There’s an old saying that everything looks like a nail when you have a hammer. That adage is too often true when developing a new website. Companies that build in WordPress will recommend WordPress. Firms that use Umbraco push for Umbraco, and so on. They are generally reluctant to work in other systems because the learning curve can be steep, and it’s simply not worth the time investment needed.
The choices for a business or non-profit that doesn’t regularly analyze website systems are overwhelming. So why not just go with what a marketing company recommends? The reason: Your organization deserves a website system that is right for your needs and scalable for the future.
There are dozens of CMS (Content Management Systems) platforms, and all have their pros and cons. These range from WordPress, which can be customized to solve virtually any need, to proprietary systems designed to handle the specific needs of niche markets, such as churches, membership-based associations, education, and more. We recommend first making sure that you clearly define what you want your website to do. Here are a few examples of functionality we regularly encounter:
- Capture leads for potential customers
- Sell products directly to consumers
- Provide a secure customer or member area
- Manage membership dues or subscriptions, including payments
- Tie online shopping to warehouse inventory and shipping systems
- Automate routine administrative emails and reminders
- Showcase events and allow event registrations
- Allow customers to pay invoices online
- And more!
Our approach is to help clients define what they want the website to do and how it needs to support or integrate with the organization’s processes. A fancy website isn’t helpful if it requires redundant work for the back-office team. An excellent website solution is more than just a website; it’s a tool that helps drive the business goals forward and makes it easier for everyone, from the potential customer to the accountant.
Once the functionality is defined, an experienced team like R2R Marketing can evaluate multiple CMS tools and recommend two or three options, explaining the pros and cons of each in non-technical jargon. Given enough money, a team of programmers can build exactly what your organization needs. An experienced marketing team will provide realistic, sustainable options that fit your budget and will grow with your organization.
When you need a new website, don’t reach for a hammer. Instead, contact a professional team that will help guide you to the optimal solution.
