Who Wins ? Wordpress or HTML & CSS ?

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Hey guys how successful and traffic friendly are robust websites that are built using error free HTML & CSS?

How many of you still focus on these tools when building your online business compared to other CMS platforms such as Wordpress, Joomla , Drupal etc - Am I correct to say there are less security concerns when using HTML & CSS?

Thanks,
Jason
#main internet marketing discussion forum #css #design #html #website #wins #wordpress
  • Hey Jason,

    Good question there..I was wondering about this
    myself..

    In terms of SEO, I think Wordpress has an edge
    due to it's seo friendly page urls..However,
    I once got top position with Weebly using
    page links that imitated those descriptive
    links by wordpress blogs..

    So I think if you can do the same with html links
    then wordpress would lose it's advantage over
    plain html in terms of SEO..

    Although we still have to factor in the thousands
    of plug-ins available for Wordpress that will
    once again give it an edge over HTML + CSS..

    I hope a fellow warrior with hundreds of HTML sites
    and Wordpress blog will answer your question
    to give us a clearer insight into this..

    All the best,
  • Hey Omar , thanks for the reply - Would it not be an issue if someone did excellent SEO (on page factors, backlink building etc ? As well as all other free traffic methods such as Yahoo Answers, Forums , word of mouth , Facebook fan pages etc

    Thanks,
    Jason
    • [1] reply
    • Can someone with coding expertise write plugins that are user friendly as wordpress but have the option to work with simple HTML + CSS ?
      • [1] reply
  • I don't see any issue with a plain HTML site and
    a wordpress blog since IMO it's pretty much the
    same, however I can see that it is easier with
    a Wordpress blog with all the plug-ins available.

    Most of the manual on page SEO stuff is automated
    with plug-ins in Wordpress..so I guess it would be
    an issue if you want to do it the fastest way
    possible.

    All the best,
    • [1] reply
    • Plain HTML sites do not have the same magnitude of security risk as sites based on PHP+MySQL, such as Wordpress and Joomla sites (and nearly every other CMS out there) pose.
  • Hey Joe , is it possible to build a robust site like ones built with PHP / Mysql that is used with Wordpress etc using HTML / CSS

    Thanks,
    Jason
    • [2] replies
    • Absolutely. You have proof of existence These programs just spit out HTML and CSS, after all. So a human *could* -- albeit with an enormous effort that's not cost effective -- have done that.
      • [2] replies
    • Joe!

      Could you please tell what are the security risks involved with PHP+MYSQL!
      • [1] reply
  • Guys,

    you're truly confusing things. The question that Jason asked was straight forward: Who wins? Wordpress or HTML/CSS?

    The Answer is straight forward too! NO ONE!

    They are the same. from an SEO perspective, Google treats websites as the result being parsed into the end-user browser. No matter what language or platform you use for a website (php, asp.net, perl, etc...) the result to the user will be an HTML document besides the styles sheets being attached to it. And this is the basis that Google or any other search engine treat websites on (in terms of ON-Page factors).

    To better understand the situation, go the SEO Browser here:
    Free SEO Software Tool & Text Browser, Search Engine Optimization Tools - SEO Browser

    Insert any regular website in the address that uses HTML/CSS, and click the "Parse URL" button. Then go on and enter another website that uses Wordpress for example, and click that same button. You will get a very similar result. This is how the Search Engines see your website. Plain HTML! So there is no real difference between a Wordpress site and an HTML one from an SEO pespective.

    One thing to mention lastly, and before anyone disagree with what I'm saying. If we have to say it in that way, then Wordpress usually "seems to win" for ONE REASON. Most Wordpress sites are blogs, whereas regular HTML/CSS are sites that don't get updated frequently (but depends though). Google loves BLOGS, and it's been said that BLOG = Better Listing On Google. Therefore, people using Wordpress see better results most of the time, and this is why some people *THINK* that Wordpress wins.

    Regards,
    Wassim
  • Wassim , Can you create a blog option using HTML and not use wordpress?

    Thanks

    Most Wordpress sites are blogs, whereas regular HTML/CSS are sites that don't get updated frequently (but depends though). Google loves BLOGS, and it's been said that BLOG = Better Listing On Google. Therefore, people using Wordpress see better results most of the time, and this is why some people *THINK* that Wordpress wins.

    Regards,
    Wassim
    • [1] reply
    • Jason,

      I had a blog almost one year ago that I created myself using ASP.NET and SQL Server. I did put that site down back in these days because I had to end up my final exams and was preparing for my graduation.

      I have another blog now that uses Wordpress, and honestly speaking I was able to achieve almost the same success for both sites.

  • Daniel , cool - are you saying that you have developed your own CMS? How do you deal with security threats with your own CMS ?

    Thanks,
    • [1] reply
    • Hello Jason,

      Yes I have developed my own CMS that I'm using for my websites, it allows me to shape the processes exactly the way I want them and the CMS also supports multiple websites with centralized management that allows me to manage them all from one admin GUI :-)

      Concerning security threats like SQL injection and Cross Site Scripting I'm using security libraries provided by the platform on which I've developed my CMS.

      /Daniel
  • I have heard that Yahoo doesnt rank Wordpress blogs very well because the structure is too complicated for their primitive bots to figure out.

    They say that plain HTML sites rank the best on Yahoo.
  • Daniel,

    From A security point is it more safe to have a blog / CMS built with .NET compared to the other such as PHP ?
    • [1] reply
    • Hi Jason,

      There's really no simple answer to that question it all comes down to the skill of the developer. If the developer knows his way around security he should be able to achieve pretty much the same level of security on any of the major platforms.

      The thing is that, a CMS like Wordpress that is so widely used by millions of people, become a target worthwhile to shoot at when trying to exploit security vulnerabilities. The good thing about this is that a widely used system most often reach a very high level of security faster, simply because it has to.

      My CMS is developed for the .NET platform and this was a choice I made with experience from Java/J2EE, PHP and .NET. I took alot of things into consideration when making the choice of platform, that is a post of its own so I will not go into detail here:-)

      If you're on a shoestringbudget and a non tech person, I would suggest a CMS like Wordpress, I don't know what it is you want to achieve and your situation, financial etc. . . so it's hard to receommend something specific.

      /Daniel
  • Product Creator said he is getting back into Xsite pro.

    I have set up several blogs using wordpress, and like it for its easiness more than anything, but I also have Xcite pro which I havent done much with, and had nearly forgotten about to be honest until I read this post.

    Would there be any advantage to using Xcite over wordpress, or for ease of use and all the plug ins that are available would wordpress win.
  • hi friend,
    im vote for html & CSS web page if you are a professional you must do with it. if you want a blog you go with wordpress, drupal and some other.
  • I have used wordpress extensively.

    I think wordpress wins anyway.

    Because it can generate more backlinks than a normal webpage, its' definitely a great way to increase Search Engine rankings.

    A newbie can use wordpress to post 10 articles in a day by themselves whereas using an HTML page can often require basic HTML skills & knowledge of dreamweaver / any HTML editor. Point is, more content = more traffic.

    Google loves wordpress because it has the ability to quickly add loads of solid content. That's exactly why wordpress will rank better than an HTML web page.

    There are so many plugins like Platinum all-in-one-SEO pack, etc that help you SEO your wordpress blog quickly.

    Another advantage of wordpress over plain HTML pages is you can create lots of pages in a short while. It's dynamic & user friendly.

    Wordpress get indexed faster because it's not only user-friendly but google-friendly.

    You can use wordpress for a sales letter or opt-in page as well. I think it's the best deal available. And about it getting hacked, there are plugins which protect your blog from getting hacked.

    The wordpress community is top-notch and the plugins are FANTASTIC. It beats HTML pages hands down.
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • Wordpress is gold, Joomla is gold as well, you just have to get used to it and then it saves you a lot of time in comparison to html & css coding..Pages are built with one click, no uploading, no nothing.

    Regarding security..html & css are probably more secure, but you can have the same security with the CMS if you update regularly.
  • I think Wordpress.org is the best of the CMS for IM, because it is easy to use and you spend more time creating, less time fighting the system. Joomla? Yuck!!!!

    Compared to HTML, Wordpress it will save you time, has great plugins for SEO, Sitemaps, RSS Submission, Pinging etc.

    Downside of Wordpress over HTML is the lack of total control of what is rendered to the browser, and slower response times, and higher cost of hosting if you do get a large number of visitors (not a problem for me I have no sites with more than 200 v/day).

    Some of the premium plugins like headway save a lot of time in creating custom layouts for your page and I recommend them, but they do cost a bit and that puts people off on a tight budget.
  • Hey Daniel - I just sent you a PM... I look forward to hearing from you soon

    Thanks ,
    Jason
    • [1] reply
    • Hello Jason,

      I can't answer your PM because the warrior forum says I don't have enough posts to reply:-(

      Can we take it here?
  • The advantage of wordpress is once you set upon a template or two you like, you can 'perfectly' optimize it for SEO and simply use it over and over as a template.
    • [1] reply
    • HTML+CSS+PHP=Wordpress(Apache+*SQL)

      "To form an answer you must first know the question."~confusion
  • As an experienced developer of 9 years for me, its programming my own sites, whether its in ASP, HTML, VBscript, Dhtml, Javascript or whatever.

    I had one wordpress blog and it was hacked within a week of launch.

    I dont need those sorts of headaches and the hassles of having to worry about "version control".
  • Each of them have their own advantages and disadvantages. I have tried Wordpress for membership sites but it was no Good. However, wordpress is the best if you want to have a quick site setup and it is also very flexible because of the large variety of Plugins available.
  • I would pick Wordpress simply because it can be expanded to do so much more. With HTML, you are pigeonholing yourself.

    Plus, Wordpress is heck of a lot easier to manage.
    • [1] reply
    • Wordpress or any other CMS is beating HTML handsdown. The web has evolved and with that static HTML is slowly dying.
      • [1] reply
  • Hey Daniel ( Nicelife) I just sent you a PM with my contact info.. I look forward to hearing from you

    Thanks,
    Jason
  • Hey John , Great and creative way to explain it.. Thanks for the feedback..

    Jason
  • No, its on the contrary, HTML will have more security issues, Joomla, Drupal and most CMS come with rolebased security in-built. In HTML the same is not true, you have to write all the security code, more work and less robust. CMS's are tested, used, tested, used over several years so definitely they are more robust in terms of security.
    • [2] replies
    • I wasn't aware that plain-vanilla HTML had any security issues. How does one hack a <h1> or <table> tag?

      Yes, you can hack javascript, perl scripts, and such, but then you are getting away from plain HTML and CSS, aren't you?

      For a small, static site, I can't see how one could be more secure than plain vanilla markup with no scripting.

      On the other hand, Wordpress, Joomla and the other open source CMS make their code available to the developers and the hackers alike. Seems that would be a reason for the version upgrades seemingly every few days. Right?

      I do agree, though, that for the average Joe who wants to develop a complex site with lots of functionality, one of the major CMS programs would be more secure than "rolling their own"...
      • [1] reply
    • What in the hell are you talking about? Sounds like you got it backwards pardner. Let me just say for the record that my current project has an html (by hand) main site with a WP blog and a PHP forum. The same style and theme on all of them. I took a WP template and with my KNOWLEDGE of html was able to modify it in less than an hour to look exactly like my html site. You cant do that if all you know is the WP GUI.
  • Well Wordpress is DEFINITELY more newbie friendly and makes it possible for an average joe to make a site that looks professional maybe not, but decent. But yeah security holes and things like that keep it from being chosen as THE type to build sites upon, just look at most of the big league sites, see any wordpress goin' on in there? I guess not.
    • [1] reply
    • My answer -- after building websites for about 14 years -- is WordPress. Since free magazine-style themes became available, I hardly ever create an HTML/CSS site now.

      The one exception is when I put up an HTML/CSS minisite -- three or four pages, max -- as a placeholder before creating the content for a larger WordPress site. I always try to throw something online, as soon as I buy a new domain name. For that, I use one of the free CSS templates at OSWD.org

      (I like Andreas01, also at Free website templates - andreasviklund.com It's available as a WordPress theme, too, so I sometimes use that when I expand the site, and visitors can barely see the behind-the-scene changes.)

      Niches change and so do audience interests. With WordPress, I can recategorize my posts, reprioritize them, etc., very easily.

      After repeatedly redesigning HTML/CSS websites (even with .js content for navigation, etc., it's a nuisance) and spending weeks doing so, I switched to WordPress. Though some of my websites included over 500 articles, it was worth the effort.

      My sites seem to rank better and faster with WordPress, and updates are vastly easier.
  • Ultimately guys, these systems are TOOLS and tools are only as good as the one using them.
  • I agree with Wassim - having built many html and Wordpress sites, from an SEO perspective the advantage you get from Wordpress is the dynamic content of a blog - period!

    So - now I use WP for my blogs and use html for my websites.

    The challenge with WP for static pages are...

    1. Themes that mix a blog design for posts and a different design for a static page are few and far between, and the ones that are out there are quite complicated.

    2. WP goes through MANY updates and patches any one of which can impact any custom themes -so just when you get something setup the way you like, the next update may wreck it all...this has happened to my sites many times and is a MAJOR pain in the butt.

    3. It is harder (at least for me who knows some html) to tweak a site with WP, so I prefer to stay with html for my static sites.

    All of that said - everyone should have a WP blog to bring in traffic and SEO attention to their static sites.

    Jeff
    • [1] reply
    • it is very rare that you will have a problem with a WordPress theme with WordPress upgrades. Usually the problems occur because of incompatible plugins, or other server-side issues.

      I have been using WordPress since May of 2006 and not once have I had issues with any of my themes. The one time I did have an issue with a theme was with a client who had the Thesis theme. All we had to do was upload the upgraded theme and the issues were solved.
      • [1] reply
  • I have used html/css for years, drupal, wordpress and joomla.

    There is absolutely no doubt that properly coded html/css has the edge, like for like.

    All cms programs produce additional code which is unecessary to the page layout in most cases.

    If you are doing simple and small sites then learn html/css and see the difference.

    The only time to use wordpress, drupal, joomla is if you are creating regular content and so need to be able to manage that content.

    The reason wordpress is so "popular" is because it is p*ss easy to create a site and get going and because most people don't know html.

    If your site is going to be dozens of pages or more then use a cms but otherwise there are still benefits to pure html/css.

    Believe it or not, but hundreds of sites and many years in this game tells me this is the case. I have no agenda.

    Sam
  • Nothing compares to wordpress. Never ever building a static website again.
  • Well ..i have not used much of html ...but i have bit experience in wordpress..and have found it quite good from SEO point of view..Because of so many plugins
    • [1] reply
    • One of the reasons WordPress is so great is because you are always adding fresh content to a WordPress site. The search engines do love fresh content
      Static HTML and CSS sites generally remain unchanged...

      Tip: even if you want a static site using HTML and CSS, I recommend that you still create .php files rather than .html files for the simple reason that you can use php includes for things like headers, footers, and navigation...something like this:
      Code:
      <?php include "header.html";?>
      this is especially useful for larger sites, so instead of changing multiple pages if you need to make a change on one section of your site, you only need to make the change on one file instead of multiple files.

      so then your files would be named index.php, contact.php, etc., instead of index.html, contact.html, etc...
  • I am amazed to see that not everybody agrees about Wordpress as the best platform solution for Internet Marketing. I mean, where is your focus going? On web development, html, php etc, or on marketing?

    Stop looking at Wordpress as a blogging platform. It is way beyond that, and I can assure you that you can use it as a CMS for any kind of web product that an Internet marketer may need: squeeze page, sales page, blog, membership site, full fledged content site, CPA landing page, etc. And it is fast, and clean, and needs no tech skills, unless of course you begin developing your own themes from scratch.

    Most of the membership sites you are using right now have a Wordpress platform behind it. If it does not look like a blog it does not mean it is not Wordpress.

    After reading this thread, I see a real opportunity here for info products helping and showing what could be done with Wordpress.

    Chad
    • [1] reply
    • Chad, this is exactly why I don't accept Wordpress as the be all and end all website creator for every conceivable purpose.

      Installing a complete CMS, along with a multi-template theme and database for a one page sales letter or squeeze page with a thank you page and download page seems like a lot of overkill. Kind of like bringing a stock car to the local go-kart track.

      Seems to me it would be more efficient to start with a basic template, plug in the copy and links, upload it and get down to marketing.

      Or am I missing something?
      • [2] replies
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    Who Wins ? Wordpress or HTML & CSS ?

    Hey guys how successful and traffic friendly are robust websites that are built using error free HTML & CSS? How many of you still focus on these tools when building your online business compared to other CMS platforms such as Wordpress, Joomla , Drupal etc - Am I correct to say there are less security concerns when using HTML & CSS?