I've been searching pros and cons to the static/ dynamic debate all day today and I am surprised how many different opinions there are. I am looking into it because I currently have a completely static site selling just a few different product lines. It's very successful and for my major keywords we have good SERPS. My dilemma is that we are going to be developing many more products and I am debating the switch to dynamic. I am not a professional webmaster but hold my own well enough on the small existing site. My fear is that if I switch to a database driven site, I will lose my good SERPS. How does one make the transition from a static site to a database driven one without effecting the SE positions? Is it realistic to make the switch without any effect?
Hi Danielle, As long as the person who develops the dynamic application preserves the existing link structure (probably via something like mod_rewrite), you should be fine. Assuming that to be the case (even if your site uses the .html extension which can be parsed as PHP or another server-side programming language if the server is set up to do so), the "new pages" that are created will be seen as just that - new content for the search engines to index. Is the site in question you're asking about the one in your signature by any chance? (I'm just curious.)
Thanks for the info, that's somewhat reassuring. Yes, the site in question is the one in my signature. I built it a few years ago & at the time, it was a lot neater. As I've added things, it (and the coding) has become a little scattier than I'd like! PHP/ MySQL is really getting beyond me and I don't have the time I once did to put into it or learn new coding, so I need to know what to look for in a designer when I hire one to re-do the site. At the moment, I don't even know all the questions I need to ask hence my research today. Your answer is very helpful and has been added to my list of "must haves and must not haves"!
Your site looks like one that is dynamic. Reason why i say that is because i almost can't image the time involved you would have if you want to change something in the footer or header. You eould need to change all those pages. If you hire someone show thm the site and say that you want it like that but build dynamicly. So next time you insert a new product all you have to do is insert the product details. The rest like layout, navigation, related products, header and footer are done automaticly.
LOL I basically never change my header or footer because it would take forever! The only thing in the footer that changes is the copyright year and that's in an iframe, so one click and it is changed.