How To Choose a Platform For Creating a Website

We currently have many options for creating a website. Whether you want to create a website for yourself or your business, several ways to create one. One of the cornerstones of creating a website is the system or platform on which the website is programmed.

What do you need to create a website?

To create a fully functional website, you must first purchase a domain name, the website address that visitors use when trying to access your site through their web browsers. It would help if you also had hosting, which is the space where your entire site will be stored. You will still need a platform or content management system to create and program the website.

• The domain name  (e.g., vivantina.com)
• Website hosting  (service that hosts your website)
• The system through which the page is programmed

Website platforms

You can program websites from scratch without any service or system, you will need extensive programming knowledge, but such a solution offers unlimited possibilities. Another solution is to use various web services such as Webnode, outranks, or Wix. They are entirely free, and you don’t need to buy a domain or host and picking a website is relatively easy. However, with this free solution, the services reserve the right to place ads on your site, and the service name is located directly in the domain name, which may not look professional for your business. As a premium option, they then offer to purchase a paid version of the service without ads and with their domain. 

The use of so-called Content Management Systems (CMS) is another solution when creating a website. Such a solution offers basic possibilities for web administration without significant programming knowledge, i.e., using pre-prepared templates or extensions that can be purchased from other developers, and some are available for free. This article will discuss the three most popular content management systems for creating a representative website.

Content management systems

When looking for the perfect content management system, getting lost in several options is easy. There are currently 250 to 350 different website platforms available on the market. The possibilities, from simple platforms to large enterprise systems, are endless. It would help if you asked what CMS (Content Management System) requirements you will need for your website. 

What parameters to focus on when choosing a content management system?

• Ease of use
• Compatibility with fast and stable web hosting
• Wide range of design options and responsiveness
• Good data portability
• Extensions and add-ons available
• Possibilities of help and support
• Good price
• Regular system updates
• Availability of SEO modules
• Good reviews from users

WordPress

WordPress is the most popular website creation platform. It is the most popular due to its popularity, powerful features, scalability, and ease of use. It can be used to create any website. An Example of an E-shop is a community forum, blog, social network, members’ website, personal website, presentation page, etc.

Advantages:

WordPress is a free and open-source system. This means you have maximum control over your site. There are thousands of ready-made WordPress templates that you can use to design your website. It also provides drag and drops page editors that make it easy to create your page layouts. This allows you to create a site without any programming knowledge. It also comes with powerful  SEO plugins or other interesting extensions for your site. As more and more people browse websites on their smartphones and other mobile devices, it’s essential to have a place that meets these digital requirements. Most WordPress themes have a responsive design also adapted for mobile devices.

Another option that we use here at Vivantine is the so-called Custom WordPress:

We do not use available templates to create websites, but we make all the graphics tailored to the customer. We will also customize the backend to reflect its needs and not be riddled with unnecessary plugins. In this way, we combine the benefits of a well-known and straightforward WP admin interface and, essentially, Open source (that is, no one needs to pay for a license to use the software or any fees). On the other hand, the client gets a unique website tailored specifically for him.

Disadvantages:

WordPress has the same problems as any widely used software. Thanks to the extensive use of this platform, it is becoming a popular target for hackers. For this reason, users must regularly update their WordPress installation to ensure the security of their site. So you need to keep up with WordPress updates and plugin updates and make sure you make backups of your site.

Joomla!

Joomla is another popular free open source CMS platform with several different templates and extensions. This software is designed for both beginners and advanced users, but its use is more demanding than in the case of WordPress. Comprehensive CMS features are included in the base installation without extensions. A bonus for non-specialists who do not have a professional IT background is good documentation in online supported manuals and many active user forums. You can create various websites, applications, e-shops, or social networks on this platform.

Advantages:

Joomla is a flexible platform with a wide range of uses. It’s a good choice if you want to create something more complicated. Although Joomla is beneficial for developers, you can still use it without programming knowledge. Editing content is accessible.

Disadvantages:

Depending on which website you want to create, you will probably need a developer to help you. Joomla does not have many options for further extensions. If you are used to the WordPress content management system, which has thousands of themes and add-ons available that extend the essential functions, Joomla can disappoint you. There may be some compatibility issues when installing different extensions and modules. For example, there were compatibility issues with modal windows and JavaScript errors in some cases.

Drupal

Drupal is another free, open-source CMS platform. It’s a good choice for developers or for people who want to put their site in the hands of developers. This is especially useful if you’re creating a highly customized page that needs to process data. CMS Drupal offers extensive customization options. Users who know precisely what they need can save manual compilation of software components. It is suitable for smaller as well as larger websites or e-shops.

Advantages:

Drupal has community support similar to other popular platforms like Joomla and WordPress. User management is simple, with a built-in system where you can create new roles and specify their permissions. It is a content management system with a more complex solution, higher security, and higher performance.

Disadvantages:

With Drupal, it can be challenging to change your site’s look or add-ons. Not as friendly for beginners as WordPress. Most Drupal websites have a custom developer theme, which can sometimes be very expensive.

A comparison of content management systems shows that each solution is based on the goals of a particular website, which have a decisive influence on the selection of a suitable CMS. It isn’t easy to find the perfect content management system that also meets all the requirements for running a website. This article does not have a clear winner but instead outlines the advantages and disadvantages of different methods in individual projects and their specific requirements.

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