Choosing a CMS
August 9, 2013
We are always talking about marketing here at the haus, but what if you are completely new to the game of websites, or you simply want a re-design? How do you determine what the best platform is to use for said website? There are several factors that you may want to consider including usability and functionality. Today I want to introduce you to my top 3 recommended CMS’ (Content Management Systems).
WordPress
With exceptionally easy installation and a broad spectrum of customization options, WordPress makes the top of the list. Simple installation and usability for the average user are just a few perks you will find with WordPress. Once you install the bones of this CMS, you can then peruse through the plethora of web design options. Choose a theme, and a few clicks later, you can have yourself a website. Want to add a contact form to that website? No problem! With their mind boggling list of plug-ins, you just may even have a challenge in deciding which contact form you would like to use. As with any new platform, it may take a little while to figure out how to navigate the back end, but you can quickly resolve any conflicts with a Google search. The amount of literature you will find on the web is flat out awesome! Additionally, Google seems to really like this platform and there are a number of SEO plug-ins that allow for top level website optimization. This, of course, is one of my top reasons for being such a WordPress advocate!
Joomla
Joomla is a great solution if you have a product that you are looking to sell. With a fully functional and customizable shopping cart that is extremely user friendly, Joomla is at the top of my list for shopping cart websites. Unlike WordPress, which requires a plug-in for shopping cart functionality, Joomla offers a great Ecommerce solution. True there may be a few fewer themes and there are slightly fewer customization options, compared to WordPress, but the ease of use will make up for that. This interface provides easy product management in a easy- to-grasp back end.
Drupal
I, of course, had to add one for the tech geeks. Similar to Joomla, Drupal provides an outstanding built-in shopping cart option. With a decent amount of themes to choose from, you will likely find something that will represent your particular business. The hang up? You are probably going to need a programmers touch to make this CMS work for you. Most programmers enjoy working with Drupal for the ease of use and customization options.
All of these CMS platforms are available for free, and many of the templates and plug-ins are free, as well. There are, however, templates that you can purchase that provide more options that the free version. Once you decide which platform you would like to use, the fun will be in deciding which template provides the best representation of your business. Creating a new website can be very exciting, but be sure to do your research. There are many less popular content management systems that are slowly becoming extinct and you surely don’t want to get caught in that trap.
Jori Stevian is an Account Manager at SEOhaus. If you would like to stay up-to-date on all of the latest SEO industry news and tips, you can subscribe to our blog here. Thanks for reading the SEOhaus blog!