Static vs. Dynamic Websites (CMS) Gone are the days when you have a website built and have no control over the content. The arrival and popularity of Dynamic Websites (database driven Content Management Systems (CMS)) should have your "work from home" web designers concerned. I mean who wants to pay for a Static site when you can have an easy to manage CMS site that costs you nothing to maintain? Sure you may pay a little more for it but isn't your business worth it?

What is CMS? CMSgives you complete control of your website. The easy self edit content management system (CMS) enables you to make changes to your website with ease. This keeps your website up to date without the continuous expense of a web designer. You can update your website content, add and delete images without the confusing web design jargon. Changes are made in simple English in a web admin template similar to Microsoft word.

With CMS websites (good ones as there are some dodgy ones out there beware!) you can now update most areas of your website yourself. Changes made to your website using the easy edit CMS are instantly and automatically reflected on your website.

Why CMS? The need for Content Management Systems has grown in the last few years as the expense of maintaining web sites has hit home. Content Management Systems hand the control of a site back to the owners, saving many thousands of dollars in ongoing website maintenance and update costs.

CMS is designed in such a way that you don't need any specialized web development knowledge or expertise in html, graphic design or any of the other areas of web development expertise to maintain and update your web site.

If keeping your site punctual and up to date with your customers is important, then this tool is a must. CMS has been developed so that keeping your website up to date is made easy. CMS gives you the ability to edit the text, images, headings and style of any web page.

How exactly does it Work? CMS is designed to allow you to update the content in your web site with virtually no web skills or experience. Did you know, by having the skill to use Microsoft Word you would be able to edit, manage and update the content all by yourself, from anywhere in the World? You can login into the CMS admin area with your unique username and password.

Static Website - The Website Dinosaur? Static websites (I call them old school websites) are websites sitting out on the web all on their lonesome; they are a conglomeration of singularly designed web pages all linked together. The site pretty much goes out of date the moment it is live and has no software driving it.

Why is it a dying breed? Static websites rely 100% on a web developer or designer to update, make changes, add content and/or pictures and this can prove to be very expensive exercise. The technology is also very simple (one page linking to another and to another) but immediately outdated once the website goes live.

What if I currently have a Static Site? Find a Website company that has their own great quality Content Management System (beware of the cheap plug in products). For under $1000 they should be able to add a quality CMS system to your existing website.

What Features Should I look for in a CMS? Some CMS systems have very limited features. Look for a CMS that has as many features as possible, also look for a CMS that is updated regularly (when they add a new feature it is reflected also on your website). Features like the ability to add multiple pages to your website with ease, image and file editors, and a flash file up loader are just a few tools that can make a big difference.

What is the future of CMS? CMS is here to stay. In fact I can only see CMS becoming more powerful and far more flexible in what it can provide. Currently CMS functionality drives around 90% of an entire website's content. The only area CMS usually does not control is the headers and menu navigation's. In the future with technology I can see this changing where every aspect of a website is driven 100% by a CMS system without compromising design integrity or quality.

I can also see new and amazing features and technological advancements being added to CMS functionality over time making your website an even more up to date and powerful marketing tool.