Does my site need a content management system?

We get this question quite often and the answer is never the same. There are a lot of factors that go into the decision to use a content management system (CMS) to make updates to your website. In the end, it typically comes down to control. How much control do you want over your website and how frequently would you like to exercise that control?

We can build a site with or without a CMS. We offer a variety of maintenance packages that allow our clients to request site updates as the need arises and we can very quickly make those changes if there is no content management system in place. However, one thing we do notice is that clients are less likely to make changes if they have to make a request to a third party by phone or email. This can be seen as tedious and often falls into the category of “I wish I could do this myself”.

If you have a relatively static site, a content management system may not be the right choice. If you think you’ll only want to make updates 3 or 4 times a year, that may not justify the upfront cost of CMS integration. However, if you have a site that has monthly news updates, press release, or events or even if you’d just like to have a continuous flow of information to your customers, a content management system is definitely the right choice. It gives you the power to make updates immediately.

• Content Management Systems keep your content relavent
• Google loves fresh content
• Making a decision on CMS should be one of the first steps in the design process
• Make sure your CMS supports your website’s growth

One of the great advantages of continuously updating your site through a CMS is that Google loves fresh content. Any site that has consistent content updates will repeatedly be re-indexed and will be seen as more relavent by Google. When you have the ability to update your site at your fingertips, this is more likely to be a reality.

If you’re thinking about redesigning or building a site, you should definitely be thinking through the need for a content management system from the start. If you do find the need for a CMS, planning your design and content around that CMS will save you time and money down the road. There is a good amount of thought that goes into what content should be handle through the software and how it should be displayed for the highest impact. If the CMS is a secondary thought to the design of the site you will have limited the extensibility and you will incur higher costs as your content grows.

For more information or to receive a quote for integrating a CMS into your website, please fill out the form to the right or contact us.

Tags: CMS, Content Management System, Custom Application, drupal, Open Source, Open Source Integration, search engine optimization, SEO, web design, web development, website maintanance, website maintenance, WordPress