Static websites have several advantages, including speed, low hosting costs, and ease of use, but they also require manual content management and lack server-side logic. Contentful bridges this gap by offering an authoring environment that feels like a traditional CMS, allowing users to manage their content in a more elegant way. By integrating Contentful with popular static site generators like Jekyll and Middleman, developers can create fast, scalable, and maintainable digital experiences without the complexity of a traditional web application.