For years now, WordPress has been the way that nearly half of businesses of all industries build their websites, but as many companies have discovered, it doesn’t need to be. Don’t get us wrong, we love WordPress, but with so many options out there, why limit yourself?
In this article, we’ll show you why businesses might opt for more complex website building solutions, and how the right approach can ensure companies like yours can use them properly.
Why Choosing the Right CMS Matters
From Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) to Drupal, Joomla, and more, all CMS platforms have their own unique benefits and workflows that may support your site and its goals more than the “standard” open-source approach.
Take AEM with Edge Delivery Services (EDS), for instance. Compared to WordPress, the base tools available to developers (analytics, localization, security, etc.) are far more robust, as they’re developed and supported directly by Adobe. On top of this, AEM’s Digital Asset Management (DAM) System is one of the best in the industry, and integrates easily with other Adobe tools, like Photoshop, to support both creative and development workflows.
That said, while WordPress and similar free open-source CMS platforms lack enterprise-grade features, they make up for it through price, time to launch, and the ability to easily add functionality with the installation of a plugin. The choice of which is right for each company largely boils down to balancing what they need with what they can afford.
Which Makes Sense for Your Company?
WordPress
Simple, intuitive page building and tools
Open source with community-built plugins
Free to use
A large existing knowledgebase makes learning on the fly easier during the publishing process
A flexible solution suitable for fast implementation of lightweight, simple business websites
The Average Enterprise CMS
Robust, enterprise-level features and software
Tools and add-ons developed specifically for the CMS
Often subscription based with annual fees in the tens of thousands
Requires additional knowledge and prior training to use properly
Powerful enough to support large scale, high traffic, and complex websites
With Great Power Comes Great Complexity
For companies opting for an enterprise CMS, it’s important to remember that getting the features of an enterprise-level software solution comes with its own set of challenges. It’s not enough to just ask “does this software do what I need it to?” An equally important question is whether your implementation team is properly set up to enable it.
The tools offered by higher-end platforms are highly specialized, and to get the most out of them, your development team needs to be as well. Users lacking experience, either in general or with the specific software, will find themselves quickly overwhelmed. The proper training can alleviate this, but the need will extend beyond implementation and shift to platform support, maintenance, and enhancements.
So, does this mean enterprise level platforms are an option only for large teams with highly experienced developers? We don’t think so.
The Right Support Makes the Difference, But What Does It Look Like?
No matter what your choice of CMS or website building software, partnering with a third-party agency can be a big help, but it’s important to do your research so you’re sure you’re choosing the right partner. Many agencies suffer from at least one of two issues: inflexibility and outsourcing.
Many agencies focus on just one technology, which can immediately turn an otherwise promising partner into a complete non-starter. These kinds of agencies often just stick to what they know as opposed to exploring what fits best. You may find yourself being pushed towards a specific content management solution without the benefit of considering a variety of options with your specific needs in mind.
Then there’s the question of who is actually building and maintaining these websites? Outsourcing work to freelancers or outside web dev agencies is a common tactic to save on development costs. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with using freelancers, their separation from the agency itself also keeps them from truly getting invested in your website and its success.
Your One-Stop Shop
At D2 Creative, we pride ourselves on being a comprehensive and reliable partner for wide scope of website needs, be they:
Truly Custom Development
Our development team has a deep history working with a variety of software development technologies, databases, and of course, CMS platforms, enabling us to work with the tools best suited for bringing your company’s vision to life, no matter what they are.
Trusted, Hands-On Support
When you partner with D2, you know exactly who you’re working with. Our team is entirely in-house, allowing our talented developers, marketers, and designers to work hand-in-hand with you, combining their expertise and your insight to provide thoughtful, strategic website support.
Ongoing Quality Assurance
And because we’re so hands-on with the creation of your website, you can trust that we know just how to maintain it as well. Our experts keep everything running smoothly so you can focus on your business and brand.
But that’s only a fraction of what we offer. Our design & development capabilities cover everything it takes to build stunning websites and apps, and we can’t wait to start working on yours next.
