Managing your website does not need to be hard or overwhelming. The key is finding a content management system (CMS) that gives you the flexibility to edit and website features you need.
Matcha Design primarily uses Concrete5 (C5) as the CMS to power our custom websites, because it allows our clients to access a variety of features to fit their needs and make edits at their convenience. C5 users are able to go to any page in their site, and a editing toolbar gives them all the controls needed to update the website. There is no confusing interfaces – just point and click. In fact, it is so user and budget friendly, it was awarded the “People’s Choice Award for Best Budget CMS” from CMSCritic.com this month.
Our lead developer spends countless hours behind the scenes and gave us a more “techy” perspective on C5:
“The latest updates to C5 have introduced some really handy features. The system has been made more mobile-friendly with the option to select an alternate theme to automatically be applied to mobile, and a responsive dashboard for easier mobile editing. The permissions system has been redesigned to allow for more granular control over tasks, and the ability to set who’s NOT allowed to do certain things; as well as the inclusion of roles, such as file uploader and page owner. There are still a few things I would like to see improved, including easier customization of the default form block (which still has the controller generating almost the entire view), and the way RSS is handled out-of-the-box. Overall, C5 does a lot of stuff well, is easy to extend, and keeps improving constantly, making it my go-to solution in almost every case.”
Whether you use Concrete5 or another CMS, finding the right one should be an important consideration when developing a website. Here are some guiding questions to keep in mind when exploring a CMS for your project.
How often do you want to update your website?
Consistently updating your website with fresh content not only keeps you visitors informed, but will organically increase your website’s search engine optimization (SEO). From the start of your website development, know how much you want to update: weekly, monthly, quarterly?
Do you have time to properly “care” for your website?
Make sure the CMS behind your website is easy to understand and edit; otherwise making updates will be very frustrating and time consuming for you. There is no point in developing a website, if you do not intend to keep it updated and visually appealing with consistent branding and messaging. Many business owners and directors have demanding schedules, so either identify a capable and trustworthy staff member to handle the edits, or work with the design agency who developed the website to assist your team.
Does your CMS work with multiple technologies and have the features you need?
Today, everyone is using their smartphones and tablets to access websites. Do not assume just because your website is viewable on the web, that it is fully viewable on these smaller screens. Make sure your website and CMS is compatible with these technologies. Also, carefully think through all the website features you need and create a list for the agency to make developing easier. For example: donate buttons, online calendars, storefronts to sell products, twitter feeds and more. The CMS will need to be able to handle all your needs.
Need help with the CMS?
Request video tutorials from the agency who designed your site or ask for one-on-one training on how to use the CMS. If your agency flinches at the idea of training or seems “too busy”, you should reconsider partnering with the agency. If they are uneasy about helping you with training now, then customer service may be shaky later.
