Websites and web portals: General overview
The main difference between a website and a web portal is that a website is an online destination open to a broader audience. In contrast, the web portal serves specific groups of people. Content on websites is available to all users, and it is less personalized. Web portal content is usually available after you sign up.
At the same time, modern websites and web portals are changing, and they have some overlapping functions. More websites become personalized for their users, and there are web portals that have public-facing pages. For example, Gartner defines a web portal as a high-traffic website with a wide range of content, services, and vendor links.
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Comparison: a web portal vs. a website
If you try to figure out which option to choose, here is a short guide that will help you make a decision.
- Audience: If you are interested in a broader audience of anonymous users, opt for a website. To cater to a specific audience, choose a web portal.
- Control of content: If you want to focus on delivering and managing content, choose a website. If you need advanced control over what users see, go for a web portal.
- IT ecosystem: If you don’t need multiple integrations with other business applications, a website may be a better choice. If you expect your solution to work coherently with internal and third-party applications, you’d better choose a web portal.
Difference Between Website and Web Portal
The difference between a website and a web portal is that a website belongs to a company. In contrast, a web portal, on the other hand, is user-centric, meaning that a user may most likely offer information and data. Both are accessible through browsers and may perform comparable functions; however, a web portal is a more complicated online system than a website. This article will discuss the difference between a website and a web portal in the sections below.
| Website | Web Portal |
| A website is a location present on the internet with various web pages that one can access via its URL. | A web portal is a point of access in which the content is only available for a set of specific users. |
| A website does not allow its users to interact with it. | The communication that a web portal develops with its users is two-way. |
| Various companies and organizations can own a website. | It is private and user-centric. |
| One does not need to update sources of information time and again- unless required. | One needs to update sources of information very frequently. |
| It is like a knowledge domain, and any user can access it with or without logging in. | It acts as a gateway to let users access the intended knowledge from a specified domain. |
So, what is the right option for you?
The answer depends on the business you operate in and the tasks you try to solve online. If your primary goal is to increase sales and attract new customers, you likely need a website. If your objective is to retain the existing customers, improve their loyalty to your brand, and increase the overall brand recognition, a portal will be a logical choice. The web portal will also be the right fit in case you need to build a hub for efficient collaboration with your partners or vendors. And if you still feel unsure about your choice or, on the contrary, feel super sure and only need a reliable implementation partner as soon as possible, don’t hesitate to Contact SolterVision Team. We would gladly help!
