You’ve probably heard a lot about CMSes in the last couple years, and if you’re considering building a website for your business, you may be asking, “What is a CMS, and why would I need one?”

CMS stands for Content Management System, and even with the acronym spelled out, the idea might still seem a little foggy. Essentially, a CMS-enabled allows a website owner to have greater control over their company’s content.

In the old (think 3-4 years ago) days, many small business web sites were built statically. A static website is comprised of a limited number of web “pages” that have content on them that cannot be changed, hence the word “static.” Only the web designer can alter the content of the site. This solution might work well for a business that has relatively little to add or change over time, but when the content does change, the business generally has to rely on someone else to update their website, which can get pricey.

A Content Management System, on the other hand, is software that runs on the server which allows the customer to manage the content of their site without the need for knowing programming languages, complex protocols, or even HTML code. Usually, A CMS has a web interface where the client can log in and make updates to their site in real time by using an easy-to-understand interface. Pretty nifty, huh? You can add or swap out images, replace text, and change your menus, all with a few clicks of a button, which makes life much simpler. Why wouldn’t everyone want a CMS, then? Read More »

So you’ve decided you’re going to take the plunge and create a website for your small business. So how do you go about the process of finding the right designer or developer for your project? Let’s examine the process, and I’ll attempt to “de-muddy” the waters a bit. Ready to get started?

Let’s start with an overall view of what needs to be done:

1. Visualize in your mind what your “finished” website will look like and what you hope to accomplish with it
2. Scout for web designers through various sources
3. Determine if they meet your needs
4. Ask questions the appropriate questions
5. Agree on price and timeline
6. Get agreement in writing

When it comes to web developers, there are many, many choices out there, from part-time college students to firms who specialize in web design and e-commerce. You will (usually) get what you pay for, so be wary of developers who promise the sun and the moon, offering to build you a beautiful website with first page search results in Google for a song. It’s not gonna happen. Unwitting clients often get snowed over by unscrupulous companies because they know the average client is at a disadvantage, knowledge-wise. Just like an auto repair shop can take advantage of your grandma, so too can technology firms shine you on with vocabulary and concepts that seem foreign to regular folks. If you don’t understand what a developer is talking about, let alone know the right questions to ask, the best way to vet a potential provider is to do a little background research on the company first. Take a look at sites they’ve developed. You might even try calling the companies up and ask them what their experience was like. Were they charged a fair price? Did they get what they were promised?

Read More »