The goals of business websites vary based on factors like their main product or service, business structure, and industry. However, website visitors seem to share a universal goal: to judge these websites relentlessly.

A staggering 75% of individuals confess to forming opinions about a business’s trustworthiness based on its website’s design. The emphasis on “confess” suggests that the remaining 25% might not be entirely truthful. This highlights the significance of first impressions. Once you’ve attracted visitors, the responsibility shifts to user experience and website content to maintain their engagement and encourage actions that align with your business objectives. So, what constitutes an exceptional website? Let’s delve into 17 website examples spanning various sectors—exploring aspects from content to design—to uncover the answer. Table of contents Examples of small business websites Examples of ecommerce websites Examples of service business websites Examples of portfolio websites Examples of nonprofit websites

Small business website examples

In the past, websites were primarily the domain of large corporations with substantial budgets. However, with advancements in technology and the availability of user-friendly tools, websites are now accessible to businesses of all sizes. The following small business website illustrations come from the IT, healthcare, and real estate sectors.

IT website example: Beast Code

Beast Code is a mid-sized technology firm specializing in developing software solutions. Given their tech-savvy nature and a company name like that, expectations were high for their website, and it didn’t disappoint. The spaceship-themed homepage and their bold tagline certainly made a statement.

What makes it great

• First impression: Although a prominent CTA button isn’t immediately visible, the lack of clutter creates a strong impact. The clean simplicity of the initial view, featuring a subtly animated, futuristic spaceship backdrop, speaks volumes about the company’s technological prowess.
• Color contrast: The red CTA buttons stand out vividly against the black background.
• Video elements: Instead of static images, the visual blocks incorporate videos—non-intrusive, silent videos that infuse the page with dynamism.
• The copywriting: The website’s conversational tone and ability to explain complex technical processes in layman’s terms convey intelligence, professionalism, and a touch of humor.

Healthcare business website example: Aledade

Next up is Aledade, a primary care physician partner offering a range of services, including practice management support, partnership programs, an app, and more—targeting private practices, group practices, and community health centers. Despite catering to a diverse audience and offering multiple services, the website excels in guiding visitors seamlessly.

What makes it great

• Overall feel: The combination of smiling faces and soft imagery, coupled with bold, uppercase text, creates a sense of gentle authority.
• Organization: The website features an intuitive and well-structured header, complemented by a smaller menu beneath the headline, designed to assist various audience segments in finding relevant information effortlessly.
• Movement: Elements gracefully appear as you scroll, adding a layer of dynamism and engagement to the site.
• Resources: While the homepage presents an impressive eight resources, the clean and organized card-style reel with image thumbnails ensures easy navigation and visual appeal. We have many more healthcare website designs for you to peruse here! Seeking additional ways to boost your website traffic? Free guide » 25 Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Website

Real estate website example: Frisbie Realty

Our next example features another visually striking first impression, this time grounded firmly on planet Earth. Below is the homepage for Frisbie, a boutique real estate agency based in Palm Beach.

What makes it great

• Visual messaging: The image instantly conveys the agency’s focus on high-end properties, while the warm lighting and “welcome home” message create an inviting and approachable atmosphere.
• Functionality: The property search feature is prominently placed just below the hero image, accompanied by an eye-catching blue button.
• Movement: Echoing a recurring theme in these examples (and a prevalent website trend), elements emerge and subtly animate upon scrolling, adding a touch of interactivity.
• Content: The homepage features neighborhood guides, serving as an excellent example of content marketing that provides value to visitors.
• Accessibility: Accessibility options are conveniently located at the bottom left, allowing users to adjust text size, contrast, link underlining, and more, ensuring an inclusive experience for all visitors.

We have numerous other real estate website examples to inspire you here.

Ecommerce website examples

Ecommerce websites are a breed apart, especially when dealing with an extensive product catalog. Here are a few noteworthy examples from various sectors.

Grocery ecommerce website example: Gopuff

Gopuff is not your typical grocery delivery platform. Similar to how Tend (mentioned earlier) revolutionizes dentistry, Gopuff offers a unique online grocery and convenience store shopping experience.

What makes it great

• Layout: While many ecommerce sites employ complex mega menus, GoPuff opts for a simpler carousel-based layout, which extends to its subcategory pages as well, ensuring consistency.
• Relatability: From the featured products (Pringles, Beer, mouthwash) to the conversational copy (“We don’t surge or hike prices. Yes, you read that right.”), it’s evident that GoPuff understands its target audience thoroughly.
• Consistency: Gopuff is not designed for your weekly grocery shopping. It caters to those moments when you need something urgently. The website’s concise and to-the-point copy, its clean design, and even the absence of right angles all contribute to this sense of convenience and ease.

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Rental ecommerce website example: Zumper

Zumper boldly states that “today’s rental experience is broken. It’s outdated, exhausting, and slow” and aims to “change the way you rent, forever.” Their website suggests they’re on the right track.

What makes it great

• The little details: Instead of a generic “enter a location” prompt, the search bar asks, “Where do you want to live?” The apartment illustration on the homepage features towels casually draped over the balcony railing—small details that add character and personality.
• Values on homepage: Scrolling to the bottom reveals Zumper’s three core values: inclusive, safe, and respectful—accompanied by a link to learn more. This emphasis on values, as seen in some previous examples, is becoming increasingly important for businesses across all sectors.
• Graphics: Hand-drawn illustrations and flat design are trending in website and landing page design, and Zumper masterfully incorporates both. The “hottest cities” section also features clever use of emojis.

Get the guide » How to Make Great Landing Pages (with Crazy High Conversions)

Retail ecommerce website example: Subtle Asian Treats

Subtle Asian Treats—a clever play on the popular Facebook group—showcases a well-executed website for a small ecommerce business.

What makes it great

• Animated logo: The adorable bubble tea icon adds a playful touch.
• Top nanobar: This feature, common in ecommerce sites, displays important announcements, including sales and promotions.
• Emojis: The increasing use of emojis on websites is evident here as well. Incorporating them into the navigation menu not only adds visual interest but also helps differentiate each item.
• Centered logo: Deviating from the traditional top-left placement, this website (similar to Chinelle’s) features a centered logo below other navigation elements—a unique touch that maintains intuitiveness.
• Not so subtle. 500% sugar. Case in point.

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Service business website examples

Websites for lead generation or service-based businesses have different objectives compared to ecommerce sites. Let’s explore examples from both large and small businesses.

Design agency website example: Born & Bred

For most businesses, adhering to the established layout and design conventions within their industry is advisable. However, design companies have more leeway to break the mold and showcase their creativity. A static screenshot doesn’t do Born & Bred’s’s website justice—the scrolling experience is where it truly shines, so be sure to check it out.

What makes it great

• The tour theme: The website is designed to simulate a guided tour as you scroll. The video reel at the top, featuring candid moments from the office, further enhances this experience.
• Values: Core values are displayed prominently on the homepage—always a plus.
• The copy: Like Beast Code, Born & Bred injects humor into their copy. For instance: “And to your right…more case studies. Please keep your eyes and cursor inside the browser window at all times.”
• Nanobar: The bar at the top links to an article about a recent award and features an eye-catching gradient background. Discover more inspiration from B2B website design examples here.

Dentist website example: Tend

Moving on from design, we have a captivating dentist website example. Tend’s’s tagline, “Dental done differently,” is immediately apparent on their homepage. Let’s delve in.

What makes it great

• The video: The split-screen silent video on the homepage effectively demonstrates how Tend differentiates itself in approximately 10 seconds. It’s not your typical explainer video, but it’s impactful nonetheless.
• Clean design: Pun unintended, the website’s clean and simple layout enhances its appeal.
• Social proof: The attractive testimonial carousel is further enhanced by four tabs that organize testimonials while simultaneously highlighting key business features—a clever touch, dental marketing!

Advertising website example: Eleven

Advertising agencies, like design firms, need websites that exude creativity and expertise, and Eleven doesn’t disappoint. While a screenshot can’t capture the full essence of this captivating website, you’ll get a glimpse of its brilliance.

What makes it great

• Video background: The homepage features a full-width background video that serves as a highlight reel, showcasing stunning visuals that command attention (exhibit A above).
• Clean design: The absence of a prominent CTA button in the initial view is deliberate and tasteful. The simple white elements overlaid on the video background ensure that the video remains the focal point, which is, in itself, a call to action.
• People-centric: Eleven not only has a dedicated diversity, equity, and inclusion section on its “About Us” page but also devotes an entire page to headshots and portraits of its employees (and their furry companions).

SaaS website example: Chartbeat

SaaS websites face the challenge of showcasing their platform’s capabilities without overwhelming visitors. Chartbeat achieves this effectively through well-crafted illustrations and concise copy.

• The title: The title immediately conveys value with the phrase “Unlock the value in your content data.”
• Animation: The animated dashboard image on the homepage strikes a perfect balance, showcasing various aspects of the tool without being overwhelming.
• Unique navigation menu: Chartbeat optimizes space utilization by listing dropdown menu items horizontally—a distinct and well-organized approach.
• Not a lot of talking: The homepage features minimal marketing copy. The illustrations and customer testimonials take center stage, while concise marketing copy ties everything together seamlessly.

Portfolio website examples

Portfolio websites serve as platforms for students and professionals to showcase their work and provide an extension of their resumes. Various professions, including designers, developers, photographers, event planners, and models, utilize portfolio-style websites.

Photographer portfolio website example

Chinelle Rojas is a self-portrait photographer, logo designer, and entrepreneur with an exceptionally well-designed portfolio website. Visiting her site feels like stepping into her creative world.

What makes it great

• Music: The homepage allows you to choose from six songs to play as you browse, enhancing the immersive experience.
• Vibrant colors: Complementing the collage-style hero image, the color scheme in the middle section is visually engaging.
• Personalization: Every element feels carefully curated, giving the impression of spending time with Chinelle.
• Gallery design: The “My Black Self” gallery features a user-friendly grid format on the left, with a larger view on the right, making it easy to navigate and enjoy her work.

Web developer portfolio website example: Brittany Chiang

This example showcases a resume-style portfolio website created by web developer Brittany Chiang.

What makes it great

• Color scheme: The dark background and neutral colors make the green elements, such as her company name and CTA button, stand out prominently.
• Big title: The large title on the homepage is another striking feature. While business websites typically use this space for their name or value proposition, the simple statement here feels aligned with the portfolio’s personal brand.
• 3-D feel: The “Experience” page cleverly utilizes overlapping elements and transparent overlays to create a sense of depth.
• Information presentation: Showcasing web development projects can be challenging compared to visual mediums like design or photography. However, Brittany’s “Work” page is exceptionally well-organized and easy to navigate despite being text-heavy.

Interior designer portfolio website example: Karim Rashid

Our final portfolio website belongs to renowned designer Karim Rashid. It’s a hybrid, blending elements of both a portfolio and a business website.

What makes it great

• Large font: The unique portrait, black/white/gray color scheme, minimal copy, and images of Karim’s work create a sense of understated elegance. In contrast, the large font and bold colors that appear on hover add a striking and unexpected element—a juxtaposition that works harmoniously.
• Parallax: The varying scrolling speeds create a multidimensional effect, adding visual interest without relying on animations.
• The sneaky sidebar: At first glance, the right sidebar might seem like a zoomed-out view or a responsiveness issue—this unconventional approach piques curiosity. Hovering over it reveals an arrow with “see pr-” before being cut off. Clicking the arrow unveils a new view of one of his collections. Alternatively, the white menu button stands out against the dimmed background, tempting you to click and revealing a comprehensive menu.

Nonprofit website examples

Our final group features nonprofit websites. You’ll notice that despite their non-commercial nature, these websites are still conversion-focused, with the primary call to action being donations.

Operation Underground Railroad

Operation Underground Railroad’s website immediately conveys its resolute, zero-tolerance approach to combating child trafficking.

What makes it great

• Powerful video: The video background on the homepage evokes a range of emotions—from the joy of children dancing to the tension of police operations and the determination of a horseback riding mission. This blend of innocence, hope, and outrage effectively conveys the organization’s mission.
• Yellow accents: The yellow graphics not only contrast sharply against the dark gray background but also enhance the real-world, often gritty, imagery used on the site. The yellow outlines add a touch of action and emotion while masking any imperfections in image quality.
• Button-style menu: The solid blocks used for menu elements ensure readability and clickability against the busy background visual.

International Women’s Media Fund

International Women’s Media Fund is another impactful nonprofit website with striking imagery and bold, impactful copy.

What makes it great

• Images as buttons: Below the main image carousel, smaller versions of the images serve as clickable buttons with text overlays, enhancing navigation.
• Prominent donate button: A common feature on nonprofit websites, the bright red “Donate” button in the upper right corner is easy to spot and encourages action.
• Mission in the footer: Deviating from the typical links found in footers, this website includes social buttons, contact information, and its mission statement. This reinforces the organization’s purpose across all pages.
• Power words: The website utilizes powerful language throughout, such as “We unleash the potential of women journalists as champions of press freedom” and “Meet the badass journos that we support.”

Use these website examples for ideas & inspo

Websites are creative expressions in their own right. While most industries have established design and functionality standards, you have the freedom to achieve these goals through various approaches. Don’t hesitate to draw inspiration from other industries. Use these website examples as inspiration to experiment with different ways to engage visitors, showcase your strengths, make a lasting impression, and ultimately, achieve your business objectives. Eager to explore more website examples? We’ve got you covered! Check out these:

• Healthcare websites
• Restaurant websites
• Dentist websites