You want a website, and you want one you can make changes to at your own convenience, without the hassle, lack of control and cost of passing it on to others. And it is a good habit to constantly make changes to your website, as it keeps visitors interested and up to date, and enhances your Google rankings.
There are a few options for a content management system, which range in flexibility and cost: |
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Hosted site building software Pay-as-you-go packages are offered online by web hosting companies as a one-stop solution, so you may get a domain name, hosting, site templates and content management system all-in-one. |
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| Pros: |
- Web hosting is usually included with the package
- No installation hiccups
- Many free templates to choose from some allow you to add a blog or a photo album at no extra cost
- If you decide you want to try another option, or your company has outgrown this system, you can move on without losing a large investment
- The software is continually improved and updated with new features at no extra cost
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| Cons: |
- You may need to hire a web developer if you want extra customisation to the page templates
- You may not be able to move the website to another hosting service
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Tailor made for you by a web development company is ideal, if you have extra money to spend, and want a system where all you need to worry about is editing text, uploading the products info and occasional document. |
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| Pros: |
- The website design is not limited in any way
- The web developers can continue to adapt the software as your needs change
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| Cons: |
- Web hosting is an additional cost
- It would possibly be cheaper to simply send updates to the web developers to update a static site. The system would pay for itself in 3-4 years, by which time it would be outdated, anyway
- Specialty areas such as a photo album or blog would be an additional cost
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Open source CMS software Open source code is typically created as a collaborative effort by programmers who share it with the online community. Though it remains under copyright to its registered name, the software is free to use and customise. |
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| Pros: |
- It offers a lot of built-in extras, such as calendars, news sections and polls
- Some hosting offers easy installation through a control panel
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| Cons: |
- It is difficult to customise to your needs. You would most probably need the assistance of a web developer for installation and customisation.
- Web hosting is an additional cost
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