What Kind of Website Does Your Brand Actually Need?

What Kind of Website Does Your Brand Actually Need?

However, not all businesses require the same type of website. In fact, choosing the wrong website could cost you more than just money. It could cost you customers, credibility, and ultimately conversions. Before you invest in a new website or a redesign of an existing website, it is worth asking yourself a fundamental question: what type of website does your brand genuinely need?

The answer to this question depends on a number of factors. This guide will walk you through all of this in order for you to make a more informed and strategic decision.

Why Your Website Type Matters More Than You Think

Your website is usually the first point of contact for your brand and a potential customer. According to Stanford University’s Web Credibility Research, a staggering 75% of people determine a company’s credibility based solely on the way a website looks. This statistic alone should give all business owners pause.

The wrong website for your business – for example, a basic brochure website for a business that requires a lead generation website – does not just fail to meet your expectations. It actively works against you. Visitors come to your website expecting certain things. They come with a certain expectation. And when their expectations are not met – and they leave your website in droves – well, that is just what happens.

That is why all good professionals – and a good Freelance Web Designer Singapore – always start their process with a discovery phase before writing a single line of code.

The Most Common Website Types (And Who They’re For)

Brochure Websites: Simple, Clean, and BrandFocused

A brochure website is essentially an online version of a print-based company brochure. A brochure website’s basic structure includes a home page, an about page, a services page, and a contact page. A brochure website is static, educational, and meant for creating trust.

Best for:

• Small businesses and service-based companies
• Consultants, coaches, and individual service providers
• Startups that are early in their development journey and want to establish brand awareness

If your goal is to educate your visitors about your brand, your products, and your services, and your sales process is not online, then a brochure website is an ideal way to start.

It is very important that you do not mistake “simple” with “unimportant.” A simple brochure website still requires proper user experience, responsiveness, speed, and optimization to succeed in today’s complex online environment.

Lead Generation Websites: Built to Convert

A lead generation website is essentially designed with one purpose and one purpose only: to generate leads. Every single element of the website, from headline copy to button copy, is designed with conversion in mind.

Best for:

• B2B service companies
• Real estate companies
• Law firms
• Financial and consulting companies
• Home improvement companies

Such websites require proper copywriting, social proof, and landing page techniques to be successful. If your business requires high-quality leads and inquiries, then you should look for such a website.

A Freelance Website Designer Singapore with experience in conversion rate optimisation (CRO) will be able to design your website in such a manner that it will be able to convert the traffic that visits your website.

ECommerce Websites: Sell Around the Clock

If you want to sell products, then you will need an ecommerce website. An ecommerce website will be designed in such a manner that the customers will be able to buy your products without any interaction with your sales staff.

Best for:

• Retail businesses
• Retail businesses that want to take their business online
• Boutique retail businesses
• Artisan sellers
• Digital product creators

Ecommerce websites are the most complex websites that you will ever design. A good ecommerce website will require proper design, not only in terms of aesthetics but also in terms of usability. It should be designed in such a manner that the customers should be able to find their products easily.

Singapore’s ecommerce industry has been growing significantly over the past few years. As per the data available on Statista, the ecommerce revenue in Singapore will reach 10+ Billion by 2025.

Portfolio Websites: Let Your Work Speak for Itself

Portfolio websites are ideal for creatives, agencies, and professionals whose business is won based on their ability to deliver results. These websites feature a high amount of visual content, with previous work and case studies taking center stage.

Who it’s best for:

•  Graphic designers
•  Photographers
•  Videographers
•  Architecture and interior design firms
•  Marketing/advertising agencies
•  Web designers

Ironically, most of these professionals are web designers themselves, yet they need a portfolio website that will help them secure clients who will, in turn, trust them with designing their websites. Your portfolio website should be your number one sales tool, and it should be fantastic.

Membership and Subscription Websites: Turn Fans into Recurring Revenue

Membership websites feature content that’s hidden behind a paywall, accessible only by those who pay. These websites are designed to create recurring income from your loyal fan base.

Who it’s best for:

•  Online educator
•  Professional communities/associations
•  Content publisher
•  Fitness coach

Key Questions to Consider Before Building Your Website Type

Before you begin, consider jotting down the following essential questions for yourself or for the freelance website designer in Singapore you plan to work with. Here’s some questions to ask yourself for start:

•  What is the single most important action you’d like to get visitors to perform?
•  What kind of audience will you be working with, and how do they best interact?
•  What is the role of content in the website?
•  Do you plan to sell, or will you be focused more on building relationships?
•  What is the budget for the website, and for its upkeep?

The above questions aren’t just important; they’re actually essential in determining the best website type for you. A veteran freelance website designer in Singapore would likely ask you these questions during the discovery call, as everything depends on these factors.

SEO and Its Impact on Website Structure

Many people assume that the website type is the determining factor for the success of the website in terms of SEO, but the truth is that the content volume is the actual determining factor for the success of the website in terms of SEO. A fivepage website can only hold so much content, while an ecommerce website can hold hundreds of pages. The intent of the site matters and Google will show different type of website to different queries. So, get it right!

Google favors fast, mobile-friendly, secure, and organized websites, and no matter the website type, it is more important than ever to have a solid foundation in technical SEO.

In the competitive online market in Singapore, it is not just important to have a visually appealing website but also to have solid technical SEO, as there are so many businesses competing for the number one spot on Google.

Why You Should Hire a Specialist

The difference between a programmer who creates websites and a web designer who uses the power of psychology, marketing, and SEO to design a website that guarantees you the best results is quite large, and as a seasoned freelance website designer in Singapore, I can assure you that it is not just about making the website visually appealing but also about getting you the results you need to reach your business objectives.

Although a freelance website designer is more likely to offer you a more personal experience than an agency, it is important to note that you should research the freelance website designer you plan to work with.

Matching Your Brand’s Stage with Your Website’s Needs

Your brand’s current phase is what should influence the type of website you should create. Here’s how this works in real life:

•  If you are an early stage brand, simplicity is the answer. Your website should state what you are about.
•  If you are a growth-stage brand, the answer is generating more leads. Your website should be designed for this.
•  If you are an established brand, the answer is creating an online community. Your website should contain multiple sites such as your website, a resources site, an online store, and memberships.

Selecting a website type that matches your brand’s phase instead of where you want your brand to be in three years is a better and more strategic move financially.

Your Website as a Business Asset, Not Just a Digital Brochure

The big brands in the market understand the importance of a website. To them, a website is a living entity that generates revenue and is constantly being perfected. Whether you are creating a website for the first time or improving a bad website, the idea is to understand what you need, not what looks cool or what others are doing. The answer is simple: the type of website you need and the right people who can deliver the results you need. Ready to create a website that works hard for you? Get in touch with a trusted Freelance Website Designer in Singapore.