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Using SSI to Boost Efficiency

Have you always thought Server Side Includes (SSI) was too complex? Check out Clay Dowling's tips as he explains some simple SSI directives and how to simplify managing navigation menus.

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By: Clay Dowling

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August 16, 2004

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The increased efficiency you gain by using includes has some important business considerations you should know. My own use of SSI gave me a 40% savings in time when I first built my web site and has saved me a good deal more as I have expanded and modified the site. For me that was great because I don't get paid for building my own site, and it left me time to work on web sites and software for my customers. If your business is based on an hourly billing rate, this improved efficiency could hit you in the pocket book. There are two options to consider.

The first is you could continue to charge the same amount of money for construction and modifications and complete them in less time. This lets you complete more work in less time, thus netting you more money. That is a good thing in my book. You'll also enjoy the benefits of consistency across all pages on your site, which makes you look better to your customers. The downside here is your billing situation gets more complicated, because it's not simply a matter of charging by the hour.

The second is you continue to charge on an hourly basis, and your customers are happy to get a smaller bill. This is good for customer relations and gives you a leg up on any competition still building pages without the benefits of SSI. The downside is you're devaluing your work, and that puts you in a less desirable position for getting new contracts.

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