Other Websites as Inspiration

For small bloggers, finding inspiration can sometimes feel like looking for a needle in a haystack.

But fear not!

Other websites can serve as a treasure trove of ideas and motivation. Think about it like this: just as a chef might get inspired by tasting new dishes, or an artist might find ideas by admiring different paintings, bloggers can draw inspiration from exploring other websites.

These websites, whether they belong to big brands or fellow bloggers, offer a glimpse into what works, what resonates with audiences, and what trends are shaping the online world.

By exploring and analyzing these sites, small bloggers can discover new content ideas, design inspiration, and strategies for engaging with their own audience.

So, if you’re feeling stuck or unsure where to start, take a tour of the web and let other websites spark your creativity!

50 of the most Popular Websites

Here are the 50 most popular websites along with a brief description, their founding dates, and estimated valuations:

Google

A search engine that allows users to find information on the internet. Founded in 1998. Estimated valuation: $1.5 trillion.

YouTube

A video-sharing platform that allows users to upload, view, and share videos. Founded in 2005. Estimated valuation: $200 billion.

Facebook

A social networking site that connects people with friends and family. Founded in 2004. Estimated valuation: $800 billion.

Amazon

An online shopping website that sells a variety of goods and services. Founded in 1994. Estimated valuation: $1.7 trillion.

Wikipedia

An online encyclopedia that allows users to create and edit articles. Founded in 2001. Estimated valuation: N/A (non-profit organization).

Twitter

A social media platform that allows users to share short messages or “tweets”. Founded in 2006. Estimated valuation: $54 billion.

Instagram

A social media platform that allows users to share photos and videos. Founded in 2010. Estimated valuation: $100 billion.

LinkedIn

A professional networking site that connects people with job opportunities. Founded in 2002. Estimated valuation: $50 billion.

Pinterest

A visual discovery and bookmarking platform. Founded in 2010. Estimated valuation: $20 billion.

Reddit

A social news aggregation and discussion site. Founded in 2005. Estimated valuation: $10 billion.

Yahoo

A search engine, news aggregator, and email provider. Founded in 1994. Estimated valuation: N/A (acquired by Verizon for $4.5 billion in 2017).

Netflix

A streaming service for movies and TV shows. Founded in 1997. Estimated valuation: $250 billion.

Twitch

A live streaming platform primarily used for video game streaming. Founded in 2011. Estimated valuation: $30 billion.

TikTok

A social media platform for short-form videos. Founded in 2016. Estimated valuation: $400 billion.

Microsoft

A technology company that develops software and hardware products. Founded in 1975. Estimated valuation: $2.3 trillion.

eBay

An online auction and shopping website. Founded in 1995. Estimated valuation: $40 billion.

IMDb

A database of information related to films, television shows, and video games. Founded in 1990. Estimated valuation: N/A (owned by Amazon).

WhatsApp

A messaging app that allows users to send text, voice, and video messages. Founded in 2009. Estimated valuation: $100 billion.

Quora

A question-and-answer platform. Founded in 2009. Estimated valuation: $2 billion.

Dropbox

A cloud storage and file sharing service. Founded in 2007. Estimated valuation: $12 billion.

Medium

An online publishing platform for user-generated content. Founded in 2012. Estimated valuation: $1 billion.

Adobe

A technology company that develops software for creative professionals. Founded in 1982. Estimated valuation: $300 billion.

Booking.com

A travel booking website. Founded in 1996. Estimated valuation: $110 billion.

PayPal

An online payment system that allows individuals and businesses to send and receive money electronically. Founded in 1998. Estimated valuation: $300 billion.

Airbnb

An online marketplace for vacation rentals. Founded in 2008. Estimated valuation: $80 billion.

Zoom

A video conferencing platform. Founded in. Estimated valuation: $150 billion.

Baidu

A Chinese search engine. Founded in 2000. Estimated valuation: $100 billion.

AliExpress

An online shopping website that primarily connects Chinese manufacturers with international buyers. Founded in 2010. Estimated valuation: $150 billion.

Alibaba

A Chinese e-commerce company that operates various online marketplaces. Founded in 1999. Estimated valuation: $600 billion.

WeChat

A Chinese multi-purpose messaging and social media app. Founded in 2011. Estimated valuation: $750 billion.

GitHub

A web-based platform for version control and collaborative software development. Founded in 2008. Estimated valuation: $7.5 billion.

Stack Overflow

A question-and-answer platform for programmers. Founded in 2008. Estimated valuation: $1.8 billion.

Stack Exchange

A network of question-and-answer websites on various topics. Founded in 2008. Estimated valuation: $1.8 billion.

StackShare

A platform for developers to share their technology stacks. Founded in 2013. Estimated valuation: N/A (private company).

Dribbble

A social media platform for designers to showcase their work. Founded in 2009. Estimated valuation: $150 million.

Behance

A platform for designers to showcase and discover creative work. Founded in 2005. Estimated valuation: N/A (owned by Adobe).

Canva

A graphic design platform for creating visual content. Founded in 2012. Estimated valuation: $40 billion.

Shopify

An e-commerce platform for businesses to create online stores. Founded in 2004. Estimated valuation: $200 billion.

Zillow

A real estate marketplace for buying, selling, and renting homes. Founded in 2006. Estimated valuation: $50 billion.

WebMD

An online health information platform. Founded in 1996. Estimated valuation: $3 billion.

BBC

A public service broadcaster in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1922. Estimated valuation: N/A (publicly funded organization).

CNBC

A business news website and cable television network. Founded in 1989. Estimated valuation: $3 billion.

ESPN

A sports news website and cable television network. Founded in 1979. Estimated valuation: $100 billion.

IMDbPro

A subscription-based service that provides industry professionals with access to contact and production information for the entertainment industry. Founded in 2002. Estimated valuation: N/A (owned by Amazon).

Glassdoor

A job search and recruitment website. Founded in 2007. Estimated valuation: $10 billion.

Indeed

A job search and recruitment website. Founded in 2004. Estimated valuation: $25 billion.

Yelp

A platform for user-generated reviews of local businesses. Founded in 2004. Estimated valuation: $3 billion.

Dropbox

A cloud-based file storage and sharing service. Founded in 2007. Estimated valuation: $9 billion.

Wix

A cloud-based website development platform. Founded in 2006. Estimated valuation: $20 billion.

TripAdvisor

A platform for user-generated reviews of travel-related content. Founded in 2000. Estimated valuation: $5 billion.

Airbnb

A platform for booking and renting short-term lodging. Founded in 2008. Estimated valuation: $100 billion.

Booking.com

A travel fare aggregator website and travel metasearch engine. Founded in 1996. Estimated valuation: $100 billion (part of Booking Holdings).

Expedia

A travel fare aggregator website and online travel agency. Founded in 1996. Estimated valuation: $25 billion.

Booking Holdings

A company that owns and operates several travel fare aggregator websites and travel metasearch engines, including Booking.com, Priceline, Kayak, and OpenTable. Founded in 1997. Estimated valuation: $100 billion.

PayPal

An online payment system that allows individuals and businesses to transfer funds electronically. Founded in 1998. Estimated valuation: $300 billion.

LinkedIn

A social networking platform for professionals. Founded in 2002. Estimated valuation: $120 billion (owned by Microsoft).

Reddit

A social news aggregation and discussion website. Founded in 2005. Estimated valuation: $10 billion.

 

Conclusion

Other websites can be a goldmine of inspiration for small bloggers, offering a wealth of ideas and strategies to fuel their creativity and growth.

By immersing themselves in the diverse landscape of the web, bloggers can glean insights into effective content creation, audience engagement, and design aesthetics.

Whether it’s observing how successful brands connect with their followers, learning from the storytelling techniques of seasoned writers, or discovering innovative approaches to visual presentation, there is much to be gained from exploring and analyzing other websites.

Moreover, this process of exploration is not only valuable for generating new ideas but also for building a sense of community and camaraderie within the blogging sphere.

As small bloggers navigate their own journeys of self-expression and digital presence, they can draw inspiration and encouragement from the successes and struggles shared by others in the online world.

So, next time you’re seeking a spark of inspiration, remember to look beyond your own corner of the internet and let the creativity of others ignite your passion for blogging.

 

PS: Bookmark this article. Come back often and look at these figures to get inspiration on where you could be in 10 or 20 years. Remember they also started as small websites.