Before I get into why someone would need a web site, I think it's important to understand what websites are technically used for. There are a few different kinds of websites that people or companies may use. These include e-commerce websites, social networking web sites, bookmarking websites, brochure websites, blogs, and personal websites. I'm sure there are many more since you can pretty much create a web site for anything now-a-days, but I'll stick to these for now.
eCommerce
Let's start with an e-commerce website. E-commerce websites are sites that consist of the buying and/or selling of products or services via online media. You see this quite often on sites like Ebay or Amazon. This type of site enables you to place your inventory or products or services online, and allows visitors to browse electronically and even make purchases.
Creating an e-commerce website allows you to expand your reach on your target market. If you owned a storefront on the corner of some block and then created an e-commerce website, you are now giving your clients an alternative to leaving there house and going to the store. Now they can browse your entire inventory right in their living room, place an order, and wait for to be shipped to their home. Or you can get really fancy and allow them to pick it up after ordering.
E-commerce websites are a great benefit if have some type of inventory or service that you'd want to sell online.
Social Networking and Bookmarking Sites
Social Networking sites allow large amounts of people to interact with each other. Some example of social networking sites are myspace and facebook. If you're interested in creating some type of online community where people can come together, send messages, post pictures, etc., then a Social Networking site would be for you.
Social Networking sites generally have high traffic and are very dynamic. This means that they are constantly being updated via users and other sources.
Bookmarking site are sites that allow you to save links on the internet via an online interface. Some example of bookmarking sites are ma.gnolia.com and del.icio.us. They are similar to bookmarking a site on your browser accept sites give you the ability to share them.
Brochure Websites
Other then eCommerce websites, I think Brochure websites are the most popular for businesses. Brochure Websites are sites that don't sell anything electronically but more so promote a business or service.
With a brochure website you can highlight what your company does, services or products that it offers, history, and pretty much anything that you would like to display.
The purpose of these sites is to create some type of presence online so people can find you, and learn a little about your company and what it provides.
Blogs
Blogs are becoming more and more popular as the years progress. A blog is something like an online journal where you can post pretty much whatever you want.
Some companies use blogs to post up to date inside news, other companies create tutorials. You can use a blog to pretty much post whatever you want. It kind of like your voice or company's voice on the internet.
Most blogs get updated frequently. Many companies are now creating a website but adding a blog section to become more personable with clients.
In fact, you're reading a blog right now =).
Personal Websites
Personal websites are everything that company websites are not. A personal website can be anything! If you're bored or if you just want to be online somehow someway, then you can create a personal website. There are no limitation to creating a personal website, some people make their personal websites a blog, others just post one page with one word. There are no limitations.
So why should you get a website?
Time keeps on moving forward. And as time continues to pass people will get older, economies will change, technology will change, etc. There is something called the paradigm shift which the dictionary defines as "a fundamental change in approach or assumptions". Paradigm shifts occur all the time. When the typewriter came out, it was the most amazing thing ever. Then word processors and computers came out and it made the typewriter obsolete.
The way people market and promote their business is changing as
well. Sure some older techniques still work but having a website is
jumping into what the future will become and almost already is.
Websites
that were around 10 years ago vary greatly with websites that are
created today. Designers and developers are getting younger and
younger because of the access to computers. They're in schools now and
kids are using them early on. In 10 years, these kids will be more
computer savvy then the bulk of us.
Having a website today will be adding a tool to expand your business and reach global markets if necessary. It's enabling access of your company to the new generation of potential prospects. It's a way to reach the masses and promote your company to increase the overall bottom line. Websites are soon becoming a necessity.
Hope this helped!
