We get plenty of customers coming to us concerned that they won’t be able to get a website going since they have never done it before. There’s so much to learn as a total beginner, and it is usually so much that it scares them away from giving it that initial go. However, with the Internet being around for some time now, many systems have been put into play that make it so even individuals with no prior knowledge can harness its power.
So, if you’re wondering, “Can I make a website if I’ve never had any experience?” then you should know that you can. There are several options for you, and the best one that we can recommend is to choose a content management system (or CMS).
Why a CMS Works
It’s easy. Once the CMS software package is installed on your hosting account, you simply log in and start producing content. You can add photos, videos and other media to make the site come alive.
It’s simplified. A CMS takes the hard-to-understand code and wraps it in an easy-to-use back-end. It is possible to have a dynamic site without ever having to sort through random tags and functions.
It’s visually appealing. With the amount of templates and themes (some free) that are available for all the CMS options, you can be sure that there is one that will make your website look amazing.
It’s dynamic. A CMS can often be enhanced with additional add-ons or plugins. If there is a feature you’d like to incorporate into your website, there is probably one around to make it happen.
Which CMS to Choose
There are many different CMS platforms to choose from, and since they are all a little bit different, it is important to choose one that suits your needs and website goals. WordPress, for example, is a CMS platform that is typically used for simple, blog style websites. Drupal, on the other hand, is harder to learn but can be used to create websites of a more advanced nature.
To help you make a decision on which CMS platform to choose, check out the 12 Most Popular Requested By Our Customers. This list touches on the different CMS platforms Digital Pacific customers choose and use, which means you can do the same. Of course, you’re definitely not limited to this list. If you happen to find another system that you like, as long as it is MySQL and PHP based, it will most certainly run. If you’re not sure, don’t hesitate to ask us!
Out of all of these, the 3 most popular CMS platforms are probably WordPress, Drupal and Joomla. We did a nice comparison of the three a while ago, which may also help in your decision.
Setting Up the CMS
Many newbies find that getting the platform set up is the hardest part of the whole process, and we agree. It involves installing the software on the hosting account, setting up a database, and configuring it all to work together. If this seems a little overwhelming to you, we are more than happy to help. For a small fee, we will get the CMS set up and ready to go (see Extended Support). From that point on, it is extremely easy to customise and update the website on your own.
Using the CMS
After you’ve got it set up, some CMS platforms make it so easy. WordPress, for example, allows users to browse and change website templates with a click of a button, directly from the back-end. It also gives users the ability to compose pages and posts using a WYSIWYG editor. What this means is that you never have to worry about including HTML bits to change the way your content appears, which is absolutely perfect for a beginner that just wants to get online, and look good doing it.
You don’t have to be a web genius to get on the Internet, as long as you know where to look for help. We are always here to assist our customers with any questions that they have when it comes to getting online for the first time. It’s a big step, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.
