Website Marketing

If you feel like rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck in then an Open Source web solution may be right for you. There are several options that approach the web in completely different ways, chances are that one of these will fit in with your way of thinking.

I am specifically referring to Content Management Systems or CMS. These provide an ideal platform to manage your website on an online platform, making updating possible through a web browser anywhere in the world.

In many cases these are available at no charge to download and use, with an invitation to contribute if you so wish. Make no mistake, Open Source will cost, either in hard currency or time, both will reflect on the bottom line.

What do you need?

• Time and more time to learn how the platform works.
• Get a good understanding of the basics. This will save you time in the future.
• Understand the methodology or thinking of the way in which the content is managed. This speeds up the ability to update and format the site.
• A relatively good understanding of what is required for installation. In most cases a step by step guide is available.
• A good hosting partner who can assist where you get stuck.
• Determination and patience.
• In most cases you can format all aspects of your web page.
• An understand Style sheets and HTML.

The rewards will speak for themselves but this is not an overnight journey. Once you have mastered the way the CMS works you can focus on the message to convey.

Why roll up your sleeves?

• If you have the time and interest this adds an extra dimension to managing your web presence.
• In many cases the hard development work is done, you can get stuck in to managing your content.
• Providing you have the time you are able to make changes fast and implement quickly.

Why Open Source

• A good solution will be module based and you can ‘plug in’ the module you need.
• Many solutions are born out of the need to service a specific need, probably similar to yours, and then to be the best option available.
• Several developers work together to ensure the platform is secure and robust.
• If you need something not available you can approach the community and commission somebody to create the module you require.
• Deploy the same solution across all your sites, learn to update one, and update them all.
• No licencing fees.

In Conclusion…

The final decision is yours, don’t take it on if you don’t have the time or inclination. Look at getting somebody else to set it all up and then focus more on the content and what you want to say.

Where to now?

http://www.opensourcecms.com/

http://oscom.org/matrix/index.html

http://gplpedia.com/Select/Cms1.html

http://www.gplpedia.com/index.php?id=398&did=1#GPL|Content_Management_System_(CMS)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_content_management_systems