What you REALLY need to know about Content Management Systems (CMS) for Web Design, Web Developers and Websites

Ok, I will keep this simple. Read it all though as it might save you money, time, stress and hassle.

Just what you REALLY need to know about Content Management Systems (CMS) for Web Design, Web Developers and Websites.

A Content Management System can be a fancy name for a website (or blog). Content Managed Websites is another name for them.

I say “can be”  because a CMS has a number of definitions, not all to do with websites.

Many web designers and developers push the idea.

One reason is that using a CMS for a website is a sound idea.

For you. AND for them.

A CMS is a good idea because non technical users can be easily shown how to create their own web pages using just a web browser – no special software or high technical skills required. It can be like using a word processor in a basic way (Word or similar).

Steps:

1. Web developer creates website using a CMS. This stage can be tricky and is generally best left to the professionals or technically competent/knowledgeable people.
2. Web developer shows client how to log in via a browser and add or change pages. Easy.
3. Client continues to update, change, remove or add web pages and web developer is not required. Cruisey.

Sounds good huh?

Yes, it is. To a degree.

Now we come to what you really need to know.

Would you build your house with bad foundations?

And would you pay much more money than you need to? On an ongoing basis too?

Here’s the catch. Now, it does not apply to every situation or web developer out there; but you want to be sure it is not happening to you – don’t you?

Cost steps and considerations:

1. You pay the web developer to build your website.  Sometimes significant work is involved – in some cases the work is minimal. Situations vary. You simply pay to get your site built.
2. A website requires hosting. This can be problem area number one. Do you really know what you are getting and what you should be getting? For example; websites directed at a primarily Australian audience should usually be hosted in Australia (except in special circumstances beyond the scope of this article). Your web designer might provide hosting (for a fee), BUT: is it the best for you and your site? And is it too expensive? Perhaps it is ‘included’ in a bundle price such as cost for hosting and use of CMS. These are just SOME of the questions you need to be asking. (Some questions are technical and I have kept this simple).
3. Use of CMS – some web designers charge you a monthly or yearly fee to use the CMS. This can be bundled with the hosting fee at times. To some extent this can cover ‘maintenance’ of the CMS, however the work involved in maintenance can be minimal and your monthly payment can represent a large amount of wasted money – year after year.
4. Some CMS are technically difficult and costly to move, should you need to change web host and/or web developer in the future. Some are even proprietary (or bits can be). You can get in a real jam down the track. Difficulties in changing can adversely affect your SEO (Search Engine Optimization). If problems arise you could have huge bills.
5. Some CMS are technically hard to work with which can create upward pressure on costs and scarcity of competency.
6. Do you honestly think most web developers are going to genuinely consider your interests; especially your long term ones? You need to find out at the START what is best for YOU. Get your foundations right. Don’t fall for slick marketing spiel, or appeals to take what seems to be ‘the easy road’.

So what should you do?

1. Be careful when seeking a web developer. (There are loads of other reasons besides the above).
2. Start with finding out what you really need for YOUR needs. Bear in mind that you cannot really expect the guy with 26 fridge models in stock to try to sell you a model he does not have available, but which is far better for you. Same goes for most web designers.
3. Split the process and analysis into component elements. 1) Domain name registration 2) Hosting, 3) Website design (CMS or one other excellent solution – will cover that later), 4) Ongoing support needs

More detail on the component elements:

1. Domain name registration.

If you have not already got your domain name and want to buy one, do not assume you have to host with the same company. It may be a good idea, but not always. I recommend registering the domain name yourself. I have heard too many stories about people who thought they owned a domain name (having paid for it) only to find that it was actually registered in the name of a web developer and….you guessed….things went bad and the problems started. Believe me, if you do not have control of a domain name it can cost you HUGELY.

For Australian domain names I recommend NetRegistry. Good prices, good value, reliable, slick, organized, quality – all the good stuff. I also recommend them for Australian web hosting.

For non Australian domain names and international web hosting I recommend Go Daddy. Like the previous example – good prices, good value, reliable, slick, organized, quality – all the good stuff. In fact, Go Daddy have even better value and customer focus than NetRegistry. I use GoDaddy for some of my hosting, however my sites are directed at an international audience, as well as Australian. You might notice that Go Daddy web hosting is cheaper than NetRegistry, and the features better; however if you have an Aussie website directed at Australians don’t be a cheapskate – having foreign web hosting will cost you in other ways (remember – I said I would keep this simple).

Remember to ask yourself this:

Do I want my web designer to provide my domain name, my web hosting, my website and the ongoing maintenance. Hey, maybe some SEO as well? Just think of all that control. I know it seems easy – a bit like going to the big supermarkets in a way – but is it sound? In some cases (simple brakes are on) wise people register domains in one place and host in another (but I will keep it simple and won’t go into why).

Before we go on….

Has your web designer told you any of this? Why not?

2.  Hosting

See comments under ‘Domain name registration’ above.

3.  Website design

Getting this decision right starts with the foundation. Here are my two suggestions:

a) CMS. If you want a CMS, use WordPress (the .org self hosted version – not WordPress.com – there are good reasons for not using the latter; beyond the scope of this article).

Make sure that your web designer uses WordPress. Besides being easy for you to update, remove or add pages/posts here are just some of the other reasons:

• WordPress is the ‘gold standard’ CMS.
• WordPress is common, popular and extremely well supported. Finding people to help you will not be hard.
• WordPress installs are quite easy to move.
• WordPress is free.
• Excellent themes (ready made designs) are available. The one for this blog for example costs USD $79. Look for WP-MediaMag by Solostream here. Support from my theme developer Solostream is excellent.
• WordPress has a huge amount of excellent plugins, most of which are free. Just one example is WordPress Mobile Edition. This free plugin “enhances your site’s interface for visitors using a mobile device. By automatically detecting mobile browsers, this plugin gives your blog a mobile/phone/PDA- friendly interface with progressive enhancement for advanced mobile browsers”. Take a look at my/this blog on your iPhone or similar device. You cannot afford not to have a mobile friendly version of your site today – this will become increasingly important in the future.
• WordPress is quite easy to learn.
• WordPress is slick and easy to use.
• You can use WordPress for a static website or blog. It is not just for blogging. That said, you really should be blogging – either with a separate blog or one combined with a website.

Please note that with a WordPress self hosted website/blog, there will be periodic technical maintenance required. That said, it is not usually a lot.

b) Website building software. If you want a powerful, and I mean powerful, easy to use (Approx 2 hour tutorial will have you building a website) non CMS conventional website builder, then I recommend XSitePro. Either use it yourself, or ensure that your web designer does.

Forget Expression Web, FrontPage, (both Microsoft) or Dreamweaver. Take time to review the XSitePro website and you will start to see why. Frankly, I consider the thinking behind XSitePro to be so good that it bears the marks of genius.

And ask yourself:

Why is XSitePro website building software so popular with Internet Marketers?

What do they know that many of us don’t?

What could I be missing?

One of the big negatives about XSitePro – if you are a web designer – is that it can do you out of a job!

Simply speaking, XSitePro enables you to easily add pages just like using a word processor. Sure, creating a website is more involved (but still easy), however you can always get your web developer to build it for you. The resulting single export file can then be imported easily into your copy of XSitePro, complete with publishing passwords etc and you are good to go for adding pages etc. It is very easy/cruisey.

Free support for the website building software is superb.

And the price? Currently $197 USD! For elite level software!

I built my website (plus many others of my own and belonging to clients) using XSitePro.

Check out my website here: http://www.blackshaman.com

Simple ‘prescription’:

• Buy your own copy of XSitePro
• Either build your own website or get someone to help you.
• Once site is built, import into your copy of XSitePro (if someone else built it for you) and start adding your own pages.
• Purchase a .mobi domain and point it to the special mobile device website that XSite pro creates. (Optional).

Here’s a cost saving tip: if you use XSitePro and want a site with loads of pages, then you can save money by paying a web designer to build the base website with just a few pages. Then you, or your staff, can add hundreds of pages easily without need of a designer.

PS: Spend the money you save on getting good ongoing search engine optimization (SEO). This is not all done during the site build stage.

Maintaining XSitePro is easy – it has a self updater.

4. Ongoing support needs

Periodic technical maintenance is required for WordPress self hosted websites/blogs. This is not usually significant and can be handled by technically competent non web developers if necessary.

XSitePro has a self updater (via button) and is easy to update. No hosting account access is required so even your grandmother could do it.

Conclusion

If you have ANY questions at all, please do get in touch. There is plenty more that you need to find out about building websites/blogs (and are probably not being told).

If you would like to find out more about how I can help you with building your website or blog please let me know. As you have probably realised by now, my focus is upon genuinely helping customers and focusing on what is best for them.

Related posts:

1. Websites made easy! Blunt and to the point.
2. Website design software blues now have an antidote!
3. XSitePro makes building websites feel like blogging. Easy.
4. The Complete Guide to Website Building – easy, professional, inexpensive..
5. What is the website suffix .mobi all about?