Many websites, especially small or older websites, are built using static webpages. These websites are built using xhtml, Html, CSS, and Javascript and can contain hundreds of individual pages that all need updated when you want to make a simple change to the layout or color. Thus, static websites are difficult and expensive to maintain.

To solve this website design and maintenance problem, a new technology called a Content Management System (CMS) was developed. A CMS uses a database to store, retrieve, and edit the content of your website.  Each page of your site is stored as simple text – making it easy to edit, search, and manipulate. When someone visits your website the CMS automatically converts your text into the required HTML and Javascript. Furthermore, the CMS database allows for additional features to be easily integrated into the website: user login and passwords, shopping carts, blogs, news feeds, and much more.

Below is an outline of common static website problems, our solutions, and some of the many benefits you will gain once your site has been converted to a CMS.

Common Website Problems

• No updating – static sites are difficult and/or impossible to update
• No search function – users cannot search your site to find the content they are looking for
• Limited features – user login, forums, mailing lists, and calendar features require custom code and are expensive to implement

The Solution

• Install an open source content management system (CMS)
• Move your existing content into it
• Use the CMS admin area and update your website yourself

The Benefits

• The ability to update and change your content anytime using a web browser
• Your site’s content will be displaying using current web standards. This increases accessibility and makes your content more “future proof“
• The CMS has built-in search capability
• Room to grow – Easily add forums and other community building features, set up RSS feeds for your growing content, have users subscribe to newsletters, and much more
• You are not trapped with a single web developer – your CMS is an open source software product understood by thousands of users and developers.

There is a great list and demos of just about every CMS located at: opensourcecms.com

Host-REA specializes in hosting and installing CMS systems.  You can purchase a hosting package for as little as $4.95 per month that fully supports the growing list of CMS’s.  Included with our hosting plans is a one click CMS installer called fantastico.  You can have your CMS up and running in minutes.