If you want to grow your online business through your own website design, you must understand the different types of websites and how to design them effectively.
Today, there are an estimated 1.7 billion websites online, giving you endless opportunities to study different web design examples and learn what works best.
As a small business owner, entrepreneur, or professional web designer, it is important to be familiar with the various types of websites so you can choose the one that best fits your goals.
Before diving into the list, let’s define what website design really means and why it matters.
What Is Website Design?
Website design is the process of planning, creating, and developing web pages that form a website. It involves not only the visual layout (colors, fonts, images) but also the functionality (navigation, responsiveness, and interactive elements).
Back in the early days of the internet, only skilled programmers could build websites, and coding knowledge was a must. Today, thanks to website builders like WordPress, Wix, and Shopify, almost anyone can create a professional website within hours.
But great web design isn’t just about looks—it’s about:
User Experience (UX): Making it easy and enjoyable for visitors to use your site.
User Interface (UI): Designing attractive, intuitive layouts.
Responsive Design: Ensuring your website works seamlessly across devices—desktop, tablet, and mobile.
Conversion Optimization: Guiding visitors to take desired actions like subscribing, buying, or contacting you.
A strong website design builds trust, visibility, and conversions. Now, let’s explore the 7 website designs that actually work.
7 Website Designs That Actually Work
Here are the most common types of websites you should know, along with strategies on how to design them effectively:
- Homepage Website Design
- Landing Page Website Design
- Blog Website Design
- Portfolio Website Design
- WooCommerce (E-commerce) Website Design
- Contact Page / Directory Website Design
- Magazine Website Design
- Homepage Website Design
The homepage is the main entry point of your website and often the most visited page. It serves as the face of your brand and the central hub of your online presence.
Think of it as your digital “reception area.” If visitors are not impressed within the first 5 seconds, they’re likely to leave.
Best Practices for Homepage Design:
Keep your branding clear (logo, colors, tagline).
Use a simple navigation menu linking to key pages.
Add a hero section (large banner or video) that communicates your core message.
Highlight benefits, not just features.
Add testimonials, trust signals, or awards.
Example:
Apple’s homepage is sleek, minimalist, and product-focused. It tells visitors exactly what they need to know at first glance.
Tools for Homepage Design:
WordPress + Elementor
Wix homepage templates
Squarespace
- Landing Page Website Design
A landing page is a single, focused page built for marketing campaigns. Unlike a homepage, its goal is to drive one specific action (sign up, download, buy).
Best Practices for Landing Pages:
Keep content short, clear, and persuasive.
Use one CTA (Call-to-Action) only.
Add social proof (reviews, case studies, or testimonials).
Use A/B testing to compare different layouts.
Example:
Dropbox used a simple landing page with one clear message: “Your stuff, anywhere.” This helped them grow explosively.
Tools for Landing Page Design:
Unbounce
Leadpages
Instapage
WordPress with Elementor
- Blog Website Design
A blog is a platform for publishing content regularly—articles, guides, news, or personal stories. Businesses use blogs to attract traffic, build authority, and improve SEO.
Best Practices for Blog Design:
Organize posts into categories and tags.
Make sure the design is mobile-friendly.
Add featured images to every post.
Include CTAs to convert readers into subscribers or customers.
Ensure fast loading speed—Google ranks blogs higher when they load quickly.
Example:
HubSpot’s blog is one of the most visited marketing blogs online, driving millions of visits monthly because of consistent design and SEO-friendly content.
Tools for Blogging:
WordPress (best option)
Ghost
Medium (limited control but simple)
- Portfolio Website Design
A portfolio website is designed to showcase your work if you’re an artist, designer, freelancer, or creative professional. It works as your online CV.
Best Practices for Portfolio Design:
Only showcase your best and most recent work.
Add case studies that explain the problem and solution.
Use categories (e.g., photography, web design, writing).
Keep design minimal—let the work shine.
Example:
Behance portfolios highlight creatives’ best work in a professional layout that inspires trust.
Tools for Portfolio Design:
WordPress + Astra theme
Wix portfolio templates
Behance / Dribbble
- WooCommerce (E-commerce) Website Design
An e-commerce website allows visitors to browse products, add them to a cart, and purchase them online. WooCommerce is the most popular WordPress plugin for e-commerce.
Best Practices for E-commerce Design:
Use high-quality product photos.
Provide easy navigation and filters.
Showcase customer reviews and ratings.
Highlight sales, discounts, and limited-time offers.
Make checkout fast and secure (avoid too many steps).
Example:
Amazon is the king of e-commerce web design—clean navigation, customer reviews, and a simple checkout process.
Tools for E-commerce Design:
WooCommerce (WordPress)
Shopify
BigCommerce
Magento
- Contact Page / Directory Website Design
A contact page helps visitors reach out to you. In directory websites, it lists multiple contacts or businesses.
Best Practices for Contact Pages:
Keep it simple—name, email, phone number, and form.
Add a Google Maps integration for location-based businesses.
Include FAQs for common questions.
Ensure the design is mobile-friendly.
Example:
Most professional companies like Google or Microsoft keep their contact pages simple with a clear form and links to support.
Tools for Contact Page Design:
WPForms (WordPress plugin)
Ninja Forms
Google Maps API for location integration
- Magazine Website Design
A magazine website focuses on publishing articles, videos, and multimedia content in a structured, editorial style.
Best Practices for Magazine Design:
Keep layouts consistent across all articles.
Use large images and bold headlines.
Organize content into categories and tags.
Ensure your design is responsive (mobile-first design is key).
Example:
Forbes, CNN, and National Geographic have magazine-style designs with structured layouts and high-quality visuals.
Tools for Magazine Design:
WordPress + Newspaper theme
Joomla
Drupal
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Website Design
Now that you’ve seen the 7 website designs that actually work, you can decide which one suits your personal or business needs.
Whether it’s a homepage, blog, portfolio, or e-commerce store, your website must be designed with clarity, responsiveness, and user experience in mind.
With today’s technology, creating a professional website design has never been easier. And once you take the step to design your website, you are already on the right track to building a strong online presence.
Good luck with your website design journey!