Full width – no more sidebars. This layout came with mobile-first design. Think of how websites look on cell phones – all 1 column. Expand that look to a desktop version. Designing for mobile first is a trend that will not be going away anytime soon. Things that used to be put into sidebars, like opt-in forms, are now getting a full width section all to themselves. Websites are now layed out in sections and not columns.

Hero images that are all type. Hero images (full width, large image at the top of a web page) can be attention grabbing, but they also load slowly. Since load time is now a ranking factor, many are moving away from using hero images. Instead they use larger Typography to make a bold statement. In the image below the background is a gradient (not an image) and the type is bold and beautiful.

For those that do not like the look of full-width, simple borders are trending. This is not the column look, but linear, colored borders that get applied to sections. These can also be section separators via color changes or a patterns (not images). The image below demonstrates this concept as well as typographical hero sections. There is a color change and pattern added for the section break. Also the simple color with text as the hero section adds interest and load speed. This website have very few images to slow it own.

Here is a list of some website types:

Informational – This is the most common type for small businesses and solopreneurs. These websites are glorified brochures with limited functionality. They introduce your potential clients to your company and services. If you are a service provider and have a few set-priced packages, a payment method can be added to these websites without adding an actual shopping cart.

eCommerce – These are websites that have a shopping cart. They can be for both products and services and can include download products. The key is the shopping cart. It integrates with a payment system like PayPal, Square, Stripe, etc. These websites can have informational pages added if needed.

Blogs – Strictly speaking, a blog is a website with just articles. It is easy for the average person to add content to the website. Blog platforms used to be only articles. Pages could not be added. That has not been true for many years. Now blogs can be added to informational websites (and some eCommerce platforms have them). They have evolved to be full-blown websites.

Membership – Membership plugins can be added to most websites. A membership website has protected content. One needs to be a member (free or paying)  to see the protected content. 

These sites also have the ability for members to reset passwords and add profile information. Not all membership platforms are the same. Be clear about your members’ needs and future needs before deciding on a platform. Changing platforms down the road can be complicated and cost you, members.

Course or Online Learning – These websites are for digital courses. They allow the user to have a learning environment online that can be video, text, audio, and interactive. These are for businesses that are teaching something to their clients. There are many different options, so be sure you know all the needs of your courses before purchasing the software.

Event websites – An event plugin can usually be added to any website. The event plugin will do things like put your event onto a calendar, allow the user to add it to their calendar easily, charge for events, add recurring events, and more. If you are holding events regularly, event software is convenient to use. There are a few different options, so know your event requirements before purchasing.

Portfolio websites  – These are websites that show off works of art. Artists like photographers usually run them. However, a portfolio can be added to almost any website. This website has a portfolio section.