| There are many benefits of using a content | | | | may be difficult to optimize them. For example it will |
| management system for building web sites however | | | | take a long time to change the keywords in the |
| you often don't hear about the disadvantages. The 7 | | | | copy and meta tags for 100 pages. Keywords for |
| points mentioned below will help you make a more | | | | web pages need to be refined and altered to keep |
| informed decision. | | | | pace with the changing demographics of peoples' |
| Top 7 Disadvantages of a Content Management | | | | searches. |
| System | | | | 5. Slow loading |
| 1. Contains hundreds of files | | | | Because a CMS site is database driven you need to |
| A site that contains many files leaves itself open to | | | | wait for the pages to be processed by the server. |
| errors. For example a client updating the site may | | | | Since there are hundreds of pages they may be slow |
| create errors (i.e. inserting images that are too large, | | | | to load. This will cause you to lose visitors as most |
| inserting flash, JavaScript, video files) that result in | | | | internet users have a short attention span. A site |
| substantially altering the design of the template. | | | | should only take a few seconds to load. |
| It may take the designer many hours to find the | | | | A CMS site on a slow server or on a server that |
| cause of the error. He may have to go back to | | | | includes many other sites will make also take a long |
| redesigning the original site especially if the files were | | | | time to load. |
| not backed up. This will cause much frustration for | | | | A static site that is built using CSS (cascading style |
| the site owner because his site will be offline. He may | | | | sheets) and doesn't use lots of tables in its design will |
| lose all the files he has created thus losing his | | | | load much faster than a CMS site. |
| customers and having to spend money again to fix | | | | 6. Expensive design |
| the errors. | | | | CMS sites cost a lot more to design than static sites |
| A static site only contains a few files that can easily | | | | because a designer has to install and configure the |
| be corrected for errors. | | | | database, design the template, then customize it to |
| 2. Limited flexibility in design | | | | include all the extensions i.e. menus, polls, banners, |
| CMS sites primarily use templates for design. They | | | | forms etc. It will also require extensive testing to |
| are easy to recognize because they have a standard | | | | check for errors, browser compatibility and screen |
| format i.e. 2 or 3 column design with boxes placed in | | | | resolution. |
| various positions to accommodate the content. | | | | Finally the designer needs to explain to the client how |
| The designer must stay within the confines of this | | | | to manage the web site from the control panel i.e. |
| type of template therefore he is limited in the | | | | add content, grant permissions to different authors |
| flexibility and uniqueness of design that can reflect his | | | | etc. The web designer must include charges for time |
| business. | | | | spent with the client on how to administer the CMS |
| 3. Limited SEO of web pages | | | | site. |
| The web pages of a CMS site are generated | | | | 7. Maintenance costs |
| dynamically. This often means the URLS of the web | | | | These are just some of the questions you should |
| pages contain long strings that are a combination of | | | | ask yourself when considering a CMS site for your |
| words, numbers and/or symbols. Search engines have | | | | business. |
| a difficult time spidering these types of pages. Not all | | | | * What if your CMS site suddenly produces errors? |
| web designers care to edit the code to make the | | | | * As the owner of the site are you making constant |
| CMS site search engine friendly. | | | | backups in case the site goes down? |
| Meta tags (a necessity for obtaining good rankings) | | | | * What will you do if your database server fails? |
| are also often left out of dynamically produced | | | | * If not, is your designer doing the backups for you? |
| pages. | | | | * How will you know if your designer is still around |
| Duplicate content can easily occur in CMS sites | | | | should your site go offline? |
| because it may use several style sheets to produce | | | | Conclusion |
| the same content i.e. print style sheet plus the | | | | Before considering a CMS site for your business, |
| standard design style sheet. | | | | determine what your needs are. If you are a small |
| If the CMS site contains a blog the content may be | | | | organization or business that needs less than a |
| duplicated by appearing on the front page, in the | | | | hundred pages consider building a static site instead. |
| archives, in the printed version and in the syndicated | | | | If you are a large organization or business that will |
| content. | | | | have hundreds or thousands of pages that need to |
| 4. SEO Maintenance | | | | be added or updated frequently with multiple authors, |
| Since CMS sites often contain hundreds of pages it | | | | consider creating a CMS site. |