27 January 2010
Sites that are never changed or updated say all the wrong things about a business, so if you are hoping for repeat visitors you need a way of showing them that someone is looking after the site. Content Management Systems (CMS) are flavour of the month, but are they a universal panacea?

CMS - Content Management Systems

Does Everyone Need A CMS?

It is natural that businesses would like to have complete control over their own website. However, complicated content management systems (CMS) which give complete control over the site are not always the ideal answer. For a start, they impose creative limitations on the initial construction and shape of the site - in the worst cases making your site look as if it has been constructed using an 'out of the box' template - and secondly they often have a very steep learning curve and can take up a lot of your time. It is not unusual for us to create a CMS and still have the client come back to us to ask us to perform simple edits.

So Who Does Need A CMS?

A CMS should in this author's opinion only be used for large sites that need to be updated on a daily or at least weekly basis, or sites that regularly need to have new sections added. In this case a modern versatile CMS like Joomla! is the way to go. Different levels of permission can be allocated allowing staff to edit their own sections of the site, add articles etc. If you are sure you do need a CMS then make sure that you understand what is involved, who will provide training and who will be responsible for what. Don't assume that using a CMS will be instinctive or that anyone who can write and send an email will be able to maintain the website without further instruction.

Alternatives To CMS

In-Browser Editors

An in-browser editor is a cut-down form of CMS which allows you to easily make changes to specific blocks of text or to replace images without disrupting the overall layout of the site. This type of solution can be applied to existing sites, whereas a content-managed site will usually have to be built using t he same CMS. This solution is particularly suitable if you want to change prices, edit a 'special offers' page or keep a news section up to date.

Get Your Web Designer To Make Changes

If your web design company is also hosting your site then check to see if any maintenance of the site is included in the hosting package. Many companies will make minor changes over the year without charging, or will charge at very affordable rates. Remember, running a website is not a core part of your business!

Use Dynamic Features - Photo Galleries, Blogs, Forums etc

Components which can help keep your site fresh and attract repeat visitors include newsfeeds (from other sites), news boxes you can edit yourself, photo galleries, forums and blogs. These can be built in as central features of your site at the outset or added later as your business develops. All these options will allow you to provide fresh content for your site on an ongoing basis.