Weebly Site Builder

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Web Design Approach Comparison

At present, website creations are usually divided into three categories –

9

Static website

 

9

Dynamic website (CMS)

 

9

Website Builder

 

Static Website

Static websites refer to pure HTML, and URL files mostly end with .html or .htm extension, and do not contain web applications. Most simple companies and personal websites are the static websites. Most design companies use Dreamweaver to create static web pages with template, and publish them online via FTP.

The advantages are that the webpage is simple, the performance is the fastest (pure html, no code needs to be processed), and high security. The downside is that it is difficult to scale and manage as the site continues to grow.

Dynamic website (CMS)

Dynamic web pages are mostly based on CMS (Content Management System). Most design companies use open source application to create customer websites. Famous programs such as WordPress, Joomla, Magento, OpenCart, etc. Design companies typically install CMS programs, add theme layouts, plugins, input, and more.

The system has a front-end and back-end panel. The front-end is the website that the visitor sees, which may be the company webpage, or the blog, or the shopping cart. The back-end panel is the management website, such as adding/removing themes, adding/removing plugins, and updating content.

The advantage of the dynamic website/CMS website is that the program components are mostly open source and free, the functions are easy to expand, and it is easy to add/update the website content. The disadvantage is that the program components are open source and free – anyone can easily download the code to look for security vulnerabilities, so update will be released (security and feature updates). Therefore, in order to maintain the website in the best state, the website should be maintained frequently (backup, update, test), otherwise it might be easily intruded.

For example, this website (www.website-solution.net) is based on WordPress CMS.  From our experience, there are WordPress update notifications (core, theme, or plugins) nearly every week.

Website Builder

Website Builder are mostly off-the-shelf paid products, with several built-in templates and many common features of websites. Users only need to log in, select templates, input content, insert images, set website functions (blog, shop), and publish them.

The advantage of Website Builder is that users don’t need to have web programming knowledge, and quickly and easily create websites and their future updates;
But the downside is that when you become an experienced user, you may be limited by its product features. In addition, most Website Builders are lease licenses.

Famous Website Builders are Wix, Weebly, SquareSpace, etc.

Canned website?

In Hong Kong, as all know, salary is expensive, rental is expensive, and has a high living index. Most of the economic web design services will be modified with ready-made design templates. Whether you are a static website, or a CMS dynamic website, foreign markets have a range of available templates to choose from.
If you need an original website design, you need designer time, effort, company operating resources, etc., and relatively the cost will be more.
Or even, in few circumstance, there are design companies that outsource some processes to other countries to save costs.

Comparison among 3 web design approachs

Approach

Static web design

Static web pages such as pure html pages

Dynamic web design

dynamic web page has a front-end for visitors, and a back-end panel for webaster to manage the web page. Eg WordPress CMS, Magento eShop

 

Website Builder

Common Website Builders like WixWeeblySquareSpace

Design Selection

Most static web pages offer a variety of ready-made template options.

Most dynamic web pages offer a variety of ready-made template options.

Wix, Weebly, and SquareSpace offer several ready-to-use template options.

Needs time

Simple static web pages take about 1 – 2 weeks

Simple dynamic web pages take more than 2 weeks

Wix, Weebly, SquareSpace have a ready-made framework, and the webpage creation time depends on the user’s existing content, text, images, etc.

Built-in features (e.g. video, image slider, gallery, map, social, eStore, etc)

Generally simple static web pages only offer limited functionality, other additional charges

Dynamic web-pages come with built-in features and may also be charged separately

Wix, Weebly, SquareSpace multi-built webpage common features (some features depending on the service plan)

Feature Adjustment

There is an additional charge for modifying the feature for static website

There is an additional charge for modifying the feature for dynamic website

Sorry, Website Builder usually has no function changes.

Content Update

Static website need to manually update the web-page html
(either design company or end-user modified the page)

For dynamic website, end-user shall login to backend panel to update the website content.

 

Users can log in to the Website Builder management platform to update web pages on their own.

Maintenance Technique

Static websites are based on html, nearly no technical maintenance

For dynamic websites, it’d better to regularly update CMS, eShop  to reduce security threats

Generally no technical maintenance required

Preview/Trial

Template previews may be provided in Static websites

Template previews may be provided in dynamic websites

Most have a free trial

Required cost

Simple static web pages can start from HK$2,000 to HK$3,000
(depends on the number of pages, pictures, no content update fee included)

Simple dynamic website can start from HK$5,000 to HK$6,000  (depending on complexity, content, no maintenance nor update costs included)

For example, we provide Weebly Website Builder, the annual fee ranges from HK$816 to HK$3876

Need knowledge

Users need to have CSS, jQuery, HTML5 and other knowledge when modifying static website.

Users need to have CSS, jQuery, HTML5, PHP, MySQL, CMS and other knowledge when modifying CMS dynamic website.

Wix, Weebly, SquareSpace, etc. have built-in WYSIWYG web editor (somewhat similar to MS Word document processing)

Need software

User need to have Dreamweaver, and image software to modify the static website.

Users need to have Dreamweaver, and image software to modify the dynamic website.

Google Chrome, image software is required to modify the web page in Website Builder.

The above information is for reference only.
Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice depends on the needs of the user, the budget, etc.

Domain Check

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Contact: (852) 2187-3707 , Fax: (852) 3007-1200

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