Each website
is built for a different purpose, which could be to
sell a business’ products online, or simply as a brochure
to show potential customers what a business does, and
then to attract them to contacting the business for
more information.
This article aims to describe the differences between
a static website and a content managed website using
a content management system by describing the benefits
and disadvantages to SME’s (small and medium sized enterprises.)
We hope that this article helps both business users,
and other website design firms to understand more the
difference between these two types of website.
A STATIC WEBSITE
A static website is a website that is designed, created
and then hosted by a website designer and is usually
programmed using a static language like HTML or XHTML.
Once the website is online, any changes that are needed
require a website designer, or someone that knows how
to edit, create or delete web pages.
Typically, static websites are much simpler to create
a content managed website, due to the fact that no database
needs to be created.
ADVANTAGES OF A STATIC WEBSITE
There are a number of advantages of static websites
over a dynamic, content managed website for SME’s, dependent
on their business:
- Less cost involved
- Simpler to create and host
- Quick to download on lower bandwidths
DISADVANTAGES OF A STATIC WEBSITE
- Could cost you more in the long run depending on
the frequency of the updates
- Long change process as you have to wait for a website
designer to have the time to make your changes
- Not as much functionality, so you website could
be lacking against your competitors
A CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR A WEBSITE
If a business decides that they want to sell their
products online, update their website content when they
need to and capture customer details, then a content
management system is more than likely to be the best
solution.
A content management system is a system that allows
users to add, edit, update and delete their website
content quickly and easily through the use of an administration
section on their website and a database (usually MySQL,
MSSQL or Access.) Content management systems use server
side scripting languages such as PHP, ASP or ASP.net.
The database is used to store information that the
user enters via the administration section, and data
is retrieved from it each time a user accesses the content
managed website.
A content management system is suitable for all types
and sizes of businesses, and it can be used to drive
all types of content, including text, documents, sound,
video and much more.
ADVANTAGES OF A CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
- Content can be changed on the website as frequently
as is needed, without having to use a website designer
or know HTML code.
- Changes can be made immediately due to a much shorter
change process
- Can be cheaper than a static website in the longer
term
- Easier to budget for ongoing costs than a static
website
DISADVANTAGES OF A CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
- Initial cost is normally higher than a static website
- May be slightly slower for users on low bandwidths
than a static website
- Training may be needed depending on the complexity
of a content management system
CONCLUSION This article has
aimed to describe the advantages and disadvantages of
both a content managed website using a content management
system (CMS) and a static website.
Both of these types of website offer various benefits
over each other, however it is becoming increasingly
evident to Strawberrysoup, that SME’s want to be able
to look after their own website, without having to ask
a website designer to make changes to their website.
New technologies are being implemented on an almost
weekly basis which is allowing web designers and web
agencies to create and install content management systems
quickly and therefore with less of a cost implication
to their clients.
Strawberrysoup has their own proprietary content management
system called StrawberrySite which is a modular based
content management system allowing SME’s to choose which
aspects of the system they need, such as bulk email,
e-commerce, news stories or job postings.
ARTICLE AUTHOR: Neil Dennis WEBSITE: http://www.strawberrysoup.co.uk/
Neil Dennis is a partner at Strawberrysoup, a web design
agency with offices in Chichester and Bournemouth.
Strawberrysoup specialises in creative website design,
content management systems, search engine optimisation,
search engine marketing and graphic design.
http://www.strawberrysoup.co.uk/
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