I have limited resources to create a website directory in my area. I am using a sitebuilder from Homestead.com. It is HTML based.
I know I have many hurdles to overcome whether it is HTML based or not. My first goal is to list over 700 local businesses to my website. If it is successful, will my directory be stable enough to handle growing traffic and offer local goods and services from businesses with small inventories like florists, gift shops, etc. until I am able to generate income to have a professional web designer do it for me? What are the positives and negatives with HTML when it comes to creating websites, maintenance, cost, etc.? My website can be found on SeeMeOn.com.
Thank you for your input.
HTML (only) = static site, i.e. ALL and ANY changes will need to be made in HTML files and those files will need to be re-uploaded to the site… [Example: there is a new company is your area, or one of the old one's change their phone number]
You can NOT sell anything with HTML only (you will need at least some form of server side scripting to do that).
It will be easier (and cheaper) to create dynamic site to handle 700+ businesses than to create AND maintain 700+ static HTML pages…
Most (if not all) of web hosting solutions offer some kind of server side scripting support…
There are few FREE (and a lot of cheap) web hosts offering DB backend AND server side scripting too…
January 12th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
It depends; Do you have a Database?
ie; Say you want to add a new link. Are you going to go into the HTML and add a new link? Or do you add it to the database, so next time somebody loads the page the link is created with the others?
In your case, I would try to code everything in PHP, store the data in a phpMyAdmin database, and use SQL commands to pull out the data everytime someone loads the page. Add a sort function, so your users don't have to look at 700 results at once; maybe 50 at once. With a function to sort Alphabetical, or any other Data you're listing. .. Maybe a search function to help out.
.. But that's if you want to get fancy. Html is fine: If you don't mind adding each new link by hand. And you don't want any functionality. .. But your viewer will hate loading 700 links each time.
References :
January 12th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
HTML (only) = static site, i.e. ALL and ANY changes will need to be made in HTML files and those files will need to be re-uploaded to the site… [Example: there is a new company is your area, or one of the old one's change their phone number]
You can NOT sell anything with HTML only (you will need at least some form of server side scripting to do that).
It will be easier (and cheaper) to create dynamic site to handle 700+ businesses than to create AND maintain 700+ static HTML pages…
Most (if not all) of web hosting solutions offer some kind of server side scripting support…
There are few FREE (and a lot of cheap) web hosts offering DB backend AND server side scripting too…
References :