Is a Content Management System in Your Future?
Websites are going through a transition, but when haven’t they? Sites used to be coded in HTML, then evolved through Flash applications, style sheet layouts, and Javascript interactivity. The best way to build changes almost as quickly as popular fashion. If your site is at least three years old, there’s a good chance that it’s out of fashion.
All of the cutting-edge sites today are sporting a content management system (CMS) behind that snappy interface. The CMS lets you add your own articles, pictures and menu items without enlisting a team of programmers. Once your site is built, you can furnish it the way you like, and keep furnishing it as often as you want.
When choosing a CMS you have four choices, commercial, open source, custom, or hosted solutions. Here are the fundamental advantages and disadvantages of each:
A commercial CMS is one that you purchase from a vendor. It typically comes with a licensing agreement and basic support, with higher levels of support available for a fee. For companies that want reliability and long term vendor support, this is a good choice. This is also the most expensive solution, and is not necessarily better than the other options.
Open source is a highly popular choice for many. The explosive growth of the internet can be largely attributed to open source software. The advantage is interoperability and a worldwide network of people who use open source platforms. The disadvantage is that you may still need experts to help track down bugs and add special features. You can find commercial support, though it’s not always local.
Custom solutions are an obvious choice for the programmers who know how to write the code. Because they understand what every line of code is for, they can troubleshoot every problem that arises, and they can make the site do whatever a customer wants. Custom solutions are far more flexible than other approaches. On the other hand, when the programmer makes a career change, the client might be left with a dead end.
Hosted solutions are increasingly popular for many types of applications, but the most popular example is a blog site. You can host your own open source Wordpress blog on your server, or you can have a blog at Wordpress.com at no cost. The difference is in support and flexibility. Hosted solutions tend to be focused on certain types of sites are much less flexible in terms of individual customization, but you also do not need any technical expertise whatsoever to support your site. You may have to give up some space for advertising, or pay a monthly fee for the services you use.
In the end, the right choice depends on your particular needs and everyone’s needs are different. It’s best to consult with someone who can assess your web development needs and help guide you toward a solution that fits your company. If you’d like help deciding, tell me about your business needs, and I’ll try to guide you toward the best solution.
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