Blog - Content

Lately, we’ve been sharing some of the benefits of custom content management systems. First, we looked at three specific functionalities that are easier to achieve with the CMS than they are with WordPress and similar platforms; then, we looked at advanced programming, marketing, and design features that are easier to achieve with custom programming.

Today, we want to take a look at some specifics. Here are seven things that are easier to accomplish on your website when you’re using a custom content management system:

#1 Online Registration

Want to bring attendees to an event and have their registration information automatically added to an off-line database? A custom content management system that integrates with existing software might be the perfect answer.

#2 Event Management

Even beyond registration, other parts of event management – like equipment inventory, scheduling, and session capacity – can all be effectively overseen with the right content management system in place.

#3 Recruiting

Sometimes, bringing the right people into your organization is every bit as important as gaining new customers is. But, the recruiting process can be time and paperwork-intensive. With a custom content management system, you can automate many hiring tasks, saving yourself time and money.

#4 Polls and Surveys

When you’re looking to get beyond simple polls and surveys and trying to glean real information from customers and visitors, a custom content management system could be the answer. That’s because the coding is easier to work into your website and update, and the results can be automatically downloaded and real-time.

#5 Document Management

If you have thousands of online and off-line documents to keep track of – along with ongoing updates and revisions – using a CMS that’s “off-the-shelf” might not be your best choice. A custom CMS can help you keep track of these files and allow you to share access with visitors when needed.

#6 Staff and Membership Tools

Because a custom CMS can take advantage of integrated encryption and membership areas, it can be a great way to control the flow of access from one part of your website to another. That can be perfect for offering special features to staff and membership.

#7 Blogging

Although WordPress was practically built for blogging, the interface it uses for adding new content isn’t always easy or intuitive for its users. With a custom CMS, you can make it easier to publish text and images in a way that’s easy for readers to see and search engines to find.

Most of these functions can be achieved with a WordPress-based website, or one built with another common CMS. If you’re looking for lots of power with a minimum of coding and alterations, though, working with a custom platform might be your best choice.

Talk to the WebRevelation team today to see how we can help with custom content management systems and other advanced design and marketing features.

In an earlier post, we looked at some of the top-level advantages of using a custom content management system instead of WordPress or the other more popular options. To be sure, custom CMS setups aren’t for everyone, but for companies that can use them they are invaluable.

Today, we want to go a little bit deeper and explore the way a custom CMS can work with a few advanced website applications. In other words, we want to take a look at the way the right programming can help you accomplish more with your web presence.

Here are a few ways that a custom CMS might add more power, and profitability, to your business website:

Back-End Functionality

If you need your website to perform advanced functions behind the scenes, or to integrate with off-line databases, scheduling apps, or other business tools, a custom CMS might be the answer. That’s because your content management system can be programmed with advanced encryption, file-sharing, and other features that make it easy for you to integrate different pieces of existing software (including custom applications that have been developed specifically for your company) in a way that makes them easy to use together.

Advanced Marketing

In the same way, a custom CMS may be able to power advanced marketing tools that allow you to segment customers, dynamically control advertising budgets, or draw contact names from online sources and use them in print marketing campaigns. Certain types of functionality are easier to build into a custom content management system, especially if they are imagined from the outset. If you’re looking to unlock the power of advanced Internet marketing, consider starting with the way your website is organized.

Design Integration

Although WordPress and the other popular content management systems are a lot more versatile than they used to be, there are occasions where companies want to use design features that are better-suited to a custom CMS. If you are wanting to achieve an unconventional aesthetic with your new website, or want to experiment with different layout types, using a custom CMS might be a good way to implement these ideas without having to sacrifice functionality in different parts of your website.

Sometimes, the decision to choose a custom CMS isn’t about aesthetics or the user interface – it’s about getting all the backend and marketing power you can from your new website. Have you looked at your options for creating a new website that makes your business more profitable?

If you have questions about content management systems – or web design and Internet marketing in general – why not speak to the WebRevelation team in Oklahoma City? In just a few minutes, you can set up a free consultation where we’ll be happy to review your current website and answer any questions you might have.

Deciding to implement a content management system into your new website is an easy call – doing so makes it easy for you to add and update pages while maintaining a consistent look throughout every part of the site. Figuring out which content management system to use, however, can be a little tougher.

Obviously, there are a lot of popular options, such as WordPress and Drupal. But, lots of business owners overlook the advantages of a custom CMS, usually because they are working with a web design team that isn’t familiar enough with them to spell out the benefits.

That’s too bad, because having the right CMS can make a huge difference on the usability and profitability of your website. And, getting one that’s publicly available isn’t always the best choice.

To help you understand why, here are three benefits of using a custom CMS that you might not have known about:

#1 It Can Be Tailored to Fit Your Needs

As the word “custom” implies, this type of content management system can be shaped, designed, and programmed to meet the needs of your company. That means you don’t have to worry about a “one-size-fits-all” approach to web design, but instead can take advantage of the features that matter to your organization (and ignore the ones that don’t). The result isn’t just better functionality, but often cleaner code that isn’t cluttered by things you don’t need. Doing away with extra chunks of code could make your website run faster and more smoothly.

#2 There are Fewer Online Security Concerns

Hackers and cyber criminals love common content management systems, like WordPress, because so many millions of people use them. They only have to find one weak point in the content management systems security and they can suddenly access millions upon millions of different websites at once. On the other hand, with a custom CMS, there isn’t nearly as much incentive for thieves to spend time breaking in. That makes them more likely to move on than bother trying to crack the security on your website.

#3 It Makes it Easier to Update Your Website

One of the biggest advantages of having a custom CMS is that the interface can be designed for simplicity. In other words, we can make it so that adding new pages, or updating your content, is as simple as using a program much like Microsoft Word. That might not seem like a huge deal, but if you’ve ever struggled to keep your website up-to-date, you know how important it is to have a system that’s easy to use and master. What’s the point of having a CMS if updating your website is a chore?

If you’ve never considered using a custom content management system, now might be the perfect time to take a closer look and see if it’s right for you.

Looking for the very best in business web design and Internet marketing? Talk to the team at WebRevelation in San Antonio, Houston or Dallas today!

When it’s time to build and launch a new website, web content is (ironically) the last thing a business owner or marketer will think of. They’ll pay close attention to the design, give feedback on color schemes, and obsess over the conversion opportunities… but not give much thought to the actual writing that they’ll need to convince customers to buy.

As a result, a lot of clients are at a loss when it comes to deciding whether they should generate their own web content in-house or work with a professional writer.

There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer when it comes to deciding whether you should hire a content writer to work with. It really comes down to your own needs, budget, and preferences. To help you make the best decision, however, here are four times when we definitely advise you to hire a writer to help finish your website:

1. When you just can’t find the time yourself.

A lot of our clients intend to write their own pages, but never seem to find the time. That’s understandable – coming up with great web content usually isn’t on the top list of “urgent” items that a business owner or manager has to face… at least until the rest of the website is ready. And at that point, they may be overwhelmed with other tasks and projects. A good web content writer can finish an entire set of pages within days, so consider hiring one if you’re out of time.

2. When you’ve got content, but you don’t like it.

In the same way, a lot of clients develop their own web content only to find that it doesn’t have a polished, professional edge.
At that point, they usually have one of two choices: hire a professional content writer, or start over with a blank screen. If you or someone on your team has tried writing your web content but you aren’t blown away by the results, think about bringing a professional in to finish the job.

3. When conversions are a top priority.

We alluded to this earlier, but it’s a very important point to make: Web content isn’t just about explaining what you do; it’s about persuading buyers to take a chance and do business with your company. That’s a lot easier when you have professionally written web content. So if conversions are a top priority for you, let us help you find someone who can sell with words so you can increase your long-term ROI.

4. When you’re trying to make an impact with SEO and social media.

As you probably know already, search engine optimization and social media are both dependent on having a fresh stream of creative, compelling, and optimized content. The challenge of creating articles and posts week after week often proves to be too much for immature writers. If you are going to face a need for ongoing content, bringing in a professional writer can be the key to moving your campaigns forward.

The right web content writer can add a lot to your website’s messaging and persuasive power. More than that, they can help you finish the project in a reasonable amount of time. So if you’re facing one of these four situations, talk to us about getting a web content writer started on your pages.

Your website should never be a finished product. Your business is constantly changing and evolving and so should the content on your website. The entire site design doesn’t need to change regularly, but it’s necessary to regularly update the meat of your site for three main reasons we’ll give you in this blog.

Fresh Content Can Influence Rankings
Search engines value new content over old. Google measures your web content for freshness. It tries to judge if your content is applicable now or outdated?  To remain ahead of competitors, Google only wants to answer searches with the best possible options for the searcher. In a search engines view, fresh content includes recent events, hot topics, regularly occurring events or frequently changing details (technology, laws, etc.). Old posts aren’t completely worthless. In some searches, your older post may still be one of the best matches available no matter its inception date. With the vast amount of Internet content, your business can’t rely on old content to stay relevant. It’s much more uncertain when and if it will come up in a search. 

Give Visitors a Reason to Return
Having the same old information and visuals on your site will only encourage one time visits. That shouldn’t be one of your marketing goals. Use your site as a communication tool. If someone wants to know something about your company or field, people should know they’ll probably be able to find the answer on your sight. If you don’t have it, your competitor might. You’ve got expertise and knowledge in your area. Share it and in return your site will receive more views and leads. Your product might never change, but the world does. You can update people on new insights to your field or even just unknown inner workings of your business. 

Blogs are Critical to SEO. 
By posting diverse blogs pertaining to your field, it’s more likely for unique visitors to find your company. People search for a whole range topics and keywords on search engines. When they search, if you’ve got a blog pertaining to the topic it’s likely to land in the search. Content on your site should anticipate what people need to know about facets of the business you are in and approach those topics as an authority. If your blog posts are interesting, readers might return to read the next one.