Did you know that almost 75 percent of businesses do not have a website? It has been proven that having an online presence can increase growth and sales. A website is essential for your business today. If you don’t have a website, what are you waiting for?
A website that uses a content management system (CMS) allows for control over editing, publishing and organizing your website’s content. With the help of a CMS, you have more control over how your website looks.
But what content management is the right one for you?
We know that selecting a content management system can be a difficult process especially when you consider finances, time and workflow. Not to mention there are hundreds and thousands of CMSs available to pick from. Here are three leading platforms to consider: WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. These web platforms are all written in PHP and MYSQL. However, like many content management systems there are pros and cons to each platform that are worth discussing.
WordPress
WordPress began in 2003 as a blogging platform. It has since expanded and is now a full content management system with many features. It is one of the most popular CMSs used by small to mid-sized businesses, bloggers, hobbyists and many others! We favor WordPress at Simplexity because we run our website and many of our clients’ websites with the CMS. Why is WordPress so popular? Because WordPress is open source, it is community-driven where many people contribute and develop to projects.
It is important to note the differences between WordPress.COM and WordPress.ORG. WordPress.com is specifically used for blogging. Perhaps you don’t have the time or the technical skills to worry about a website which could make WordPress.com the better option. WordPress.com has limited themes and plugins. You must use the built in features. WordPress will host your site and therefore, you will receive an address ending with wordpress.com. However, WordPress allows you to upgrade for a custom domain.
With WordPress.org, it is self-hosted. So in order for WordPress.org to function, you must have your own server. This option is best for those who like the technical side and more control over the customization and functionality of a website.
Pros and Cons of WordPress.org
Pros:
- Open source
- Free to download with only a 5 minute installation
- SEO friendly
- Cost effective
- Easy to learn and administer
- Over 36,000 plugins available to download for better functionality
- Install custom themes and template designs
- Lots of resources are available for help and support (with a worldwide community)
- Multisite option (Can host multiple WordPress sites on the same installation)
Cons:
- Web hosting not included
- Security flaws
- Updating plugins or WordPress versions can affect how the website functions
Drupal
Drupal is a content management system (CMS) that was released in 2001. However, it didn’t begin as a CMS. It was originally a message board software. Today it has become a web platform for building dynamic web sites. It is unique because it follows a modular, building block approach for customization.
Bigger corporations mostly use Drupal because they typically have large and complex enterprise-class websites. Because Drupal is focused for developers or those that are technology savvy, there is a learning curve. It will take time and dedication to learn the platform. So if you just want to write a blog, you should consider other options such as WordPress.com or Blogger.
Pros and Cons of Drupal
Pros:
- Open source
- Free to download
- Developer friendly
- Scalability with many modules and addons
- Customizable
- Community support
- Versatile and adaptable
- Multisite support
- SEO friendly
- More flexibility with custom features
- High security
Cons:
- Web hosting not included
- Technical/programming skills necessary
- Not user friendly with a large learning curve
- Limited themes
- Must pay for plugins aka “modules”
Joomla
Joomla seems to have the most history compared to the other two but I will spare you the details of how it began. Joomla was released in 2005 after being created by a fork of Mambo. The main focus of the CMS has been extensibility and usability. Though Joomla is user-friendly, it has a slight learning curve. It is not as easy to pick up as WordPress but not as complex as Drupal.
Much like WordPress there are different versions available. Joomla.com offers a service with free hosting to create your website. Joomla.org is a self-hosted CMS. As with many self hosted services, you have more control and fewer limitations for what your website can do.
The Pros and Cons of Joomla
Pros:
- Open source
- Free and easy to install and use
- Powerful extensions (Includes: plugins, site modules, and components)
- Capable of creating websites in multiple languages
- Active developer community
Cons:
- Not SEO friendly
- Not many themes available within the Joomla website, must look elsewhere
- Difficult to maintain modules
So Which One Should You Choose?
Ultimately, the factors discussed should be considered when deciding which CMS is the right choice for your website and business. You must determine which software will be the most beneficial to your business and its success. Know that which ever platform your business decides, make sure it is one that will be the most advantageous to your audience and customers.
