There are many different types of Web site, and as many styles as there organisations. For now let's consider the different basic types:

  • Business card
  • Brochure
  • Catalogue
  • Reference
  • Full Shop

This is not a comprehensive list but a good start. These types are explained in more details below. When you consider which type to have, the most important issue is "what do you want the Web site to do for your organisation?"

The types noted below are ranked broadly in terms of their complexity, and their ability to promote and generate business. In general, the level of interactivity will increase as you go down the list (ie is the Web site something you just look at or can the viewer do something with it).

Business card

This is the most common type of Web site, and often doesn't need to go beyond a couple of pages. It fills the "black hole" behind email addresses, so that when you get the email from joebloggs@bloggsco.co.uk and you look for www.bloggsco.co.uk on the Internet, there is something there.

What does it do for the organisation?
It presents an "image", tells people what the organisation is about, and gives contact details. Also, most business card sites will allow the viewer to send an email to the organisation without having to separately type an address into their email system.

Brochure

This type is really a development of the business card. It often runs to several pages and effectively forms a brochure for the organisation, but not necessarily a detailed list of products or services (if relevant).

What does it do for the organisation?
It gives potential clients instant access to the message and information you want to put across. In many instances it deals very effectively with the tentative phone call asking for a brochure to be posted - the potential client can be directed to the Web site, have a look, phone back, talk further and even make a decision before you've licked the stamp. Perhaps more importantly it can generate business from clients who would otherwise never have known about you - effective marketing will ensure that the Web site appears on Internet searches and will inform people about your organisation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This Web site is effectively a brochure.

How interactive is it?
As well as an email link, the brochure Web site might offer:

  • The ability to download a brochure file (PDF) which can easily be printed out
  • The ability to request further information via an electronic form to be filled in on-screen
  • The ability to request that someone from the Web site organisation ring you back at a certain time
  • Links to other related Web sites (including location maps)

Catalogue

The catalogue does everything that the brochure does and is particularly useful for companies offering a physical range of products. Each product is shown in detail so that the viewer can phone and order.

What does it do for the organisation?
The most obvious advantages over a printed catalogue are:

  • Instantly available almost anywhere, anytime
  • Easier, quicker and less costly to produce - if your product range changes this can be reflected in the Web site catalogue very quickly. Your customers are updated quickly (you could even email all known customers with the details of the product changes, in one hit, at very little cost) and you are not left with 10,000 out of date printed catalogues.

How interactive is it?
Much the same as the brochure, but in addition the catalogue web site often has an order form built into it which can be printed, completed by hand and posted/faxed, or completed on-screen and emailed. Some brochure and catalogue Web sites (and others if appropriate) have a log-in section, where known users can enter a password to enter a part of the site hidden to others. This can, for example, be particularly useful if you want to providedetailed contact information for all your personnel, but only to existing customers.

Reference


This really is a variation of the brochure, for organisations where information is more relevant than physical products. Examples might be a database of over the counter drugs, reference articles, bed and breakfast accommodation and so on.

Full Shop


The logical development of the catalogue Web site is the full shop. The difference here is that the database of products is held on specialist software "hidden" behind the Web site, and the site relies on a relationship with, and instant communication with, a bank and/or credit card clearing agency.


What does it do for the organisation?
In addition to the Catalogue web site, it allows sales to be generated and paid for automatically, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.