Discussion
we have an existing site that is only about 12 months, but I really don't like it (www.croxsons.com) and want to take it more upmarket, slicker etc.
The concern is that I want to be able to edit it as I am reasonably savvy with HTML, and cope with content management systems etc.
This leads to the question, can anyone recommend either a good company, or content management system that is easy to use?
The concern is that I want to be able to edit it as I am reasonably savvy with HTML, and cope with content management systems etc.
This leads to the question, can anyone recommend either a good company, or content management system that is easy to use?
Minor detail but bad design, the logo for croxsons is a PNG image, as its line art this should be a GIF, or at least cleaned up to avoid the blurry / pixelated display. The whole site needs (as you are no doubt aware) a complete revamp.
I hope you did not pay much for it.
I hope you did not pay much for it.
Edited by jamesuk28 on Tuesday 29th July 22:00
CMS wise, we use www.umbraco.org and its brill. Doesnt have a e-commerce plugin yet though. Do you need a cart?
www.dotnetnuke.com comes with all the extensions you could possibly want and is well supported.
www.dotnetnuke.com comes with all the extensions you could possibly want and is well supported.
Btw, this RSS feed is a bit weird... looks like a development log, not a news feed:
http://www.croxsons.com/croxsons.xml
http://www.croxsons.com/croxsons.xml
Hi Crox and thanks StevieBee.
You can get a range of open source CMS systems and design and build it yourself.
We build the CMS systems (with email broadcas, event management, ecommerce etc) so that you can concentrate of the content and your main business if you don't have the time to learn the free systems and write the code (PHP etc) yourself.
http://www.free-rein.net. Take a quick browse and call if you're interested.
Works for small businesses and larger (we build for BT, National Express, government and councils) and we manage all the hosting and any tech and user support you need. Numbers on the website.
Tony
You can get a range of open source CMS systems and design and build it yourself.
We build the CMS systems (with email broadcas, event management, ecommerce etc) so that you can concentrate of the content and your main business if you don't have the time to learn the free systems and write the code (PHP etc) yourself.
http://www.free-rein.net. Take a quick browse and call if you're interested.
Works for small businesses and larger (we build for BT, National Express, government and councils) and we manage all the hosting and any tech and user support you need. Numbers on the website.
Tony
Hello again Tim!
Cantarus does DotNetNuke-based content-manageable websites. We host them on our own infrastructure (as with our online backup solution) and back them up with our own technology.
As mentioned above by others, DNN is a well-established, open source content management system that can be extended easily to achieve pretty much anything you want.
The content management system is very powerful and flexible. For example, you can assign editing rights at the page or module (element within a page) level against groups and individual users. Editing can be done inline via a web browser using AJAX and a WYSIWYG editor. Alternatively, it can be done offline with something like Windows Live Writer and published into the website later. Another option is to allow others to edit sections of the website (e.g. pricing or contact data) but require an authorisation from yourself before the changes are actually published. The latter is very useful for keeping the different sections of your website up-to-date without constantly being asked to make changes yourself.
There are too many other features to list in full here, but I'd be happy to show you some DNN sites in action and have a proper chat about what you might be looking for. I'll drop you another email.
Cheers,
Lee.
Cantarus does DotNetNuke-based content-manageable websites. We host them on our own infrastructure (as with our online backup solution) and back them up with our own technology.
As mentioned above by others, DNN is a well-established, open source content management system that can be extended easily to achieve pretty much anything you want.
The content management system is very powerful and flexible. For example, you can assign editing rights at the page or module (element within a page) level against groups and individual users. Editing can be done inline via a web browser using AJAX and a WYSIWYG editor. Alternatively, it can be done offline with something like Windows Live Writer and published into the website later. Another option is to allow others to edit sections of the website (e.g. pricing or contact data) but require an authorisation from yourself before the changes are actually published. The latter is very useful for keeping the different sections of your website up-to-date without constantly being asked to make changes yourself.
There are too many other features to list in full here, but I'd be happy to show you some DNN sites in action and have a proper chat about what you might be looking for. I'll drop you another email.
Cheers,
Lee.
Hi Chaps,
The site needs a revamp ... really? I hadn't realised
We paid too much for it to be honest, but I only came onto the project too late in the day.
We don't do e-commerce so it is purely a site to display what we do. It is impossible to show everything we do, so it needs to be a way of saying this is a fair representation of what we do, here are some jars, some bottles, some examples of finished work etc, get in touch with us.
I am at loggerheads with other directors, as I have a completly different vision for the site (cue design agency style) whereas others want some sort of database of products.
If we could have the database but as a link, easily updatable etc, but the main site being slick that that is workable.
The site needs a revamp ... really? I hadn't realised
We paid too much for it to be honest, but I only came onto the project too late in the day.
We don't do e-commerce so it is purely a site to display what we do. It is impossible to show everything we do, so it needs to be a way of saying this is a fair representation of what we do, here are some jars, some bottles, some examples of finished work etc, get in touch with us.
I am at loggerheads with other directors, as I have a completly different vision for the site (cue design agency style) whereas others want some sort of database of products.
If we could have the database but as a link, easily updatable etc, but the main site being slick that that is workable.
Hi, it's a good idea to consider content management as a function to your website, but your focus should really be elsewhere at this point.
Developing a strong brand in the first place is key to gaining market share, so a complete overhaul from the ground up would be a wise investment in order to completely reposition yourselves in your market place. Your existing brand is ok, but if I'm honest maybe a little dated. By starting here you can develop your brand and it's application first to make sure it works for you and your company and only then move on to building a website.
You can then focus on what your website needs to do for your company - generally the idea is to increase sales and profit! You will need to take into account your target audience and usability, which are both often overlooked in favour of over-engineering the back end. Simple and straightforward navigation and easy access to all of your company information are vital ingredients to making a good website, and SEO should always be taken into account. Content management from there in is a straightforward process, whether you do it yourself with your html skills or a tool is built for you.
It might be worth your while having a look at our website, you can see a small selection of our work for our clients and how a cohesive brand applied throughout all media works for them - we apply the same level of focus from small owner managed start-ups to global blue-chips, combining business knowledge with creative thinking to make sure you get the return on your investment into your marketing. Please feel free to get in touch or visit www.at-u.com
Cheers
Simon
Developing a strong brand in the first place is key to gaining market share, so a complete overhaul from the ground up would be a wise investment in order to completely reposition yourselves in your market place. Your existing brand is ok, but if I'm honest maybe a little dated. By starting here you can develop your brand and it's application first to make sure it works for you and your company and only then move on to building a website.
You can then focus on what your website needs to do for your company - generally the idea is to increase sales and profit! You will need to take into account your target audience and usability, which are both often overlooked in favour of over-engineering the back end. Simple and straightforward navigation and easy access to all of your company information are vital ingredients to making a good website, and SEO should always be taken into account. Content management from there in is a straightforward process, whether you do it yourself with your html skills or a tool is built for you.
It might be worth your while having a look at our website, you can see a small selection of our work for our clients and how a cohesive brand applied throughout all media works for them - we apply the same level of focus from small owner managed start-ups to global blue-chips, combining business knowledge with creative thinking to make sure you get the return on your investment into your marketing. Please feel free to get in touch or visit www.at-u.com
Cheers
Simon
as an after thought, I really like this website (www.ardaghglass.co.uk) but wanted some other people's views on it.
I can see a few issues with it, but otherwise I quite like the simple, elegant, business like approach. It doesn't quite fit in a 1024 x 768 screen though which is a pity.
What do you reckon?
I can see a few issues with it, but otherwise I quite like the simple, elegant, business like approach. It doesn't quite fit in a 1024 x 768 screen though which is a pity.
What do you reckon?
CR0X said:
as an after thought, I really like this website (www.ardaghglass.co.uk) but wanted some other people's views on it.
I can see a few issues with it, but otherwise I quite like the simple, elegant, business like approach. It doesn't quite fit in a 1024 x 768 screen though which is a pity.
What do you reckon?
If you like that site then have a look at some of Altrezia's (above) sites - very clean, usable designs.I can see a few issues with it, but otherwise I quite like the simple, elegant, business like approach. It doesn't quite fit in a 1024 x 768 screen though which is a pity.
What do you reckon?
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