In this day and age with social media and streams of online digital content, it’s harder to get noticed without a website or some sort of web presence. Of course you could survive without one, but having your own website is a powerful tool for marketing, generating leads as well as helping to position yourself in front of your competition.
Owning and running your website doesn’t have to be a costly or daunting thing. With so many open source content management systems on the market, you’re bound to find the right one that suits your business needs and your abilities.
The whole idea behind open source software is that it is freely available for others to use and adapt as they please. Whether it’s being used to run a not-for-profit organisation website, to an online magazine, Government website or even a start-up website.
WordPress and Joomla
Two commonly used content management systems (CMS) include Joomla and WordPress. Both WordPress and Joomla have been around for more than six years, are widely used and widely supported by various businesses and communities that volunteer their time to develop the software and support others that use the software.
They power websites including the High Court of Australia, ProBlogger, ActionAid Australia and even the Dynamic Business website.
WordPress was known as a blogging platform in its early life, but over time has grown and evolved into a much more sophisticated publishing system well suited for information and magazine styled websites.
Joomla, on the other hand, has grown in complexity and flexibility over the years of development allowing for granular control and management over the content in a website as well as flexible ways of presenting and publishing content online.
Getting More Out of the Box
Both systems have thousands of additional extensions and plug-ins available to extend their base levels of functionality and just as many available themes and templates to change the look and feel of the systems to suit your business and purposes. Most of these extensions, plug-ins and themes cost less than $100 and most are freely available.
These cost effective solutions are perfect for any small or start up business that’s looking to get online, but don’t have the budgets to design or develop something from scratch.
Find Out and Learn More
To find out more about these two fantastic content management systems, find local user groups and meetups in your location or even attend one of the up coming conferences coming up in November 5th and 6th. WordCamp Gold Coast for anyone near the Gold Coast and Joomla!Day Sydney for all those interested in the Joomla content management system in Sydney.
– Peter Bui is the director of PB Web Development, a Joomla and WordPress web agency based in Sydney. With years of experience in open source solutions for small business, non profit organisations and Government bodies.
