Web sites are the world’s window into your company. There are many different types of web sites. Some accomplish the purpose they were designed for, some accomplish several different purposes, and some fail to accomplish any positive purpose at all. The type of web site you choose will be based on this purpose (what you want it to accomplish) and your target audience (who you are hoping will visit it). Different types and purposes can also be combined within the same web site if multiple purposes need to be addressed. But all web sites have certain things in common: the ability to time shift, allowing people to visit it whenever they want, the web’s ability to overcome distances, allowing people from all over the world to access your site, and the web site’s ability to supply visitors with just the information they wwant, avoiding extraneous information. Listed below are just some of the different types of web sites with links to more expanded information about each type.
 

Type Description/Features Private Intranet Web site located on company’s private network to provide images, documents, audio and video to connected employees.   Portal Site with links to many other sites. Usuallt the first page user views when he logs on the internet.    Corporate Image Web site containing images and information a company wants to use to present itself to the public   ECommerce Enables company to sell its products over the internet. Features online catalogs, secure transactions between itself and other businesses or consumers   Downloading Files Contains computer files (documents, images, audio, video, programs) that can be downloaded from the site to an individual computer over the  internet.   Content Delivery Provides text, video, and audio to consumers.  Subjects include news, sports, entertainment, reference materials, business information.   E-Community Provides virtual meeting spot for groups with a common interest or trait. Site options can include message boards, meeting notes, classifieds, information for members only   Marketing Site that focuses on image building, product information. Includes downloadable product  brochures, company information, product descriptions, specs, images, Email contact forms.   Instructional Interactive online lessons with text, images, graphics, video, and audio presentations of course content.  May follow up with testing and progress tracking, certification   Hybrid Combines features of many web site types into a large hybrid website.  Can be one site or multiple sites linked seamlessly.

PRIVATE INTRANET                                                                                           Purpose Enhance communications betweem company staff members and workgroups. Disseminate product and technical information. Provide access to online resources such as reference materials, training programs,  workgroup conferencing, suggestion/ides bulletin board Audience Staff and employees Description Web site located on company’s private computer network used to provide images, documents, audio and video to connected employees. These may include staff training, dissemination of new product information , brochures, and information lookups.  Quick easy access to customers, products, company policies, key information or records that management wants staff to know. Often utilizes a menu system for easier access, integrate password access to certain sensitive sections for greater security. Features High security, Password protection of pages & directories, Online audio and video, Customer/vendor info lookup, Display or print technical documents, order forms, contracts. Variations Can be set up to connect multiple branch offices. Combine with portal with recommended external sites Strengths Simplifiess and enhances employee information lookups. Reduces document overload. Makes key information more accessible. Allows more control and flexibility with information security arrangements. Weaknesses Security leaks if done improperly. Development Costs Dependent on number of documents, videos, etc. to be stored and accessible, as well as media conversion costs. Development costs are modest. Maintenance Costs Dependent on costs of keeping information current, adjusting user security levels. Revenues Produced From Savings realized due to fewer errors caused by employee lack of information, less employee time used to locate information when needed.

PORTAL                                                                                                                               Purpose Organizes and displays links to a large number of selected web sites when browser is launched. Audience All web users. Companies, special interest groups, parents, organizations can customize portals for their staff, members, or kids. Description Site with links to many other sites. Usually the first page user views when he logs on the internet.  Makes accessing favorite web sites quick and easy. Web Fin develops custom portals that we configure with choices you provide. Features Navigation bar with subjects listed. Drop down topic submenus Variations Can incorporate current information pulled from the web at launch. (News, weather, stock prices, sports scores) Strengths Provides easy links to favorite or most useful sites, as well as current information such as weather, news, sports, ticker tapes, etc. Organizes hundreds or thousands of links into a usable structure with menus, submenus, and descriptions Weaknesses Must be changed when links change. Adding sites is not as easy as IE’s Favorites function. But one portal can serve an entire family or corporation Development Costs Modest.  The more subjects and links, the greater the cost. Maintenance Costs None, except when new links are added or changes are made. In these cases, costs are still minimal. Revenues Produced From Time saved typing and remembering or searching for sites.  Some portals produce revenue through the use of banner ads as well.

CORPORATE IMAGE                                                                                         Purpose Create public image of company Audience General public, clients, potential clients, potential investors Description Web site containing images and information a company wants to use to present itself to the public. . Features Attractive graphics and images, corporate philosophy, mission statement, company policies, marketing and product information, press releases Variations Initially a small site that provides company information while a larger, more elaborate main site is being developed. Strengths Quick to develop. Creates positive company image. Provides prospects with a more in depth picture of your company at their convenience. Weaknesses Usually doesn’t draw multiple visits. Can provide competitors with information about your company as well as prospects. Development Costs Modest Maintenance Costs Minimal. Starter sites focusing on corporate image can be rolled into more extensive upgrades later, reducing development costs on elaborate site. Revenues Produced From Additional clients, business revenue increases that accompany good PR

ECOMMERCE                                                                                                    Purpose Business to business transactions, sales of goods to consumers Audience Client businesses. Existing clients and customers. Consumers Description Enables company to sell its products and services over the internet to other consumers, other businesses. Sales conducted betweeen businesses or from consumers. Usualy offers online ordering.  Accepts credit card payments.. Features Online catalogs, Secure order forms, Secure credit card transactions, Shopping carts, Dynamic pages Variations Business to Business (B to B), Business to Consumer (B to C), Customer Service section to answer customer questions, help out when problems arise Strengths World-wide 24/7 service. Provides product information to potential buyers prior to close. Decreases cost of sales. Weaknesses Fixed structure. Little human contact making it difficult to quickly answer buyer questions. Security issues including identity theft and credit card fraud. Development Costs Medium to High Maintenance Costs Medium to High.  Neeeds daily transaction handling. Revenues Produced From Profits from online sales of products. Markets sapn the US as well as international. Savings in cost of sales.

DOWNLOADING FILES                                                                            Purpose Transfer large files from a web server to a remote user location Audience Clients, customers, Software upgraders Description Contains computer files (documents, images, audio, video, programs) that can be downloaded from the site to an individual computer over the internet. Features Menus, tables containing filenames with descriptions, version numbers listed Variations Downloading program updates, training programs, audio, video, large graphics files Strengths Larger file sizes can be downloaded compared to email attachments. Allows easy distribution of updates and corrections Weaknesses Security, Large bandwidth requirements Development Costs Modest Maintenance Costs Modest to medium.  Main cost is for bandwidth. Revenues Produced From Fees charged for each file download. Subscription, registration fees.

CONTENT DELIVERY                                                                                     Purpose Provide news, reference information and entertainment to users Audience Variable.  Mainly general public or organization members with an interest in the content. Description Provides text, video, and audio to consumers.  Subjects include news, sports, entertainment, reference materials, business information. Goal is to provide highest rates (Big visitor numbers) to charge higher ad fees.  Features Multi-level menus, site search, conversion of documents to Acrobat format, compressed audio and video Variations Commercial, educational, archival, non profit, for profit. Reference sites, news, entertainment, emagazines Strengths High interest. Attracts repeat visitors. Weaknesses Content must be refreshed regularly to remain current. Development Costs Very high. Must be done well. Content must be obtained, produced, then converted for web use. Maintenance Costs Very high. Content must be regularly updated. Revenues Produced From Ads, subscriptions

E-COMMUNITY                                                                                                        Purpose Provide a common area for people with similar interests to interact and exchange items and ideas over the internet Audience Members of an ecommunity or organization. Prospective members,people with similar interests Description Provides virtual meeting spot for groups with a common interest or trait. Password protected.  Provides benefits to members. Features Message boards, Downloadable meeting notes and archives, member classified ads, information for members only. Password protection, List of links to sites with special interest to members Variations .org sites Strengths 24/7 access. Common area with current information. Idea exchange. Weaknesses Flamers, infiltrators Development Costs Medium Maintenance Costs Medium high, depending on new and member-created materials added to the site Revenues Produced From Dues, sales commissions, Ads by vendors wishing to each interest group

MARKETING                                                                                                                   Purpose Provides information about a company to customers and prospective customers with the goal of building a positive public image and providing information about its products and services. Audience Customers, prospective customers, potential investors Description Site that focuses on building a company’s public image and providing product information. Can include downloadable product brochures that can be printed by site visitors. Site may contain company  information, product descriptions and specs. Uses high quality graphics design and images to prsent positive, successful facade. Features Email forms, attractive graphics, video promos, dearch engine registration, downloadable company brochures (Adobe Acrobat format). Variations Combined marketing information with customer/staff training Strengths Prospects and customers can focus on just the information they wish in a time frame most convenient to them. Weaknesses Must be classy or it will convey a negative impression of the company. Development Costs Medium to high. Use of video and animation can add significantly to the cost. Maintenance Costs Modest, unless constant updates and new segments are required. Revenues Produced From Savings in cost of sales, advertising and marketing. Can replace significant time sales staff spends with prospects introducing them to the company and its product line. More time can be spent focusing on and addressing specific customer situations and problems and closing.

INSTRUCTIONAL                                                            Purpose Deliver instruction over the internet to students, owners, employees, and customers. Audience Staff, students, customers. Offered by institutions to off site students, continuing education departments to night school students, or by companies to customers for product usage training Description Interactive online lessons with text, images, graphics, video, and audio presentations of course content. May follow up with testing, progress tracking and mastery certification. Features Combined video, audio, text and animation presentations. Interactive lessons with online testing, remedial feedback and progress tracking. Mastery certification Variations University courses, online staff training, customer education, public and private school lessons and tutorials. Extensive video, audio, animations, slide shows. Structured scope and sequence or discovery within a interrelated learning environment Strengths 24/7 availability, self pacing, use of multimedia, cost effectiveness Weaknesses No human intervention to clear up confusion when it occurs. Tools to implement Socratic methods not available yet. Development Costs Medium to high. Adding video, animations, and interactivity increases cost dramatically. Maintenance Costs Modest Revenues Produced From Tuition fees. Savings in employee training (Travel costs, time off, scheduling issues.) Anciliary sales of completed course products on CDs, videotape, text and workbooks.

HYBRID                                                                             Purpose Addresses the wide spectrum of purposes a company may have for its web presence by combining many different web site types and features into a single site, customized to fit the complete web site needs of a company Audience Customers, clients, prospects, general public Description Combines features of many different types of web site types into a single large website. Can also be multiple sites linked seamlessly. Features Any and/or all web site features are available on a hybrid site. Variations Single large site or multiple smaller sites that vare tightly interlinked. Strengths Variety. Allows many options, purposes and features to be addressed in one site. Weaknesses Too many features on one site can be confusing to visitors. Tendency to lose focus of site’s purpose with too many types mixed together. Development Costs Variable Maintenance Costs Variable Revenues Produced From Any or all of the sources listed previously: sales, ads, fees, subscriptions, increased business revenues, reduced cost of sales, marketing, and training.