Selecting a web developer
There are many web developers out there that will provide an array of services for various prices. Why do some charge drastically different rates? If you are deciding on a developer and find a few that produce great looking websites, is that enough to make a decision on which developer to select? No!
Lets play out a scenario....We have Developer A & Developer B. Both make nice looking sites, so you base your decision solely on how much they charge. Smart, right? No! You may end up paying far more in the long run and I am going to tell you how to avoid that pitfall.
Avoiding a site that has an expiration date
In my last newsletter, I explained how Google does not like a website that does not change. Content needs to be added and updated for Google to care about your site. Why am I bringing this up again? Well, let’s say Developer B is less expensive, so since they both make good looking sites as far as you can tell you select Developer B. So, Developer B makes an attractive website for you. You are happy for a bit, then you want to swap out an image or you want to add another page to your site. You ask Developer B how much it is to add a page, and are blown away by how much it costs and how long it will take. Why? Developer B was cheaper because he was building a static website.
What is a Static Website?
A static website has content that doesn't change. It consists of a couple of files stored on a server. Adding a page to a static website is a tedious process, because it must all be done manually and they have to update each page to show the new page in the navigational menu. If you make a design change, then you have to manually go to each page and make the change. A static website also lacks functionality. It simply displays the information that was hard coded each and every time someone visits the site. When you want to expand your site significantly, you are going to be facing a big problem. More often than not, you will end up scrapping your static website and having Developer A redoing the entire site with a Dynamic Site. The static website wasted your time and ended up costing you money.
What is a Dynamic Website?
Ahhh, now we are talking. It takes more skill and expertise to create a dynamic website, so that is why Developer A cost more...or appeared to cost more. A dynamic site will save you money in the long run. A dynamic website is an application or content management system (CMS) instead of just a couple of pages stored on a server. It is driven by a database and can show different information, based on the visitors’ selections. A simple page can be added very quickly, because of the templating system. The site's design is held in one file and the content is stored in the database. To add a page, you or your developer simply types the content for the new page in an online editor. To top it off, if you are familiar with Microsoft Word or similar, then you can probably add your own pages and make your own changes! There is no need to worry about designing the new page, because the design is called from one file that serves the entire site. Want to make a change to the site's design? Just change that one file. You won't need to change every page! Want to add a mini application to your website? The great news is most CMSs already have many pre-built add-ons (and most are free or near free!), so something like a photo gallery, blog, e-commerce, calendar, etc can be added in the blink of an eye. You're website has unlimited possibilities for expansion. If you are on a tight budget, start with a very small CMS site and build on it when you can afford to. Remember, it is easier to expand a CMS website, so it will cost less to expand anyway.
The bottom line is that websites have been around for awhile and there is no need to reinvent the wheel each time you make a website. There are great applications out there (aka CMSs) that will provide what you are looking for in a website and more. Avoid a static website like the plague! Save money and time and select a developer who will look at your long term needs with a dynamic website. We are experts at building dynamic websites. Call today for a free quote and consultation.