So, you’re thinking of adding your new (or established) business to the World Wide Web but you’re unsure where to start. If you’re not what you’d call ‘knowledgeable’ about the process of creating a website then you’ll need help. In terms of a web development company, London is the place to look, regardless of the purpose behind your new website. London is a hub of talented web developers and designers so you should be able to find someone who can guide you through your website journey, such as the Graphic Alliance team.
In simple terms, there are three content management systems you’ll want to consider: WordPress, Drupal and Magento. Each has its own benefits and features so before deciding anything you need to think about what your finished site will be primarily used for.
WordPress
WordPress is probably the best known, free-to-use content management system available at the moment. Presently, nearly 20% of the top 10million websites are powered by WordPress and in total there are more than 60million WordPress sites on the internet. Obviously this hints towards the platform’s ease of use, but if you are unsure about what you’re doing your best bet will be to use the services of a professional WordPress website designer.
Features of WordPress that make it a popular choice with webmasters include:
• Themes – you can quickly change the look and functionality of your website by changing the theme without affecting the site content or structure. In other words, you can make your website completely unique and personal to you.
• Plug-ins – by using a variety of custom add-ons (or plug-ins) you can tailor your new website to your specific needs. For example, you could add a widget or a navigation bar or an animated scene. WordPress currently has over 26000 plug-ins in their database with new ones added on a regular basis.
• Mobile capabilities – WordPress websites can be viewed, updated and moderated using a wide range of mobile devices and systems, meaning you are always in control.
WordPress is generally used as a blogging platform although it is possible to create intricate and complex websites using it. Learn more about WordPress web development.
If you’re looking for a meatier website though, Drupal may be better for your needs…
Drupal
Drupal is like the big brother of WordPress. In terms of features, the two platforms are very similar; both offer a huge range of themes and plug-ins along with the ability to develop your site using more than just the core package. Drupal however is much more advanced in terms of user permissions and online promotion of your site content.
A lot of government and industry related websites are powered by Drupal because of the advanced features but this doesn’t mean it won’t be suitable for your business. It might be worth using a professional Drupal agency in London though, as the creation of complex websites can defeat even the most enthusiastic amateur webmaster. Learn more about Drupal web development.
Magento
Magento is different to both WordPress and Drupal in that it exists solely as a development platform for eCommerce sites. So, if you want to establish an online store then Magento is the platform to go with. Not only does Magento offer excellent marketing and SEO enhancement tools, it also has a powerful catalogue management system that enables users to easily navigate around your store, even when using the mobile application.
There are two editions of Magento: the Community edition which is free to use and the Enterprise edition which carries a licence fee. Obviously if you carry a huge range of products then the Enterprise edition should be considered. Saying this, you don’t have to have a major store to use Magento (although Samsung and Harvey Nichols do); and even your eBay store will benefit from a Magento website.
Again, the platform can be confusing if you’ve never created a website before but with the help of a Magento web designer you could be up and running and, more importantly, making money before you know it. Learn more about Magento web development.
In summary
In summary, if you’re looking to set up a new site, first analyse your needs and you can then decide which option will work best for you based on the key features of WordPress, Drupal and Magento.
• WordPress – perfect for personal and company blogging and simple websites
• Drupal – for more in-depth websites that may require numerous user permissions and advanced plug-ins
• Magento – for eCommerce sites regardless of size and growth potential
The post WordPress, Drupal or Magento? Which Will Suit your Needs? appeared first on Graphic Alliance.