It all depends on the scale and needs of the business.
In this article is how to determine which tools are best for developing it at each stage of content management systems.
When you make a website for a specific project with a certain framework. And you have a clear understanding of what its functionality should be for the next few years, this is one question. Quite different – if you are creating a website for a still small business that you plan to develop. Now you have the same scale. And the site is aimed at solving the corresponding problems. And in a year or two, in case of significant growth, its capabilities may no longer be enough.
This is a standard situation. Many companies start with a small business card site, and at the initial stage, they do not need to invest heavily in it. And there are usually not so many resources. The site is gradually expanding: for example, a small catalog of goods, their detailed descriptions may appear on it, the possibility of online payment is “screwed on”. And then 1C is completely integrated. And now your website turns from a one-page landing page into an e-commerce project. Sooner or later, depending on what the site was originally designed on, you will start to feel the limitations.
Initial stage: when a business does not need a website
This may sound a little strange in the era of ubiquitous digitalization, but not every business needs a website.
Your own website is primarily a sales tool. Many types of business (supplying goods in small batches, personal services, handicrafts, etc.) quite successfully find customers using social networks. If you add a website to these capabilities, simply developing it will not be enough: you need to include SEO, contextual advertising and actively bring the audience to the site with their help. This will require additional costs.
When do you need a website? In the event that your business is growing, the turnover and the number of business processes increase. And there is also a need to expand the reach of the target audience. If the capabilities of third-party services are no longer enough for this, then the time has come to create a full-fledged website.
Does the customer want it when he contacts the agency? To make a website for him. How is a secondary question. The main thing is to keep within the budget, everything worked as intended, and ideally – even better. As designed means user-friendly, easy-to-use and safe.
The contractor has a lot of proposals in response to the client’s request. Consider in which cases it makes sense to create a site on a mass CMS, and when it is better to take the path of uniqueness.
All sites are divided into two types
Created on CMS – content management systems (it does not matter, self-written, free or mass commercial).
Sites, the functionality of which is set by programmers. Specialists can only use programming languages or work with frameworks.
The site consists of an external and an internal part. External is design and content, internal is database and admin panel. When developing a site on a CMS, you need to create only the external part – the design, layout it and “pull on the engine”. And with independent development, you will have to create the entire filling.
An intermediate option that combines both methods is self-written content management systems. In this case, first a skeleton of functions is created from scratch, and then the solution becomes a typical one, and similar sites are created on its basis. As a rule, self-written CMS are used to solve rather narrow problems.
Let’s draw an analogy with a car:
- Own development is the creation of a machine from scratch, an invention.
- Development on frameworks – assembling a car using ready-made working units and spare parts.
- The site on the self-written CMS is the author’s car, which is then reproduced.
- The site on the mass CMS is a universal serial industrial vehicle.
In fact, we see a transition from a piece product to a market one, from an individual product to mass production. Moreover, each option has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Content management systems that are created by development companies are both paid and free.
Free CMS are limited in functionality and technical support, usually used to create personal or small sites for organizations. They often have security problems, so they are not considered for creating serious projects.
Commercial CMS are powerful, versatile systems for developing different types of sites with security and technical support.
On a mass CMS, you can create all the main types of sites. Most systems are made up of modules. Sets of such modules make up the editorial offices of sites: a corporate site, a business card, a catalog, an online store, a blog, a portal, and so on. This is the most common and easiest way to build a site.
Benefits
Easy to learn and customize a standard site. You don’t need to know programming languages.
Plugins. You can expand the capabilities through plugins.
Fast development speed. Most of the work has already been done, you need content, design and customization.
Technical support. Development companies support their own products.
Complete documentation. For mass commercial CMS, it’s easy to find all the related documentation.
There is an API. Ready-made platforms have a well-developed application programming interface that allows you to integrate the resource with other services.
Competitive site needs dynamics
Information technology, like business, is a dynamic phenomenon. Despite any healthy perfectionism and desire to make the best website once and for centuries, you are unlikely to want changes after a while.
The more actively you develop, the more your site will evolve. The need to keep up with the times is also dictated by the constant development of technologies. If today a site is convenient and fast, this does not mean that tomorrow competitors will not create a more modern one. Therefore, in order to maintain the competitiveness of the site, do not be afraid to develop it, follow trends and competitors. Then the site as a tool for the development of your business will be the most effective.
