It is a bit odd, isn't it, to ask what websites are for, especially in this time? If you are reading this, you are almost certainly already on a website. You probably frequent them daily. But the question is still important to ask when you are looking to add your own presence to the mix. Even today lots of businesses (usually family owned) don't have a web presence. It's not technically necessary, no matter what the digital goo-roos say. In order to be satisfied knowing that you have a worthy contribution to the world-wide-web, you should be aware of what websites are for. There are 5 main categories of website use. Each will determine the approach and success of your efforts, your money, or your venture.
Reason One: to be accessible
This is reason one because it is, in my opinion, the most universal and valid grounds upon which to have a web presence. We live in a busy world. And our attentions can only be stretched so far. For small and large organizations alike, we don't have time to repeat who we are and what we offer to every person in the world. Websites provide, first, a public notice-board where people who have questions about your services can find answers. Read here about the top 5 questions web users ask of a website.
Reason Two: to find new clients
One of the beauties of the web is to be able to connect with people you would never find otherwise. Many web contacts live hundreds or thousands of miles away. Many would never frequent your physical address. They might not have any other way to know that you exist. Web services, particularly dedicated websites, can provide a vast network of clients or partners. For what is available, the cost of time and money associated with it is fantastically low.
Reason Three: to spread a message
An organization that is not primarily looking to sell services is looking to put out a message. This message might be informational (history, news, documentary), entertainment (stories, jokes, music), correctional (opinion articles, religious blogs) or activist (awareness for a problem, tips on improving habits). Of course there are more. The primary focus of this kind of website is the message itself. Usually there is a hierarchy of importance. There are foundational points that need to be made first. Then there are many applications of that principle which are expounded by pages, articles, podcasts, videos, etc.
Reason Four: to sell products
The reason this option is so far down on this list is because it is proportionately less common. We go online to buy things all the time. But typically our merchants for purchasing are few. The number of businesses who do a significant percentage of their sales online is relatively low. Bigger companies that are able to advertise or companies that spend a lot of attention to gaining reputation are the ones that we use most. It takes a lot of trust before digital transactions occur. For this reason, most people find ways to piggy-back off of existing web-sites that handle the authentication for them (think eBay, etsy, amazon, etc). Most product advertisement websites don't handle financial transactions themselves.
Reason Five: to connect
This last one is the least produced purpose, but perhaps the most consumed. It is almost the opposite of reason three. Instead of putting a message out, this purpose seeks the input of its users. Forums and Help centers fit this purpose, and are usually constructed under a different model than the parent website. Social media platforms are primarily about requesting input of its users. Relatively few projects attempt connecting users to each other because they require the most maintenance and receive the most criticism. Ma and Pa's coffee house could set up a social media network for their clients, but would need to be realistic and specific about their expectations and strategies with such an endeavor.
So what kind of websites do you like to use the most? Which model best fits your project? While many sites combine these goals in different ways, it's best to pick you top purpose and design accordingly.
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