There are two main types or categories of website technologies. This article will outline those two main types, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
The first kind of website is called a “static website”. If you want to be able to have 100 percent control over the look and layout of every page on your site, this is probably the kind of website that you want. The downside of this type of website is that if you want to make changes to the layout, or add new content, you may have to rely on the web designer to do that for you, unless you have a certain degree of technical expertise. So this may represent an ongoing cost for your company, if you aren’t capable of making those changes yourself.
The second kind of website is called a “content management system”. Whereas a “static website” generally stores each page as a separate HTML formatted document on the web server, a “content management system” stores the content of each “page” in a database file on the web server. Each page of your website is created on-the-fly as it is requested by a web browser. So, if you land on the front page of a website that uses a “content management system” the web server determines which content to pull out of the database and display to your web browser, based on such factors as which page you have requested, how many articles are supposed to display on the requested page, and the current date and time. When you use a “content management system”, you can easily create a new article, blog post, or story, and have the story be invisible until the specified date and time.
Whether you want a “static HTML” website or a “content management system”, there are literally an infinite variety of both features and layouts that you can have. You can use the following “decision workflow” below to help you decide on what is most important to you:
Static HTML
- Best for controlling the look of every page on your website. This is best if you sell a product or service that requires that your site have the hottest look on each page, and each page has to look unique.
- Best for companies that have the technical expertise to make website updates in-house, or that can afford to pay a Webmaster to continue to make updates for them
- Minimal worries about website security. If your site is a “Static HTML” site, you have less concerns about website intrusion or defacement issues.
Content Management System
- Best for companies that want to be able to make website updates using any computer in the world with a web browser, and an Internet connection
- Best for companies that want to make their own website changes on a regular basis, and that want to post fresh content without relying on a Webmaster or in-house technical staff
- Content Management Systems are software programs that reside on your website. They require software updates throughout the year in order to ensure the security of your website. These updates prevent malicious hackers from intrusion into your website, as well as the provision of new features as updated versions become available.
Now that I’ve helped you understand the differences between the two main types of website technologies, you might want to know which type I use for my own website… I use a content management system. I strive to maintain a balance between design and ease of use. I’m always publishing new content. I generally post at least one new item per day. I like the ability to easily post new content no matter where I happen to be. I can even post new content to my website by sending an email to my website. My content management system reads the email, and automatically posts the new story to my website. That means I can update my website from any device that allows me to send email, whether it’s a computer, or cell phone. For me, the advantages of a CMS (content management system) far outweigh any design limitations that I might experience.
With that said, I hope that I have helped you narrow your focus down to one choice or the other. If you are interested in getting a website designed by me, and you still aren’t sure which choice is the right one for your business, please contact me using the “Contact” link at the top of this page.
