We think that our clients should be able to manage their website content. If they want, they should be able to add blog entries, upload news items, keep text (and maybe images too) current and relevant.
But the choice of CMS isn’t always easy. We’ve built entire sites in WordPress for example, which provides a user with a wonderfully easy interface that’s actually quite difficult to get very wrong. Even with my fairly uneasy relationship with technology, I find can get along with it. For an example, take a look at our site for INCo, an IT sales lead company. You can view it at www.inco-online.com.
The funny thing is that INCo don’t actually want to manage their content. They are busy people and are quite content that we (with their involvement and help) keep their blog up to date and their website fresh. Their priority was to have a site that would be continually refreshed, and we applaud them in that. (As we’ve said before, the key to SEO is good content, not any kind of magic bullet).
Other companies like to be in control of almost everything, and that can get quite involved, particularly when the website is actually the front end to some fairly important applications, as well as that shop window website. In this instance, you probably have two choices – head down the road with Microsoft on the path that leads to Sharepoint, or if you need to stay with an open source approach (the one that we prefer), have something built that is tailored to your applications.
There are many half-way points that in many instances are entirely acceptable and workable options for open source users, but the key thing is to be aware – preferably before any new website implementation is specified – exactly what the long-term plan is.
We don’t ask our clients to be psychic, but we always point out that it will help to extend the life of any site if something that could affect its structure 9and that of any CMS) is even being considered.
If a client makes it known that there are plans to link the site – to a database of shareholders, or a user group, or an application that will allow nominated users to be able to change a page of their own content – then these kind of things can be considered when the question of which CMS to use comes up.
A website, like any other piece of technology, probably won’t last forever. You should plan to make it last as long as possible though, and if you can, separate the shopwindow from the applications that may lie behind. And have reasonable expectations from the CMS you choose as well.
