Friday, August 31, 2012

SMEs go online: Top mistakes to avoid when choosing a CMS

By the myBusiness techblog team

In the last article in this series, we highlighted several things to consider when looking at free Content Management Systems. Selecting the right CMS is always a big decision, so you shouldn?t rush into your decision without considering all options. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when choosing your CMS.

1.?????? Not understanding what your business really needs

Many businesses make the mistake of selecting a CMS without first understanding the real needs of the business. As a result, the CMS functions do not match business needs, and the challenges are not properly addressed. To prevent this, make sure that you?ve taken the time to understand the problem and identify the solution to the problem, before committing to a particular CMS.

2.?????? Following the crowd

Some businesses also strongly consider the recommendations of their online marketing and IT peers. However, it is important that you do a little research before you commit to a particular system. Do some reading online to find out the different kinds of tools and features the recommended system offers.

3.?????? Choosing a CMS that is too complex or technical

If having a well-designed website is important to you, make sure you select a CMS where you won?t need to have extensive programming knowledge to design and maintain your site. This is important because you want ensure that menus and interfaces are clear, and you will be comfortable interacting with them. There are many CMS options that have What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) editors for content editing without the need for coding to be done. Having to edit text through HTML can be time consuming and takes you away from other aspects of your managing and building your site.

4.?????? Considering only big CMS providers

Many popular CMS providers advertise the fact that they have thousands or even tens of thousands of users. What has worked for everyone else doesn?t necessarily mean that it will be a better fit for your business. Purchasing from a smaller vendor that specialises on a particular CMS product might not only save you money, it also allows you to purchase CMS products that are less complicated and easier to use.

5.?????? Overlooking gaps in a CMS?s functionality

Some of the more popular CMS systems will offer advanced features and plug-ins. It?s fine to choose one that doesn?t, but make sure that you aren?t missing certain functionalities that you could really use in your business. It is still prudent to be diligent in your research to find the right CMS that fits your unique needs. Have a checklist of what you need first before evaluating.

6.?????? Selecting the cheapest option

A good CMS can also range from ?free? to the ?very expensive?. However, opting for the lowest-priced option is often not the best choice. If the selected CMS does not meet your needs, you could end up paying for additional costs later have a web designer or developer undo the damage done to your website.

Choosing the right content management system for your business doesn?t have to be difficult. Spending a little more time in research can point you in the right direction, and prevent problems and potential costs later on. If you follow these above tips, you should end up with a platform that makes updating your website more of a convenience and less of a chore.

Do you have any stories to share in regards to choosing a CMS? Let us know by dropping us a line in the comment box below.

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You are reading one of the articles in our series on how SMEs can make use of Content Management Systems to simplify management of their business websites. Here?s a list of the other articles in the series.

Source: http://mybusinesstechblog.com/archives/blog/smes-online-top-mistakes-avoid-choosing-cms

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