What is the purpose of a website?

Rebecca Tomasis
4 days ago
4 min read

If you're a business owner, a website is no longer a nice to have but pretty much a necessity. As the world moves more and more online, creating a website to help you start and run your business is a must. Whether you use your site to sell, for marketing or to make it easier for clients to access your services, it should be an integral part of starting a business and building a brand.

Understanding the purpose of a website and more importantly, the purpose of your website lies at the heart of deciding why you need a website and how to go about designing one. It will also help you choose which type of website is best for you.

Learn more: How to make a website from scratch

What is a website?

A website is a collection of interconnected web pages accessible via the internet. Beyond this, websites are essential tools for businesses, providing a means to reach and engage with customers effectively. They can also be used to sell goods and services or for bookings and scheduling.

Websites host and deliver content, including text, images, videos and sometimes interactive elements like a form or poll as well.

Examples of websites include:

Websites can be used to provide information or a service depending on their type and purpose.

What are the different types of websites?

Websites come in various forms, each with distinct purposes and catering to different business needs. Understanding the different types can help you choose the right one for your business and help you clarify its purpose more clearly.

Static websites: these are sites with fixed content that doesn't change, ideal for businesses whose information or services don't change frequently. Examples include on-page websites, portfolios and informational sites.

Learn more about how to build a static website.

Dynamic websites: these are usually more complex sites that include content which is updated regularly and in some cases interactively. Examples include social media sites like Instagram, large ecommerce sites like Amazon and news sites.

Learn more about static vs dynamic websites and which to build.

Components of a website

All websites regardless of their purpose are made up of the same components and website infrastructure. These include:

Domain name: This is the unique web address that users type into their browsers to access a website.
Web hosting: The service that stores your website's files and makes them accessible on the internet.
Content Management System (CMS): A software application used to create and manage digital content.
Website user interface (UI): The design and layout that users interact with when visiting the site.
Website navigation: The system that allows users to move through different sections of a website easily.

What are the main purposes of a website?

Websites can serve multiple purposes and understanding what each of these is can help you get the most out of your site regardless of your business type.

Awareness

One of the main purposes of a website is to increase your brand awareness. It can be used to provide up to date information about your products, services and company values. Its an effective way to build a brand online while reaching a wider audience. Take the example of a corporate website who uses their site for thought leadership content on topics related to their industry.

When you choose to use a website builder like Wix, you also get access to its analytics tool — this is in-built and allows you to track traffic to your website by segment and source, as well as showing you how long users spend on a page and other behavioral metrics. Not only can this data help you understand your potential customers better, it can help you tweak your website design, content, product listings and so much more, in order to target them better.

Lead generation

Websites can be powerful tools for generating leads. Through contact forms, newsletters and calls-to-action you can capture visitor information and nurture potential customers. As an eCommerce business owner you might use your site to offer promotions alongside easy navigation to encourage purchases.

Sales

eCommerce websites and online stores are designed to sell. Meaning you can use a website to do more than just showcase and market your products, you can use it to sell too. A website can be a great way to get your products directly in front of the the people who will buy them.

Learn more:

Not looking to sell but run a service business? Websites are a great way to manage client bookings via scheduling software, forms and other resources.

purpose of a website - bookings, scheduling, running a business

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Information sharing

Websites are a great way to share content with your audience and community. You can use blog posts, articles, videos and more to educator visitors and establish your authority. For example, as a nonprofit organization you might use your nonprofit website to spread awareness abut your cause and to solicit donations.

Learn more:

Reach

With a website you can connect with potential customers from across the world and on any time zone. For many businesses this opens up new avenues of business growth. You can also use a website for better customer service support, either through a chatbot or a forum and knowledge base answering frequently asked questions.

Competitiveness

If the businesses and brands you compete with have strong websites and you don't, you may not be as competitive as you think. Not having a website means you lack an online presence and are present in one less space where customers and and clients can find and interact with you. And if you're not there and your competitors are, they're engaging online with your customer base and you're not.