Classification of website projects

As a multidisciplinary designer, over the past decade, I’ve gained significant experience working on different types of websites. I would like to share my classification of website projects.

When you’re starting a new website project, it’s important to clearly understand what website project classification it belongs to. This could help to identify scale, type and obviously how your users will be interacting with it.

This classification is based on user interaction. Its main purpose is to determine:

  • type of website project
  • key metrics
  • similar projects
  • user interaction

I’m fully aware of the fact that any classification cannot be complete, simply because there may be a website project that stands out from this classification.

Service

This is usually the type of website project, where it does something for the user. With a simple press of a button, it does an action, something that will be valuable for consumer. As an example, convert files from one format to another, check domain name availability, check website traffic, generate a name, etc.

Examples:

  • is it up? (a simple tool to check if a website up or down)
  • tinyPNG (compress .png images)
  • uber (get a ride in minutes)

The main characteristic of this website classification is simplicity. These types of website usually feature very minimal set of buttons or information fields. Users usually do not interact with each other. As a user, you’re only expected to click on a button and get the result.

Marketplace

Marketplace – this is the classification of website projects where seller and buyer find each other.

Some examples:

There are two types of users: sellers and buyers. Only buyers communicate with sellers: sellers do not interact with other sellers. The main characteristic of marketplace classification is that it connects the customer with and seller.

Tools

Tools allow you to collect, process, analyze and modify data. Good examples of tools are:

The main characteristics of the tool: the abundance of functionality (as opposed to the service, there are a lot of configurations), it’s used continuously for a certain amount of time. Users can interact with each other if the tool features this functionality. A typical monetization model for this classification of website projects is a subscription.

News resources

News resources are web projects visited by users to receive news. Here are some examples:

Users are often limited to just commenting on the material and the main characteristics of such services: the number of reads, likes, comments, repost.

This type of websites usually distinguishes two types of users: authors and readers.

Social

Social classification applies to platforms where people interact with each other. Unlike News classification, users are equal here and create the same type of content.

These platforms help to exchange experience and knowledge, solve current issues and just have a good time.

Informational / hybrid

The purpose of this type of websites is to gather information and be a directory or encyclopedia. Examples below:

Users on such projects either do not interact with it at all or have a minimal set of functions, such as a personal account.

If you have any questions with your current project or need help delivering it, get in touch with me.

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