Purpose & Theme

Your web site should have a purpose, even if it is to share your interests with others, and your theme should reflect that purpose. This is where you get to be creative. If you have none, do not worry, it will come. Remember that a web site is not born over night. It takes time for it to truly develop into your final product. Be patient. Most web sites fall into one of the categories below.

Personal Sites

These sites are "about me" sites. They offer information about the author and his interests. The theme of the site usually reflects one of the interests or hobbies of the author or his personality. [Example: http://www.kitzzy.com]

Nonprofit Service Sites

These are sites that provide a service to its visitors free of charge. Some of these services may include: a comprehensive list of links on a specific topic or area of interest, tutorials, or free downloads. The theme of these sites would revolve around that service. If many services are provided, then a general theme would be in order such as a store or mall. [Example: http://www.1fonts.com/]

Commercial/Corporate Sites

These sites represent a company's presence on the web. They offer information about the company and its products. Most of these sites provide a service or product for a profit. There are, however, some corporate sites that are mainly informational. A prime example is ABC.com or any other TV web site. The theme would represent the service or product the site offers. [Example: http://www.nbc.com]

Educational Sites

These sites represent schools, museums, and other educational institutions on the web. They may also be sites with resources for teacher and students. Their main purpose is to inform and educate its visitors. The theme usually follows the school's colors, mascots, logos, etc. [Example: http://www.ucf.edu]

Government/Military Sites

These sites are representative of the different aspects of government and the military. They usually serve an informational or educational purpose.[Example: http://www.whitehouse.gov]

Nonprofit Organization

This sites are usually put up by organizations such as churches and clubs to inform its members and recruit new ones. They help keep members in touch and updated on the organization's events. [Example: http://www.fbla-pbl.org]

Misc

These are sites that have no known purpose or theme. You do not want yours to fall under this category.

**NOTE: Most sites usually fall into more than one of these categories.

Updated on: August 11, 2003