platforms or CRMs to manage leads.
5. eCommerce Website
An eCommerce website lets people browse, choose, and buy products directly from the site.
These websites are built for shopping, so the design needs to make buying easy and fast. Products are often organized into categories, with filters, search bars, and reviews to help customers make decisions. Each product page usually includes photos, prices, shipping info, and a buy button.
The goal is to reduce any friction that might stop someone from completing a purchase. According to the Baymard Institute, 17% of shoppers abandon their cart if the checkout process is too long or complicated. So, eCommerce sites must be simple, clear, and mobile-friendly.
They also need to feel safe. Trust signals like secure payment icons, return policies, and customer reviews help people feel more confident. Most eCommerce websites are built on platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce, which offer built-in tools for managing orders and payments.
6. Social Media Website
A social media website is built to help users connect, share content, and interact with others online.
These sites are centered around user-generated content. Profiles, posts, likes, comments, and messaging are the key features. Unlike other website types, the content isn’t published by one person or brand, it’s created by millions of users at once.
The design must support constant interaction. Pages refresh in real-time, notifications show up live, and feeds keep users scrolling. Navigation is kept minimal to avoid distractions and maximize time spent on the site. Facebook, Twitter (X), LinkedIn, and Instagram are the most well-known examples, but there are thousands of niche communities as well.
Building a social platform is complex. It requires a backend that supports huge amounts of data, along with strong security features. The design must also prevent confusion. If users can’t easily upload a photo, edit their bio, or reply to comments, they’ll likely leave. Simplicity, speed, and personalization all play a big role in success.
7. Membership Website
A membership website allows people to access exclusive content, services, or communities after signing up or paying.
These websites work on restricted access. Some let users join for free, while others offer premium content through subscriptions or paid tiers. The design has to guide users through the sign-up process clearly, showing the value before asking for payment.
Once logged in, members might get access to lessons, forums, videos, or downloads. These features are kept behind a login wall, which helps control who sees what. Creators and educators often use membership sites to share online courses, webinars, or premium articles.
Clear user dashboards, content progress bars, and account settings are part of good membership design. Platforms like Kajabi, Teachable, and WordPress (with plugins like MemberPress) are commonly used. As subscription-based models grow in popularity, businesses are putting more effort into making these sites intuitive and easy to navigate.
8. Wiki or Community Forum Website
A wiki or forum website is used to collect, organize, and share information with help from a community.
Wikis are designed for collaborative knowledge-sharing. Anyone with permission can add or edit content. Forums, on the other hand, are built for discussion, people ask questions, share advice, and start conversations around a shared interest. Both types need a structure that makes content easy to find and trust.
Wikipedia is the best-known example of a wiki. Its layout is text-heavy, simple, and structured with headings and links. It’s not flashy, but it works for what it’s meant to do. Forums like Reddit or Quora follow a thread-based design, where answers are grouped under the main question.
Good design in these sites focuses on usability. Search functions must be strong. Navigation should allow users to jump between topics.
There should also be systems to moderate content or upvote useful answers to highlight the best information. These design features help grow trust and keep the community active.
9. Magazine and News Media Website
A magazine or news media website publishes articles, videos, and updates in a structured way to inform or entertain readers.
The design mimics traditional newspapers or digital magazines, using headlines, thumbnails, and categories to organize large volumes of content. Visitors should be able to skim headlines quickly, find a topic of interest, and read without distractions. This makes layout planning essential.
News websites often update multiple times per day, so the homepage has to adjust dynamically. Featured stories go at the top, while trending or recent content is sorted below. A report by the Reuters Institute showed that over 60% of users access news from mobile devices, which means responsive design is no longer optional.
To increase engagement, these sites often include comment sections, share buttons, and related story suggestions. Monetization is usually handled through ads, subscriptions, or sponsored posts, so load speed and clean ad placement become critical. Common platforms include WordPress with custom themes or enterprise CMS platforms for larger publishers.
10. Video Streaming Website
A video streaming website lets users watch content directly on the site without needing to download it.
These platforms are built to handle large media files and deliver them smoothly. Visitors expect fast buffering, high video quality, and easy navigation. Popular examples include YouTube, Netflix, and Twitch. But streaming sites also serve niche markets, like online education, fitness coaching, or product demos.
The design usually centers around video thumbnails, categories, and personalized suggestions. Auto-play features and watch history help keep users engaged. Because streaming eats up bandwidth, strong server support and smart video compression are critical behind the scenes.
From a user’s point of view, things must feel simple. A clean layout, visible play buttons, and smooth transitions between videos improve the experience. On mobile, touch gestures and full-screen viewing are important design features. Most streaming platforms rely on strong visuals and minimal text to guide users through the content quickly.
11. Web Portals
A web portal is a centralized access point for tools, content, or services, often tailored for specific users like employees, customers, or students.
Portals are usually private or semi-private systems that require login access. Examples include school portals, client dashboards, HR systems, or healthcare accounts. Unlike public websites, portals focus on personalized content and secure access to data.
The layout is structured with menus, widgets, and internal search tools. Users often need to manage their profiles, track updates, or download documents. The design must support multiple user types, each seeing different content based on their role or access level.
Because of the sensitive nature of the data inside a portal, security and user permissions are built into the design. At the same time, the interface should feel intuitive. If users can’t find what they need quickly, the portal fails its purpose. Clean dashboards, alert boxes, and mobile-friendly menus all help improve usability.
12. Landing Pages
A landing page is a standalone web page created for a specific goal, usually to get users to sign up, buy something, or take action.
These pages don’t have menus or extra content. Everything is focused on one offer, one message, and one call-to-action. That’s why landing page design must be clear, focused, and distraction-free.
Most landing pages are part of marketing campaigns. Businesses use them for ads, email campaigns, or product launches. According to Unbounce, the average conversion rate for landing pages is around 9.7%, but high-performing ones can reach 20% or more. Good design makes a big difference.
Key design elements include a clear headline, supporting text, a form or button, and maybe a short video or testimonial. Pages should load fast and look good on both mobile and desktop. Tools like Leadpages, Unbounce, and Elementor are often used to build them.
How to Create Your Own Website
Creating your own website starts with choosing the right type based on your goal, then using the right tools to build it.
Start by asking what you want the site to do. Are you selling a product? Sharing your resume? Running a blog? Each purpose has its own design needs. Once you know that, pick a platform. WordPress is popular for blogs and business sites. Shopify is great for online stores. For portfolios or personal pages, tools like Webflow, Carrd, or Squarespace work well.
Next comes choosing a domain name and setting up hosting. Many platforms offer this as part of a bundle. Then you can start designing. Most platforms offer templates, so you don’t need to design everything from scratch. Customize the layout, colors, and fonts to match your style.
Make sure your website works well on mobile, loads quickly, and is easy to navigate. Add essential pages like “About,” “Contact,” or “FAQ” depending on your needs. And don’t forget to connect it to tools like Google Analytics or Search Console to track traffic and performance.
Even if you don’t have design experience, building a modern, functional website has never been more accessible.
Not Sure What Website Type Fits You Best?
It’s easy to get stuck choosing between platforms, features, and layouts, especially when every site has a different purpose. Whether you’re building something simple or planning something big, the first step is just getting clear on what you actually need.
At Marketorr, we work with individuals, startups, and growing businesses to design websites that actually fit, no generic templates or confusing tech. Just clean, functional design that makes sense for your goals.
