The Truth About Content Management

Okay, so you want to update your own website… right? Great! Now there is a lot you should know about the responsibility that comes with the ability to do so.

First, let me start by saying that most people who have websites and a Content Management System (CMS) do not actually need one. There are very few people and businesses I know or have worked with that actually update their websites. Why? Because it’s a lot of work and once your website is live; unless you’re blogging or running an online store, chances are that you won’t feel the need to change or update anything (unless you have someone else design it!).

What does this mean? It means that you need to weigh the benefit of being able to change and add content with the cost of managing the security and software that powers your website. The most popular CMS is WordPress (WP). Why? Because it’s super intuitive, feature packed and easy to use. You can even save a lot of money in development by using pre-built premium themes.

The downside of WordPress is not a fault of WordPress at all. It is a fault of the current state of the internet and the prevalence of hacking, malware, and phishing. I guarantee that if you do not keep your WordPress core files, plugins, or theme files updated that you WILL be hacked. That being said, if you are not a developer or someone familiar with WP hacks and security, you can go for months or even years without knowing.

Okay, getting back to your responsibility and whether or not you should have a CMS. Ask yourself this… do you have enough knowledge of WP to execute your own updates and fix your site if it breaks? Can you afford to pay someone monthly to manage the updates for you? Do you understand the repercussions of a hacked website? If you answered NO to any of those questions, then WordPress probably isn’t for you.

Does this mean that you can’t update your own content? Of course not. There are other options available (not by all designers/developers).

We LOVE WordPress… but we also offer an Enterprise Level hosted Content Management System. The benefit of this is that all security patches, bugs, and feature additions are included in the cost of your hosting. Yes, it is a proprietary system and if you give us some time to explain it to you in more detail it may be just what you are looking for and exactly what you need!

For anyone still interested in WordPress, we are extremely versed in maintaining, updating, and securing a WordPress website. We will build you a theme from scratch or skin a pre-existing theme.

Please note that unlike most standard services, not all designers, developers, and WordPress experts are created equal. We have learned from client experience that aside from our skill level, security knowledge, pre/post support, response times, and ability to listen (seriously, we actually listen to you) that our team works better, faster, and to a higher standard of service than anyone we know.

If you would like pricing on maintaining a WordPress website, cleaning a website hack, or anything else related to Content Management – contact us and we’d be happy to speak with you in more detail.

Not sure where to start? We can help.

Once we've discussed your goals, we'll provide a personalized plan of attack to help you reach them.