Understanding Content Management Services
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Content Management Systems By Brandon White
description
A lot of web designers will undersell or oversell free CMS products. Know what questions to ask and what you're getting into. Some are complex, some are simple. Know your CMS!
Transcript of Understanding Content Management Services
Content Management Systems
By Brandon White
Content Management Systems
CMS - A web software that allows you to update and manage your website with a minimal technical or design background.
Standard on most websites these days.
Costs to you
•Setup•Customizations •Learning Curve•Skill Requirements•Maintenance Time (Ongoing)
Considerations
•Which parts of your site will you update?•How frequently will you update?•Who makes updates, and what is their skill set?•How will the CMS be maintained?
CategoriesOpen Source
“Free”, community developed
• WordPress
• Drupal
• Joomla
Proprietary
Owned by a company
• Ibex
• Flipper
• Wix (SaaS)
Which is “best”?
Drupal
•Not for the do-it-yourselfer•Higher entry cost than WordPress•Good framework for building custom sites
360Toolbox
•Control of content, design is static• Events, Menus, Coupons, Jobs, Promos, Galleries,
Locations, Custom Pages, Pop-up content, Videos
•Feeds content to multiple web properties• Your website, Facebook, Twitter, 360Wichita.com
WordPress
•Low entry cost (out-of-the-box)•Tons of low cost add-ons•Tons of free and low cost designs• Many developers offer customizations
WordPressSoftware
MobileTheme
DesignTheme
SiteSearch Gallery
ShoppingCart
UserManager
Multi-Language
AccountLock
SEO
ShippingModule
FAQ
Slider
Feedback
Tons of great low costadd-ons
WordPressSoftware
MobileTheme
DesignTheme
SiteSearch Gallery
ShoppingCart
UserManager
Multi-Language
AccountLock
SEO
ShippingModule
FAQ
Slider
Feedback
Third-party themes and plugins are dependant on each other and the core WP software
Software , plugins and customizations must be maintained.
WordPressSoftware
Mob
ileTh
eme
DesignTheme
SiteSearch
Gallery
ShoppingCart
TwitterUser
Manager
Multi-Language
AccountLock
SEOShippingModule
FAQ
Slider
Feedback
WordPressSoftware
MobileTheme
DesignTheme
SiteSearch Gallery
UserManager FAQ
Slider
Find a balance… Don’t try to do too much.
WordPress
•Software is free•Setup typically $750-$2500 •Design themes often free - $100• Plugins often $50-$250• Customizations $50-$200/hour
Ibex
•Developed and owned by 360ideas•Comparable entry price as WP and Drupal•Comparable maintenance costs as WP and Drupal•100% customizable
Questions for your Designer
• Will you “design” this site, or purchase a template?• Is the CMS and design mobile friendly?• What plugins will be used?• If they install plugins, be clear on what you are
paying for.• Are you able to customize the CMS?
Questions for Designers
• Will this CMS scale to accommodate my future needs?• How are software updates and security handled?• Do you provide training and support for the CMS?• What’s the best CMS?• The best answer isn’t “ours”. It’s what will work best
for you
Thanks
Brandon White@bmatthewwhite
