When we work with a client that has an existing website, it is always easier to work in a familiar environment with no restrictions. What does that mean? Some website development companies build large, proprietary, complex, content management systems that “lock down” their source code. This means that the client can not work on a vast majority of the website on their own or with the help of an outside vendor (us). It also means that the website can not be moved easily to another company if they should become unhappy.

Beware of these proprietary content management systems when you decide to have your website built.

We prefer open source content management systems like WordPress and Drupal. Why? Well, for starters, they have a familiar code base. This makes it easy to hire employees who are comfortable working with these platforms, in turn, the cost to our clients is a lot lower. Secondly, these open source Content Management Systems are easy to move from one hosting company to another. This is essential if you become unhappy with your vendor, if you can’t move your data, they are effectively holding your data hostage. Don’t let them tell you that you can “export your pages as HTML”, all this means is that your website will be broken, but you can keep the text. You will end up paying another website developer to build an entirely new website.

By building your website in an open source content management system framework, you can be sure that with a database and theme folder backup, you can move your website and be up and running on another hosting providers’ servers in a matter of minutes. How can anyone argue with that?

Here is a list of top 5 reasons why you should use an open source content management system:

1. Cost – The code is Free! If you install it yourself and select a theme, you only pay a developer for things you need help with
2. Functionality – WordPress and Drupal are extremely mature Content Management Systems that have been used for just about every type of site, including Government.
3. Flexibility – With thousands of modules, plugins and themes, there is nothing you can’t do
4. Security – Hundreds of Security Experts around the world test Drupal and WordPress for vulnerabilities every day
5. Freedom – Unhappy with your developer or hosting company? Move the site! No proprietary code or applications to worry about