| Not All Websites Are Alike ... The Differences ... And How To Choose |
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As you've probably noticed, a website has become a more significant requirement for almost every business, organization, institute, and sometimes for specific events.
When deciding on what tools to use for building your website, it is best to first know what your options are. |
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Classic Websites:
Classic website have been with us since the beginning of the internet era but nevertheless, have come a long way as far as graphics, design, interactivity and programmable features are concerned. Classic websites are built and maintained by webmasters and/or web designers using professional software. They all have one thing in common – when visiting the website, you see the exact same pages every time. Under this category we can include even the most sophisticated interactive websites.
Clasic websites include:
- Static pages – Always shows the exact same content when you reload the page.
- Dynamic pages – Are those whose content is regenerated every time you reload the page. In a dynamic page the web page is returned to the visitor with custom content based on requests, search criteria or other instructions presented by the visitor.
- Flash websites/components – Have the highest capability as far as graphics and designing, but are very limited in their interactivity, programmable features and search engine optimization
CMS (Content Management System):
If you are among those who want control over the content of your website, then this may be just the tool you need.
Content Management Systems are designed to give users without programming knowledge the ability to edit, add or remove content and pages from their website. Usually CMS systems contain “What you see is what you get” editors that allow the designing of the page like in a word processor. The system will then translate it into the required programming code. In many cases websites with CMS are also dynamic websites. This combination is very powerful and common uses are Shopping Carts, Directories, Bloggers, Forums and Calendars of Events. In the shopping cart example, the administrator uses the CMS to add, update and remove items and follow-up on orders while the visitor uses the dynamic pages to search and add items into his/here cart.
Mastering administrator tools does need some training, but does not require any previous knowledge.
| Which One Is Right For You? |
Static pages: Static pages are excellent for online brochures, catalogs or to maintain internet presents were content doesn’t change frequently. In static websites, the webmaster usually makes the updates and changes to the website based on instruction he received from the website owner.
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Dynamic Pages: Dynamic Pages are used when we need to customize the page to the visitor requests and/or information. Such pages could be directories with search capability, mortgage calculators, pages to collect information and pages with personal greetings.
CMS (Content Management System): Are useful when the content of the website needs to be changed frequently and quickly. click here to see some CMS live websites
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