Website types explained: simple sites, CMS, webshops, landing pages, web apps and intranets

Almost every project I get asked about is one of six types. Here is the short version of each and how they map to my services.

1. Simple website

Two to seven pages: home, about, services, contact, sometimes a gallery. Perfect for salons, small studios and freelancers who need presence, not complexity. Fastest and cheapest to launch.

2. CMS website

Built on a content management system so you can add and edit pages yourself. Ideal when you plan to publish blogs, news, portfolio items or events without calling a developer every time.

3. Webshop

Product catalogue, cart, checkout, payments, shipping, invoicing. This is what you want the moment you sell physical or digital goods. Options range from Shopify to fully custom.

4. Landing page

One long, focused page built to convert. Used for ad campaigns, product launches, event sign-ups and lead magnets. Measured in conversion rate, not visits.

5. Web application

A site that behaves like software: user accounts, dashboards, calculators, booking systems, admin panels. If your idea has verbs — book, upload, calculate, manage — you are talking about a web app.

6. Intranet

An internal site for your team: documents, procedures, shift schedules, onboarding, internal news. Only your staff can access it. Great for growing teams that outgrow shared drives.

How to choose

• Just need to exist and be findable → simple website
• Publishing regularly → CMS
• Selling products → webshop
• Running an ad campaign → landing page
• Building a tool → web application
• Serving your own team → intranet

Still unsure which one fits? Feel free to get in touch and I will point you to the right option.