- “I want to update my website but I can’t get hold of my web developer…..”
- “My web developer asks for £30 or more for the smallest change on my site…..”
- “I can change things on my website but my options are too limited…..”
A collaborative website deals with these issues by enabling website owners to do the regular, day-to-day updates easily and quickly themselves while the design structure of the site allows the addition of unlimited functionality – with professional web-development support as required. With a collaborative website:
- You control day-to-day updates
- System design allows enhanced functionality to be added quickly and easily – with help from your developer if necessary
- Site is designed from the ground-up for inherent SEO effectiveness
- Sites can be re-skinned with a whole new look without impacting the underlying functionality
- Your site evolves with your business
With the exception of specialist e-commerce companies, many businesses launched their website essentially as an on-line brochure, perhaps with an interactive enquiry form but they soon realised that (as with printed brochures) things go out of date very quickly! This is where the problems can start as it is only now that you start to recognise that your website is NOT just an electronic brochure but has the potential to be so much more, if only you know how! Many web developers rely on their clients coming back for regular changes and updates but this does not always represent good value for the customer, either in the cost of making the changes or in the time it can take. Too often, companies are reluctant to update their site as often as the should because they resent the cost and time hassle. The idea of a fully content-managed site where you can (in theory!) control everything might seem appealing but the problem is the cost of setting it up in the first place – often only to find you never really use anything other than the most basic elements because complex changes only happen infrequently and you can never remember how to do them! Open Source web technologies such as WordPress allow collaberative websites to be built quickly, easily and inexpensively. With these sites you can manage day to date updates and additions of text, images, pages -and more – easily, in house and the inherent flexibility of the technology means that if you need the support of your web developer, they can step in only when you need them. It is even possible to take your existing site and convert it into a collaberative site at a cost much lower than you might think. BSA Marketing are specialists in developing and supporting collaborative websites and integrated marketing programmes with clients who are seeing real benefits with ease of use, flexibility, cost effectiveness and real marketing power. If you would like to investigate converting your site to WordPress, get in touch. We would be happy to discuss the possibilities