For many affiliates, it can be a difficult decision when deciding what platform to build their websites on.

The most common platforms in the poker affiliate world are either Frontpage or Content Management Systems.

People often ask me what the best solution for their website and business is.  Should they design their own site in html?  Should they pay to have someone design their website in html?  Should they have a custom CMS developed?  Should they try to learn web design on their own?

There are so many questions to consider when developing a new website.  And to be honest there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to what platform to build your new website on.  However there is one piece of advice I would give to affiliates when developing a new site.  Think about your new website as a potential customer or visitor and not from the webmaster perspective.

Your traffic does not care about the process you use to add content.  Your traffic is usually seeking information of some sort. More important than the look and feel of your website, is providing the information your visitors are looking for.  Not to say the design and usability is not important, because it is.  But there needs to be a fine balance between the two.  I can think of some friends websites that look like they were designed in the late 90's.....not very 2.0 or impressive looking at all.  But they make a killing and continue to be authority sites because their content is excellent.  And on the flipside of that I can think of multiple websites on expensive CMS platforms that look sexy and pretty......but the actual content sucks.

When starting a new site you will need to think long term as well.  If you are planning on having a site that has the potential to grow into something huge, I would suggest using some sort of content management system.  However if it is going to be a simple site and more of a static site, then by all means an html site developed with a program such as frontpage will probably work fine.

Another piece of advice I will give is this.  If you're not a web designer, don't try to become one overnight.  Even if you're going the frontpage route, don't put out a crappy site.  There are several good designers out there that can get you started with a professional looking template for a couple hundred dollars.  It will be worth the money, and you will probably make it back by simply having a professional looking site versus a put together banner farm of sorts.

As you can probably see, I am a big fan of outsourcing.  I am a great marketer and affiliate, but a terrible web designer.  I am also a big fan of content management.  Having a good CMS allows for way more flexibility and growth.  Plus it also does exactly what it says, it manages your content.  I can't imagine if PAW or PokerNews were html sites where every time you wanted to add or edit a page you had to login to an FTP and find the file, then replace.

I think it is a natural webmaster progression however to start in html and work your way up to CMS.  By starting out with RAW html, it gives webmasters a foundation to work off of in the future.  There is sometimes arguments over which type of website is better for SEO.  I don't think it really matters if you have an understanding of on page SEO and incorporate it into your site.

So to answer the initial question on which is better, Raw HTML versus Content Management, it depends on the situation.  If you can afford it however, I would suggest content management.  I would also suggest outsourcing your web design if you are not a great designer already.  It will save you a great deal of time and headaches, and probably put more money in your pocket throughout the long haul.

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