The debate between using open source vs proprietary Content Management Systems is not a new one. First off I chose to use the word proprietary rather than closed source because of the negative connotation that the word “closed” may have.

Open Source CMS

Open Source CMS’s or platforms have gained a lot of popularity over the last decade, some of them garnering download volumes of viral proportions (e.g. Joomla).  Let’s first start by defining what is open source?

What is Open Source CMS

Open Source in layman’s terms simply means that you are free to see the source code.  Since you and others are free to see the software source code, over the years, a plethora of software companies was born that added and contributed to this code in terms of extensions, added functionality and so on.

Examples of Open Source Content Management Systems include:

1. 1. WordPress
   2. Joomla
   3. DotNetNuke
   4. Drupal

The beauty of open source is that over the years, talent and knowledge in such platforms has become ubiquitous and readily available and therefore being locked in to one agency or vendor for your Web CMS’s needs is hardly an issue.

Does Open Source Mean Zero Cost?

That’s a question for the ages, to answer quickly: NO! implementing an open source CMS, skinning the design, configuring and customizing any platform, be it open source or other takes time, effort and a certain knowledge.  This costs money.

Is there a Flip Side?

With the above being said, “why would anyone not want an open source Content Management System” you may ask.  Just like any other system, an open source content management system may have many shortfalls: it may not be the easiest to use or learn (both Joomla and Drupal are notoriously known for their sharp learning curves for the non-techie), they may have a lot of security advisories (check Secunia’s website for a list of security advisories on many CMS’s), they may not be specialized for a certain specific need e.g. internet marketing and so on.  In summary, your requirements as a company should help you make a decision as to whether an open source platform would fit your needs or not.

Proprietary CMS

Proprietary CMS’s or platforms are owned and controlled by one company, their source code is not available to the public and as such you either have to deal with the mother company itslef, or a certified partner(s) of that company (Microsoft Sharepoint is an example of a proprietary platform, however there are plenty of Microsoft certified partners capable of handling its implementation).

A lot of proprietary CMS’s have an ecosystem of IT / Software companies that build extensions for the CMS in question and therefore give the end user some form of “freedom”.  However some proprietary CMS’s are so “closed” in nature that the only way to extend their functionality or add some required functionality is by going back to the mother company.  There is a risk here of vendor lock-in for the end-user.

Why Would You Buy a Proprietary CMS?

The reason you would buy a proprietary CMS despite some of the risks highlighted above are just as valid for any other CMS, open source included: it may be a perfect fit for your requirements, or provide some advanced Internet Marketing integration, or may be very user friendly and easy to manage.  Proprietary systems, due to the focused nature of them being owned by one company can be very polished and well packaged.

The Verdict?

Choosing the right Web Content Management platform is a task to be taken seriously, if you are a one man show, freelancer, or a large company with a lot of IT resources will have an impact on the best platform for you.  A proprietary CMS may give you all the freedom you require as a small shop or a larger company with customized requirements, however, may not be as scalable as another company may require.
Bottom line is, list down specific criteria for your platform and make your decision based on that, you may want to read this article we wrote on some questions to ask when selecting a CMS.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop us a comment or send us an email at support at leanwsiweb dot com.

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UPDATE: Listen to our Audio Podcast related to this article here The Right Web Platform for Your Business – Questions To Ask.

It’s been a long time since my last blog post and over the past 5-6 months, it’s been apparent to me that a lot of the businesses in the UAE completely let the choice of a web platform to their web design agency. Though it is only natural to rely on experts for your web content management (WCM) or Content Management System (CMS), businesses must at least challenge the decision of the agency or ask for the reasoning behind such choice.

I stumble upon many clients asking me to quote them a website on WordPress, when I ask them why WordPress, the frequent answer I get is “well my friend runs a similar business and he has WordPress”…

I am all for social proof and recommendations from friends but a website is a long term investment, and unless you want to spend time and effort building a website and dumping it a year later, take the time to understand your web agency’s choice.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself to help you make a choice for a CMS:

1. Do you have more than 1 person who may need to add or edit content to the website. If so this means you need to have a CMS that allows for authoring and publishing workflows eg WordPress, Joomla, DotNetNuke, etc

2. Do you foresee your business getting into ecommerce and in need of a shopping cart. If so then you really want a CMS that can scale as your business grows. I am certainly no expert in WordPress but I surely would look into a CMS that has good ecommerce extensions eg Joomla+VirtueMart or DNN+Catalook, or any other module for that matter.

3. Are you an enterprise or a large organization that has plenty of Microsoft based systems eg Sharepoint and others. You may then want to seriously consider a CMS that is Micrososft based, perhaps DotNetNuke in this case would prove a much wiser choice than Joomla.

4. Are you more or less a one person kind of a web department and have not much experience in web technologies, perhaps then a simple and very intuitive platform like WSI eFusion is what you need.

5. Do you expect to have multiple languages in the future? then it’s important to choose a CMS that can support this feature.  One important note here, the catch is to have your web pages in different languages mirrored in your system, i.e. if your visitor is on the About Us Page in English and wants to go to the Arabic site, your system should take him straight to the About Us page in Arabic.  Not all CMS’s support this feature.

So to conclude, deciding on which platform best suits your business is a pivotal decision, make sure you understand the choice that your agency is recommending and you’ll be on your path to having the right platform for you, your business and your customers.

If you just set up a business in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, or if you are thinking of having a new website, here are 7 key functionalities you should consider having, and request your web design agency to implement:

1- Content Management Systems: Stay in Control

Some websites are still being designed as static HTML pages.  While this is generally the most affordable option, it comes with its fair share of challenges: you cannot update your website’s content without knowing how to work with HTML files, you have problems of formatting and alignment, and above all, you most probably would need to source external help every time you need to make a change, thus costing you more in terms of money, time and so on.

A Content Management System, is a software which allows a user like you and me to alter, edit, remove, add pages and content to our website in a very intuitive interface.  Think of it as using MS Word to edit a document, only here, you are editing your website.  It is that easy.  Examples of Content Management Systems abound on the Internet: be it WSI eFusion or Business Edge, DotNetNuke, WordPress (excellent for blogging), Joomla, and many others.

2- Scalable Website Design: Keep it Future Proof

Although, as a startup business, you don’t necessarily want to worry about the future expansion of your website, the current technologies available allow you to build your website one block at a time, and thus limit your initial investment, but at the same time be capable of growing your website in the future without undergoing a full redesign.

Make sure your website is as future proof as possible.  Future proof really depends on the nature of your business, ie if you foresee yourself selling goods later on on your website, make sure you get a platform that is capable of supporting an ecommerce module that can work in the  UAE.  If you envision having an Arabic version of your website a few years down the line, ask for a platform that supports multiple languages and so on.

3- Website Copywriting: Build Credibility and Convert More

One of the main elements of a website that is often overlooked:  this is typically your responsibility, but you could always outsource it, make sure your website copy is clear, straight-to-the-point and factual. I cannot emphasize the word “factual” enough.  The online audience is an audience in a rush so-to-speak.  You have a handful of seconds to capture their attention, so spare them the marketing bla bla and get to the point quickly, use quantitative data such as “voted number 1 by abc magazine” or “30 consultants” or “10 offices in the UAE“ etc.  Content marketing, or copy can make or break your online credibility and your conversion rate.

4- Calls to Action: Convert More

Think of 2 to 3 actions you would like your website audience to do ie: download a brochure, request you to call them back, or request more information by email, and ask your agency to include these calls to action in your design.  This will make your website more interactive and build conversion architecture into it.

5- Socialize your Website: Get More Exposure / Word of Mouth

With the rise of social media in the UAE and around the world, you have an opportunity to indirectly promoting your website by strategically scattering Social Bookmarking buttons such as the famous Facebook like or Facebook Recommend buttons.

6- Ask to have Web Analytics: Know More

The age of brochure type websites is long gone, your website is a valuable piece of real estate and you can now track all sorts of interesting information such as the number of visitors who landed on your website, number of pageviews, top visited pages and so on.  Make sure you read our article: Are Hits an Accurate Measure of your Website to know more about web analytics.

7- Ask to Have Basics of SEO in Place: Be Ready for Full Fledge SEO

Having a website is one thing, generating traffic and building visibility for it is a totally different thing. To get high rankings on Google is a field in its own right, but at least get the fundamentals right on your own website, and request a keyword research to be done, and your title tags be populated with the right keyword rich content.  To understand title tags, and basics of on-page optimization, read our article SEO: 3 Tips to optimize your site.

Video is fast becoming one of the most effective ways to engage and market to online buyers.  I have already seen websites in the UAE make use of Videos to promote their service in a more interactive way than just text.

Recent studies show that online video grew 124% in 2009, having over 18.9 billion views. This massive growth is changing the way we think about doing business online and is opening up new opportunities that are helping business drive online lead generation.  Marketers and those familiar with the web see this huge opportunity and aren’t waiting to take advantage of it. From video in email to landing page conversion and lead generation, this free whitepaper will address the necessary steps to integrate video into your business’ online marketing strategy.  Download our free Online Video Marketing whitepaper to find out more.

Contrary to popular belief, a blog is not really about sharing with the world what you did for lunch.  Looking at our blog, you probably figured it’s about sharing knowledge, and experience.  By using a blog, you have the ability to post your thoughts and share what’s important to you, what you know, experiences you’ve had, lessons you learned etc. without having to be an HTML pro.  Whether you’re a self-employed entrepreneur looking to establish yourself as the “expert” in a particular niche, or you’re part of a large corporate team interested in enhancing the company’s image in the public eye, a blog can be one of the best platforms to share your thoughts and build your credibility and image online.  Read WSI’s free whitepaper: Blogging to Build a Reputation.