23 Types of Websites to Inspire Your Own [+ Examples]

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I spent hours scrolling through countless websites, trying to find inspiration. With over one billion websites out there, it felt like I was searching for a needle in a digital haystack. That's when I realized I needed to take a step back and figure out exactly what type of website would work best for my freelance business. Once I understood the different categories and their unique design practices, things started falling into place.

Now, having gone through this process myself, I want to share what I've learned. In this article, I'll walk you through 23 common types of websites we encounter daily. I'll provide examples that highlight the distinctions in site design and execution, drawing from my own experience where relevant.

1. Business Websites

A business website is a company's digital presence - it presents a business for visitors. While business websites come in many sizes and shapes, they all aim to present the business's products and services to visitors in a way that acquires new customers, clients, and/or partners.

Usually, business websites include descriptions of their offerings and a way to either purchase through the website or contact the team to initiate a sale or partnership.

From there, it's all up to the business to decide what to include on its site - some sites are dense, while others are stripped down with just one or a few pages. It's all about what best aligns with your branding and what your target market wants to know.

Let's look at two business sites that show this contrast. Modern Health is a personalized mental healthcare delivery service with a website that explains the app's purpose, value, features, and plan options for employers. It accomplishes this with a mix of copy, videos, testimonials, infographics, and blog posts.

Modern Health

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What I like: The website communicates the app's purpose and value through a mix of copy, videos, testimonials, and infographics. I appreciate how it draws attention to their mission around mental health - and the strong imagery draws me in to learn more.

In contrast to Modern Health's content-rich site, the website for Cambridge-based low-waste shop Cleenland has no frills. The layout and design choices are simple to give prospective customers all the information they need when planning a visit.

Cleenland

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What I like: The simple layout aligns perfectly with the company's mission of reducing waste. I'm impressed by how they use white space to highlight the essential information customers need when planning a visit.

Whatever business site you're trying to build, the most important thing is that you have a company website. When someone learns about your business and wants to know more, they're likely to search your name online.

When this happens, you'll want your website to show up in search engine results, as it's pretty much assumed any legitimate business these days has a website. If they can't find yours, they'll probably lose interest.

There are hundreds of solutions for building business websites (and websites in general), ranging from more involved and customizable content management systems like WordPress and Content Hub to low-touch website builders like Squarespace and Wix.

For those looking for a quick and easy solution, HubSpot's AI Website Generator can design a single-page site based on simple prompts, getting you online in minutes.

Business websites may also include ecommerce, blog, community, and knowledge base components as well, all to engage and convert visitors.

2. Ecommerce Websites

Ecommerce websites sell products, be they physical goods or digital content. Visitors can browse the website's listings, read up on product details, and purchase directly from the website. Ecommerce websites are focused entirely on retail, but business websites, blogs, and other website types may also host an online store for selling products or merchandise.

Ecommerce sites sell all sorts of things, but most stick to a familiar model - products are categorized and presented in a list format, and clicking an item brings you to a dedicated product page. You can usually search for products as well via a search bar.

On each product page, you can add the item to a virtual "shopping cart" or "shopping bag." At any point, users may enter the checkout process, in which they enter shipping and payment information to complete a purchase. Some website builders and hosting platforms even have different ecommerce specialties.

Blinkstore

For example, Blinkstore is a free website builder created exclusively for print-on-demand companies.

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It includes plenty of features, such as product mockups, an order management system, shipping integration, and more. These tools make it simple to build a professional-looking website with specific features catered for running a successful ecommerce business.

Briogeo Hair Products

For an example of a visually engaging, informative ecommerce site, check out Briogeo Hair Products. Its pages capture attention with a rich pastel color palette to highlight its different products. The navigation menus include product thumbnails to reduce reading, and it displays its mission, results, and blog sections prominently alongside its shop.

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What I like: This website boasts an exceptional design that seamlessly combines captivating visuals, intuitive navigation, and compelling storytelling to create an immersive and user-friendly experience.

Because ecommerce websites are often large, complex, and require infrastructure to securely handle payments and shipping, ecommerce platforms are a very popular go-to for new businesses launching online stores.

Shopify is the leading option - for a monthly fee, it handles everything from site design to hosting to payment processing. Shopify also integrates with HubSpot to level-up your online marketing, sales, customer service, and analytics capabilities.

3. Blogging Websites

Blogging sites are difficult to define since their use has evolved so much over time. The blog (short for "weblog") format began as a way for anyone to publish casual, long-form written content about their interests.

Since then, blogging has been adopted by entrepreneurs and businesses to mark their presence online. Today, you can consider a blog to be any website that publishes written content in the form of articles (or blog "posts") based around a topic.

If you're an online business, a well-written, informative blog can be a major asset to your marketing strategy. It brings traffic to your site, establishes authority on search engines, converts visitors to leads, and eventually convinces those leads to take the next step to become customers. A blog that's relevant to your business niche proves that you're knowledgeable and committed to being the best in your industry.

To maximize the impact of your blog, consider using HubSpot's Content Marketing Software, which can help you plan, create, and optimize your content for better visibility and engagement.

If you need an example of business blogging in action, you're looking at one. HubSpot writes four popular educational blogs - Marketing, Sales, Service, and Website - each filled with articles to help scaling businesses grow better.

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What I like: As a blog website, HubSpot emphasizes readability, clean typography, and a well-structured layout, ensuring a seamless browsing experience for readers.

Wait But Why

Many individual bloggers have also found success, including Tim Urban. His blog, Wait But Why, explores topics in science, technology, philosophy, and math.

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Each post goes incredibly in-depth, so much so that I forget the design is pretty standard WordPress. Still, this goes to show that quality content is king. I'd recommend starting with this mind-blowing post about the AI revolution.

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What I like: Wait But Why excels in its unique design that combines entertaining visuals, relatable content, and seamless navigation, creating an engaging and immersive experience for readers.

Blogs don't need to be part of a larger monetization push - they can be a simple way to share your passion. Most popular bloggers get their start this way. So, if you want to launch a blog to share your favorite pasta recipes with your friends and family, go for it. With HubSpot's free Blog Maker, you can have your blog up and running in no time.

4. Real Estate Websites

Real estate websites are online platforms that list properties for sale or rent, making it easy for me to search for my dream home or investment property.

Zillow

My go-to site is Zillow. It lets me window shop for houses from my couch, see tons of photos, get all the important details like price and square footage, and even take virtual tours of some places.

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What I like: The map feature is super handy. You can zoom in on neighborhoods you like and see what's available. Plus, they have this cool "estimate" tool that gives you a rough idea of what houses are worth.

The filters are a lifesaver, too. Want a three-bedroom place with a pool under a certain price? Boom, you can set that up in seconds.

5. Food and Recipe Websites

Love to cook but aren't exactly a pro chef? I'm in the same boat and food and recipe websites are my kitchen heroes.They're like having a bunch of super-skilled cooking buddies right at your fingertips.

My absolute favorite is AllRecipes. It has recipes for pretty much anything you can think of.

Craving grandma's apple pie but don't have her secret recipe? They've probably got something close.

Allrecipes

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What I like: There are so many features that make finding recipes convenient! The user reviews are goldmines. Real people sharing their tweaks and tips? That's priceless. It's saved me from more than a few cooking disasters. The how-to videos are super helpful for tricky techniques. No more guessing what "fold gently" actually means.

6. Entertainment Websites

Entertainment websites aim to, well, entertain. Like blogs, the content on these websites takes the form of articles. However, there's usually a larger team behind these websites to produce content in larger volumes.

Take Reductress, a satirical news website that pokes fun at magazines and media targeted at women.

Reductress

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What I like: The site's design itself is modeled after the news outlets it parodies, right down to categorizing posts by topic, and pairs hilarious titles and subtitles with stock thumbnails to encourage clicks.

I also like Pitchfork, a music review site that has been around since 1995.

Pitchfork

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What I like: Pitchfork has a cohesive, elegant front-end design, a sharp color scheme throughout, and clear navigation for everything the publication offers, including reviews, news, and its music festival.

Entertainment websites monetize primarily with display ads, sponsored content, and affiliate links, though they may also sell merchandise through an online store to supplement these forms of income.

7. Wiki Websites

Ever wondered how so much information ends up online? Wikis are often the answer.

Wiki websites are collaborative platforms that allow users to create, edit, and share knowledge collectively.

Here are two examples: Wikipedia and Fandom.

Wikipedia

Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, is probably the most well-known wiki in the world.

Where else can you find information on topics ranging from quantum physics to the history of Taylor Swift? It's a treasure trove of knowledge that's constantly updated by volunteers worldwide.

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What I like: Wikipedia's scope and accessibility are incredible. Need a quick overview of a complex topic? Wikipedia's got you covered. Want to dive deep into a niche subject? You'll find plenty of references to guide your research. The interconnected nature of its articles often leads me down fascinating rabbit holes of information.

Fandom

Fandom, on the other hand, caters to enthusiasts of various entertainment franchises. Ever found yourself needing to know the entire backstory of a minor character in your favorite TV show? Fandom is the place to go.

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What I like: I love this site's depth of content for specific topics. The passion of fan communities shines through in the detailed articles and discussions. Whether I'm trying to understand the lore of a video game or looking up obscure facts about a movie series, Fandom rarely disappoints.

8. News Website

News websites are like entertainment sites, but mostly comprise news reports. As such, these sites aim to inform more than entertain. News websites also tend to have a notably different aesthetic than entertainment websites, often with a cleaner layout and aesthetic.

Take The New York Times as an example - it heavily uses a grid layout to present the latest stories and typography to mimic its printed counterpart.

The New York Times

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What I like: Despite being renowned for its authoritative journalism, I love how the New York Times skillfully incorporates elements of sleek design, engaging visuals, and user-friendly interface to deliver an outstanding news website experience.

In place of on-page advertising, many news sites offer a subscription for access to their content. The New York Times limits the number of free articles users can view before they must purchase a subscription. Other online news publications place part of their articles behind a paywall or limit the number of free daily articles.

9. Government Websites

Government websites are official online platforms created and maintained by various levels of government to provide information and services to the public. I frequently use these resources to access official information, complete necessary tasks, and stay informed about policies and regulations.

One government website I often use is Canada.ca.

Canada.ca

Canada.ca is the main portal for the Government of Canada and offers a comprehensive range of information and services. I find it to be a reliable starting point for almost any government-related query I have, whether it's about immigration, health care, or employment.

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What I like: Its clean, intuitive design. The site is well-organized, with clear categories and a powerful search function. I particularly appreciate the "Most requested" section on the homepage, which often saves me time by highlighting commonly sought-after services and information.

I also like this government website because it's reliable and comprehensive. When I access information here, I can trust that it's official, up-to-date, and applies specifically to the Canadian context. I especially need this when it comes to understanding my tax obligations.

10. Nonprofit/Organization Website

Websites are one of the best ways to establish legitimacy for a business, and the same can be said for nonprofit organizations and non-corporate entities. These types of websites serve to promote an organization, communicate the organization's purpose, and often request and field donations.

Just because your site isn't selling a product service, that doesn't merit a shoddy design. To be effective, a nonprofit's website must clearly convey its mission and goals from the homepage with emotional weight, with additional pages going more in-depth on individual projects and initiatives.

I really like it when websites list organizations they've collaborated with, testimonials from those they've served, a calendar of future events, and a donation CTA to capture new contributors while they're engaged.

Nonprofits can employ different design approaches, too.

For example, Color of Change is a leading online racial justice organization that empowers its members to campaign for a more equitable and just society for Black people in America.

Color of Change

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What I like: Color of Change meets you with a fullscreen background image and clear CTAs on the first page. Visitors can scroll to learn more, but this design choice makes a strong first impression on new visitors and potential donors.

Take Southern Poverty Law Center, another American nonprofit, as an example.

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What I like:Southern Poverty Law Center approaches its homepage design like a news publication might, with image tiles corresponding to stories and updates. It also prioritizes a CTA that encourages visitors to subscribe to its newsletter.

11. Coupon Websites

Who doesn't love a good deal? Coupon websites help you find the best offers and reduce your overall spending.

They're online platforms that aggregate and share promotional codes, discounts, and deals from different retailers and service providers.

Two examples are RetailMeNot and Rakuten.

RetailMeNot

RetailMeNot is a popular coupon site that offers a wide range of discounts for both online and in-store shopping. It covers numerous retailers across various categories, from clothing and electronics to travel and food.

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What I like: RetailMeNot has a sheer volume of coupons available. The site's search function makes it easy to find deals for specific stores or products. The community aspect is especially helpful, as users can comment on the effectiveness of coupons, helping me avoid expired or non-functioning coupons.

Rakuten

Rakuten is another coupon site that I find extremely useful. While it offers traditional coupons, its main draw is the cashback feature, which allows users to earn money back on their purchases from participating retailers.

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What I like: The site's browser extension is particularly convenient, automatically alerting me to available cashback offers and coupons as I shop online. I also appreciate how Rakuten sends out regular payments that turn my everyday shopping into a source of extra income.

12. Directory Websites

Directory websites are online platforms that compile and organize listings of businesses, services, or individuals in a structured format. They're great for finding and comparing options in various categories.

Two directory websites I frequently use are Yelp and Yellow Pages.

Yelp

Yelp is a popular directory that features local businesses, restaurants, and services. Users can rate and review businesses, making it an excellent resource for gauging quality and reputation.

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What I like: Yelp offers a comprehensive review system. The ability to read detailed experiences from other users helps me make informed decisions about where to dine, which services to use, or which local businesses to support. Also, I like how the platform's search filters let me narrow down options based on price range, location, and features.

Yellow Pages

Yellow Pages is a more traditional business directory that has successfully transitioned online. It provides listings for a wide range of businesses and services across various industries.

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What I like: Yellow Pages has a straightforward, no-frills approach to business listings. The site is easy to navigate, and I appreciate how it often includes essential information like business hours, contact details, and website links all in one place.

13. Booking Websites

I love exploring new places and experiences. Booking websites make the entire planning process so much easier.

Booking websites have completely changed how we plan travel, find accommodations, and attend events.

Airbnb, for example, transformed the accommodation industry by allowing people to rent out their homes to travelers. Remember when your options were limited to hotels or hostels? Airbnb changed all that.

Airbnb

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What I like: Airbnb offers a very unique experience. Want to stay in a treehouse in Costa Rica? Or how about a houseboat in Amsterdam? Airbnb makes it possible.

The platform's user-friendly interface, with its detailed listings and honest reviews, helps me find the perfect place to stay. Plus, the ability to communicate directly with hosts gets me insider tips about the local area.

On the other hand, Eventbrite caters to a different kind of booking - events. From concerts and workshops to local community gatherings, Eventbrite has become my go-to for discovering what's happening around me, especially when I want a taste of the local culture while traveling.

Eventbrite

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What I like: Eventbrite is quite diverse. One day, I might be booking tickets for a rock concert, the next for a cooking class. The platform's recommendation engine often introduces me to events I wouldn't have found otherwise. And, the ease of managing my tickets directly through the app? That's a huge plus in my book.

14. Membership Websites

Membership websites require visitors to register an account to take full advantage of what the site has to offer. These sites range from educational resources to web apps to news and entertainment publications. In all of these, some or all valuable content is protected and only available to "members" of the website and, in many cases, requires payment to access.

How exactly a membership site's content and services are gated varies widely - some websites reserve all content for members, while other websites make some items free and others exclusive.

Membership websites may accept one-time payments for access, be subscription-based, or require no payment at all, just a sign-up. Blogs, entertainment sites, and news sites have been shifting to this model to generate revenue.

Going is one example of an effective membership site.

Going

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What I like: The service helps me find inexpensive round-trip flights from the United States to popular travel destinations and sends an email alert when it finds a deal for me. I need to create an account to use a service. Then, they can enjoy its free offerings or upgrade to a premium membership for access to more offers.

15. Wedding Websites

As someone who's actually planned their own wedding, I think wedding websites are a Godsend. They're super convenient for sharing all the important details with your guests in one spot.

You know, things like when and where everything's happening, how to get there, gift ideas, and a way to RSVP without the hassle of snail mail.

I'm a big fan of The Knot's website builder. It's so easy to use, even if you're not tech-savvy. You can pick a design that matches your wedding vibe, and boom - you've got a pretty site.

The Knot

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Here's an example of a website built with The Knot:

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What I like: The Knot helps you keep track of who's coming and manage all those guest questions without losing your mind. The privacy settings are great, too. You don't want just anyone stumbling across your wedding details online, right?

All in all, these websites make the whole planning process way less stressful. When you're juggling a million wedding tasks, that's a huge relief!

16. Portfolio Websites

Online portfolios are a great way for creative freelancers and agencies to present their work. Whether you specialize in painting, illustration, film, photography, graphic design, sculpture, prose, or poetry, you can craft a portfolio website that showcases your creative best.

Portfolios are also an option for professionals outside the arts - for instance, programmers can build portfolios for their coding projects, and marketers can use portfolios to recount their most effective campaigns.

As a freelancer, a portfolio website has been extremely handy for me to showcase my expertise and credibility.

There are thousands of portfolio websites out there to inspire yours. France-based freelance designer Julie Guzal's is just one example.

Julie Guzal

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What I like: The minimalist, broken grid layout places focus on her body of work, with several small design quirks to make it memorable. There's also a prominent (but not distracting) contact button near the bottom to get in touch.

Musician websites are another great reference for innovative design. The band Japanese Breakfast updated its site's visuals to accompany an album release.

Japanese Breakfast

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What I like: Again, we see a prominent CTA on the homepage, with subtle links to view their music, tour dates, and more.

Or hey, you can have a look at my website too.

Kiran Shahid

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I created my website using Webflow. The learning curve was a bit steep compared to other website builders like Wix, but buying a template made the process much smoother. Plus, maintaining a website has also been a breeze with Webflow.

Since creative professionals and agencies utilize portfolios to land work with clients, these sites lean more formal in their presentation. For a more casual approach, you might consider a personal website, which we'll cover next.

17. Personal Websites

A personal website is all about you. Use it as a medium to express yourself and your thoughts through writing, projects, visuals, or media, as long as it reflects your unique perspective.

The goal of your personal site is also up to you - if you want to use a personal site to advance your career, you could post your resume detailing your work experience and consider adding a bit more visual flair than a plain PDF file.

If you're an entrepreneur, a personal website establishes your personal brand. Or, you might just need an online space to vent your ideas - doing so has never been easier.

As one example, the personal site of front-end developer and designer Fatima Burke exemplifies a more professional take on the personal site, listing skills, clients, projects, and products.

Fatima Burke

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What I like: This website is great as a personal resume, as it immediately displays the About section and key skills in an easily digestible manner.

18. Educational Websites

As a freelance writer, I've really felt the pressure to keep upskilling lately, especially with AI shaking up the industry.

One platform I've found super helpful is Teachable. Teachable lets experts create courses on pretty much anything. So whether I need to brush up on SEO techniques or learn about the latest AI writing tools, there's usually a course hosted on Teachable for that.

Teachable

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What I like: The website is pretty straightforward - it's easy to find video lessons, quizzes, and extra materials to help the info stick.

I appreciate how you can track your progress. It's motivating to see how far you've come, especially when you're juggling multiple projects and clients.

Here's another educational website: Maven.

Maven

Maven takes a different approach to online learning, and I find it really refreshing. Instead of pre-recorded courses, Maven offers live, cohort-based classes led by industry experts.

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What I like: The courses are typically more intensive and run for a set period, which helps keep me accountable.

One thing to note is that Maven courses often come with a higher price tag than some other platforms. But for the level of expertise and interaction you get, many find it worth the investment.

19. Job Board Websites

Job boards are one-stop shops for finding your next gig. Way easier than the old-school method of pounding the pavement with a stack of resumes. They connect job seekers with employers and list available job opportunities.

Indeed

Indeed is a great example of a job board. It's super user-friendly and has tons of listings from all sorts of companies. You can find everything from entry-level jobs to executive positions in pretty much any field.

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What I like: The search filters also help me narrow things down by salary, location, job type - you name it. The "Easy Apply" feature is awesome too. Sometimes, you can apply for jobs with just a couple of clicks, using your saved resume. No need to fill out a million different application forms. I also love the company reviews. I get the inside scoop from current and former employees before you even apply.

20. Forums

Forums are online spaces for people to discuss things that interest them. They consist of message boards for different topics and moderators to ensure things stay civil. If a visitor wants to participate in your forum, they'll register with an account first - membership can be free, or you can charge for it.

While forum websites certainly exist on their own, they're also valuable as an extension of an existing site. For example, an educational website may include a forum where students can chat about courses and answer each others' questions.

Community platform app Duolingo does this with a section for forums, blogs, articles, wikis, and more.

Duolingo

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SaaS companies also often leverage forums as a support resource. Products with strong developer communities are invaluable in lowering the learning curve of a product - as are knowledge bases, our final website type.

21. Knowledge Base

If you run a business, you can bet that your customers will have questions. To get out ahead, you can create a knowledge base, a website that contains documentation and answers to common questions about your product or service.

Knowledge bases sort their support resources into hierarchies, making them easier to navigate and find what users need. Knowledge bases are typically also searchable - the fewer obstacles between you and your desired resource, the better.

Plus, you can analyze your visitors' search queries and reshape your product to better address needs. This all works to decrease the number of support requests and makes for a frictionless experience.

Hubspot

Again, we can look to HubSpot for a model of what a knowledge base can be. The HubSpot knowledge base provides answers to product-related questions and guides for every feature. Easily searchable, our knowledge base lets you filter queries by resource and see your location on the site with breadcrumbs.

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What I like: The neat layout that emphasizes the search bar and different sections with accompanying pictures will keep visitors coming back.

22. Video Streaming Websites

Video streaming websites are online platforms that allow users to watch video content over the internet without downloading the files. These sites host a wide range of content, from movies and TV shows to user-generated videos, and deliver it to viewers in real time.

Who hasn't heard of Netflix?

Netflix is a subscription-based streaming service that offers a vast library of movies, TV shows, and original content.

Netflix

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What I like: Netflix has a personalized recommendation system. It's constantly learning from my viewing habits to suggest new content I might enjoy. I also appreciate the user-friendly interface that makes it easy to browse and discover new shows or movies across different genres.

YouTube

YouTube, on the other hand, is a free platform that hosts user-generated content alongside professional productions.

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What I like: You can find any kind of video on YouTube. Whether I'm looking for educational videos, music, entertainment, or even niche hobby content, I can usually find what I need. The platform's algorithm is impressively good at suggesting related videos that keep me engaged.

To create a good video streaming website, focus on smooth playback and minimal buffering. Users expect high-quality video that starts quickly and plays without interruption. You also need a robust search and recommendation system to help users discover new content they'll enjoy.

23. Memorial Websites

Memorial websites are online platforms dedicated to honoring and remembering loved ones who have passed away. They're a touching way to celebrate a person's life and create a lasting digital tribute.

Ever Loved

One example of a memorial website platform is Ever Loved. Ever Loved allows you to create a beautiful, personalized memorial page with photos, stories, and even a timeline of the person's life.

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What I like: I appreciate how it combines practical features like funeral event planning and donation collection with more sentimental elements like a guestbook for condolences. The ability to invite others to contribute their memories makes it a collaborative space for healing.

Creating a good memorial website requires a delicate balance of sensitivity and functionality. It's important to provide a respectful, dignified space for remembrance while also including practical features that can help during the difficult time following a loss. Security is also crucial - you want to ensure that only approved individuals can contribute to or view certain parts of the site if desired.

What's your website?

After exploring these 23 types of websites, I have some great examples up my sleeve that I can learn from. Reflecting on my own website creation journey, I now see how understanding your niche simplifies the process.

It's also good to know that your design doesn't have to reinvent the wheel to make an impact. Use examples or even templates to make the process even easier. They offer a great starting point and allow you to customize and add your personal touch without starting from scratch.

Start by referencing the above examples as a jumping-off point, and check out our website inspiration lookbook for even more case studies in web design.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in April 2024 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Topics:Website Design

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