| Each website is built for a different | | | | from it each time a user accesses the |
| purpose, which could be to sell a business' | | | | content managed website.A content management |
| products online, or simply as a brochure to | | | | system is suitable for all types and sizes |
| show potential customers what a business | | | | of businesses, and it can be used to drive |
| does, and then to attract them to contacting | | | | all types of content, including text, |
| the business for more information.This | | | | documents, sound, video and much |
| article aims to describe the differences | | | | more.ADVANTAGES OF A CONTENT MANAGEMENT |
| between a static website and a content | | | | SYSTEM |
| managed website using a content management | | | | |
| system by describing the benefits and | | | | Content can be changed on the website as |
| disadvantages to SME's (small and medium | | | | frequently as is needed, without having to |
| sized enterprises.)We hope that this article | | | | use a website designer or know HTML |
| helps both business users, and other website | | | | code.Changes can be made immediately due to a |
| design firms to understand more the | | | | much shorter change processCan be cheaper |
| difference between these two types of | | | | than a static website in the longer |
| website.A STATIC WEBSITEA static website is a | | | | termEasier to budget for ongoing costs than a |
| website that is designed, created and then | | | | static website |
| 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 | | | | DISADVANTAGES OF A CONTENT MANAGEMENT |
| designer, or someone that knows how to edit, | | | | SYSTEM |
| create or delete web pages.Typically, static | | | | |
| websites are much simpler to create a | | | | Initial cost is normally higher than a |
| content managed website, due to the fact that | | | | static websiteMay be slightly slower for |
| no database needs to be created.ADVANTAGES | | | | users on low bandwidths than a static |
| OF A STATIC WEBSITEThere are a number of | | | | websiteTraining may be needed depending on |
| advantages of static websites over a dynamic, | | | | the complexity of a content management |
| content managed website for SME's, dependent | | | | system |
| on their business: | | | | |
| | | | |
| Less cost involvedSimpler to create and | | | | |
| hostQuick to download on lower bandwidths | | | | CONCLUSIONThis article has aimed to describe |
| | | | the advantages and disadvantages of both a |
| | | | content managed website using a content |
| | | | management system (CMS) and a static |
| DISADVANTAGES OF A STATIC WEBSITE | | | | website.Both of these types of website offer |
| | | | various benefits over each other, however it |
| Could cost you more in the long run | | | | is becoming increasingly evident to |
| depending on the frequency of the | | | | Strawberrysoup, that SME's want to be able |
| updatesLong change process as you have to | | | | to look after their own website, without |
| wait for a website designer to have the | | | | having to ask a website designer to make |
| time to make your changesNot as much | | | | changes to their website.New technologies are |
| functionality, so you website could be | | | | being implemented on an almost weekly basis |
| lacking against your competitors | | | | 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 |
| A CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR A WEBSITEIf | | | | clients.Strawberrysoup has their own |
| a business decides that they want to sell | | | | proprietary content management system called |
| their products online, update their website | | | | StrawberrySite which is a modular based |
| content when they need to and capture | | | | content management system allowing SME's to |
| customer details, then a content management | | | | choose which aspects of the system they |
| system is more than likely to be the best | | | | need, such as bulk email, e-commerce, news |
| solution.A content management system is a | | | | stories or job postings.ARTICLE AUTHOR: Neil |
| system that allows users to add, edit, | | | | Dennis |
| update and delete their website content | | | | |
| quickly and easily through the use of an | | | | WEBSITE: Dennis is a partner at |
| administration section on their website and a | | | | Strawberrysoup, a web design agency with |
| database (usually MySQL, MSSQL or Access.) | | | | offices in Chichester and |
| Content management systems use server side | | | | Bournemouth.Strawberrysoup specialises in |
| scripting languages such as PHP, ASP or | | | | creative website design, content management |
| ASP.net.The database is used to store | | | | systems, search engine optimisation, search |
| information that the user enters via the | | | | engine marketing and graphic design. |
| administration section, and data is retrieved | | | | |