The 2 Types of Websites

The 2 Types of Websites are Static- and Dynamic-Content.

Static-Content:  Although all websites use HTML/CSS, static sites are limited to HTML/CSS, with perhaps a bit of javascript as well. A static-content site, as implied by the name, does not change the way it looks and behaves based upon any visitor profile or interaction.  Every page looks the same to every visitor.  As the owner, editing the page content may require the use of wysiwyg HTML editing software.

Suitable For: "Online Brochure" websites, and for organizations that do not plan to change the content often on their pages.

Dynamic-Content:  These websites use a server-side scripting language (ColdFusion, Ruby-On-Rails, Perl, PHP, .Net, etc) in conjunction with HTML/CSS.  The scripting language components generally interact with a database.  The scripting language operates on the hosting server (thus "server-side script"), not on the user's computer, like javascript does.  Dynamic website pages are able to accept input data (fill-in forms) and store that information in a database on the server, allowing a visitor to create a user profile and personalized experience.  The phrase "Web 2.0" is often used to describe the principle of highly-interactive features and functionality on the web.

For the sake of simplicity in understanding fair pricing, there are 2 sub-types of dynamic websites.

I. Dynamic Website - Built From Scratch

These are sites where a developer hand codes all the functionality.  Want a user login feature, a survey, a newsletter subscription form?  They provide that to you by:

a. Building it from scratch
b. Recycling modular code that they've created on past projects
c. Utilizing someone else's modular code, which they adapt to your project

Distinctions to be Understood: (1) time-consuming, (2) costly, and (3) can be difficult to maintain (since it is custom code that may not have embedded developer notes).  Instead of leveraging code that performs a task on most websites, a coder will re-invent the wheel for your project.  One advantage could be seen as being efficient, since the end product doesn't include extra (unused) files that a framework (below) might have tagging along.  The most notable drawback is price, which can be many magnitudes higher than Category II.

II. Dynamic Website - Built on a Framework

These sites utilize proven (tested and debugged) code that serves as the foundation for a dynamic website.  The web developer is able to leverage the code logic already available through the framework, to create and integrate dynamic functionality into your site.  There are many frameworks available.  A few you may have heard of are Joomla, Magento, and WordPress, which are "CMS" websites.  A finer distinction can be drawn between CMS platforms, and IDE platforms, such as Ruby-On-Rails, Zend Framework, and cakePHP, to name a few.  The latter can be thought of as a middle ground between CMS and Built-From-Scratch sites.

Distinctions to be Understood: (1) Rapid development of robust features, (2) easy to add new features, (3) very affordable; the framework code is leveraged in the work, and (4) easy to maintain since it is built within a system that is widely known, and duplicated.

Our Preference: The Best Price & Performance

Weighing all factors on behalf of our clients, we most often recommend a framework website, such as Joomla or WordPress (and many others).  This recommendation is based upon two critical factors for our customers: (1) development and maintenace costs, and (2) project turn-around times.  All other aspects, such as the look and feel of the design, are absolutely equal across all types of websites. 

Now Make an Apples-to-Apples Price Comparison!

We know this market, and no one in Central Ohio will exceed the value that we provide on a CUSTOM-DESIGNED CMS website.  If it provides you some peace of mind to pay more, many developers will gladly overcharge you.  But we think once you understand you're paying 4 x price for the same apple, you will want to speak with us about your next web project.

Still have questions about which type of site is right for you?  Contact Us for a free consultation.