Types of website

There are as many different types of websites as there are books in the library or pictures in a gallery. Two websites on the same subject can look completely different one from the other; but here I want to group websites into broad bands,and discuss how they might be treated differently.

Remember that you can always build a website on your hard drive and hone it to your satisfaction before publishing.

The personal website

To author a website you need to have knowledge about the subject that you are covering. From this point of view you have a good start if you build a website about yourself; your aims, what you have achieved so far, your favourite music or books and so on. Social websites such as Facebook have made this a popular pursuit but it's still nice to outline your life on your own website.

If you are looking for employment or a change of job your website, if carefully made, can be used as an advertisement and will show prospective employers what sort of person you are and your capabilities. You can even include a CV.

Needless to say such a website should be neat and tidy and full of interest; just as you are!

The family website

A family website is a good way to keep in touch no matter how far around the world individual family members may be. To be of real interest a family website needs to be updated regularly, preferably with news of your family both near and far.

In some cases a blog may be preferred that allows members to comment on day-to-day family news. There is room on a family website for for the oldest and the youngest to contribute. There is room for auntie's latest watercolour masterpiece and for baby's scanned scribble.

The club website

A club of any size at all needs a website. There are always problems of communication; no matter how many notices you put on notice board by how many people you tell there are always some who miss meetings and special occasions. A website won't remedy this completely but will go some way to doing so.

The website can also be used to run articles by members, publish minutes of committee meetings, notify members of the AGM, raise money and recruit new members if so wished. If necessary some parts of the website can be made available only to members by using a password.

The charity website

A charity website can be used similarly to a club website but it should also seek to make the public at large aware of what the charity does and its aims. There is a great potential for money raising here.

Members of the charity, particularly committee members, should be encouraged to write short articles about the history of the charity, past triumphs and present projects. As a member you know all about the charity and other people also want to know. So help them by keeping the readers of your website informed.

Don't be afraid to ask for donations; it's easier than standing in the cold rattling a collection box. If you are a small charity you could join PayPal and asked donors to pay that way. Alternatively you could provide a form that the donor could print out and send with a cheque. I have found this way quite effective as on the form you can give information to whom the cheque is to be paid and the address to which to send it, together with telephone numbers or e-mail addresses.

Forms can also be useful to help in selling goods

The hobby website

If you have a hobby about which you have become well-informed why not make a website around it. In this way you might well meet other enthusiasts and exchange information and maybe make friends.

Many people have started a hobby site and have finished up by making it a paying site. If you have nothing to sell information is still worth hard cash.

The business website

If you already have an off-line business then it would be well worthwhile to make a business website online to get an Internet presence. Your website will become a powerful advertising tool and will save you a tremendous amount in advertising fees if nothing else. But as you add the URL of your website to your paperwork to customers you will be able to make special offers and keep your customers informed of what you are doing in your business. This will bring your customers closer to you with benefits all round.

As a business person I'm sure that you can see the sense in this.

The local website

If you ever lived in your locality for any length of time you will have enough knowledge to make a website about your local town or village.

The website should include some local news of general interest and you should select some subjects of particular interest to you. Make it personal and put forward your views. Make it easy for readers to e-mail you and promise to print well reasoned e-mails, rather like the letters page of your local paper. Alternatively you could use a blog as part of your website which would allow your readers to comment on your offerings.

I would suggest that you write under a nom de plume and don't divulge your telephone number or address if you want to retain your privacy.

General notes

Writing and publishing websites is a great pastime or hobby. Which is why I recommend it particularly for older people as it requires no physical effort and no sweeping up at the end of the day. It is a hobby in which you can grow and may in time be building websites for gain.

Website building needs a good feel for colour and space. It's something that some people have naturally and others have to learn. But we can all achieve it with practice and observing other people's work.

There is also a need for some knowledge and fluency of language. But the important thing is to work to your own strengths. If you're good at photography use photographs. If you have a feel for colour and space then use it to create good layouts. If you find it difficult to write then cut writing to a minimum and use pictures instead.

Don't be afraid to ask for criticism and take it in the right spirit. I once made a website that I thought was absolutely wonderful until somebody told me that the the bright colours hurt their eyes. Then I could see that they were quite right and toned the colours down.

If you're new to commerce don't expect to make a fortune overnight with a website. There are plenty of people who will try to sell you systems that reveal secret ways to make a fortune overnight. Don't believe them; it is just throwing away money.

It is possible to make good money with the website, even enough to make it a full-time job; but for this you need business skills as in running any other commercial enterprise. Having said that, it's always fun to try. You may get lucky and come up with a moneymaking idea as others have done in the past. Many self-made millionaires have made their fortunes by being lucky and being in the right place at the right time. But there were also had to put in a lot of effort.

But for the rest of us; let's just keep making the best websites we can.