Website CMS

Dirk Diggler · 8 Nov 2015 at 08:15

Do any of you use a CMS for a business website? I'm looking to put something simple together, with an interface like putting a few PowerPoint slides together.

A hosting solution that includes the facility would be ideal, but I wouldn't mind installing some software onto a separate hosted account if it was going to be a better solution.

I've looked at the free 14 day trial of Cloudsite at Namesco, but the templates are awful and there's not much control over content as far as I can see.

I'm prepared for links to Angelfire and GeoCities but hoping someone out there has used something decent lately and doesn't mind sharing.

Ta

Paul11 · 8 Nov 2015 at 08:25

WordPress?

Little more complicated but once setup pretty easy to edit

Dirk Diggler · 8 Nov 2015 at 08:29

I thought WordPress was just for blogs! I'll have a play with the free facility, and I assume I can install WordPress on a database like MySql? If so, that's fine I could handle that.

Cheers.

Paul11 · 8 Nov 2015 at 08:36

It's not just for blogs anymore. Millions of sites run on WordPress now

And yes you

Also loads of themes and plugins to do almost anything with it

chroniclard · 8 Nov 2015 at 08:42

Wordpress is easymode(until it goes wrong) but you can do almost anything with it, should be able to do all you want. Though there are some costs involved.

Dirk Diggler · 8 Nov 2015 at 08:45

chroniclard said:
Wordpress is easymode(until it goes wrong) but you can do almost anything with it, should be able to do all you want. Though there are some costs involved.

I thought it was free, do you mean costs for plugins?

chroniclard · 8 Nov 2015 at 08:51

String said:
I thought it was free, do you mean costs for plugins?

A basic blog might be free but when you want to actually host a proper website then you need to pay hosting costs.

A lot of plugins and themes are free but the premium stuff has costs.

Its not expensive though.

Paul11 · 8 Nov 2015 at 08:53

It's dirt cheap.. WordPress is free

Need hosting

Plus any themes or plugins but as mentioned, is not expensive

Dirk Diggler · 8 Nov 2015 at 12:36

I'm happy to pay for hosting. I think GoDaddy and the like pretty much have the market sewn up? I'll see if any do a WordPress pre-install.

Cheers.

Paul11 · 8 Nov 2015 at 12:40

vidahost for hosting ....

they also have option for pre installed wordpress

themeforest for some themes...

Dirk Diggler · 8 Nov 2015 at 19:51

** Edit ** Got sorted with Vidahost.

Cheers, Paul.

Paul11 · 9 Nov 2015 at 07:20

Nice one

bioshockeruk · 9 Nov 2015 at 11:42

Using a plug in called visual composer for WordPress can essential give you building blocks and drag and drop functionality to the inbuilt WordPress page editor so it will be more akin to PowerPoint for you.

WordPress was once just a blogging platform but it has now developed into a fully fledged cms. It does require some seo work though. But again several plug in are available.

Dirk Diggler · 9 Nov 2015 at 19:43

bioshockeruk said:
Using a plug in called visual composer for WordPress can essential give you building blocks and drag and drop functionality to the inbuilt WordPress page editor so it will be more akin to PowerPoint for you.

WordPress was once just a blogging platform but it has now developed into a fully fledged cms. It does require some seo work though. But again several plug in are available.

Is there anything free that has the general functionality of Visual Composer or comes close?

bioshockeruk · 10 Nov 2015 at 12:18

I'll have a look through some sites I've created I did use one similar that was free just can't think of the name. I'll post tonight once I find it

Dirk Diggler · 10 Nov 2015 at 12:25

Cheers. I appreciate the help.

bioshockeruk · 10 Nov 2015 at 13:01

No problem.

bioshockeruk · 10 Nov 2015 at 20:04

Sorry for the delay couldn't find the ones I used. Most used visual composer or themify. But after a little research the best I found was one called make. It is a theme foundry framework. Available https://thethemefoundry.com/wordpress-themes/make/

I honestly can't say how good it would be though without testing it more but it seems to do the job. The others I mentioned do cost money and with that you get a more premium product with more help and support. But by all means give that free one a try. It may be just the thing you need.

dschroedz · 12 Nov 2015 at 16:49

There are a few sites around. When I first started using Wordpress, I went with one.com just because it was cheap and offered me the 1SQL database I needed a the time.

All you do is download wordpress from their site, unzip the file to your website via FTP then enter the sql details and you are away.

You can get site templates if thats the way you want to go through Themeforest but I found the best free one is from http://newwpthemes.com/

Hope that helps

Dan

Dirk Diggler · 12 Nov 2015 at 16:56

I've installed WordPress and activated a basic theme. I've then found it easier to hard code HTML and CSS changes via the admin panel to achieve the look I need.

Cheers for all the help.