NTG STUDIO WEBShort answer
Choose a showcase site to present your business and get enquiries, an online store if you sell products remotely, a landing page for an ad campaign or a single offer, and a site with tools (booking, quotes, calculator) if clients need to act online. Many businesses combine a showcase site with tools.
Key takeaways
- The type of site follows from the action you want visitors to take
- A landing page is for one offer and one action
- A showcase site can include a small catalogue without becoming a store
- Start simple, add features once the need is proven
The word "website" covers very different things. Picking the wrong type means paying too much for useless features, or too little for a tool that will never do its job. Here is how to choose for your business.
The question to ask
What do I want the visitor to do? Call? Book? Buy? Request a quote? The type of site follows from that action.
The showcase site
Purpose: present the business, reassure, get enquiries.
Contains: home, services, work, team, reviews, contact with WhatsApp and Google Maps.
Ideal for: firms, clinics, construction, agencies, tradespeople, consultants, schools.
Budget: from 99,000 FCFA as Essential, from 279,000 FCFA as Premium.
The landing page
Purpose: one offer, one action. Often tied to a Facebook or Google ad.
Contains: a strong promise, benefits, proof, an offer, a button.
Ideal for: product launches, promotions, courses, events, recruitment.
Budget: from 59,000 FCFA. Read Facebook ads and Google Ads in Cameroon: the page that converts.
The site with tools
Purpose: let clients act without calling you.
Contains: booking, online quotes, calculators (loans, solar, materials), AI chatbot, client area.
Ideal for: clinics, salons, microfinance, solar companies, freight forwarders, schools.
Budget: from 590,000 FCFA (Business Pro).
The online store
Purpose: sell and get paid remotely.
Two levels:
- Simple store: catalogue, cart, order sent on WhatsApp, Orange Money or MTN MoMo payment. From 179,000 FCFA.
- Full e-commerce: automatic payment, stock, delivery, invoices, dashboard. From 950,000 FCFA.
How to choose between them: Selling on WhatsApp or an e-commerce site: which to choose?.
NTG Studio Web does it for you (Custom website design, E-commerce & Mobile Money). Free 30-minute audit, reply within 24 hours, payment by Orange Money or MTN MoMo.
The mobile app
Rarely needed at first. An app is expensive to build, publish and maintain on Android and iPhone, and clients have to download it. A modern website can be installed on the home screen like an app (a PWA), work on weak connections and send notifications.
Decision table
| Your need | Recommended type |
|---|---|
| Be visible and credible fast | Single page or Essential showcase |
| Receive quote requests | Showcase with qualifying form |
| Fill a calendar | Site with booking |
| Sell under 50 products | Essential Shop |
| Sell a large catalogue | Full e-commerce |
| Run a successful ad campaign | Landing page |
Our advice
Start with what you need today, on a base that can grow. A well-built showcase site can later host a store, booking or a chatbot without starting over.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a showcase site and an e-commerce site?
A showcase site presents and generates enquiries; the sale then closes by phone or WhatsApp. An e-commerce site lets people buy and pay online directly.
Is a landing page enough for a business?
For a campaign or launch, yes. To be found on Google for several services, you need a site with one page per service.
Do I need a mobile app?
Rarely at first. A fast website that installs on the phone covers most needs for a fraction of the price.
Founder of NTG Studio Web in Douala. Master’s in international public law, IBM Data Analytics and Anthropic AI Fluency certified. He designs websites and visibility strategies for African businesses. Learn more →