Posts Tagged CMS
Seattle Web Development: Why Choose a Custom CMS?
Posted by Rory Martin in Web Design and Development on March 24, 2015
Moving to the web requires a lot of thought and planning and one of the decisions is what to do with your content management system (CMS). One option is to choose a custom CMS, but, like most web choices, it is not for everyone.
What is a CMS ?
Just in case you are mostly unfamiliar with the term, a CMS is a content management system. It allows you to interact with and update your website without the use of code or a web developer to help you. Over time, this allows you to update your website on your own and lower costs. Depending on your CMS, you might be able to do a variety of tasks, such as updating web content, posting blogs, and even changing the design or colors of your site.
What Are Your CMS Options?
While a custom CMS is an option, it might not be your best option. There are a variety of free to use CMS platforms on the web, including Joomla, Drupal and WordPress. Just because these are free to use does not mean they are the worst choice. For example, some of the biggest websites out there, like CNN, use WordPress. However, each free to use CMS is limited to a specific number of usages, only supports certain tasks, and might be quite limited without paying for or developing plugins to add extra features.
How Do I Choose?
One of the easiest ways to choose a CMS is to decide on what features you need, what you want to do with the CMS, and how much you can learn. Some CMS systems like Drupal have a steep learning curve, which might not be suitable if you don’t have the time and energy to put into it. Others, like Joomla are feature rich for creating business websites, but do not innately support shops or blogs. WordPress websites are ideal for blog and magazine websites, but can support single page sites and shops as well. If you need something that none of the available CMS options provide, then you may need a custom CMS.
How do I get a Custom CMS?
The easiest way to get a custom CMS is to find a quality Seattle web development team and talk to them about what you need. They will tell you if an existing CMS will suit your needs and potentially save you a great deal of money. They will also tell you how much it will cost to design a CMS around your needs, if your requirements are possible, and how long it will take to get your site up and running. Unfortunately, the hardest part here is deciding what you want and need, but usually, a good Seattle web development team can help you with that as well.
One important thing to keep in mind is that your content management system and your website are separate things. Your web development team can build the CMS to allow you to update your website. With this in mind, you may also need a web designer if the team does not do design. Want to learn more? Or want a quote on creating a custom CMS or installing an existing free to use one? Contact Rory Martin’s Seattle web development team at 206-402-6347 to find out more.
WordPress vs Joomla: Choosing a CMS Based on Your Website Needs
Posted by Rory Martin in Web Design and Development on March 1, 2013
If you’re looking for a Seattle web designer then one of the first things you should be considering is which CMS you should be using. For most, the decision is as simple as looking at the features offered by WordPress and Joomla and then choosing one that suits your business based on performance, capabilities, and options. For the most part your Seattle designers at Rory Martin will be able to tell you what will and will not work for your site, but this guide can help you to see the advantages of each CMS for yourself.
First a bit about CMS
Before you get choose between WordPress and Joomla, you might want to take a minute and learn a little bit about CMS. A CMS or Content Management System is used for publishing, managing, and editing the content created by your Seattle web designer. Most of the time a CMS is much easier to learn and to use then by doing the same tasks by modifying code via the hosting end of the website. WordPress is currently the most popular CMS but Joomla is also quite popular. Both are suited to slightly different types of sites and the following information should tell you why.
WordPress
WordPress was founded in 2003 and has since become the most popular CMS on the planet. The site functions as a free blogging application as well as a website CMS and is the single best CMS choice for bloggers who want a website. WordPress can be moved from server to server relatively easily, can be used for simplistic or intricate websites, and can be used to host single page or thousand page sites depending on your needs. Contrary to popular belief, WordPress does not necessarily have to be a blog website as it can be used to create solely static pages. You can see a WordPress website in action by visiting Time Magazine online. The benefits of WordPress include:
- CSS Theme Design which is easy to edit and modify
- Low learning curve
- Thousands of Useful Plugins
- Built in Blogging Interface
- Can be Used as a Web Forum
- Can include static pages and blog posts
- Works excellently for e-commerce sites
Joomla
Joomla was founded in 2005 and currently controls about 8% of the CMS market. The platform features a steeper learning curve than WordPress but most experts say that it is better for designing complex websites with multiple pages, but no blog. Joomla is perfect for large complex systems and in fact, eBay uses Joomla for their employee social portal. Joomla offers about 6,000 extension models which is about half the number offered by WordPress, but still quite a lot of tweaks and options. Joomla is highly customizable but requires more knowledge of code and technical tweaks than WordPress which is why fewer people use it. Visit iHop’s website or Linux.com to see a Joomla website in action.
Joomla vs. WordPress
Choosing between Joomla and WordPress is not quite as simple as saying ‘pick one’. For the most part, any blogging website can greatly benefit from using WordPress. With built in blogging functions, an easy to use CMS, and plenty of adons and options for SEO, it’s a great choice. WordPress is also easily customizable, great for adding plugins and social, and relatively easy to learn from the ground up.
Joomla is excellent for anyone who wants a more complex website with different features. Options including e-commerce sites without a blog, business websites, and unique websites with in-site functions all work well with Joomla.
Want to know more about the differences between Joomla and WordPress? You can discuss your website needs with your Seattle web designer and then work with us to choose a CMS that works for you.
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