Your website is vital for reaching customers and promoting your brand as a business owner. It is the front line of your online presence and serves as a virtual storefront for your products and services.
Knowing how to build a website that outcompetes the competition and meets the needs of your business is crucial, especially to ace your competition in your target market’s location.
For example, suppose your desired market is in Portland, and you might consider looking for developers in the same locality as they know the pulse of your targets. In that case, you should look on the internet for some Portland website development options. These local developers know how your customers think and their buying behaviors.
Building a website continues after selecting a developer to make it; now, you may get stuck with choosing either an eCommerce website or a standard website. But what do these terminologies mean, and which type of website is best for your business?
Let’s dive into both sides of the equation and explore their differences.
eCommerce Website
What Is It For?
An eCommerce website is for businesses selling products or services online. This website includes a shopping cart and payment processing options for customers to quickly purchase goods from the comfort of their homes.
It is usually flashy with an easily recognizable call to action (such as a “Add to Cart” or “Buy Now” button) and often includes options for filtering products, customer reviews, and related items.
The big key for eCommerce sites is the ability for customers to complete transactions without ever having to leave the website.
Which Businesses Use It?
Retail businesses commonly use eCommerce websites. Still, they can also be utilized by service-based companies that offer an online booking system or digital products (such as ebooks or courses).
There are plenty of platforms to choose from, but Woocommerce design is a popular option for businesses using WordPress as their website platform. This is because it is a powerful and user-friendly option for creating an online store without the heavy upkeep of a custom-built eCommerce site.
Standard Website
What Is It For?
A standard website, also known as a brochure website, is designed to provide information about your business and its offerings. This can include:
- About Us page
- Services or products page
- Contact information
- Blog posts
These are designed to educate potential customers and encourage them to reach out or visit your physical location to make a purchase. Standard websites are more about branding and establishing trust with customers.
They can also be a good option for businesses just starting or testing the waters with online sales.
Which Businesses Use It?
Standard websites are common for service-based businesses, such as local restaurants, salons, law firms, and consulting companies.
They may also be used by brick-and-mortar retail stores that want to provide information about their location and products but need the capabilities or desire to sell online.
The most popular website builder for standard websites is Squarespace, which offers beautiful templates and easy-to-use features for creating a stylish website without needing heavy coding knowledge.
Which Website Type Is Best for Your Business?
The type of website that is best for your business depends on various factors, including your industry, budget, and goals.
An eCommerce website may be the way to go if you are a retail business or service provider with the resources to invest in online sales. However, a standard website may be more suitable if you are starting or need the means to invest in an eCommerce platform.
No matter your chosen website, it’s crucial to have a well-designed and user-friendly site that accurately represents your brand and effectively communicates with potential customers.
