Very Simple CMS site needed

[byronc]

This has absolutely zero relevance to what the OP needs.

You are totally wrong, this is exactly what the OP was looking for - something simple - not a rant about real programmers doing it their way

[byronc]

I agree and disagree - we use Joomla a lot, and yes it is feature rich but for non-tech savvy clients, I only set them up with Manager permissions initially - that restricts them to a pretty simple feature set that they mostly don't have difficulty getting to grips with. Later on when they start to ask "can I do this" type questions I lift them to administrator and they usually make the transition OK.



I like Wordpress, but mostly it suffers from always looking like a blog, and I've found that clients have real problems with getting to grips with all the relentless jargon used in the administration - might be simple to set up, but needs a nerdie geekie bloggie to English translation tool.

I wouldn't recommend going down the route of any ecommerce cart / catalogue system like zen cart etc - these are mostly far more complicated than basic CMS systems - for creating / editing a relatively small number of information pages with text and images (which I think what is required here) a basic CMS is ideal in my view.

wordpress looks like a blog - you are so right so if you want to use it for a client you have to spend time modifying it for them anyway.
i did not fins it intuitive (unless you want to make blog posts)

[byronc]

Sorry, my statement may have been confusing. I was just trying to recommend BurgundySky as a simple CMS. Then, I added 2 example websites. I thought that was the question.

With BurgundySky, there's nothing to install like Joomla or Wordpress. No need to do version updates as that is all automated. Nothing to back up. No start up costs - the CMS is inclusive in the hosting price. Anyone can use it as it is designed to be simple. People can try it without buying it to see if it suits your needs.

I've used Joomla and wordpress; both of which are much more complex.

I don't own BurgundySky and I am not trying to sell a service. So relax. If you don't like my suggestion of a CMS then fine, but don't tell me the post has "zero relevance".

I got yousr post straight off, BlueVoda is simliar - a nice easy free website builder - wht put me off is they advertize it for free without telling you it only will upload to theirs hosts beforehand. But it really is simple - and I am not affiliated with them

[colin4255]

A novice trying to use Joomla? Bit like me being asked by NASA to fix the shuttle! There is no CMS that is easy for a complete novice as a certain level of understanding and knowledge of PHP/HTML is a must.

You have been given the best advice - get someone who knows what they are doing to set one up. I have helped computer savvy people who haven't even been able to upload a CMS to a server in a week of trying because they have no idea what all the jargon means, let alone try to change anything on a theme or template!

If you are adamant you want to try yourselves, use Concrete5 CMS - by far the easiest thing I have ever set up, and by far the easiest thing I have ever amended as most of it can really be done with no knowledge. Its very very clever stuff and free. Most importantly, my customers think its by far the easiest thing they have ever tried, which says it all really.

You should be able to get someone to set up a CMS for you for less than £2-300.

[surfing-mtber]

I agree with some other posters. Wordpress is simple, and free. If you need a shopping cart, they don't come much easier and search engine friendly than Romancart.

So I went over to a friend's house tonight. His daughter has created a website for him but she is busy and can't keep it up. It is database driven and she says it would be too complicated for him to keep going.

He asked me for advice. His site is basically a simple site that has a homepage, about us, how to order (call him), and then another menu link that then has several sublinks. If it was a furniture site it would have a main products page. Under the products menu tab at the top is a flyout menu that lists beds, dressers, tables, chairs, etc etc. Then each of those pages is basically formatted text and pictures.

My friend is very not technical. He has used godaddy website tonight and struggled with how to change the photos.

I have not used them but I wonder if it would be pretty simple to set up a joomla site for him. Set up the masthead and the menus, then have him use the cms interface to add words and pictures to the pages.

Am I on the right track here? Or would something like wordpress be easier for him? It must look like a website not a blog.

While I'm on the subject, if anyone wants to set this up for him and is inexpensive, PM me with a cost estimate. Assume we are using his godaddy hosting.

Thanks.

[seomagician]

I would take a look at wordpress or frog cms (very simple cms) for this.

[inertia]

Yep. I've setup Wordpress sites for non webby clients, given them a quick intro, told them about all the info online and theyve managed to figure it out ok.

[deepsand]

I think you should become a real programmer before you talk about one.

I am a real programmer.

You should stick to the facts rather than playing the "I'm your better" card.

[SSMayer]

I love Joomla! It's as simple, slick, or as complicated as you need it to be. But it's true genious? You simply can't outgrow it, and it's infinately customizable. It's really so easy. I am completely self-taught, and the community helps me anytime I need more answers. Actually, it's so easy to set it up for a truly computer impaired user. Just keep them at the "submit an article" stage, or where they just come in and enter an article, and then you come back later and check it out, make sure it's what they needed, and post it. Or, simply show then how to save as unpublished. Makes it so easy. There are so many templates out there for free, you can play with 50-100 of them, and never see the same thing twice. All that "playing" gives you an unprecedented amount of fresh ideas, and you're off and running. My fave? Joomlashack. I am not being paid to say it, they are just genious, and deserve the recognition. They have great tutorials!

[weegillis]

Post by the OP is #27 on March 3. OP resolved. Thread closed.