The other day I blogged about a new site flyte launched for Stress Directions. I mentioned that this was the first of several Web sites we’re launching using a Content Management System (CMS) called Joomla.
A CMS allows Web site owners with little or no HTML skills to be able to add, edit and delete content on their Web site. This may include changes to copy, or adding photos, uploading PDFs, adding streaming audio or video and more. You can even set publish and remove dates for press releases, calendar events or special promotions.
Many CMSs (including Joomla) allow different levels of access to the site, both on the front and back ends. Contributors may be able to add or edit pages (with or without administrative oversight), while administrators can make changes to the navigation, choose new page templates, add or remove contributors and more. In addition, creating member-only sections and providing unique username/passwords to site visitors is built into the product.
We chose Joomla in part because of the fact it’s open-source and has a big user group; that ensures that if Joomla proper doesn’t have a functionality a client is looking for it’s probable that a 3rd party has created a module that can be plugged in to enhance the product. Examples are events calendars, e-commerce options, contact forms and more. If you can imagine it, someone’s build it.
One very cool Joomla feature is that the site’s content is held in a database and served up into multiple, attractive page templates (designed by flyte…’natch). This makes it easy to create printer-friendly pages. In fact, Joomla allows you to print or save every page as a PDF if you choose.
It also makes future Web site redesigns less costly as you can just apply a new template and appear to have a fresh new look to your site.
We have another two or three Joomla sites in production right now, and possibly a few more coming down the road. I believe this is because people are looking to take more ownership and responsibility over their Web sites. The idea of being able to update your site as you see fit is a compelling one. If you do find that you’re constantly sending updates to your Web developer, a CMS may pay for itself. However, for a small site or one that doesn’t change often there may be no return on investment.
If you have a question on whether a CMS would be right for you please let us know.
Rich Brooks
Managing Your Content Since 1997
