Compare Informational, Community, and Business Approaches
I can help you develop a website that fits the specific needs of your business or non-profit organization. Most of my clients find they have one of three general design goals: informational, community, or business.
- Informational Websites
Informational websites are used primarily to disseminate information and often include electronic versions of paper publications and forms. Typical features include electronic newsletters, event announcements, and documentation of special events.
- Interactive Community Websites
Community websites allow user registration and add interactive features. Typical features include forums (electronic bulletin boards), blogs, and the ability for your organization or business to edit its own content.
- Business Websites
Business websites feature an online storefront to sell products or services. They can process customers' payments by credit card using PayPal, the world's largest online payment service.
The table below summarizes the main differences between the informational, community, and business approaches. Please remember that I customize each site for your unique needs, and this table represents only a general estimate.
Important Note: For any of the packages listed below, additional pages, advanced design customization, enhanced search engine promotion, updates not covered under the basic maintenance package, and many other services are all available at a standard $40/hr. rate.
| Features | Informational Website | Community Website | Business Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | Focus on distribution of information. A website that highlights your organization and shares your message with the world. | Focus on building a web community. A website that includes interactive features like forums and allows members of your organization to make changes and add additional pages on your own (examples include blogs, additional content, and more). | Focus on selling products and services. A website that emphasizes your values and the unique advantage that your business provides. Online store included (credit card processing subject to additional fees). |
| Design | simple layout | community layout | business layout |
| Maintenance (no additional charge) | basic updates | basic updates and support for community features and adding content | basic updates and support for sales features |
| Pages | 10 | 20 | 20 |
| E-mail accounts | 10 with 50MB quotas | 20 with 50MB quotas (option for unlimited, ask for details) | 20 with 50MB quotas (option for unlimited, ask for details) |
| Domain Name Registration | yourname.com or yourname.org | yourname.com or yourname.org with up to four additional names at $20/each per year | yourname.com or yourname.org with up to four additional names at $20/each per year |
| Web Hosting | informational package for one year (more about hosting) | community package for one year (more about hosting) | business package for one year (more about hosting) |
| Estimated Price | $200-$500 | $400-$1000 | $600-$1500 (including content/community features) |