Professional Database Driven Website Design

Database driven websites, sometimes called dynamic websites, can provide constantly updated or highly tailored pages for your individual visitor. A database allows vast quantities of information to be handled consistently and with ease. The data stored can range from simple product information, to large quantities of data requiring complex calculations and joins to other sources of data both locally and remotely before the results are displayed.

They can drive interactive websites, for example enabling visitors to search in your databases for the product or information they want. Alternatively they can simply give you the ability to update individual pages quickly and inexpensively without the need for specialist design or technical personnel.

Database driven websites need not be more expensive than conventional static ones. For larger sites with many similar pages, they can substantially reduce the overall cost of set up as well as the longer term maintenance. A database driven website's information is produced dynamically, so that customization of delivered content can be tailored to individual users such as language preferences, or shopping 'wish lists'. It also gives the user the opportunity to interact with the site, for example storing information supplied by them for use on the next visit.

N.B. Interactive websites can generate poor search engine rankings. Our combined database and search engine expertise can help you avoid this and attract good search engine traffic.

ACS have comprehensive expertise in the development of dynamic database driven websites, and specialize in web enabling your existing systems for online database integration, ecommerce or intranet development. Our experience and knowledge in this field, means we are able to provide solid advice to our Clients regarding their online solutions, even developing new ground breaking techniques to solve particular requirements.

Here’s a list of the key advantages of going with a data-driven Web site. Before you decide if this is the way to go for your business, you should sit down with your developer to analyze the options and determine if this is the right solution for you.

Content Management:
A static website requires a programmer to make updates. This adds an unnecessary layer of communication between you and your web content, which can lead to misunderstandings and slow turnarounds for desired changes.

You should have direct control over your site’s content. A well-structured, data driven website will enable you to take control of updating your site with little or no training. By using password-protected, content management tools, you can quickly and easily update your Web site’s content.

Future Expandability:
Having a data-driven solution will enable your Web site to grow much easier than would be possible with a static site. Should you decide down the road to make changes to the layout, display and even the functionality of the site (adding more features and sections), you could do it much more easily with a data-driven solution.

Minimizing Human Error:
Even the most competent programmer charged with the task of maintaining many pages by hand will overlook things and make mistakes. This will lead to bugs and inconsistencies that can be time consuming and expensive to track down and fix. Unfortunately, users who come across these bugs will likely become irritated and may leave your site. A well designed, data-driven Web site will have "error trapping" mechanisms to ensure that required information is filled out correctly, and that content is entered and displayed in its correct format.

Cutting Production and Update Costs:
A data-driven website can be updated and "published" by any competent data entry or administrative person. In addition to being convenient and more affordable (since you will be able to make most common changes yourself), changes and updates will take a fraction of the time than they would with a static site. While training a competent programmer can take months or even years, training a data entry person can be done in 30-60 minutes.

Data-Driven Is More Efficient:
By their very nature, computers are excellent at keeping volumes of information intact. With a data-driven solution, the system keeps track of the templates, so that you don't have to. Global changes to layout, navigation or site structure would only need to be programmed once, in one place, and the site itself will take care of propagating those changes to the appropriate pages and areas. A data-driven infrastructure will improve the reliability and stability of your Web site, while greatly reducing the chance of "breaking" some part of the site when adding new areas.

Improving Stability:
Any programmer who has to update a website from "static" templates must be very organized to keep track of all the source files. If a programmer leaves unexpectedly, it could involve recreating existing work if those source files can't be found. Plus, if there were any changes to the templates, the new programmer must be careful to only use the newest version. With a data driven website, you get peace of mind, knowing your content is not lost - even if your programmer is.

Avoid The Trap! Don't make the mistake of
creating your website for yourself, create it for your customers...

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