Should I build a custom Content Management System? This is an area that we’re familiar with, because it’s a question that comes up a lot as our clients expand their systems and offerings.
Can we build you a custom CMS? The quick answer is yes, but the better one is that we need to have a conversation about your needs and those of your customers before we choose that route.
A customized CMS solution can be more adaptable and will be tailored to your specific needs. If your requirements are complex, a custom build may be the best option. On the flip side, open-source platforms like WordPress, Joomla and Drupal often can accomplish a broad range of goals right out of the box.
There are many options that are available, and each has advantages and disadvantages. Here are the main factors that should guide your decision:
Go custom if you:
- Are a complex person with even more complex needs
- Need the system to adapt easily
- Have a reliable development partner who believes in open communication and pushes back when necessary
- Don’t want to be limited to someone else’s ideas on a solution
- Have a budget with flexibility and your top priority is a comprehensive, unique solution
Go open source if you:
- Value education in numbers, because you will have large communities that can support most open source options
- Want user-friendliness right out of the box
- Have straightforward needs
- Need a great product for a good price
- Have a need but your main concern is staying within a firm budget and timeline
Some of the better known open-source options are:
WordPress
It’s simple to understand and use. There are some great prebuilt templates and plug-ins, and it’s pretty easy to build your own templates and plug-ins when necessary.
Joomla
It’s a more advanced platform, but the results look great. It’s not as easy to add content to as WordPress, but it’s fairly easy to get up and running.
Drupal
It’s very powerful, and you typically need to custom-design your own templates. If you go with Drupal, it’s important to find a PHP developer who already has experience with Drupal.
Expression Engine
It’s a pretty simple interface, and they offer extensive add-on capabilities like wikis, photo galleries and RSS feeds. A commercial license for Expression Engine can be quite costly, though.
Concrete5
It has a similar theming system as WordPress and is designed to manipulate content from the front end of the site like Drupal.
Whether you decide to go custom or open source, put in the time on the front end to research all your options. You’ll ensure maximum efficiency and be much happier in long run if you do the leg-work.