Dynamic websites are almost standard in today’s world. Especially web stores or companies with many subpages benefit from them.
But how exactly do experts define the term dynamic website? Are they really a must-have for everyone or are static websites possibly enough for me? What advantages and disadvantages should I weigh before implementing? We clarify.
What is dynamic content and how is it different from static content?
Dynamic content refers to Internet presentations, including texts, videos, images or graphics, which are actually only integrated live into the respective page from an external database when the page is called up. The source behind it impresses with its topicality. Examples of integrations can be stock market prices, the current weather or sports results.
The difference with static websites is that they are created page by page as individual documents. This is exactly how they are then placed on the server and ultimately delivered to the user. For updates, this repeats
process accordingly. Static websites usually have one main administrator, dynamic ones often have several.
Why use dynamic websites?
The key arguments for the use of dynamic websites are the achievement of an optimal user experience and comprehensive search engine optimization (SEO) at the same time.
Dynamic websites can be tailored and adjusted to the current customer needs in combination with external events. They show an exemplary topicality and provide with coordinated and always new, interesting content for a high activity and long retention period.
All these points also please the algorithms of search engines like Google. You place your website with these SEO measures in the search engine ranking step by step further up. Especially for online stores, bloggers or companies that have a large number of websites with changing content, dynamic websites are therefore advantageous.
Example of a user experience journey on a dynamic website
Phase 1
User A is interested in a group trip focused on learning to kitesurf.
So far, he has left open the question of where he wants to go. He lands on the website of supplier X, because it specializes in kite travel. The website offers an overview of possible destinations with current weather reports and a live cam on the beach area. Further links will take him to a blog that reflects information of each country and whether they are suitable for beginners. Hourly wind conditions of the target countries complete the details.
This happens in the background:
- User A was able to be provided with up-to-date, appropriate, and exciting information through the dynamic website, which encouraged him to take a closer look and stay on the site longer.
- The long dwell time is registered positively by Google, because the search engine’s intention is to promote websites that provide their users with exactly the information they are looking for in a user-friendly way.
Phase 2
User A is already a big step further in his decision making, but wants to take a few more days with the booking. When he visits the website again, he will see currently available hotels with their combined travel prices, the number of participants currently remaining on his desired trip, and a nice video of the last group trip to his desired destination.
This happens in the background:
- The dynamic website was able to recognize the user and offers him appropriate content that gives him the confident feeling that he is making the right decision. In addition, he receives content tailored to him in the form of combination offers that he might like.
- With the coordinated content, the conversion rate increases. Another plus point that Google registers.
Achieved goal:
Travel provider X presented User A with content relevant to him at the right time, comprehensively satisfied his search query, and thus very likely turned him into a convinced customer. At the same time, Travel Supplier A has proven to Google that it has all the relevant factors to make its website a good site from the search engine’s point of view. This has improved its position in the search engine rankings.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a dynamic website?
Despite all the enthusiasm about the innovative technology, it is important to consider its opportunities and challenges as a team before implementing a dynamic website. Let the following points sink in.
Simple and flexible management
You may have heard that managing dynamic websites is easy even for people without deep knowledge of programming, HTML or XML. If it’s a wisely chosen, innovative content management system (CMS) in the background, that’s basically true.
CMS systems take a lot of work off the administrators’ shoulders. In addition, they offer the possibility to include several administrators at the same time, but with different rights, and thus to edit text and layout separately. This is also possible globally, which is exciting for companies with a high percentage of remote workers.
Implementation difficulties and security risks
Even though the management of dynamic websites can be learned relatively easily, first of all the website construction is the beginning of the project. With its many and sometimes complex functions, which a modern CMS system offers, this can nevertheless quickly overwhelm laypersons, which is more than understandable. For example, many popular CMSs require a database interface. Scripting languages like ASP/PHP on the web space are unavoidable. Basic knowledge of HTML and PHP is not a requirement within the creation of dynamic websites, but it facilitates the handling immensely.
What most people, including by far not only first-time users, also tend to forget is that dynamic websites can have far higher security vulnerabilities compared to static ones. Standard anti-virus software usually does not cover the need for security precautions that dynamic sites require. For these reasons, among others, the support of a digital agency with the necessary know-how, like NINEbrackets, can be worth its weight in gold in any case
The advantages and disadvantages of dynamic websites at a glance
- + personalized content
- + simple management
- + Integration of different administrators possible
- + user-specific assignment of rights
- + fast implementation of content
- + Actuality
- + Increase user experience
- + ongoing SEO optimization
- – increased security risk
- – Layout changes often time-consuming
- – Basic knowledge of programming languages an advantage
- – increased server requirements
- – Website construction often complex
Does your decision between a dynamic or static website balance out now? Then you can also opt for a partially dynamic side. You can leave the layout static, for example, but include text elements dynamically. We will be happy to advise you on this model.
Conclusion
Do you have a web store, an extensive content blog or many websites with frequently changing content to manage? Especially in this case, dynamic websites should be an exciting thing for you. They enable you to provide your customers with up-to-date and personalized content at any time, creating an outstanding user experience. At the same time, dynamic websites allow to improve their ranking position in Google.
If you wish, we, at NINE brackets, will support you specifically in building your dynamic website and thus launching a successful campaign project. As part of the EVERNINE Group, we can also provide you with additional 360-degree digital services upon request. Contact us today, we look forward to getting to know you.