I've never agreed and disagreed so much with one article as this one from The Sydney Morning Herald, Drive your own website.
I agree...
I hate being held to ransom. And I'm sure you do, too. But that's the scenario you're creating when you hand over your website to a web designer or developer and relinquish control over when and how you can change your content...
...That's why I think it's vital for small-business owners to use their own content management systems (CMS). My recommendation is to initially use a designer to create the overall look but after that you at least want to be able to change the text on your website whenever you want.
I disagree...
If you are planning to use a free CMS, such as Wordpress, Drupal or Joomla, expect a steep learning curve and a lot of time poring through forums and blogs trying to figure out how to insert that picture just the way you want.
On the other hand, monthly subscription-based models can offer more flexibility. While you might baulk at being tied to a monthly subscription, the benefit is this is usually accompanied by technical support - so you can call or email for help
The fact of the matter is whether you're going to be using a CMS that is propriety, open source, or subscription based...there is always a learning curve involved. The advice I often give to those looking for a CMS is to look at which CMS meet the requirements then worry about the licensing along with the how/where the site will be hosted. The fact is that if the CMS doesn't meet your requirements...no subscription-based model for that CMS is going to meet your needs. Also, if you think Wordpress has a steep learning curve...you likely haven't done your homework on Web content management systems. Just my opinion...
Comments
I think I disagree with your
I think I disagree with your disagree :)
I have been in the unique position of helping hundreds of people get started with Joomla. One thing I would probably say is that there *is* a steep learning curve (more so with Drupal). Give Joomla to an random business in your home town and they will be DOA. I think that proprietary can often be easier to use as they have several vested interests in making the system easier (e.g. driving down support costs)
I agree that proprietary systems do hold people for ransom, ultimately a closed universe.
This seeming dichotomy is why I started a new service called Simplweb in 2008. Think Joomla as a SaaS... on training wheels...
The response has been great, our customers love the power and flexibility (an that they are not locked into some random company) and love the support and hand holding.
I think that subscription-based and open source will start to become a more common option, as opposed to now, where they are either/or...
Well, I disagree with you
Well, I disagree with you disagreeing about me disagreeing.
My disagreement with the article wasn't a slam against someone looking at a subscription-based CMS. I recommended to my own wife to use a subscription service for a flash-based CMS to support her photography business. For me the learning curve, would have been just too much to build and support a flash-only site (plus from a content management perspective...I just don't like flash). It was just easier for her to go subscription and likely saved our marriage in that I didn't have to be her only user support.
My disagreement was with the author implying that hosting your own Wordpress, Joomla! or Drupal site shouldn't be entertained at all. A person needs to look at all their options and shouldn't bypass a complete requirement analaysis before concluding the product and hosting path that is best for them. While there are negatives for managing your own CMS there are also negatives for having others to manage the site for you (I'm a control freak and prefer to manage things on my own).
I will say though to those that do go with a subscription service they need to check the terms carefully. I'm glad to see that SimpleWeb offers the ability for customers to export their site to another location if they want to try other options besides SimpleWeb. Sadly, not all subscription-based CMS allow for this to happen.
I agree with you fully on the original agree/disagree and more..
I think anyone who wants to "sell" the idea of subscription based sites, and/or fully commercial sites is selling something themselves. I like to set folks up on the low cost of ownership that an open source CMS gives them. I also offer them training, and if they need it, installation support. Let's face it, the only areas that 90% of CMS business users will need is the article management and product management areas of their sites. These are overall the easiest to use, especially if you have set up most of the options for their site as they wanted from the installation and design phase. Menus can be confusing as can some of the more vertical market extensions, but overall it doesn't take many hours of support for someone to get setup and running on their own. I have trained several site users on the use of the (Joomla!) sites, and I offer them support for changes they need/want to make. Most of them rarely call, and I keep tabs on them from time to time to see if everything is going well. This is a much more acceptable method for most users. Compare the few hours a year they will get charged (and I build in hours for support on the installations for training and support time) IF ANY, to a subscription based site that hit's them up every month.
Open source is the wave of the future for operating systems and website CMS. This is a sustainable, and affordable system that allows the computing community to support each other, and even make a little money in the process. And though we charge for our services, we end up charging less then it costs to play with the corporate giants. The more businesses that move to Open Source software the more efficient the Open Source software systems will become.
Linux, Joomla (WordPress, Drupal, etc...) and the applications that run on them give us all the capacity to succeed as small businesses, and move to a green setup that big blue chip corporations just don't allow for or want.
Be a patriot, and use the open source solutions available to you. It's not only better for you, it's better for the economy.
And finally... on all the agreeing and disagreeing to agree & so
I am a self taught web designer. When I learned of the open source softwares available, Joomla the one I use as a rule, I was elated!
The TRUE FACT is, yes, a person who goes with an os cms will spend some time on the learning end, and will end up a LOT in the community forums, but THANK GAWD those support forums are there, I have found so many of the related problems I have had in there and already solved. Quick fix and I am on the road again.
Open source cms, you have to always keep in mind, has many eyes on it. The fact that problems such as bugs, hacking, etc will always be a factor for ANY software, leaves me comforted knowing that an open source software has people constantly working towards fixes, testing of the products, and feedback. An experience and fix I may have had, could be helpful to hundreds, maybe thousands of people.
I can seek the support, and fix my problem much quicker with open source than with a store bought.
One last comment... joomla and some of the other higher profile cms, drupal, wordpress, are striving to be the best. Knowing this, you should know that a lot of time and work goes into these and you are more likely going to end up with a lesser flawed, more secure product, in my opinion.
Take the time to learn it, or find someone who sets these up for reasonable price.. either way, you are getting a better product when you go open source :)