Static vs Dynamic Websites: Which One is Right for Your Business?

Choosing Between Static and Dynamic Websites for Your Business

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No business is running in today’s internet-dependent world without a website. More often than not, a website is the first point of contact a customer has with a brand; first impressions matter, so ignore what people might say. So, naturally, every business owner comes to the stage where they find themselves pondering over which website type to go for: Static or Dynamic. Let’s answer that question for our business owner, shall we?

Static Website

Let’s follow the chronological order, and since static websites came first, they get the seniority advantage. During the early days of the internet, there weren’t many web design and development tools to pick from. Options were rather limited back then.

That is precisely why static websites consist of fixed HTML pages that don't change unless manually updated. They were the first type of websites created, and for a long time, they were the standard way to showcase information online. An example of a real-life static website is The World Wide Web Project (CERN), the first-ever website created by Tim Berners-Lee in 1991.

Pros of Using a Static Website

a. Static websites are quick and simple to create, and therefore faster to load.

b. Since the content is constant and limited, it requires minimal upkeep and keeps costs down and thus less web design and development.

c. Since static websites are lightweight, they don’t require a lot of server resources so hosting them is quite affordable.

Dynamic Website

Dynamic websites are in sheer contrast to static websites and came into being as essentially the evolved form of them as technology evolved and people demanded more interactive and personalized web experiences. This genre of websites doesn’t offer the same experience to every user; the website changes in real-time based on various factors such as the user, time of operation, region, etc.

They utilize databases, backend content management systems (CMS), and server-side scripting to generate content. What that means in basic terms is that it provides you with a much greater level of control, scalability, and interactivity over the website and its content. Well-known examples of Dynamic websites include Amazon, Instagram, Netflix, etc.

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Pros of Using a Dynamic Website

a. It’s a lot more engaging for visitors as they can interact with it, like making a purchase, logging in, adding reviews, etc.

b. With a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, you can easily update your website without touching every page.

c. Dynamic websites can grow with your business. As your needs change, you can add new features and functions.

Know Your Negatives

To truly make a smart, rational decision, it isn’t enough to merely look at what a certain style of website is good for. You must know what it lacks. 

What do They Lack?

a. Consider Static Websites like Digital Posters:

Sure, the image on print may look super nice, but that is all it will be. They’re etched in time, unchanging no matter who looks at them. It cannot be personalized, nor can it interact with users in any way. It is a one-way form of communication. If you do want to update them, it’s quite a procedure. You (or your developer) have to manually edit the HTML code for each page. Furthermore, as your website grows, scaling becomes a major concern, as adding new features or expanding the site requires extra effort.

b. What about Dynamic Websites?

Well, the entire point of dynamic websites was to not have the same disadvantages as static ones. However, they aren’t perfect either by any means. The very fact that dynamic websites are so packed with content, pulling information from databases every time a visitor visits the website, makes them rather slow. Not great if your visitors have short attention spans! Adding on, this complexity comes with a cost. They aren’t easy to maintain, as you have several bills to pay to keep them running, like design, server, security, maintenance, and more.

Which One Should I Pick?

The answer depends on the major questions:

a. What is your budget, and how much can be spent on web design tools?

b. How much time can be invested in web design and development?

c. What is the genre of the website?

Once you have a clear answer to all of those questions, making the choice is a much simpler process. Assume you’re building a website for your guitar coaching. All you want to advertise is where the classes are held, timings, basic information like fees, curriculum, procedure to join, and contact details. For something as simple as this, a static website will do the job.

On the other hand, let’s extend our hypothetical example further. The guitar classes went well, and you’ve opened up a guitar store. You’ll need a dynamic website for it as you would actively add new products, write reviews and allow customers to do so as well, add blog posts, and customize the options available to people based on their interests and location.

Alternatively, you can also opt for a hybrid—you can mix the advantages of both. Use static design for basic web pages and dynamic design for more complex web pages. Using the same example, your contact information and address can be on a static page, while the guitars you’re selling can be on dynamic pages.

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Conclusion

Both static and dynamic websites have their advantages, but which one is right for your business specifically largely boils down to the kind of website that is being built, the budget that can be allocated towards web design and development, and maintenance.

Additionally, consider your long-term goals and how you envision your website evolving. If you need a simple, fast-loading site with minimal updates, a static website may be ideal.