Content Management System (CMS) Basics, and Why You Should Be Using One.

Drupal, Joomla, WordPress...you may have heard those names floating around and wondered just what they are. Web development is evolving, and the era of the Content Management System has come. Content Management Systems, or CMS, come in various forms. The most popular, currently, are Drupal, Joomla, and WordPress. Each has it's own advantages and disadvantages, but that's for another article. Right now, I want to give a brief overview of what a CMS can do and why it is our #1 choice for web development with churches, non-profits, and small businesses.

The Options

There are options when choosing the framework for your website design. We'll cover a couple of the most popular before we talk about Content Management so you can get a feel for the differences. HTML Based Templates - This used to be the standard in small scale website development. This system involves a series of files, each representing a page on your site, that must be manipulated on your PC/MAC in specialized software such as Adobe Dreamweaver or Microsoft Expression Web. Once these files are designed, they are then uploaded to your hosting account for the world to review. If you want to add another page, create a new file, then upload it to your host. If you want to edit a page, download it from the host, edit it your software, then upload it back to the host. Get the idea? Up, down, up, down...special softare...yada, yada, yada. It's no secret as to why this method has virtually disappeared. Don't use it. Flash/Swish - By far the coolest of all web design, Flash is in a category of it's own. But, cool is not necessarily the deciding factor when choosing a web design platform. Flash websites provide a level of animation and interaction that no other platform can provide. If you're considering Flash, however, take a long hard look at the purpose of your site. Flash works well for:

Short Term Projects

Sites with content that does not change

Sites that can be maintained by a Flash developer

Sites that have limited content

Flash does not work well for:

Community driven sites

Sites with that need to be updated regularly

Sites that cannot afford to be maintained by a Flash developer

Sites that are dependent on search engine rank

Sites that have 100's to 1000's of pages

The bottom line is, if you need a site that you can expand and update without the help of a developer, do not use Flash. Content Management Systems (CMS) - There is no better blend of aesthetics, functionality, and user friendliness in existence today than the CMS. CMS software is designed to be used by non-programmers and eliminates the need for any special software to update or maintain your site. In addition, you can edit or update your site from any computer connected to the internet because you don't need to upload or download files stored on your computer(unless you're adding pictures or attachments). CMS's can be created, updated, and expanded with no coding knowledge or experience. The user interface, for the most part, is point and click so anyone can learn how to use it. Now, I must make a clarifying statement. You cannot achieve anything and everything you could ever want out of a website on your own with no prior experience. We highly recommend working with a developer to create your site who will then hand the maintenance and expansion over to you...if your budget allows. Having a professional build the foundation for your site will save you weeks, if not months, of time and provide a solid foundation for you to build off of.