Originally posted on https://www.samsonwebdesign.co.uk/make-a-strong-first-impression-5-benefits-of-dynamic-website-design/

 

There are over 1 billion websites online today. With so many pages vying for attention, you have to ensure your website is putting it’s most well-designed foot forward. That’s where dynamic website design comes in.

Static and dynamic web design both come with pros and cons, but dynamic web design comes out on top. Here’s a primer on dynamic web design: what it is, how it differs from static web design, and what makes it so worth the investment.

What is Static Website Design?

Static websites are sites that are coded “flat” in HTML. Their content is all hard-coded into the structure of the page rather than pulled from a database. They require a working knowledge of code to update and are often more file-heavy than dynamic websites.

In the early days of the internet, all websites were static. They were hand-coded and displayed the same content to every user. As the internet evolved, so too did the way we build websites.

Which leads us to:

What is Dynamic Website Design?

Today, most websites are dynamic. A dynamic website’s content is stored in a database to be pulled upon request and loaded into specific HTML templates. Any website that runs on a CMS is dynamic. The same applies to applications like Facebook or eCommerce sites – any website that accepts user data or customisation is an example of dynamic web design.

Dynamic sites allow for more extensive user interaction. They’re also much easier to update as you’re amending global templates rather than having to change dozens or even hundreds of individual pages.

So why is dynamic web design worth the investment?

1. Dynamic Web Design Allows for More Extensive Personalisation

59% of customers highlight tailored engagement based on past interactions as important when winning their business. This essentially means that customers expect and respond to personalisation efforts.

Dynamic websites offer the capability to fully customise your users’ experience. This can be something as small as reading a cookie to trigger a “welcome back” message for those revisiting your site. On the other end of the scale is a targeted algorithm that serves repeat eCommerce customers product recommendations based on past purchases.

However tailored your personalisation efforts, dynamic website design can help you achieve your goals in a way that static sites can’t.

2. Dynamic Websites Are Easier to Update and Maintain

Maintaining and updating your website is just as important as the initial building process. Not only does it keep your content (and your brand) fresh and relevant, it plays a part in how well your page ranks in search engines.

Dynamic websites are much easier to update than static ones. This is because you’re updating the content stored in a database rather than individually served HTML pages.

Dynamic sites also allow for Content Management System (CMS) integration. CMSs like WordPress or Drupal provide an administration area where you can easily update and maintain the content of your website. For sites with hundreds of pages, a CMS is the best way to keep them all managed and organised.

As for the design and build of the site itself: dynamic sites are easier to maintain in that respect as well. This is because, when updating the design of a dynamic site, you’re updating page templates. One template could serve as the base for hundreds of pages, so when you update a template you’re essentially mass-updating every page that uses it to display content.

3. A Dynamic Website Allows for User Interaction

Dynamic websites allow for extensive user interaction. Anything from logins to eCommerce functionality can be achieved with dynamic web design. This is because the user data is able to be stored in a database and served upon request to specific users.

Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms all operate as dynamic sites. Each user is given a fully tailored experience and is able to interact with the site in ways specific to their own input and behaviour.

This level of user interaction plays a big part in how engaged your users are with your website and, by extension, your brand.

4. Dynamic Websites Are More Professional

Static websites are much harder to maintain than dynamic websites, and it shows. Inconsistent design, broken links, and stagnant content are all byproducts of static website design. All of this can lead to a site that presents an unprofessional face to your users.

Dynamic websites don’t have this problem. Because they run on templates, all design elements are kept consistent and well-maintained. They’re also much easier to update so your content is kept fresh and relevant. All this serves to present your website—and by extension, your brand—in a professional light.

5. Dynamic Websites Are More Flexible

Dynamic websites are the most common type of website online today. As web technologies have progressed, users have come to expect certain functionality only available through dynamic design. But as user expectations change and grow, so too will the way we build websites.

Dynamic design is one of the best ways to future-proof your website. This is because dynamic design, by definition, allows for change and growth. Your content is kept separate to the functionality of your site so that functionality can evolve as needed.

This characteristic has already been seen in practice with the shift towards responsive design. As more and more people started using mobile and tablet technologies to access the web, websites had to evolve to accommodate this access. Dynamic design facilitated that shift with minimal time, effort, and expense.

Invest in Dynamic Web Design Today

Static web design may have its upsides but dynamic website design outstrips them in the end. At the end of the day, dynamic sites are easier to update, offer more extensive personalisation, allow for user interaction, and are more flexible. All that combines to present a more professional online front for your business.

Looking to up your design game in 2019? Here are 9 of the latest and greatest web design trends we’ve seen this year.